Today marks the anniversary of my making it around the sun 45 times. Sometimes it seems like that number should be much higher. Other times it feels like the blink of an eye. There has been bad and good with mostly fair to middln’. I’ve learned a little along the way, gained and lost. Since my thoughts have turned retrospective and philosophical, I decided to take a hard look at the last 45 trips and set a goal for trip 46.
One thing I have learned along the way Continue reading
This is the second sheet of patterns in this series. All of these patterns are based upon a 30-60-90deg triangle. These are straight forward patterns and require very little by way of measuring.
The first three patterns are variations on each other. The variations are achieved by changing the Continue reading
As I’ve been designing my own projects and building other repeat projects a few things have developed. Some have been intentional, some just sort of happened on their own.
I’m drawn to the Japanese style and have made a concerted effort to design projects that have a Japanese aesthetic. As evidenced in the Hillbilly Tansu series. These were never meant to be reproduction type pieces. They are my interpretation of the style of furniture, with my own construction and design process.
Another intentional aspect of my work is the inclusion of Continue reading
Twenty some years ago, when my now wife and I first got together I met Stan, my future father in law. He greeted me like we were long time friends who just hadn’t seen each other for a while. Here I was this young, kid really, flat broke and barley any promise whatsoever. He listened to me drone on about woodworking and showed a real interest in what I was saying.
Back at that time I had no skills, practically no tools and no place of my own to work in. But Stan listened to me and maybe Continue reading
In my ongoing pursuit to develop a few key designs from which to work with, I have come up with this little cabinet. Which continues my tansu theme. Being that this is a basic square there are several configuration possibilities. I could easily make this larger or smaller. There could be multiple drawers or no drawers at all. This first version will have one full-width drawer across the bottom. A small inset drawer with an open display shelf above and a single sliding door that will cover a storage area. The divider is placed directly in the center giving the option of using either side as the open display area. I wanted this cabinet to have several layers. The only parts that sit flush with each other is the outer Continue reading
I last left you with Norwegian Tine. The tine (teen-ah) is a traditional folk box made by steam bending a thin strip of wood into a circular or, most popular, oval form. Much like the Shaker oval boxes that most of us are familiar with. What sets the tine apart is the way the ring is secured and the lid. The ring is secured by braiding them together with a length of thin tree root. On each end of the box there is a post. These posts are Continue reading
Back when I was 8 or 9, seems like eons ago, there came a summer when it was decided that I would be placed in day camp. Essentially, this was a glorified babysitting service for those of us with working parents and who were still too young to be left at home alone. Dropped off in the morning and picked up in late afternoon. I have three memories from that summer that still survive to this day. One is of the huge osage orange tree that was the morning meeting area and where we ate our lunch. The second is the distinct sweet and salty flavor that can only be had from eating a salty potato chip after a bite of peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The third, and most important, is of craft time on rainy days. Specifically the leather crafts we were given to work on. Most of you know the ones. The thin prepunched leather Continue reading
I don’t consider my skill level to be refined enough to think of myself as a “craftsman” or “artisan” and I doubt that I ever will. I’m just a guy puttering around in a shed. Even so, I find that I want to build and create things that are uniquely my own. I’ve never felt comfortable simply copying someone else’s design. Granted that doing so is the best way to learn and improve skills, but it always feels like a Continue reading
My goal is to build or make all of my projects to the best of my ability. I think we all share that goal. I don’t think any of us set out to do a poor job. What happens along the way however is where the trouble sneaks in. Errors happen no matter our skill level. Experience is what tells us how to deal with those errors. Can we correct the error? Should we remake the piece? Or, do we live with the error?
Integrity vs. compromise.
Most of us are doing this sort of work as a hobby. We all have different reasons for making things. But the most common reason Continue reading
In which 1snugthejoiner writes about woodworking, publishing, house renovations, cats and Shakespeare (don't worry – that last one is rare).
Just trying to leave something behind.
Tales From a Cabinetmaker's Life
Build your own chair
Original Design - Traditional Technique
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by George R. Walker & Jim Tolpin
Woodworking and Antique Tool Restoration
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Just trying to leave something behind.
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Woodworking for Sanity
A Woodworking and Hand Tool Restoration Blog
Bushcraft, wilderness survival skills and nature
Just another WordPress.com site
This is a journal of the art of woodworking by hand
Woodworking My Way
My work, painting tips and inspiration along the way
Thoughts and decisions as I create my work. Journey with me through the fascinating world of woodworking.
Snikkaren sin arbeidsbenk
An amature woodworker who works as a data analytics consultant
Editor • Writer • Maker
Just trying to leave something behind.
Musings on Metal, Wanderings with Wood
Pursuing a hobby working with wood
Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life
Andrew's view of the world in poetry, prose, and pictures
Just trying to leave something behind.
An amateur woodworker’s adventures in real woodworking and traditional hand tool methods
I went to woodworking's funeral a few weeks ago. It was a nice service..there were lots of flowers and a luncheon was held afterwards..
Just trying to leave something behind.
Just trying to leave something behind.
HILLBILLY DAIKU 