Planter’s Chair Conservation
Chest Conservation
Lollipop Chair Conservation
C.W. Parker Portland Horse
Erzulie Danthor Drapo Preservation
Draperies
Author Archives: D. Katie Powell
Throwback Thursday: Backgammon
A military couple had traveled all around the world with this backgammon set. When they retired they finally wanted the worn board restored. Simple in some ways, it had to be accurate and smooth. We excavated the old, conserved the … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, preservation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects
Tagged #backgammon, #furnitureconservation, #gamingtable, #heirloom, #pacificnorthwest, #portlandoregon, #upholsteryconservation, #UpholsteryPortlandOregon, #upholsteryrestoration, antiques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, keepsake, leather, legacy, MPF Conservation, Portland, Portland Oregon, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery
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Chinese Statue Conservation Treatment
Two polychrome statues, one whose hand was previously repaired incorrectly. Both were quite dirty. Our job was to remove the poor repair, repair it correctly, and clean and stabilize the finish on both statues. The treatment was a mixture of … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, gilding, painted objects, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged #artconservation, #paintconservation, #statuerepair, carved, Chinese statues, conservation, Gamblin, gilded objects, gilding, painted finishes, painted objects, preservation, statue conservation, statue repair
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Sketching to Communicate with Clients
Does anyone create lovely sketches for their clients anymore? We often create amazing decorative pillows to accompany a conserved item. Kate created design sketches from images and samples, so that we could better talk with our client about ideas for … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, decorative motifs, French Furniture, textiles, upholstery
Tagged #clientsketches, #frenchfurniture, #pillows, #portlandoregon, #seamstress, #traditionalupholstery, #upholsterypacificnorthwest, #UpholsteryPortlandOregon, client sketches, conservation, passementerie, Portland Oregon, tailor, traditional upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon
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Throwback Thursday: Child’s Rocker
This week may be children’s week, as I am posting a throwback to a child’s rocker as well. The mother grew up with this rocker, but had made a new needlepoint for the seat. She wanted the old needlepoint cleaned. … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, preservation, restoration techniques, textiles, upholstery
Tagged #childschair, #furnitureconservation, #heirloom, #pacificnorthwest, #portlandoregon, #textileconservation, #upholsteryconservation, #UpholsteryPortlandOregon, #upholsteryrestoration, antiques, chair, Children's Furniture, conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, keepsake, legacy, MPF Conservation, needlepoint, Pacific Northwest, petitpoint, Portland, Portland Oregon, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon
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Heirloom Child’s Chair
The chair came to us through the heiress (hereafter called LB) to the Frank Crowe Mason Monterey Collection. The sweet chair was made by her grandfather… Someone had recovered it, but thankfully the original stuffings were intact! She wanted it … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, restoration techniques, textiles, traditional varnishes
Tagged #childschair, #furnitureconservation, #heirloom, #pacificnorthwest, #portlandoregon, #upholsteryconservation, #UpholsteryPortlandOregon, #upholsteryrestoration, antiques, chair, Children's Furniture, conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, Interim Report, keepsake, legacy, Mason Monterey, MPF Conservation, Pacific Northwest, Portland, Portland Oregon, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon
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Textile Conservation: Victorian Beaded Angel Needlepoint
One of the sweetest pieces we ever treated. A widow had several items conserved for the children in the family. This lovely beaded needlepoint had many condition issues: dozens of moth-eaten areas, ripped or broken canvas, a good deal of … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles
Tagged #angel, #beadedneedlepoint, #beadwork, #mpfconservation, #NativeAmericanBeadwork, #needlepointrepair, #pacificnorthwest, #portlandoregon, #tentstitch, #textileconservation, #textilerestoration, bead repair, bead work, conservation, needlepoint, needlepoint repair, preservation, tent stitch, Textile conservation, Victorian, woven beadwork, woven beadwork repair
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Repairing Trigger
Whether you are a fan or not, a unique look at repairing Trigger. Part 1 Part 2
Washington State Flag, First Drafts, Paper
Beginning with the test sheets, I created test paintings of oil on paper. The paper was primed with shellac to prevent oil seepage. New tracings from our master tracing are created each time so the marks are fresh. My first … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, process, reproduction, textiles
