In those cracks and patches there's life

My mum, who is in New Brunswick, gave me my Christmas gift early. It's an antique woven basket that was made in Romania. I love the way the lid fits and how sturdy it is. If you look closely you can even see some stitching here and there, evidence of numerous repairs. This is my favourite part of the basket, and it makes me wonder what it was used for.

It's interesting the way things influence you. I think that working with furniture and antiques has given me a new appreciation for old things, and also for different textures. I've learned a few techniques that I've been incorporating into my little projects at home, too. This thread holder was an extra piece of pine from when I made that table earlier this fall. Just banging it up and staining and sanding, along with some nails, gave it a purpose.



I made a few stars to add to our Christmas decoration stash in a similar way. If you want to do something similar with wooden craft pieces you can get at Michaels, sand, stain, dry brush some paint on (when the stain is dry), sand away some of the paint and stain again. Then you can verathane if you want. You can also get a stain-verathane combination that seems to work ok. The frame is a little over-sanded I think. It is possible to overdo it!





My boss at the furniture shop will actually beat a piece of furniture in order to distress it, sometimes with heavy chains and tools. It creates quite a racket and is a little unnerving to watch, but the effect is amazing. Sometimes customers will come in and look at one of these pieces, or one that is actually as old as it looks, and say "Oh, that looks too old! Why would you want something that looks all beat up?" and I think to myself, The older the better. I love to look at all the crack and the wear marks and wonder who used it, and what it saw during its lifetime in someone's home--or in several families' homes.

The other day while walking to work I saw the pigeons I always see in front of the old age home. I think the residents like to feed the pigeons, so they always stick around, and there's always at least two on the front lawn. This particular morning I was struck by how these two pigeons were moving. One was walking in circles around the other. Very close circles, so that he was almost touching the other one. The one in the middle of the circle was also circling, but on the spot. Once in a while they would nuzzle each other under the neck. It was beautiful, and I stopped to watch it for a minute or so. I wished I had my camera, and thought to myself that I often wish I had my camera and never do. These little bits of life will live on in my mind but I won't ever be able to refer to them again. I need to start taking my camera. These little bits of life can so easily be forgotten.