your favourite coasters?

We have a lot of antique furniture that cannot tolerate water or heat, so I think it's time for coasters.

But what type?  

Cloth and card ones absorb the water and keep it against the furniture which causes damage.

What options are there?  What's your favourite coaster design?  What do you love about it?  How do you make them boring enough to fit with the style of the house but fun enough people will use them?

Have you ever made your own coaster?  

I've found some small (10cms) terra cotta tiles in a dumpster and I've glued a piece of felt underneath it.  Job done!  Serves me very well. You could find some very pretty tiles and even glue some sliced wine cork at the bottom.  I have quite a bit of antique furniture too so I understand the dilemma.

After knocking over a glass on my desk I started using this:



Amazon Link

They were bought to eat soup out of.  I have been using as a coaster for at least a year.  I set my glass inside it.  Depending on the glass, I either pick the glass up or use the handle.

Before the accident I was using a antique glass ashtray something like this:



Amazon Link

We also tried the marble type flat coaster though there was some condensation.

We've been using some of the "cork with shiny picture on them" commercial coasters.
Negatives: If something wet sits on them too long, they stain and start to look shabby. Sometimes the condensation make them stick to the bottom of the glass.
Positives: Very light weight.  Often available cheap at thrift stores.  One could possibly use a waterproof glue to put their own picture on (a use for your new photography skill maybe?)

My mom had a set of wooden ones with cork inset into a small reservoir on the upper side for the glass to sit on. Wood might suit the furniture. They're also light, making them easy to use.

My sister was given some leather ones, but I haven't had a user test report. She usually has large, fairly plain, ceramic tiles sitting permanently in the spots needed.

If you like your furniture enough to protect it, I'd worry about someone dropping a heavy or pointy coaster and denting the wood.

Good luck hunting!

Mine are getting old and stained now....I made a lot them (and sold them also) years ago...
They are felted  from recycled woven and knit wools, old sweaters and coats mostly.  Using two to three layers I stitched them together, different designs and stitched enough they stay flat.  They still work great although the lighter colored ones are showing stains from coffee and tea.  I'll try to take some pictures later. nope, I just looked at the group we have left and they are pretty stained and rough looking  

I like the soft sound of a thick fabric coaster rather than something harder...and they are absorbent if there are ever drips down the side of the cup....and easy to wash in the machine as they are already shrunk and felted.

I have a handmade glazed painted pottery coaster. Smooth, so it doesn't damage furniture, pretty, and impermeable. My parents have lots of coasters - some are made of stiff leather, some are pretty cut rocks, some are painted porcelain, and a couple are embossed copper with felt backing. They have the cardboard/paper kind too, but those are ugly and get damaged easily.

Catie George wrote:I have a handmade glazed painted pottery coaster. Smooth, so it doesn't damage furniture, pretty, and impermeable.

I would love to see pictures.

I like the idea of tile, but I worry the glass/mug would slide around on them.

I use 'cookies' cut from 4 inch diameter birch logs. I keep a stack of them on the counter within easy reach. I finished some with wax but prefer the look of the bare ones.

r ranson wrote:

Catie George wrote:I have a handmade glazed painted pottery coaster. Smooth, so it doesn't damage furniture, pretty, and impermeable.

I would love to see pictures.

I like the idea of tile, but I worry the glass/mug would slide around on them.

Easy peasy. I actually bought it at a yard sale in Saanich, and was told it was locally made, so someone near you must have (at one point) made them.

Something like the ones my parents have might be slightly better if you are worried about mugs sliding. They are commercially made porcelain, a bottom that's kind of reminiscent of tea cup saucer, but flat, with a tiny lip at the surface, and botanical plant paintings. I think they are from the 80s though.

I made these 10 years ago. They have served me well. Bought 12 tiles from the clearance section at HD. Reverse printed the constellation images and decoupaged them on. Added felt on the back.

Vanessa, your coasters are gorgeous. What type of varnish did you use to seal the decoupage?

