Waiting for Spring

Winter’s quiet has finally come.

Early evenings, tea by the fire, hours with books, friends and family. Nature slows everything and everyone down in winter. It’s a time for dreams and plans.

Last month I attended a workshop conducted by Gary Wood, furniture maker and restorer extraordinaire. Waxes and their use as a finish coat for wood was the topic for this class. Interesting. Waxes have been used for centuries as a wood finish, sometimes in conjunction with other sealers / finishes and sometimes as the sole addition to raw wood. Adding colors and other ingredients to waxes is an art form in itself. Mica, talc, shell, dyes, even soot, have all been added to various waxes to enhance the look and function of furniture. The Redeux workshop will be making and adding several of these waxes to its bag of goodies.

Later this month I will be attending another workshop devoted exclusively to the restoration of vintage and antique furniture.  Field trips to discover and learn various finishing methods are also being planned for these winter months.

It has been interesting looking back at the photos of all the pieces that have been given the Redeux treatment and then found new homes the past two years. Most have been posted on the Blog or website. What a mix! From everyday pieces of furniture such as dressers and chests to one of a kind pieces such as hand made cabinets and tables to Victorian music stands and rocking chairs. Each and every piece has its own history. It has been an honor to become part of their future.

Since late November The Redhead and I have been out and about finding interesting pieces for the Spring. So far we have located a few pieces that have regularly shown up on our wish list: benches, occasional /side tables, children’s rockers, bookcases, cedar hope chests and odd pieces that will have a new life other than what they were made for (an 1800’s folding dress-makers table).  The attached photos are just “sneak peeks” at what will soon be given the Redeux make-over and made ready for new homes in the Spring.

Thanks for all of your support, encouragement and interest in Redeux American Vintage Furniture these past two years.

I'm looking forward to seeing you again, soon!

Best regards,

Bill