HARTFORD, Conn. -- Leigh Keno was sprawled on the floor of the upstairs landing, twisting his body to get a good look at the bottom of a walnut lowboy and shining a small, hand-held yellow flashlight for a clearer view of its underside.
"That creates a feeling and belief that is good -- that it could sell for anything."You will also want to protect your items with UV protective glass. A good backing for the shadow box is a must. Use a suede board or an acid-free mat board. Some people use a velvet-covered board, but whatever you choose, make certain that it won't fade and that it is acid-free."You'll also want to fold your items and make sure that the bulk won't be too great for the depth of the shadow box." She showed how the scouting shirt can be folded around the backing board to become the background of the total display.Enter Jana Zacher. She is the quietly competent frame shop manager for Ben Franklin Crafts in Kaysville and has been framing for more than nine years. I asked for her expertise and advice. She gave me a wealth of information about shadow boxes in general and specific tips for shadow boxes pertaining to scouting.Organic items such as a bridal bouquet have usually already been dried. You can spray the item with a UV protective spray to preserve it further."You're a true treasure hunter," Keno wrote, in part. "You have ... a wonderful collection. I am truly honored to be here."Zacher also likes to secure metals (like an engraved plaque or badge) with E6000 glue or silicone. Both of these can be cut off later if needed."There are so many treasures here -- a treasure around every corner.""Every day is like a big treasure hunt for me. ... You never know what's going to be through that next door or the next set of steps that maybe go up to the attic," he said. "You never know what's going to be just beyond that."Having the double sink options allows both of you to use the space at the same time when in a hurry or simply gives you an opportunity to discuss your plans for the day as you are preparing for the day ahead. You also have added storage for those items that tend to clutter up valuable counter space below as well as more space to spread these items out along the vanity as well. I highly recommend keeping as much as possible out of sight however as this is not visually distracting.For a less formal arrangement, steel T-pins or pearl-top pins can be used to pin an item into place allowing the pin to show. But care should be taken, Zacher reminded me, in making certain that the pins are rustproof.Zacher says that when preserving material, it is important to be certain the items are as clean and neatly pressed as possible. Likewise with bridal gowns, sports jerseys or military uniforms.But I found, upon gathering everything, that I wasn't certain how to go about displaying them in the safest and most pleasing way.Special items can be kept longer as reminders of a wonderful era. "Not too long ago, I framed an icing flower from a wedding cake!" Zacher said. She has also framed crocheted baby booties, toys, ballet slippers, record album covers, military items, guns, tools, old veterinary and dental implements, two guitars and even a long warrior spear. Everything looks more important and special when it is arranged in an artful way and framed.The search for "something great" is "innate, almost, that's in all of us," Keno said. "It starts when we were little, finding seashells at the beach. ... That's an innate thing -- to collect and love objects. You can get so much joy and pleasure out of them."She further recommends the use of acid-free glue dots when securing Scouting pins. The glue dots, by themselves, may not hold up to extreme hot and cold, so she removes the back of the pin (those which have the pinch-type round backings) and punches the push-pin through the glue dot to hold it securely. The fabric should not be damaged by the glue dot, should you decide to change the arrangement at a later time.Keno said his "mantra is low estimates." And he plans to have as few "reserve," or minimum, prices as possible.GAVEL IN HANDTo secure heavier items, use wire to wrap around the item in an inconspicuous place and then secure the wire through the board. You will have to create a small pilot hole through your material and the backing board in order to push the wire through.Most important of all, Zacher says, is to be certain that the wire you use to hang your shadow box is strong enough to hold the weight of your items and attached to your shadow box securely.At the first West Hartford home he visited, he said, he was "like a kid in a candy shop." When he saw a small William and Mary spice cabinet with its original legs -- "an extremely important" piece dated 1737 -- Keno joked that we'd better call the paramedics.Keno plans to conduct the auction in Stamford himself. He said he has conducted auctions in the past -- briefly when he was at Christie's and, early in his career, for Doyle Galleries in New York. He plans to auction off 65 to 70 lots an hour. He already has about 580 lots for the auction, "give or take," and hopes to have about 800 for the two-day event."I have used multi-paned wooden windows to display pictures of children growing up," she said. They make wonderful shadow boxes for pictures of your children from infancy to young adult with included mementos.Zacher also explained that you want to preserve the unique quality of a piece. She tells of putting a shadow box together for a family whose mother had physical handicaps that made it nearly impossible for her to sew her Scout's badges onto his bandelo.My friend, Todd, has Scouting memorabilia leading up to his Eagle award. As a "crafty-type" person, I have assembled several shadow boxes for myself and others. Most of them were fairly small, simple and held only a few items. I figured it would be an easy task to assemble a shadow box displaying Todd's items.e-mail: vparsons@desnews.comYou will want to consider your budget for the project before making any major decisions about specific vanity tops, cabinets, or other hardware. A bathroom design can be second in expense to a kitchen design, but it will also have a significant impact on the overall value of your home so it is a worthy investment, particularly if you are going to enjoy your time in your home even more as a result of the remodel. In order to make sure you have enough money to complete your project, establish a realistic budget (by this I mean compare prices and know what�s available) with a little wiggle room for unexpected emergencies that may crop up and stick with it."It's a primal thing. Collecting is not just gathering; ... it's amassing and organizing.""Baby blessing gowns are one of my favorite things to shadow- box. They're just so sweet and pretty. You don't want to have a small stain of spit-up or drool yellowing your material for forever.""She had done the very best she could, and you could see how difficult it was for her." Some badges had to be stapled on, rather than stitched. The awkward stitches and staples were not replaced in the finished shadow box; rather, it was a point of pride for them to show. It was one of the things that added charm and uniqueness. They told a wonderful story of a determined Scouting family.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Author: Nancy Schoeffler The Hartford Courant
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