Behind the Design
Recently, I designed a new medieval-inspired trim option for our floating book display, and I thought it would be fun to take you behind the scenes and share a little bit about the process! This design was inspired by antique details, medieval lettering, and my desire to experiment with a new finishing technique.
Finding the Right Finish
The process actually started when I purchased some gold Rub ’n Buff, a metallic wax that can be used to give objects a beautiful, shimmery gold finish. I wanted to experiment with creating an antique label, so I made a simple label design and tested the wax on it. The shape was inspired by brass labels you see on old sailboats.
Unfortunately, my first experiment didn't go quite as planned! I quickly realized that the relatively flat surface didn't give the wax enough texture to cling to, making it difficult to achieve the finish I had envisioned.
Rather than abandon the idea, I decided to approach the design a little differently. What if I created something with more depth and decorative detail? That way, the gold could catch on the raised areas and create a more convincing antique effect.
My failed first attempt:
Pivoting and Finding Inspiration
I've always been drawn to antique designs, ornate details, and decorative elements. My 3D modeling skills have also been improving, and I felt ready to challenge myself with something a little more complicated. I decided to pivot from the simple label idea, and create something medieval-inspired.
Around the same time, I purchased a book sleeve from Enchanted Novelties, a local bookstore. The sleeve was made by Jollie Ollie, and it had a medieval-inspired aesthetic that I really loved. I've always been drawn to blackletter fonts, so that design helped inspire me to explore a similar style for my own trim.
I started by browsing Pinterest for inspiration, looking at different blackletter fonts and antique plaques to narrow down the shapes and decorative details I wanted to incorporate. I wanted the finished design to feel a little medieval, with an ornate, old-world look.
To help tie that aesthetic together, I decided to incorporate fleur-de-lis motifs into the design.
Some of the inspiration I found on Pinterest:
Bringing the Design to Life in Blender
Once I had a general idea of what I wanted to create, I opened Blender and started building the design.
One of the things I value most about running this business is that I get to design the products myself. Because 3D printing is such a computer-driven manufacturing process, it's important to me to have that hands-on involvement in creating the designs, too. There's something really gratifying about being able to take an idea from my imagination and turn it into a physical product, especially when I have the freedom to design whatever I want. Since I'm completely self-taught, it's also been rewarding to see my 3D modeling skills improve over time and to feel more confident taking on projects that I might not have attempted when I first started.
I began with the overall shape of the frame and gradually added decorative elements, layering different details to give the piece more dimension. I wanted the finished design to feel intricate without losing the readability of the text.
Because I knew I wanted to use Rub ’n Buff on the final piece, I paid particular attention to the depth and texture of the raised details. Instead of relying on a flat surface, I wanted plenty of little edges and contours where the gold wax could catch, helping create that worn, antique-brass appearance I had originally envisioned.
Once I was happy with the design, I 3D printed it in black and moved on to testing the finish.
Testing the Antique Gold Finish
This was the part I was most excited about!
I applied the gold Rub ’n Buff to the printed piece, using a dry-brushing technique to highlight the raised details while leaving the deeper areas darker. I was really happy with how it turned out. The contrast between the black base and the gold highlights gave the design an intricate, aged appearance that I hadn't been able to achieve with my original flat label.
I wouldn't claim that the design is historically accurate to any particular period of medieval architecture or decorative arts. Instead, it's loosely inspired by the lettering, ornamentation, and antique details I came across during my research. I wanted to capture the feeling of those designs while creating something that would work as a decorative accent for your bookshelf.
Our first successful test print:
Adding a Five-Star Design
Alongside the new To Be Read sign, I also wanted to create a five-star option to complement the antique-inspired style.
I designed the stars in Blender, drawing inspiration from the shapes I came across in medieval artwork and other reference materials. Rather than using a traditional, flat five-pointed star, I chose a six-pointed, starburst-like shape.
I love how these turned out! The extra points and variation in the shape give the design more visual interest, and the dimensional details work especially well with the gold finish. I think it's a fun alternative for anyone who wants something decorative but a little different from the lettering-based trim.
Coming Soon to the Shop
Both of these designs will be available in the shop soon, and I'm excited to add something a little different to the existing trim collection!
One thing I did want to mention is that the versions with the antique gold finish will cost a little more than my usual trim pieces. Each one is hand-finished, which adds extra time to the production process.
I also want to be transparent about that additional cost and give you the option to finish the pieces yourself if you enjoy a little DIY project. If you'd prefer to paint your own, you can purchase the plain black version of the trim along with the supplies linked below.
To recreate the antique gold finish, you'll need gold Rub ’n Buff. The process is relatively simple and involves dry-brushing small amounts of the wax onto the raised details, gradually building up the finish until you're happy with the result. It does take a little patience and a steady hand, especially around the edges, since you'll want to avoid getting the wax on the back of the piece.
My biggest tip is to start with a very small amount of product and build up the gold gradually. You can always add more, and working in thin layers will give you more control over the final effect.
Whether you choose the finished version or decide to experiment with the paint yourself, I hope you enjoy these new designs as much as I enjoyed creating them!
0 comments