A Chair That Survived Fire Gets New Life With a Colorful Makeover

by Heather

5 Materials

$40

2 Days

Medium

On November 8 last year, a lot of people around the world heard the devastating news about a Northern California town, called Paradise, which was completely destroyed by a forest fire named the Camp Fire. My family and I were four out of 27,000 people that ran for their lives that November morning. It was the scariest thing I’d ever been through and my kids are just starting to let go of the fear that’s gripped them ever since.

But that’s not what this post is about. It’s about the wooden chair we found when we went dig through the ashes of our old home. The chair had only been charred. My husband and I appreciated it’s survival and so we took it with us for me to give it a new life. And that’s what I did - and what I’ll be sharing with you today.

I first primed the chair with a white primer. Then I sketched out a picture onto the seat of the chair of a phoenix to represent rising from the ashes.

After I painted the seat, I used black puffy paint to outline the colors.

After the paints were dry, I mixed resin and poured it on the seat, covering the whole thing.

I spray painted the legs and back to match the colors on the seat and ended up within wonderful chair. Now I have a piece of art that is meaningful of surfing the fire just like we did.

The chair before I started, as you can see, was burned and charred in some areas, but the chair remained strong.

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Primer (Hardware store)
Acrylic paint (Craft store)
Puffy paint (Craft store)
Resin (Hardware store)
Spray paint (Hardware store)

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3 of 7 comments

Inez Anderson on Jan 21, 2020

I too am a camp fire survivor. Our home survived and we still have a camp fire survivor living with us. I love seeing our town coming back to life with new homes being built all around. So glad you found something to help you work through the horror of that day. It's a beautiful piece of survival you've made!

3 Reply
- Heather on Mar 17, 2020
  
  I’m sorry it took me so long to acknowledge your comment. While I am a giant space cadet a lot of times, I’m sure you understand the hurdle it can be to sit with those memories. And it was even more jolting to come across another paradisian. I have a lot of guilt for not being able to help the so many families who either were far worse off or only chose to look at it that way. I guess it felt a little like running away.
  
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Julie Cheatham on Jan 23, 2020

I live in Oroville we were on warning to evacuate and thankfully we didn't have to. It was too close for comfort and I cant imagine what it was like for you and your family. Our new neighbors are victims from the campfire. I love what you did with that chair it is beautiful and inspiring. I like how the families from paradise have risen above what once was and rebuilding a new and better future. Good job. Good luck and God bless you and yours.

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