Tagged #DARstateflag, #daughtersoftheamericanrevolution, #drafts, #gamblinartistcolors, #gamblinoilpaint, #replication #paintingonsilk, #testpainting, #washingtonstateflag, DAR, flag, painting on silk, replication, State Flag, Washington history, Washington State DAR, Washington State Flag
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Del Rey Dining Set: 1, Cleaning
Note: Some of the changes in color are due to using two cameras and different lighting! I bought a lovely Del Rey set owned by one family, and am getting it ready to sell it. (I forgot to photograph the … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, Interim Report, painted furniture, preservation, process, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged #californiafurniture, #californiastyle, #cattle, #delreyfurniture, #forsale, #masonmonterey, #Mexican, #palms, #palmtree, #ranchstyle, #southwest, #westernfurniture, burro, cactus, clean furniture, conservation, Del Rey, Del Rey furniture, donkey, Mason Monterey, painted furniture, Palm tree, restoration
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Victorian Firescreen Textile Treatment
This Victorian firescreen, circa 1890-1910, is a family heirloom, created from petitpoint, needlepoint, and cross-stitching, quite lovely when new. Originally it might have attached to a wooden or metal stand, standing in front of a fireplace to shield the family … Continue reading
Posted in conservation techniques, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles
Tagged #artsandcrafts, #crossstitching, #silk, #textileconservation, #textilerestoration, #wool, arts and crafts, cleaning, cross-stitch, Firescreen, infill, linen, needlepoint, petitpoint, smoke, Textile conservation, tobacco, Victorian
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Washington State Flag, Mixing Paint
I created test sheets for oil versions of George. Two coats of shellac seals the paper for the oil paint. It is nice to use up old shellac which can no longer be used on furniture! Phthalo Green and Chromium … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, art, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, pigments, process, reproduction, textiles
Tagged #DARstateflag, #gamblinartistcolors, #gamblinoilpaint, #replication #paintingonsilk, #washingtonstateflag, DAR, flag, painting on silk, replication, State Flag, Washington history, Washington State DAR, Washington State Flag
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Washington State Flag, Tracings
The Flag Room is staged for the duration of the project. Black foam-core lines the walls waiting for the silk to be stretched upon. The silk will be attached to the foam-core for stability. The center table, currently used to … Continue reading
Washington State Flag: Gamblin Paints
I might’ve struggled through trail and error and testing on many phases, but thankfully, we are fortunate to share Portland as our home base with Gamblin Artist Colors, home to both the best oil paints and also, home to Gamblin … Continue reading
Labor Day in the Finish Studio
A post from dkatiepowellart… also Kate from MPF Conservation! Labor Day weekend and we are laborers so we are working… We have new A/C and I have a new lease on life in my newly cleaned and reorganized studio! I … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, art, painted furniture, wooden objects
Tagged #masonmonterey, #montereyfurniture, antiques, Del Rey, finish studio, Mason Monterey, MPF Conservation
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Mason Monterey Smokey Maple Floral Bedroom Set
We are breaking up the Mason Monterey Smokey Maple Floral Bedroom Set circa 1932 and selling it by the piece. Mason Monterey highly decorated and desirable floral pattern had one owner. The set is in good condition, with little damage … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, News, painted furniture, Spanish Furniture
Tagged #masonmonterey #montereyfurniture #antiques, 1930, 1931, 1932, bedroom set, desk, dresser, floral, for sale, highboy dresser, Mason Monterey, Mirror, monterey for sale, Monterey Furniture, painted furniture, Smokey Maple, twin bed, wall mirror
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How to Talk to an Artisan or Contractor
*this teaching moment applies to many types of situations… nothing here intended to be derogatory — just silly sweeping generalizations and fiction!* You have a lovely valuable antique (above) worth $5000 that needs work. Here are several scenarios and what … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, CAUTIONS, conservation techniques, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques
Tagged conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, MPF Conservation, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Portland Oregon, preservation, process, reparation, restoration, restoration techniques, Upholstery Portland Oregon
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V&A: Moulding a Marcel Breuer Chair Seat
This is fun! I want to know how they made the mould! “Standard flat plywood boards cannot be moulded into curved shapes. To form curved plywood, glue is spread over layers of thin, cross-grained veneers which are placed in a … Continue reading
A Quirky Conservation Project
You just have to see the video! .
