SK On Elderberry: furniture

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Fragile Old Bench with SK

Deb's Fragile Old Bench

I've come to expect the best from the Graphics Fairy. I'm always delkighted to find exactly what I need when undergoing a project.

http://thegraphicsfairy.com/french-brewery-transfer/
Thank you to The Graphics Fairy for the nice review.

Using The Graphics Fairy graphic, the words were changed to my clients estate name.

The bench had been out in the elements, freeze and heat of Eastern Washington State for decades. She challenged me! How amazing, people actually believe I can fix cool stuff.

He literally had to be restored, screwed, filled and sanded several times. Although he is still fragile, wood glue and screws have made him a bit more sturdy.

After sanding one last time, I mixed a soft cream from my custom chalk paints and painted the entire surface. It was sanded and painted an additional two times, sanding in between coats.

The decorative elements had been made from cheap plywood which had split and warped. Trying to figure out what I could use in their place was a challenge.

The support brackets are only 1/2". Should I cut a new element or choose something a bit more fun.

I chose a powdered coated metal iron baluster from Lowes, which I cut down to the correct size needed for the spaces.

I have linked the picture to my supplier.

I hand carved slots into the back of the bench to fit the cut baluster pieces. They were epoxied into place with a small molding to finish.

My first inspiration didn't look as I envisioned.

The graphic was too large, overwhelming the bench.

The inside of the lidded storage area is lined with a pretty damask paper, although the bench will spend the rest of it's life in a protected area. I sealed this interior with a weather proof sealer,

I am lucky to have had a small part of this homes design. This client has excellent taste and wished for her old farmhouse to be brought into it's next fifty years. Almost a 1000+ sq. ft. was added to the original home.

I was thrilled to draw these building plans.

A new entry, stairs and kitchen was essentially the entire remodel.

Beautiful furniture to follow. A massive black, eight foot tall armoire will find a new home on the wall to the left.

Deb travels extensively. She always brings back unique treasures.

Again, I am fortunate to have been a part of this beautiful home.

The Graphics Fairy

Using IOD paper clay, the detailed sculptures were created to add texture.

I have linked to a seller of IOD products.

It was recommended to glue these pieces on with rubber cement. I didn't have great luck with that. I used a two part mixed epoxy.

The front bottom panel was also covered with the damask paper.

After sanding once again, I repainted the entire piece. The next step is to wash with a warm chocolate glaze and wipe off. You can wash as much off as you like.

I like the old look.

I silver foiled the damask raised design. Then sanded it back. Just a touch of shiny...

Thanks for visiting.

SK & Mo dern Masters Paints

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SK and The Hope Chest

My Mother's Hope, 1940 World War II and a Handsome Sailor

This beautiful aromatic cedar hope chest was given to my mother in 1945 a year or so after she was married. Dad was a machinist mate on the World War II destroyer tender Piedmont. This didn't mean much to me until I had become an adult and learned the history and ramifications of this horrible war.

My mom passed away last year at the young age of ninety three, I was given her hope chest.

And the chest I received certainly did not look like this...

With delight I started to rummage through mom and dad's past. Not until I found the bundle of tied love letters, did I slow down and show the reverence this prize contained.

As a child this chest was always in my parent's bedroom. I was not allowed to open this treasure without mom's attendance. I remember vividly the fragrant cedar smell as this "secret" chest was opened.

Although the inside was beautifully intact, the exterior had been painted and was now an old cracked and peeling white. I could see damaged and peeling vanner had been sanded and puttied.

But I had no idea where or if I wanted to have this in my own home. Other than a sentimental value, it was in very poor shape.

When a small child's mom had painted her hope chest an antique cream. I didn't know why or even cared at the time.

With a certainty, the paint could and was a lead-based paint. I wanted to be careful with how to proceed.

With my face mask on, I began to lightly sand the top, where I could see the most damage. As I lightly sanded the front of the chest I began to see a sunburst pattern of light ridges appear. I hated to ruin the chest with indiscriminate sanding, so I slowly did bits at a time. As the sunburst pattern became more and more apparent, I knew there was a beautiful secret behind all the old white paint.

With a bit of research, I found that The Roos Corporation of Forest Park, Illinois was a manufacturer of these fine cedar chests.

With aromatic cedar as the interior and the front an inlaid book-matched rosewood and other precious woods, my mothers chest is truly my new treasure. With a last 400 grit sanding, I used a boiled linseed oil to bring out the distinct patterns and colors. As I run my hand over the surface it feels like fine silk.

With the sweet memories of my mom and dad and their sixty-plus years of marriage my sentimentality came to the forefront, and I did not completely refurbish my treasure. I chose to keep a bit of my mom's paint and still enjoy the beautiful woodwork.

I love this piece of my parents history and will enjoy having it in my bedroom for the next fifty years or so. Then my daughters can fight over it...

Thanks for visiting. sk on elderberry

SK & Modern Masters Paints

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SK's Old Wood Swing

SK's Old Wood to Copper Green Patina and Rust.

This very old and tired log swing was either needing to be updated to survive, or on it's way to the dump.

We took the actual swing seat off of the rotted log posts. Added heavy duty chain and hung him from the house rafters. We re-glued all the joints and added new wood screws for durability.

Modern Masters Metal Effects Paint. Iron and Copper.

I love rust and green aged copper. Working back and forth between the two different paints is challenging because the copper will turn to rust if the first coat of rust isn't sealed. Sounds tricky...

I painted the left side copper undercoat, then painted the right side rust undercoat. Let this dry overnight. I then painted a second coat of rust let it dry then sealed the rust with a clear spar varnish. I then painted the second coat of copper and sprayed it with the metal effects spray green.
After each section was complete and the patina was as I envisioned, I sealed each side with spar varnish. I then painted the copper flowers and vines on the rusted side and let it turn green. I then sealed the green copper.
I then painted the rusted iron on the green left side and sprayed with the rust metal effects solution. As each side dried, I would add more flowers and vines, letting them patina and then sealing.
The rust texture actually feels and looks like rusted iron and the copper penny shows through the patina in places.
This was a fun little project and it had needed to be done so very badly. I'm thrilled to have saved this old swing. We will enjoy it for many years to come.
Thanks for visiting.

SK & Modern Masters Paints

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SK's Plums and Petticoats

SK's Fun with Shades of Pantone 2014 color of the year, Radiant Orchid and Plum Homemade Chalk Paint.

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Little Black Dress Chairs and a Little, Ohhh Shiny

These solid oak chairs had seen many years of red velvet and were begging for a facelift. We found them at a thrift store for twenty nine dollars. Score!

With thousands of brass nail heads the dismantling took forever. The fun stuff found under the fabric was disgusting.

The foam was in great condition so I didn't need to replace, which was a gift in itself.

They look like they could have come out of a boudoir in the red light district.

I painted the wood with a Hammered Bronze spray paint from Rustoleom. As I started the silver leafing process I found I liked the random cracked effect better than a solid silver. This cracking shows the bronze undercoat.

Before starting the re-upholstering I painted black canvas with several different diamond black on black coats. After this was dry I began the damask process.