Found Object Art

This is a very common sight around the workshop of The Brambleberry Cottage—

both inside and out.

Though I attempt to keep some semblance of order—organizing our multitudes of

baskets and bins of rusty metal, chippy-paint boards, balusters and spindles, and other

assorted salvage—it does have a tendency to get out of hand

at times...especially when we are in the midst of several

projects, as is currently the case.

And the clutter begins to mount even higher when a project or two gets

stalled because some key component

seems to be missing. 

That's exactly what happened with the variety of junk you see in the first image...

that is, until we found the old, beat-up tin full of

 vintage porcelain insulators.

Once the insulators were in our possession, the creative mind of the Yankee

started whirling, and a certain prized piece of wood

 of mine became a key to one of his latest designs. 

I had found this wonderful old porch post at the flea market last year

and had stored it away in the barn for a future project.  Its layers of paint had

begun to crackle and chip away, revealing the most fantastic

weathered patina.

I was rather reluctant to relinquish my hold on this treasure...

until the Yankee convinced me that his

project was worthy of its use.

  

As soon as I consented to letting him have my pretty wood post, he went to work

welding together several salvaged parts from antique

 cast iron wood stoves.

A good scrub with a wire brush—to eliminate the loose flakes of rust—and a

few coats of our favorite spray sealant gave the rusty components

a nice rich patina.

While the Yankee was constructing his creations, I searched through a number of

bins in the barn to scout out the perfect pieces

of metal for the bases.

They had to be just the right dimensions and thickness to compliment

 the Yankee's pieces.

And this is what I came up with.  Aren't they "grate"?!   ; )

So my vintage porch post, coupled with a few rusty grater parts, some

old insulators, an old gear or two, and several antique stove parts

 became...

"found object" art.

As hard as it was to give up, I think the Yankee put my

wood post to good use!   ; )

Joining:

 SJ's Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop, Susan's Metamorphosis Monday,

Carrie's Amaze Me Monday, Just Something I Whipped Up,

Nita's Mod Mix Monday, Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday,

Kristin's Tuesday's Treasures, Tammy's Anything Goes,

Mary's Share the Love Wednesday, Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday,

Leigh's Thrifty Thursday, Gina's Transformation Thursday,

Becky's Under $100.00 Party, Allison's Hookin Up With HOH,

LaurieAnna's Farmhouse Friday, Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday,

Cindy's Show and Tell Friday, Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday,

Donna's Saturday Nite Special, Meg's Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Angie's Knick of Time Tuesday