Elvis has left the garage

Making a living as an Artist/Crafts person is wonderful yet can be full of many stresses.  We not only make the product but we are responsible for marketing and promoting our work.  We are the salesperson trying to sell our product and the graphic designer.  Bottom line is we wear many hats.  There is no regular pay yet the bills still come in regularly.  Most of us work alone in the studio,  It's a tough way too make a living.  This said and done I still couldn't imagine doing anything else or being anywhere else other than the studio.  This lifestyles allows me to meet like minded individuals who don't take life so seriously ( it can be serious enough without us adding to it).  This past weekend we had a BBQ/Birthday party.  My friend Jeff gave me a full size Elvis cut-out.  If I worked in an office I would never have the opportunity to work side-by-side with the King.  My point is ( without sounding to lofty)  life is short- so why not try too make a living doing what you love.  Being creative and working with my hands makes me happy, therefore I'm a better partner and a better Dad too my son when I come home at the end of the day.  

Glue up

Today I glued up the box for the guitar stand.  The glue up went well.  Once the box was dry I flush trimmed the dovetails with a router and did a final sand.  Once the box was completeIi took the nest from the prototype and measured it up against the final piece.  The box and the nest fit perfectly.  It takes more time to do but it is always a good idea to make a sample piece or a prototype.

The Garage. " Project Two"

Today we shot the second project for the TV show " The Garage"  We chose to build a Bread Side Table.  The table can be made quicly and easily.  They're fun too make. The shoot went well .Thanks again to Jeff Ellis.

Boxes, Boxes

Today was a dreary rainy day, a good day to do tedious work such as fitting the bottom into the box and final fitting the dovetails.  I cut a template in order to flush trim the bridge opening.  The maple box is moving along nicely, I'm glad I made a prototype to work out the kinks. You can see the pine prototype beside the maple piece.

Table Saw Dovetails

Yesterday I finished cutting out the dovetails in the birds eye maple box.  I cut the tails and the pins on the table saw.  No trickery involved, you still have to lay out the markings for the tails and transfer them onto your boards.  The table saw just replaces your hand saw. 

 If you've laid everything out properly they should fit nicely together as these did.

Sorry Folks' More Dovetails

Today I sanded the boards and started cutting the dovetails in the birdseye maple boards that will become a music stand.  The prototype is made.  I hope to have the project completed soon so that my friend Harvey can take it back to New York with him after his visit. The stand is for his wife Fiona.

"That's A Wrap"

Today we wrapped up the final shoot of the first project for the show " The Garage"  We have enough material for three episodes.  The show is in post production and should air by the end of the month.  Thanks Jeff'  It's been a lot of fun.  Soon I'll have some video of the show on the blog.

Completed Garage Table: Take Two.

I Finally finished the second table for the show.  The walnut legs are tapered the entire length of the leg.

The top and aprons are made of flame red birch.  The aprons have a bead of curly maple on them and the legs are capped with curly maple.  This entire project was made from wood in my recycle bin.

The table is finished with a coat of Duraceal oil finish and then waxed.