Breathing new life and a sense of fun into vintage tea-sets is the creative work of Paula Mohen, the artist behind Upcycled Vintage Plates. A lover of design in all its forms, inspiration for Paula can spark from illustration and art, to music and fashion. Her handcrafted pieces deliver the perfect blend of unique Irish humour, creativity and fun, making them the perfect gifts or conversation starters to adorn your walls! I caught up with Paula to find out more about her work process, who she would most like to design a plate for dead or alive and her future business plans.
Tell me a bit about your business and how you got started with Upcycled Vintage Plates?
I have always been creative. Outside of my regular job I was always making something – from mirrors from old roof slates, illustrations, portraits and illustrated greeting cards! Then just before lockdown, whilst looking for a new project, I saw this beautiful, old, imperfect tea-set in my local charity shop and I remember thinking I could definitely do something creative with it…So the testing began! It took a few months to find the right process. A quick summary: I print my designs on to a special paper – waterslide decal – this is then transferred to the plate. They are baked to seal the image and I also apply a light varnish to prevent any scuffing. The plates are not 100% waterproof as they are for decorative use only but they can be dusted or wiped.
I love your design outlook of finding something old and giving it a new twist. How hard is it to find the plates and sets you decorate?
It is not very difficult at all! In fact, you could say I have a bit of an addiction to beautiful vintage dinner ware! I mostly find them in charity shops. I have a few ‘scouts’ (aka pals and family members) who are scattered around Ireland. They keep an eye out for vintage plates in local charity shops. I also have a good pal (@mariarosecrafts) who makes gorgeous bird feeders from teacups and saucers and mirrors from side plates, so we seek out bits and pieces for each other and if there is a gorgeous tea-set for sale, we will buy it and split the goods. Any broken bits go to another pal who makes gorgeous mosaics (@crafty_by_nature_dublin). Nothing goes to waste!
Who is your favourite designer – (clothing, ceramics, design..?)
Fashion: Vivienne Westwood is an absolute favourite. Simone Rocha – absolutely stunning designs. I am a fan of The Impressionists era also Art Nouveau, as well as Picasso, Modigliani, Rembrandt, Georgia O’Keefe. It’s quite an eclectic selection. I love illustration – Yuko Shimizu is a Japanese illustrator based in New York. I love her style and work ethic. There are so many brilliant Irish artists whose work I adore – Maser is a firm favourite, there are so many other super talented street/graffiti artists, Holly Periera, Jess Tobin. I love Children’s literature and illustration. A well written and illustrated children’s book is an an art form in itself. My favourite author/illustrators would be Oliver Jeffers, Brian Fitzgerald, Quentin Blake, Peter Donnelly…there are so many to choose from and again the Irish talent in Children’s literature is superb. This is an area I dabble in now and again. I have some ideas floating around in my head and when I have time, I get the sketch book out and doodle…you never know!
The unique Irish humour and sense of fun you capture within your designs is so memorable. What’s your favourite piece that you’ve ever created and why?
So many to choose from…I do enjoy the reaction I get with Child of Prague vintage plates. They can be personalised by adding the wedding dates. I also love working on ALL bespoke personalised plates. The kindness and thoughtfulness of my customers is overwhelming! It’s a good feeling to get a positive response from a reaction to receiving a personalised plate. It’s a satisfied feeling of a job well done!
If you could see one of your plates hanging on the wall of someone (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
David Bowie – he has always been an inspiration musically and creatively, I would have sent him one whether he liked it or not! Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace (imagine getting my hands on some of their vintage tea sets!) Vivienne Westwood – I think it would have been right up her alley! Personalised of course!
What are the biggest challenges of running an online business?
The biggest challenge for what I do is having to rely on social media to promote your business and make sales. For now, it is the only way for a lot of small businesses. Having to keep up with Social Media’s constant rule changing – e.g. you must post x amount of reels, x amount of stories, x amount of posts to make sales – can be frustrating but I think it is up to the individual to how they want to play the ‘game’! I have been very lucky.
What one piece of business advice would you give to someone starting their own business?
Make sure you have enough money in the pot to sustain yourself until your business takes off. Don’t give up the day job…yet.
What are your future plans and ambitions for your business?
I do have another income which funds what I do but I am glad to say the upcycled plates are now overtaking my ‘bread and butter’ work! I am stocked in a few shops around Ireland. I have done a few corporate projects using the plates and I would very much like to do more of the same. I would love to work more with interior and set designers. I have lots of new ideas for the vintage plates but I also want to remain a small business. Just me, my creative brain and my vintage plates.
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It was such a pleasure to dive into Paula’s design world and to see how the art of creating brings her happiness and joy to others in turn. You can feel the ideas bursting to get out and what a refreshing and exciting way to live and to pursue the art of giving something old a new spin entirely. A big thank you to Paula for her time. Check out all of her gorgeous designs and prepare to go down a rabbit hole researching the designers and creatives she mentions above!
Find Paula’s full collection of plate designs on Instagram: @paulafmoen
Discover the online shop: paulafmoen.bigcartel
All imagery courtesy of Paula Mohen.