30 Days of Photographs III - Craftsman

When I walk through my home, I see the work of craftsmen all around me.

We have antiques that were hand made before the days of mass factory furniture manufacturing. These pieces have stood the test of time and their history draws in my eyes. I see the grain of the wood and the masterful way that the are fabricated with nails, dowels and dovetails. Some have parts worn or broken over time and some even have fabulous holes eaten by persistent mice years ago.

There are newer wooden furniture pieces of fantastic craftsmanship. These pieces were rescued from our home in the days following our fire. They were taken to a shop where many men spent hours stripping burned and charred wood, repairing it, and restoring it to a healthy and beautiful finish. I am in awe of the work that they did.

Our house itself is a masterpiece of craftmanship. The men that took our burned out home, gutted it, and rebuilt it are my heroes. I marvel every day at the work that they did.

As I walked around, with camera in hand I could not focus on which piece captured the word in the way that I wanted. Then I saw this in a corner.

It may not look like the work of a skilled artisan to you, but it shouted at me as I walked into the room. This little table is actually a creation that I made from two pieces. The top of the table is an old seed drawer from a small store in my husband's home town. If you don't know the term, a seed drawer has a glass front so that the merchant could put the grain, seed, dried bean or other product in view. This drawer front now has several old pieces inside that belong to my husband and come from his family. Under this drawer is a small stool that now serves as the "legs" to this table. That stool was made by my father when he was a newlywed almost 60 years ago. He built it for my mother to sit upon when she was at her "dressing table" putting on her make-up. It is just a simple wooden stool, but i know the love that went into making it. I remember the first project my husband made for me when we were newlyweds. It was a spice rack, and it was crooked and sad, but I loved it.

This little table survived our fire and was taken to the shop to be restored and brought back in pristine condition. Its parts may not have been wood-worked by master craftsmen, but it has carved a special place in my heart.