OUR PROCESS
Celebrating the details of decorative craftsmanship.
The cleaning and polishing process varies depending on what kind of metal something is made from and how it was made. Cast iron that is very rusted is almost impossible to return to new looking, but I use powder cleanser and scrub brushes to do the best I can.
Brass or copper that has turned black has to be cleaned with regular powder cleaners first and then polished. Pressed brass objects are more fragile than cast brass, which is thicker and stronger. People have several ways they polish old brass. Some use vinegar and salt, but I have found that method changes the chemistry of brass and it comes out a different color – slightly pink and I don’t think it looks authentic. I use Brasso and Bar Keepers Friend soft cleanser on them. On steel I use the Bar Keepers Friend polish. With a lot of scrubbing, I can usually get things polished well enough to look almost new. I want things to be beautiful and glow, but some very elaborate drawer pulls have deep grooves in them that I can’t get cleaned back to original state. I have a Dremel drill that I put little brass brushes in to get those grooves polished.
That is an uncomfortable process because I use a face shield, wear long sleeves, long rubber gloves and do the work down in a deep sink because the tiny brass brush “hairs” fly off everywhere and can go into skin easily – it hurts!!
Making a collage was a learning process that took several tries. For the first ones I made, I used shadow boxes with glass on the front to protect things. I just used a piece of cardboard and then glued various pleasing pieces of decorative papers for the background. I have gathered ephemera that I glued in places that looked “right” to me. I use Elmer’s Glue Stick that goes on Purple but dries clear for all paper.
Then the fun part begins. At first I used superglue but it gave me headaches so I had to find a water based glue that would work. Now I use Crafter’s Pick, a water-based super glue that works even for metal.
After gluing things, I let them rest a few days to dry because I treat them roughly after that! Lol. I use a strong needle – not a big darning needle, but not a dainty one. I use crafter’s bent needle nose pliers and poke holes through the foam core board in strategic places close to the heavier things so I can wire them on. Then I use 24 gauge color-coordinated wire to hold things on strongly. I like the collages that don’t have glass on the front because it seems to have much more depth. After a few weeks, I touch every tiny item that is too small for wire to make sure they are thoroughly glued on.Then I sit back and admire them! So much fun. I know that I use many objects that are actually too valuable to put in a collage. I am very audacious about this but I really want everyone to be able to see these things instead of trying to sell them one-by-one online for $20 or $30!(A few,WAY more!!) So I put a “$” next to the valuable items so people will be aware.