Posted in conservation techniques
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Lianne’s Linen Sampler Ca 1806
Lianne’s Great-great-great-GREAT grandmother, Hannah Epes, completed this sampler on June 26th, 1806, when she was 10 years old. It came to us in the sweet old handkerchief box her grandmother kept it in, above, a keepsake. I like hearing the … Continue reading
Texaco Fire Chief Gasoline Banner
Growing up in Southern California, the home of the automobile, I remember fondly this emblem as a kid! The Texaco Fire Chief Banner was in excellent condition, but dirty and creased. The back appeared to have been dropped into dirt, … Continue reading
Posted in art, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, restoration techniques, textiles
Tagged banner, conservation techniques, gas station, gasoline banner, Interim Report, MPF Conservation, process, restoration, restoration techniques, Texaco Fire Chief, Textile conservation, washing textiles
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Washington State Flag, Testing and Our Finalist!
Never underestimate the benefits of testing materials. I am by nature an impatient artist and tend to dive into art materials and experiment when it is my own art processes, however, with clients, I read, I test products, and it … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, process, reproduction, textiles
Tagged #DARstateflag, #gamblinartistcolors, #gamblinoilpaint, #paintingonsilk, #washingtonstateflag, DAR, flag, Gamblin PVA, momme, mommes, painting on silk, replication, State Flag, Textile conservation, textile conservator, textiles, Washington history, Washington State DAR, Washington State Flag
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Washington State Flag, “So you say you have contenders…”
A caveat in posting a rant, however humorous. There are some excellent showrooms, and we are grateful and support them whenever we can. The rant below is a glimpse into what can happen and does happen when two seasoned professionals … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, process, reproduction, restoration techniques, textiles
Tagged #DARstateflag, #paintingonsilk, #washingtonstateflag, DAR, flag, painting on silk, replication, State Flag, Washington history, Washington State DAR, Washington State Flag
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Washington State Flag, NEVER Say “No Problem”
A whopping four decades I’ve been in the business — even though I am ONLY going on fifty 🙂 — and gads if this hasn’t taught me a huge lesson. Never, ever, ever tell a client something is going to … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, process, reproduction, textiles
Tagged #DARstateflag, #paintingonsilk, #washingtonstateflag, DAR, flag, green silk, matching colors, matching silk, painting on silk, replication, State Flag, Washington history, Washington State DAR, Washington State Flag
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Washington State Flag
The historic flag, above hanging on the wall of the Reception Room, a grand ballroom, is not the flag in its original form, but seen with modifications. How does that impact the replication process? The decision has to be made … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, process, reproduction, textiles
Tagged #DARstateflag, #paintingonsilk, #washingtonstateflag, DAR, flag, painting on silk, replication, State Flag, Textile conservation, textile conservator, textiles, Washington history, Washington State DAR, Washington State Flag
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Washington State Flag
My rendering of the Historic Flag, above. Below, the Historic Flag in the State Reception Room. We begin the process of replicating the Washington State Flag originally made by the Washington State chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution … Continue reading
Posted in history, Interim Report, musings, News, painted objects, reproduction, textiles
Tagged #DARstateflag, #paintingonsilk, #washingtonstateflag, DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution, flag, historic, oil paint on silk, Olympia, painting, replication, reproduction, Washington State Legislative Building
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Conservation of Mason Monterey Tinoco Bedside Stand
We conserved and restored a Mason Monterey side table with the charming, humorous and valuable Juan Tinoco horses on the drawer front. Our client’s budget determined our scope of work. The table top was warped, lifting on both sides from … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, mold, painted furniture, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged #bedsidetable, #conservationtechniques, #finishconservation, #finishrestoration, #frankmason, #juandurantinoco, #juantinoco, #leatherhandles, #masonmonterey, #montereyfurniture, #restorationteachniques, #smokeyivory, #smokeymaple, conservation, horses, restoration
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Creating Random Pattern in a Painted Finish
This is a European Pear wood, Louis XVI, French Empire Sofa from the mid-18th century. The image above is the way it appeared when it arrived in our studio. The frame was well-loved by generations though abuses by upholsterers and … Continue reading
A Longer Video on Conserving the Eclectic Sofa
This slideshow shows the process (in abbreviated form) of conserving the Eclectic Victorian Tufted-Back Sofa. There is an interesting story behind this and the two chairs that are part of the set: stay tuned over the next few months for … Continue reading
Posted in conservation techniques
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Real Men Spit Tacks
Real men upholsterers spit tacks. After all these years, it still creeps me out a bit — I see his cheeks bulge a specific way while he is having a conversation with me and I’ll peer at him as if … Continue reading
