THE POTBELLY STOVE MAKE
This was one of the most challenging projects I've ever done. And therefore one of the most satisfying.
The mission was to make a potbelly stove for our assigned recipient. I was to make for "Scrig", titled "Keeper of the Useless Chopsaw". Scrig is a fine artist of miniature paintings and their frames. I gathered items that would fit that- sketch book, brushes, wood for frames etc. I did a lot of internet research to find the perfect 'model' of a potbelly stove. I found this one on a buy/sell page. As I looked at it, I was taken by the egg shape of firebox. That inspired me to search for an egg. I dug around looking for some plastic Easter eggs I'd had at one time, but then remembered putting them in a garage sale. (There's that conundrum- do you keep it because you might need it some day?) Then I got thinking about using a real egg. I spent a lot of time looking at some very interesting webpages about egg art. And I was underway
This was one of the most challenging projects I've ever done. And therefore one of the most satisfying.
The mission was to make a potbelly stove for our assigned recipient. I was to make for "Scrig", titled "Keeper of the Useless Chopsaw". Scrig is a fine artist of miniature paintings and their frames. I gathered items that would fit that- sketch book, brushes, wood for frames etc. I did a lot of internet research to find the perfect 'model' of a potbelly stove. I found this one on a buy/sell page. As I looked at it, I was taken by the egg shape of firebox. That inspired me to search for an egg. I dug around looking for some plastic Easter eggs I'd had at one time, but then remembered putting them in a garage sale. (There's that conundrum- do you keep it because you might need it some day?) Then I got thinking about using a real egg. I spent a lot of time looking at some very interesting webpages about egg art. And I was underway
I emptied the egg, used a template to position and mark a circle around the top of the egg and cut it out with nail scissors. Of course, it was jagged, and I cracked one egg beyond use. Finally I got to this. ( Just recently someone suggested that I could have put shellac or something on the shell to stabilize it. Wish I'd heard that back then!) As I thought about how to make a door, I asked my hubby about using a Dremel to do it. He agreed that it should work, dug out a suitable blade and taught me how to use it. I wish I had used the Dremel to do this part of the cutting, it would have done a neater job. As it was, I used the Dremel to tidy up the edges. Then I carefully cut out a door in the front.
I just realized that I didn't take any more pictures at the construction stages...I get kind of focused at times...
Some of the problems I solved:
Some of the problems I solved:
- The base is made from one egg compartment in an egg carton, of course the obvious choice to hold an egg in place...
- The apron is a luckily appropriate sized piece of chipboard from my scrapbooking suppliles.
- The top I made by holding the egg upside down and tracing around it on heavy cardstock, then adding on a smaller round part at the back for the chimney.
- The chimney is made from a straw.
This was another of my inspiration photos, giving me the idea of the 'rusted' look. It directed me to the idea that the stove was not a working one, but had been re-purposed.
After spraying the whole stove black with several coats, I applied paint simulating rust.
After spraying the whole stove black with several coats, I applied paint simulating rust.
The final step was personalizing the stove to fit Scrig's 'persona' and to bring in the GSOLFOT theme.
As I said, this was one of the most challenging things I have done, and therefore one of the fondest memories.
- Framing lumber in stove pipe and on the apron.
- Sketch pad and brushes on the apron.
- Palette with her title on the base.
- Two bottles of green champagne, GSOLSOT's official drink, in the firebox/imagined icebox.
- Plate of chocolate treats sitting on top. (GSOLFOT's official food)
- Picture of Green Sock on Left Foot on Tuesday clipped to the chimney.
As I said, this was one of the most challenging things I have done, and therefore one of the fondest memories.