rustoncreation

[rustoncreation]

I had a very special opportunity to transform the piano of my clients mother who has since passed. The piano was no longer able to hold a tune and it's first iteration in life was clearly now over.

My client could not get rid of this piece because it obviously held such sentimental value. She wanted me to try to transform it into something that her fur babies could enjoy.

This was the most difficult creative project I have ever had. We didn't know what would be able to be salvaged. We didn't know what it would look like in this newly imagined function. So as I took each piece off trying to preserve as much as possible, the stress of how this would go back together mounted.

Some night I would wake up from the fear and doubt of my ability to actually finish the piece, but thanks for the support of my family and friends.. I kept going.

This video shows the different stages of our time together. It was amazing to take it apart because it was so well made. It was interesting thinking about someone almost 100 years ago putting energy into this piano to build it and now all these later I was doing the same but in reverse.

I am so proud of what came out of this and it will always hold a special place in my heart. The version of me who dropped off this piece was not the person who said yes to this project.

I had to shed lots of doubt and up-level myself to be able to complete it which is why I believe we should sometimes say yes to things we have no idea how to do and figure it out later!

I will forever be honored to have the trust to transform such a precious piece.

-Abby

#doghouse #piano #art #pianoart #moderndoghouse

[rustoncreation]

Previous Projects

[rustoncreation]

This is was a very fragile pecan cross section that I came across. The log has sat in a mill yard abandoned for 5 years before the mill decided to cut it up because part of it was starting to rot. When I first saw it, I was drawn to it’s cracks and wild worm holes... but didn’t know if it was too far gone. I decided to use the principles of wabi sabi and kintsugi and try to ressurect this piece. There was so many fills and placed the wood needed to be re-fortifed. During certain parts of the project, it felt I was just wasting my time. I’m so glad that I held out on hole. I’m blown away by the natural beauty of this peice. I’m so happy that the red I went with powerfully adds depth and drama to this already passionate piece. This piece is available for purchase. 

Photo credit: Nikola Gell

#live edge #live edge table #live edge end table #end table #industrial end table #industrial design #modern furniture #kintsugi #wabi sabi

[rustoncreation]

This is a 8′ long solid piece of pecan. This piece beautifully flows from grain pattern to contract of of colors in the wood. It is memorizing and the more you look at it, the more you will find in it. 

Photo  credit: Nicola Gell

#live edge table #live edge #live edge pecan #industrial table #dining room table

[rustoncreation]

[rustoncreation]

Maybe you are searching among the branches, for what only appears in the roots

Rumi

[rustoncreation]

[rustoncreation]

[rustoncreation]

These keys came out of a piano that was no longer able to make music, but they are now able to continue their artistic expression visual with this table. It is inlayed into a 4″ solid piece of Douglas Fir that I hand burned to give it it’s color. Love how the new owners included this in their home! 

#shousugiban piano glassinlay moderntable endtable sidetable oneofakind handmade

[rustoncreation]

Replace fear with curiosity.

Steven Spielberg

[rustoncreation]

This project was rescued from a wood pile and started as one hollowed piece of wood. I was able to cut it in two pieces and make these “twin lakes”. There is a 1/4′’ hand cut piece of glass that is inlayed(cut out the wood so that the glass is flush with the wood). It now lives in a beautiful home in East Austin. 

#liveedge glassinlay glass handcutglass hairpin modern sidetable endtable

[rustoncreation]

Here is a salvaged spalted pecan side table that was commissioned. Bringing this piece from a very rough and uneven chuck of wood into this beautiful table for a lovely home on East Austin was a blast! 

#liveedge #sidetable #endtable #salvagewood #industrialfurniture #modern #modernfurniture

[rustoncreation]

Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.

E. E. Cummings

[rustoncreation]

This is one of my all time favorite projects! This dining room table is made from Curly walnut. The curl can be seen in what looks like waves in the pictures. In person it appears that the wood has a ripple and is absolutely incredible to see. It was also a pleasure to make this for it’s wonderful new owners. They were so patient and trusting in my process which made this piece come out all the better! 

#diningroomtable #handmade #liveedge #industrialfurniture #furniture #table

[rustoncreation]

A slice of Guanacaste all the way from Costa Rico. I knew that this unusual shape of wood needed a matching funky base. I was happy that this base not only came out the way it did visually, but that my decision for a creative risk paid off by being  functional table that does indeed balance. 

SOLD 

#guanacaste #LiveEdge #sidetable #modern #moderndesign #furniture #Austin #interiordesign #modernfurniture #costarica

[rustoncreation]

Custom made spalted pecan bench with specially designed base legs. A hand made back rest that adds both a beautiful aesthetic as well as a very comfortable place to sit. 

#woodworking #bench #modernbench #spaltedpecan #modern #tableheightbench

[rustoncreation]

Here is an American Elm live edge slab atop my original designed legs. 

Commissions available 

#moderntable #functionalart #coffee table #coffee+table #moderndesign #austin #austindesign #modern