Back to Normal- Somewhat

I'm glad the coop is outside.  I now have space to move around and can get back to some projects I was working on.  I have to try to finish my diner settee for the Worcester Art Museum's Art Allstate program.

Moving Day

Yesterday was moving day for the ladies.  My friend Jeff came over to the studio too help me move the chicks outside.  It still a little cool out at night but the chicks have all of their feathers.  The coop is at the side of the studio facing the back acreage.  I have to get some fencing and make the run.  We should have eggs come August.

The ladies are home.

The baby chicks we bought a couple of weeks ago aren't so little any more.  They grow big quickly.  We moved the heat lamp and feeders into the coop and moved the chickens in today.  They adjusted quickly.

Chickens and Legs

Today I didn't do much in the way of furniture making.  It was a day to tie up loose ends. One thing was too make a screen window for the coop and the other to continue painting the legs for a bread box table.
I cover the top of the legs with painters tape and coffee cups to protect the area that has already been painted.

4' x8' The Art of Pl;ywood Furniture

I'm writing a book for Linden Publishing tentaively titled 4' x 8'. The Art of Plywood Furniture.  The book will consist of 60 contemporary pieces of furniture designed to be constructed out of a single sheet of plywood.  The book will also celebrate todays contemporary makers and designers.  The book will have detailed images and text allowing you to build each piece.  A call for submissions has been posted on the Furniture Society's web site http://www.furnituresociety.org/ under the opportunities link as well as here.

More Bread Box

Today I cleaned and painted the leg hardware for the bread box tables.  I take the hardware and legs from old vintage ottomans that I find on eBay or in thrift stores.  I give them a coat of metallic paint to clean them up.  The legs are going on a chrome bread box so they get painted black with metallic ends.  I cleaned up the bottom of the box and gave it a coat of lacquer.

Bread Boxes again

Lately I've been selling some chrome bread boxes from my etsy store ( see link below).  They are always fun too make.  I have an order for a chrome bread box from a client in Glendale, CA.  The bread boxes are fitted with a plywood base that I then attach the leg hardware that I get from vintage ottomans.  The legs will be painted black with chrome ends.  I attach a chain for the door, clean and laquer them and then they're done.

I need to make something with all of the ottoman parts left over. 

The ladies are getting big

The six Black Star chicks we got a couple of weeks ago are getting big  in a hurray.  I think I'll move the coop outside this weekend, which means I need too make the run soon.

Glueing up the base

Today I attached the base to the carcase of the lap desk.  You need plenty of clamps and some angled cauls.  Use a fine bead of glue and go around the perimeter.  If you use to much glue you'll be cleaning up for ever.

Back to the lap desk

Today I went back to working on the shaker lap desk.  The coop is complete and the birds are getting big so it was a good thing I finished it when I did.

Back to the lap desk.  I sanded the body and cut and sanded the bottom.  The bottom is made out of quarter sawn white pine.  Tomorrow I making a modern plywood table for the show " The Garage"  so the desk will be put on hold once again.  The tape on the bottom acts as a marker and lets me know where to position the body to the base.

The coop complete'

Yesterday I put the finishing touches on the coop.   I made a window on the front of it and some stops for the doors.  I also made the ladder. All that is left to do is to make a fenced run for the birds.  They're getting big fast so they'll be in their new home in no time.

Coop Doors

Today I finished the roof and made the two doors on the coop.

Roof and Floor

Yesterday I started to put on the roof and the floor of the coop.  Liesl's Dad Ted generously donated the roofing material and the floor material.  The coop is looking awesome.

The Coop Continues

Today I worked on making the partitions for the nest boxes and the door. It's going well.