Projects Modern Masters: SK's Black Rust and Zinc

SK's Black Rust and Zinc

Yippee! How Fun. Love, Love this stuff. If you have ever been serious about creating unusual work, these are the experts to turn to. Thanks Modern Masters. sk

If She could talk, the tales She would tell!

Because of the size and details, it is obvious this piece started out in a royal home. My ancestors at one time were noble men and had every comfort which life could afford them.

Wars happened. Secrets. Deceit. Whispered stories of jewels sewn in hems of coats. Food wrapped in quilts. Furniture mysteriously disappearing before the siege. Only to appear in my families possession later. And through all these generations, this piece remains. A reminder of what my family cherished. Once a gift given to a wife, by a beloved husband, to contain her wardrobe. Later it became a lauder, to store food. And now 200+ years down through time, it now sits in my humble cottage. With all of it’s tales to tell, she is saying nothing.

What is it about old pieces of furniture that draws us to them? Why do we feel a connection?

I propose to you it is family. We all long to belong. To know about those before us. To know we have ancestors which bore their lot in life with dignity and beauty.

Having an old piece reminds us we are part of a greater plan than just ourselves. We are part of a beautiful chain, called family.

What if you long for this, but you have no lovely piece of furniture? You have no jewelry. No legacy handed down generation after generation. No pictures or photographs? Is there anything you can do?

Absolutely. In steps “ faux.” Faux is the art of making something into what it is not. And why not? Why shouldn't you surround yourself with pieces which make you feel connected and surrounded in time tested beauty and practicality?

True confession… I've only been acquainted with this piece for a month or two. We met at a Goodwill store. My poor piece had suffered the humiliation of being a bedraggled piece that had been marked down, and marked down and marked down because she had gone unsold, unwanted for too long. I picked her up for $7. That is seven dollars. Yes, a ridiculous price for her!

I studied her for a bit. She is solid wood, except for her two side panels. She is so tall, we had to remove her crown molding to get her into my cottage! I studied her, trying to decide what I should do with her. I received lots of suggestions… but none quite fit. I finally just began…and she evolved. Once she was a TV Armoire. Now she is a piece of history….History I never in my wildest imaginings or dreamed I could ever have.

I have put in hours upon hours into this girl. I have had a love/hate relationship with this piece. But I would have to say, coming out on the other end, I have learned a lot.

I have learned I like taking leave of traditional and creating a piece of history, as I dream it could have been.

I learned it’s a great opportunity we each have to create in our home, the atmosphere we want, by using our talents and creativity. Our connection with our past can be enhanced through our creativity.

Create your own personal dream history.

The beginning. $7.99 from a sad little thrift store. 7'5" tall x 4' wide, 2' deep. Heavy and solid wood doors and crown.

Using antique damask and diamond tissue paper I paper the door panels, using plain old watered down white glue. So much cheaper than decoupage paste. The paper is so fragile I use care as I attempt to get the bubbles to dissipate.

Using an antiquing medium the color of burnt sienna and chocolate I build layers of history.