Process: Circus Ball 3
We left the Circus Ball as it had been prepped for its paint layers. I am so sorry that all my images of the ball sanded smooth are very blurry! Happily, the detailed images are in sharp! The first coat … Continue reading
Endangered Places 2016, The First Set
Thanks to Drew Nasto, Craig Powell, and for the various locations for allowing me to use historic images to place into sketch format to commemorate the projects! Kate is sketching many of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places for 2016 in a … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, house museums, preservation
Tagged art journal, buildings, Chateau, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, dkatiepowellart, Fort Rock, Jantzen Beach Carousel, Mason Monterey, MPF Conservation, Oregon Caves NM, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentel Brush Pen, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, preservation, QoR watercolors, Rivoli Theater, Super5 ink, watercolor, Wong Laundry Building
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Restoration Award Celebration Dinner, The Event
Thanks to Drew Nasto for letting me use his images to place into sketch format to commemorate the night! When an artist draws, we remember. When we draw details, we get to know our subjects intimately. The simple act of … Continue reading
Restoration Award Celebration Dinner, Kate’s Process
Mitchell and Kate attended the Restoration Celebration to raise money for the the 2016 Most Endangered Places, and to hear the winners of the 2015 Demuro Awards, as the guest of one of our clients, Karla Pearlstein of Restoring History. … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, history, house museums, preservation
Tagged art journal, buildings, dkatiepowellart, MPF Conservation, Portland Oregon, preservation, watercolor
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Process: Circus Ball 4
We left the Circus Ball with four layers of Gamblin Silver Oil Paint. Time to add the Cobalt Blue star! Who says one never uses High School math? Kate used Geometry to create the template for the proper sizes star. … Continue reading
Posted in conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged balance ball, circus ball, damage from chemical strips, dip and strip, Gamblin Oil Paint, no chemical stripping, repair, restoration, star
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Process: Circus Ball 2
Before I start showing you the restoration process, first let’s take a moment to marvel at this extraordinary ball. I rarely post full-size images, but the texture on this damaged ball is so beautiful, and the construction so extraordinary, that … Continue reading
The Sketchpack Project: MPF Conservation Tools
ABOUT SKETCHPACK: The project began in 2011. The original idea was to get folks to draw daily. The Sketchpack is a small zigzag journal with two usable sides, allowing one to sketch on both sides of 15 ‘pages’ to complete … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, funny funny, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, tailor, tools, upholstery, wooden objects
Tagged anvil, art journal, aum, beeswax, Berry's, bostitch, chalk chuck, chalk line, furniture, Grex, hart twine, headknife, Houles gimp trim, Houles Tassel, kitchen, leather punch, leather strap cutter, leather strap fence, lie-nielsen saw, MPF Conservation, om, passementerie, pincer, pincushion, pyrex, Sketchpack Project, staple remover, Staplegun, stick picker, upholstery tacks
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Process: Circus Ball!
The thing I love most about our business is that you never know what is going to roll into our studio for treatment! Earlier this year, a new client sent the images below, along with the image of his aunt … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, CAUTIONS, conservation techniques, history, Interim Report, painted furniture, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged balance ball, circus ball, damage from chemical strips, dip and strip, no chemical stripping, repair, restoration
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Process: Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Upholstery, 2 Show Cover
Continuing from the Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Upholstery, 1 Buildup post, (Or to begin at the beginning go here.) Buildup is complete, and we are ready to prepare the Show Cover of 4-5 oz. vegetable tanned strapping leather. Above, the … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, Interim Report, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects
Tagged 1910, antiques, arts and crafts, chair, conservation techniques, dye, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, Gustav Stickley, Interim Report, Ladderback Arm Chair, leather, MPF Conservation, Pacific Northwest, Portland, process, reparation, restoration techniques, show cover, strapping leather, traditional varnishes, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon, waxes, wooden objects and tagged 1900
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Process: Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Upholstery, 1 Buildup
Continuing from the Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Finish post, (Or to begin at the beginning go here.) The frame is repaired and the finish conserved; Buildup begins! Stickley chairs do not have dustcovers, and so the underside of the canvas … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery
Tagged 1910, antiques, arts and crafts, chair, conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, Gustav Stickley, Interim Report, Ladderback Arm Chair, MPF Conservation, Pacific Northwest, Portland, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, traditional varnishes, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon, wooden objects
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