There are many many ways in which you can shabby chic your furniture. For example, if you want your paint to look like it is worn, you first paint the entire piece. After it has dried take sandpaper to the edges to take the paint off in spots.
You can find more info at: doityourself.com/stry/shabbyp... more.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.