I've been giving Vienna her extra calories in the alleyway of the Sheep Sheraton, as she has gotten knocked down a couple times in the fold by some little Shetland piggies. Once in awhile, like this morning, Berlin slips out with her. Since she doesn't need the extra calories, I decided to catch her and see how my smallest halter fits her now. She's grown!
Poppy had come along to do chores with me and was WAAAAY too interested in Berlin, who was jumping around like a big fish on the line. So I pulled Berlin close to protect her, and took the opportunity to look closely at her fleece (and take photos). 😉 Gorgeous in every spot – mid-side, back, and rump!
Given her parentage, chances were good that she would have fine, crimpy fleece, but it was oh, so gratifying to see that it is. I'm debating putting a coat on her; a coat can sometimes damage the tips of baby fleece, but it would sure keep it cleaner.
That's it for now from . . .
6 comments:
What do a furniture restorer and a knitter have in common? Wool! My uses of wool are limited, but important. A ball of fleece tightly wound inside a pad of linen makes the traditional - and absolute best! - French polishing pad. The wool holds tons of shellac and oil, the linen is slick and lint free. With a lot of practice and just the right curl in the corner of one's mouth, the rubber can be made to apply 'just right' and lay on coat after coat of polish to the prime antique surface. I'm also interested in natural sources of dyestuffs. Of course, I'm interested in shades of brown for furniture! Walnut husks, marigold and chrysanthemum petals, cochineal beetles.... Cheers
Tim, I thought it was frowned upon to refinish antiques because it lowers their value; did I hear incorrectly? Too bad naturally brown fleece can't contribute its color to wood, because Berlin's fleece is a beautifully rich color!
So cute :-D
Fine furniture - antique furniture especially - requires care and skillful attention to keep it in top condition, and value. Finishes are 'sacrificial' and need to be cared for too. The 'Road Show' boys loved telling people "Oh, had this piece not been refinished, it would be worth soooooo much more." But I actually have a video clip when they said this, as the camera zoomed in and showed the residue of grey porch paint down in the joints. Who dropped the value? The person who painted the piece grey, or the person who brought it back to life and use? Extending the fairy tale of 'what might have been' was much more TV friendly than to simply address the item at hand as it was presented.
The TV appraisers are guilty of using that 'but for' ploy to build anticipation and to cushion their own variability as to value statements.
Almost all furniture we see as 'antique' is factory manufactured furniture with no special intrinsic value. Refinishing Grandma's painted Sears Grand Rapids set you found out in the chicken shed will only make it more enjoyable to have and use, and more 'valuable' for the effort. Hand made period pieces with provenance need skilled professional care - and that's where I came into the picture. That fine furniture is the only stuff valuable enough to pay me to rub my shoulder into aches and pain with a wool and linen pad applying fresh polish.
Cheers!
Tim, thanks for this information! We have some antiques here from Rick's side of the family, one of which (a pie safe) is handmade with a note in the top drawer to prove it; the other (a bedroom set) is as you said, I'm sure, factory made. Rick has quoted the refinishing line and probably won't change his mind, but I'm glad to know the truth from an expert!
Berlin is such a cutie- and wow, her fleece looks amazing! :)
Post a Comment