How do we define freedom? For me, its in being an artist. I'm not the kind of artist that paints portraits, but I wish I was. I don't sculpt and I don't really care to. I don't do pottery and when I do, it doesn't feel like art. Most people don't even recognize what I do as art until they experience one of my pieces. Here's what I do. I invent colors and I design furniture. For me, when I'm creating and beautifying a piece of furniture its as simple as taking a breath. The only sensation I can compare it to is that feeling you get when you're sitting on an airplane and the jet takes off and you suddenly find yourself giddy, breathless, excited, and high above the clouds. Thats when the vision becomes clear in my minds eye. I take that breath and hold it till I can't hold it anymore. Then when I release the vision into the reality of this world for your physical eyes to see, something magical happens.
The giver becomes the receiver as the eyes gloss over and the mouths drop open. My soul takes flight at this moment because for a brief moment we are connected in a way that is indescribable, but easily recognized. This is joy! This is peace. This is the desire of my heart. This is why God made me. So, I'm going to keep on creating and using the beautifying gift I've been given, but it certainly beckons this question... What makes you free?
So this year, our clients are looking for a warmer gray brown. Fortunately for us, and for them, we have products that can do that. I'll show you how to get the perfect gray brown look.
Materials
- Sandpaper- 120 grit
- Weatherwood Stains' Salvage Stain
- Weatherwood Stains' Satin Polyurethane
- Sander- 80 grit, 120 grit
- Atomized Spray Gun
- Raw Alder Bar Top
Directions
1.] We began this project with a brand new bar top. This bar was a custom project, but you could easily make this a DIY project. Just create a planked wood top and add some trim around the edges. I bet Anna White even has bar specs on her site.
If you have a bar in your home that you'd like to transform, there are plenty of tutorials on my site for how to strip an existing finish off pre-stained wood. But for raw wood, the project is that much easier. You can give the wood piece a light sand, to ensure the wood will take the stain evenly. 120 grit will work just fine for that.
2.] Stain wood with Weatherwood Stain's Salvage wood stain. You should apply this product with a sponge brush, let it dry naturally. Do not wipe it back off. As the wood stain dries, the wood becomes oxidized and it turns a beautiful warm gray brown. You can see this for yourself, in the above video.
3.] To protect the wood, you can use our Varnish or our Polyurethane. Polyurethanes are a little but stronger, so we went with that since the bar is going to get a lot of use and abuse. The Polyurethane has a pretty Satin finish. You want to apply a couple of coats for the best protection.
To conclude, think about what makes you free? What's the desire of your heart? And if you're looking for a simple project and a great way to add more wood to your home, and that perfect brown/gray, please share this post so others can enjoy.
