ARTful: using or characterized by art and skill

Salvage: to rescue or save especially from wreckage or ruin


[ARTful] Salvage was born from a love of creating, repurposing and salvaging. I simply abhor seeing perfectly "useful" items headed for the landfill or tucked away in a cardboard box, never seeing the light of day. I believe there is always beauty to be found, even under a layer of rust or a coating of dust. I see scratches, dents or imperfections as badges of honor to be worn proudly. I have a great love for the history, story and life of a piece. We lovingly dream up ways of restoring new life to these discarded and neglected fragments of life. I am glad you are here and hope you will come again often. Please make yourself at home; friends are always welcome. I'd be thrilled to hear from you and get to know you better.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Good Heavens....WHERE does the time go.....

Seems like I was just here and yet obviously it has been F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!  Yikes!!  So sorry!! We have been busy little bees acquiring more goodies to repurpose, doing a few shows and of course, actually doing the repurposing. We are bursting at the seams right now with projects (both finished, processing and waiting to begin). It's a good thing we don't entertain here. LOL The garage (aka the shop) already has all of John's woodworking tools and supplies, PLUS it has 2 tables of my glass totem building supplies, PLUS all the normal garage gunk, PLUS the extra frig, freezer and all the Boxes (still unpacked but not really stuff we want out, but yet can't bear to part with) from the move 2 1/2 years ago. Can you say, barely a path?? You know it's bad when I am out there working and cars stop and ask if I am having a sale!!  :::Sigh::: Maybe they're just scouting us for that show "Hoarders"......

I decided the only thing to do with the stained glass side of the business was to make room in my ART studio (paper, beading, yarn, paints.....you get the idea - my other ARTsy life). So, I commandeered the linen closet in the hall and cleared one half of my 6' x 6' shelving unit of beads and paper and replaced it with stained glass and the like. I now use my desk for the glass grinder and have added a new table we repurposed for a new workspace. I cannot find a before pic to share (argh!) but it was just a long, narrow homemade table (looked like an old door but it was nott) that we found for $5. It had a thick glass top and black wrought iron legs. The problem: the varnish had melted and the glass was stuck to it. Amazingly, with a little patience, a little luck, some wire, wood blocks and some weird chemical mixing that I probably don't want to think about, DH was finally able to separate the glass from the table (in one piece I might add.....what a guy!!). We then stripped the top, stained with Minwax Gunstock (my fave stain EVER) and then I began the tedious coating with the Poly. 5 coats later and some new black spray paint for the legs, she is gorgeous and living in the studio. The large piece of glass will eventually become a stained glass mosaic panel.....but that my friends is a project for another day.


Here are a few sneak pics at works in progress or new acquisitions for ARTful Salvage. We will be busy working hard this week and next as we have 2 back to back shows coming up......more later taters!! 

Bought this little guy yesterday at Michael's.
I'm thinking something mosaic on top,
probably painted distressed white, maybe??


LOVE the lines of this table. It will get a fresh coat of black paint 
and a stained glass mosaic top with lotus flowers and a dragonfly.


Old child's school desk - Wow what a hideous color!!  LOL


Set of large wooden blocks, probably 5" diameter each. No plans yet.

Now, go repurpose something.....it'll make your day!! :)