The end is getting close. For some reason the Thanksgiving week has always felt like a major marker in a semester, and this studio is no different. We have just under a month to complete the project, and while last week that seemed plenty of time, this week, we feel a bit of the pressure.
The project is still going very well, deadlines aside. We are installing our porches, finishing up the electrical wiring, and refinishing Mrs. Marshall’s mantle. The mantle is a solid oak and until we stripped it down, had been covered in about ten layers of lead based paint. Using a biodegradable paint stripper, we worked to take off these layers, and we are now sanding down the surfaces and working through all of the nooks and crevices to restore this beautiful piece of furniture. When we are finished, we will install it in their new dining room, so that they can enjoy something familiar in their new home.

Jennifer Tate-Student