We several sets of coasters and the ones that get used most often are the ceramic ones with flowers. They have cork on the bottom. Have to be careful using these with cold drinks on a hot day - as the ice melts and condensation gathers on the bottom of the glass, it creates suction and the coaster can get lifted up with the glass. There are some fine chips on the coasters from being dropped. The two Ovaltine coasters are painted metal, also with cork on the bottom.

We have some really cool green granite ones with padding underneath. They work great and are beautiful...only problem is, I have kids, and they make really fun toys that could do a lot of damage. So, they're put away.

There's quite a few different type of stone coasters out there. I think my mom has some made from jasper? Her's and ours were both found at the thrift store. I shudder to think how expensive they might be when bought new!

These aren't so much for using as much as they are for just look'n at.  I like to look at them once in a while.  Thanks for the reminder.

Found at Deseret Industries here in Southern UT years ago (it's a thrift store run by the church).  $1.00 for all 4, couldn't pass it up.  Just generic coasters with cork on the back.

I no longer have furniture that needs protecting, so they sit in a drawer.  One of the very few things I keep around for no reason.

Judith Browning wrote:Mine are getting old and stained now....I made a lot them (and sold them also) years ago...
They are felted  from recycled woven and knit wools, old sweaters and coats mostly.  Using two to three layers I stitched them together, different designs and stitched enough they stay flat.  They still work great although the lighter colored ones are showing stains from coffee and tea.  I'll try to take some pictures later. nope, I just looked at the group we have left and they are pretty stained and rough looking  

I like the soft sound of a thick fabric coaster rather than something harder...and they are absorbent if there are ever drips down the side of the cup....and easy to wash in the machine as they are already shrunk and felted.

I changed my mind and decided to add pictures...remember these are probably 20 years old and very mistreated
The layered wools worked well for sewing  and then clipping away a simple design and layering up in abstract shapes.  

Could be made much more 'elegant' for your antiques I'm sure and still serve the purpose.

...and then there's Nicole's needle felting? or just plain thickly felted bats of wool cut to shape and maybe hand stitched a little?

I'm going to try tiles and see what I think in comparison...we have some that I never thought to use.....

Megan Palmer wrote:Vanessa, your coasters are gorgeous. What type of varnish did you use to seal the decoupage?

We several sets of coasters and the ones that get used most often are the ceramic ones with flowers. They have cork on the bottom. Have to be careful using these with cold drinks on a hot day - as the ice melts and condensation gathers on the bottom of the glass, it creates suction and the coaster can get lifted up with the glass. There are some fine chips on the coasters from being dropped. The two Ovaltine coasters are painted metal, also with cork on the bottom.

Hi Megan 👋 thanks 😊 it was a while ago but I’m pretty sure I used waterproof Mod Podge. I might also have prayed it with acrylic sealer? I’ve never put them in the dishwasher but they even make dishwasher proof Mod Podge now 🤯😅😊

I have crocheted coasters made of cotton string. I know they can absorb liquid but the rule is when they're not in use they go back into their little coaster garage, and so they don't stay in contact with the wood (and get a chance to dry).

Had to learn to transfer pictures from my phone so this was good practice. Yes if you are cutting branches that are old and dry and they have nice color they can be used as coasters. My wife prefers the ones she bought.

Hi
Here are my homemade pine needle coasters and place mat.
They are easy to make. I watched a YouTube video first.

You feed the pine needles through the (cut plastic drinking) straw and bind string, cotton, or whatever you like around a few times to secure them.

Then you sew it together, turning it as you go along,  pushing new pine needles into the straw as and when needed.

They feel great and are a mixture of green and brown tones.

I thought I might sew different sizes of mats and coasters together to make a large bath/shower mat.

Nik Brindley wrote:Hi
Here are my homemade pine needle coasters and place mat.

What a great idea!!! I bet they smell FABULOUS.

Fantastic pine needle coasters!  Thank you for sharing pictures!

My favorite coaster was misinterpreted
   

A treasured gift.Perfect for guests.