Continuing On (Galloping Madly Off in All Directions)

Two old wooden buckets have been repurposed for the wooden shoe factory, known from now on as the "Klompenmakerij". They have split willow banding, rather than metal hoops; this was commonly used by people with very little spending cash. The effect is painted, of course. The table and bench are done now, they are stained and antiqued. When it comes to painting some of the wooden shoes - however long these projects are going to take - I'll do it on this little table to get some good paint splashes.

The bench was from a series of kits I made up some years ago, when I taught a senior's mixed media group; it is identical to the little blue bench with cream flowers, without the front aprons. OK, I'll admit it; I sanded the edges to look worn, before testing it with the aprons. It looks more like a quick factory bench now. Somewhere, I have a pre-stained, aged piece of bench top, about twice as long, that I'll give legs and braces to. It will also go into the wooden shoe factory.

On the table is a heavy maul - a wooden hammer, kind of like Thor's Hammer. Next to it is one of the specialized knives used in wooden shoe making. The blade was cut from thin sheet aluminum and then nailed (and super-glued!) to the wooden handle. (Two tiny nails went flying before one stayed put; they are still missing.) On the bench is another specialized tool, also made of aluminum sheet, with the blade set into the handle. And in the buckets are two wooden knife handles, and some more specialized blades for tools; however, I was supposed to make these from wire beaten into shape. Guess I'll try that tomorrow, if it warm and dry outside.

I found the very tiny knob for the bow saw, while on the floor on my knees looking for a 3 mm high and 3 mm diameter brass tube (part of the propane tank I have to make). I wrecked a knife blade cutting that thing, so I think I need to invest in a tiny hacksaw. Maybe I'll find that bit of brass tube when the next teeny thing goes flying off my work surface!



The barrow for Boutique Pulchinella is now done (although I still have to give the "iron" tire a coat of satin varnish), ready to haul stuff around the boutique. Considering I had no instructions, only a photo, I think it came out quite well! These days, we would call this a dolly and it would have a rather different shape....