Wood Signs for Woodland Nephews

One of my very favorite friends is going to be Aunt Mel for the second time (this May), and I did a carve+stain+sand on this tree truck cross-section for her to take all the way back to her nephew's nursery, in Sandpoint, ID. 

Star-Spangled Spectacular (+More Mural Photos)

The Star-Spangled 200 was Baltimore's big to-do this year.  This month commemorated the completion of Francis Scott Key's "Defense of Fort M'Henry" which evolved into our national anthem. The Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission provided the funding, and was the reason behind the sidewalk mural I was painting last summer.

In a press release from the Visionary Museum, the mural is said to be a

"lively, complimentary and decidedly pro-peace take on Baltimore’s and America’s extraordinary true history."

We finished well into the cold season, but the snow and ice were generally good to the work. Here are the new and final additions not shown in previous posts.

The southern end of the mural features Chief Tecumseh from an anamorphic 3-D perspective, the far north side (museum entrance to Covington St.) are the written lines of his beautiful famous speech. 

Portraits of notable Baltimore natives were also painted near the main entrance of the museum. 

Tall Ships and Blue Angels (Featured ship: El Galeon Andalucia).

September 14, 2014 Canton Waterfront Park; Baltimore provided the people with Maryland's largest fireworks display to date.

(“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."-Chief Tecumseh)

Alexander Peters

A new merch display case for my friend and Annapolis musician Alex Peters. A relief carving of his existing symbol, with several stain coats poured in.  A light distressing all over and a heavy sanding (on parts raised), to darken up that rooster. Where it fell short on stain, I used a little gunpowder to fill in light areas. The current album is exceptional, it was my ipod alarm clock setting for months. Buy a copy here!

Tables: Part 1

I refinished my great aunt's telephone table a few seasons ago, and though it is still serving the purpose of yellow in my life, it was long before the time I've spent in a woodshop. My currently convenient  knowledge of dry times paired with clear coat sanding might have prevented the chipping. Still thinking about coating the pulls with tiny broken abalone shells. Look at my shark!

From old scrap particle board (from an old crappy job) came my new favorite table. I've always been partial to the corner table with rounded front. It may not have been the best move to make an outdoor table with less than real wood (I do know better), but I just wanted to put it to decent use, and employed a generous amount of sealant; at least the legs are real. Needing to fill the space on my porch, I forfeited the learning process of continual legs (through tiers) for time. One summer later it looks naturally distressed, reminds me of the Greek flag, and holds my rubber tree plant perfectly.

This small fold-up is my most recent assignment. A very thrifty find from my new favorite antique shop in Annapolis. Several coats of a light and dark blue mixture, while sanding in between the stages for a galactic, layered result. Now I have to decide if a mosaic of foreign coins will still look good lacquered onto the top, (a few beautiful ones from a friend's African journey pictured).

Pete, following his greatest love The Flower.

And by the way.. notice these strange and lovely little cicada soaps, a gift from my aunt! 

Refinished Guitars: Part 2

Refinished gunpowder-ed and pink bass guitar. Non-functional but visually indulgent. A battle of the modern sea vs. prehistoric land and air. Personalized for none other than Rohry Flood, the bass playing Canadian wannabe. Complete with commemorative 30 year old Canadian penny, hematite, and a dangerous bullet! Varnished, shiny, and secure for life. (Guitars: part one, is still a collection of photos in limbo and doesn't exist.)

Compact 1

A four inch eyeshadow compact from Athens, Greece in 2002 has long been emptied and refilled with acrylics, clear coat, and gold leaf. So that's that. A "fruit variation" on the way, someday.

Something Better Than Nothing

Another polycrylic gem. This unfortunately dried transparent!
Blue Orchid- The White Stripes
Something better than nothing.

A Little On Preservation

Dipped my yellow chrysanthemum today. Beginning to wonder if the polycrylic is making me ill (or ill in the future). Some of these flowers seem to be shirking their preservation; the finish rolled right off the insides of those tendril-petals, unlike the rose. Then I dipped two shoulder blades (probably from a fox). They have been perched nicely in my closet for over one year and I was tired of knocking them around.

This is the skull they were found with, now gleaming and fixed to a mobile device. Lovely photograph by Melissa A. Cromwell.

This is exactly how it was discovered in Nova, Ohio.

Clear Satin

I recently had a very vivid rose, and a tendency to dip things in a gallon of Minwax Polycrylic. It seemed a good enough idea to apply this to the rose petals now half dead, but perhaps in hopes of a little preservation. They look good here, but barely kept that color overnight, making for a nice light pink and brown. Strung together with metallic gold thread I gave it to my mom on Mother's day. She said that if it were longer she'd wear it around her neck. So here's to the fleeting and beautiful..