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Friday, June 28, 2013

Faking It...

OK, only one vote for white.  Way more for adobe, which by the way is most always covered with plaster/stucco, so is not the most popular choice for color.

I do like it though.  I used my favorite Trail Tan Ceramcoat.  Not bad at all...

Last night, I faked a chest to go inside the cigar box.  I looked at a lot of real Mexican furniture.  I have an Artes De Mexico catalog from 1967.  They have been reproducing early Mexican Colonial furniture for many years.  The catalog is one of my favorite books.  The painted cabinet in the upstairs of the Southwestern room is a copy of one of theirs. The catalog itself is put together with real wrought iron nails and the cover is floppy pieces of rawhide.  Really cool.
 

Anyway, sidetracked as usual. Sorry about that.

As I said, I faked it.  The front and top are real, the rest is just supports.   I cut the front 1 1/2" high by the width of the box.  The top was 1 5/8" by the width of the box.  The side and back supports were the same height as the front.  The back one was the same size as the front.  The sides were the same height, but less in width, to allow for the depth of the front and back.

I didn't plan for the scroll bottom...No floor tile underneath.  Now I have to patch it. 

Nothing is glued in yet.  I just did a dry fit an thought that you would like to see what direction I am headed.

When I did this as a class, I gave people the option of a very simple version of this bench.  No scroll bottom and just panels faked with chair rail.

This one, I carved the panels and then trimmed the edges with 1/16" double bead molding to give it a more finished look.
I like it except for the white streak on the right panel...It was a flaw in the wood.  When I finished carving, it wouldn't take the stain the same as the rest.  You can see it just a little in the next panel over and on the right foot.  I am going to go back in and fix it.  Most irritating.

Oh!  I almost forgot.  See the little cactus garden?  I found the terracotta pot(small saucer for under a starter pot).  I filled it with potting soil when I got home and grabbed some shoots that the squirrels had dug out of one of the dish gardens.  I don't know how long it will last, but for 28 cents, I am going to see.  Hey!  It's lived for about two hours, so far.  There is hope.

See you tomorrow.

8 comments:

Phyllisa said...

Hi Casey. I love the "fake" chest. That's a good technique to know. When I have had a problem with stain being uneven, I sponge dab stain over the offending spot. But you probably have a good solution.

I like the cactus in the pot and I also very much liked the landscaping around the Craft Cottage.
Phyllisa

Cara said...

That bench is fabulous!! I'm going to do an "April" and say I want a big one for my real house ;)

12Create said...

Chest looks great Casey and I'm loving the mini cacti garden.

Lucille said...

I love that mini cacti garden. The chest is a wonderful idea. You're not coming through my reader.

Caseymini said...

Lucille, I have been having to make a few tries every day to make sure that the blog gets on the reader. I don't know what is going on. I now check every day to see that it is on the blogger reader before I finish. I heard somewhere that blogger was shutting down the reader as of July 1st. I don't know where the rumor started, but I hope that it's not true!

Lisains said...

I love the cacti dish - great idea

Fabiola said...

The bench is wonderful. I really like the mini cacti garden.
Greetings, Faby

Minteriors said...

I have to agree with the other entries, Casey. That bench front is to die for! Very authentic feeling, indeed. As for the tan walls, that WAS definitely the "right" choice for THIS piece, even if it flies in the face of convention. I tried to visualize what white walls would have been like...I think they would have been too much like the sand outside...and it would have made the floor look way darker, too. It feels balanced to me...good mix of light, medium and dark tones. Yes, that little cacti display dish is a little charmer. And I do so like your desert landscaping "outside." Miniatures about illusion, and you have nailed the tree! I'm especially fond of the bright blue bird, that is just what was needed...a little pop of color to tease the eye. Dear Tess will try anything, now won't she? What a gal! Poor bird!!! : ))