Click for larger image.
I appreciate an eye that can see beneath weathered wood grain. An eye that brings new life to a piece of furniture, lamp, picture frames...you imagine it.
My inspiration throughout the recent seasons has been woodworking. From place to place I see so many fun opportunities to create a piece of furniture or do a small project, but I must pick and chose! Lately, I am interested in salvaged wood and discovering the wood grain and a purpose for some beautiful cherry and walnut boards.
For this coat hanger project, as a start, I used a piece of barn wood from my Grandma's farm. It needed a tune-up, so I gently sanded off the raised grain. I then used a tack cloth to remove any unwanted particles or cloth fibers, then sealed it with several coats of a matte polyurethane using a cotton rag.
For months, I searched stores, websites, and galleries, looking for hooks that were just the right thing. It's one of those things, you will know it when you see it. It wasn't until a recent trip to Alaska, that I found the perfect hooks! A local artist from a small town called Seward, made the moose hooks out of iron. As for the copper wolf, that was found in Anchorage, also made by an artist. I was so excited to find these awesome creations!
My weekender project is complete, and holding up to daily use for coats, umbrellas, and keys, as anticipated. I am so pleased with it!
Some key points with this project are to use wood that is not dry rotted, or it will split when you install the screws. I used a drill and wood screws to attach the wood to the wall, while making sure to use my stud-finder first. The screws were different metals for the hooks (short) and wood (long), so I used black and brown acrylic paint to color match the texture and color of the screws as a final detail. Take a peek!