maple sugar display

Sometimes it's nice too build something that doesn't take a lot of thought or finesse.  I like to build something random and uncomplicated before I have to really focus on a serious piece and worry about details.  It's sort of like a stretch before the run, a warm up of sorts.  My friend Jeff is doing a display for a maple syrup festival.  He found an old television that will be equipped with a computer that will have images on it of the sugaring process.  The TV will sit on a faux log.  Jeff will spray the log to give it a texture then paint it.
Today I made the faux log out of plywood and coverd it with Masonite.

 

This was fun way to spend the day in the studio.  While I was building this for Jeff I was working out the detail of my class I will be teaching next week at Yestermorrow Design School.

Robins, groundhogs and adirondack Chairs

When I arrived at the studio this morning I was greeted by a sure sign that spring is around the corner.

All of the snow had melted and exposed the Adirondack chairs that were left outside all winter.  They look beautiful, just waiting for someone to sit it in them and enjoy the sun.  Who needs a robin or a groundhog seeing his shadow, this is a sure sign that spring is near.

Drawing full scale

Today I started to draw a full scale projection of the bow front credenza I'm working on for my class at Yestermorrow.  I taped some Kraft paper to a full sheet of plywood and started measuring.  The best way to see proportions is to just draw out an example.  If you don't like what you see, erase it and start all over again.  I clamped two boards at the length of the credenza and use a 1/4" strip of pine to project a curve for the bow front.  This is arbitrary.  Once I got a curve that I thought looked good, I traced it.  This is the start of a full scale drawing. I'll then draw all of the interior dimensions on the paper and ply.  I can then use this drawing to calculate my materials and use the drawing as a template to order the black granite top from.

Process

Here is a sketch of a bow front credenza I'm designing for a client in Vermont.
The process is part of the course I'm teaching in advanced cabinetry at the Yestermorrow  Design School in Warren, VT.  from Feb 28- March 5. www.yestermorrow.org The class is involved in a community based project.  The credenza is our project.
We still have to work out the details.  The doors and drawers are curved, mimicking the curved edge of the clients dining table.  The credenza will be made out of cherry and have a black granite top.

The end of a good week

We've had so much snow that we haven't been able to get into the studio as much as we would like but this week has been a good week.  I finished some projects that have been lingering.  Here is Fiona's stand complete and the rustic chair for the show.  All - in - all a good way to end the week.

Fiona's

Today I finished Fiona's guitar stand.  It is made of curly maple for the box and sits on a nest of rosewood.  The interior will get covered in medium density foam and then covered in velvet.  This is something Harvey and Fiona will do.  The finish is a shellac finish with a coat of wax.  It looks really warm.  .