With Expert Peter Gedrys

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Haddam Community Center, 7 Candlewood Hill Road, Higganum, CT 06441

Free and Open to the Public

" When discussing antique furniture we embrace the term "original finish". This highly prized surface is sought after by dealers and collectors alike. Yet what is an "original finish?"

This talk will discuss the materials and methods of furniture finishing through the ages including:

Oil

Wax

Varnishes

Shellac

French Polish

Lacquer 

As time allows a few application techniques will be demonstrated.

Peter Gedrys has restored Continental and American furniture for 30 years. He's taught at the Fashion Institute of Technology, written extensively for Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding magazines and has been featured in the Hartford Courant and New York Times. His website may be viewed at: www.petergedrys.com . 

For further information please call 860-345-2400 or email [email protected]

The Thankful Arnold House Museum hosted a very successful Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day on Sunday, June 23 at the museum. We had close to 80 people visit and tour the beautiful garden, make a craft and try our special rhubarb lemonade. The house was also open for tours led by docents Sarah Neal and Lisa Malloy. Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who helped out including Amy Roper, Deb Rutter, Dianne McHutchison, Charlene Breen, Laura Schneider, Sarah Neal and Sarah Torff. It was a spectacular day.

Our summer program was held last week and even though it rained three out of the four days, a good time was had by all! We made butter and cornbread, crafted a board game called Nine Men’s Morris and felted hot pad and did 19 ^th century chores. Vivienne and Bob McGarry of Cold Goats Farm in Haddam Neck visited with chickens and mom goat, Periwinkle and her twin babies, Tax and Refund (born on April 15). Campers learned about animal care, washing fiber, and spinning. The week ended with a open house celebration which included homemade lemonade and a 19 ^th century dance performance.

Thank you to Sarah Neal for all the work she puts into running the program and Jody Wintsch for assisting this year. Our helpers were Natalie Houlton, Jaimey DiNapoli, Ryder Page, Aliza Cirillo and Alyssa Lecky.