DIY | Hand-painted Mud Cloth Planter Pots
Mud cloth prints are EVERYWHERE right now and I can't get enough! I feel like this print really took center stage a few years back and I’m not seeing any signs of it taking a back seat anytime soon. I have always been attracted to black and white everything, so I am so naturally drawn to this geometric and playful textile. You can find mud cloth in a variety of colors and patterns, blues have been particularly popular the last couple of years. But, what I really love about this gorgeous material is the rich history behind it that instantaneously gives any space that "traveled feel" touch.
Mud cloth is the direct translation of the word Bògòlanfini, meaning cloth died in mud. In the Malian culture, women die the cloth in fermented mud and men are responsible for weaving it. Men wear it for hunting and women typically wear it as they transition into adulthood and after childbirth. The fabric itself is believed to absorb danger under these circumstances. You can now find the mud cloth motif in anything including garments, wallpaper, furnishings, you name it!
A tiny insight to me, I'm a compulsive Home Depot shopper... I mean, I can literally roam the aisles as most women do through Target. And COVID-19, really hasn’t slowed me down. I bought two black plastic planters to plant some fresh herbs in as well as a few larger white plastic self-watering planters to add some interest to the front of my house. I like clean lines and the self-watering is an added bonus for this girl. I’ve shared a few options for all the pots and planters I’m loving below. For this project, I wanted to keep things super affordable and still put my personal stamp on them. A white paint pen, a black paint pen, a couple barrel movers and I was in business.
Painting my pattern was a great creative outlet for me. Some days, I just need a little time to myself to "create!" This project was easy to knock out in just under an hour and I went at it really organically. I love how the mud cloth textile has both a geometric feel to it, but kind of has no rules. I started without a plan and am so happy I did. I didn't want to copy a pattern that I had seen before and it was important to me for it to feel like it was my own. Now, I don't know that it would meet the people of Mali's standards, but I still love the end result!
Here are a few mud cloth patterns to draw a little inspiration for if you’re interested in doing your own! If you do, be sure to tag me @thislifeistyled on ol’ Insta so I can see what you chose!
