Designing - from concept to reality

Ever wonder how a design progresses from a vague concept into reality? 

Sometimes it's a quick process – as I imagine most artists have designs rattling around their brain, and can rapidly turn their designs into reality.

Other times, it's painstakingly slow, with changes and reiterations happening almost daily.

I've worked with a very creatively-minded couple for the past 10 years, having built many pieces of furniture for them, as well as smaller accessories for their home. They travel the world collecting artifacts – and their eye for unique items never fails to impress me. 

Years ago – they came to me with a door knocker collection, asking me for a creative way to display them. They said they'd be happy with mounting the door knockers on just a simple board, to display them.

But I took that as a challenge - and I made quarter sized doors to mount each door knocker on -  here are the first two I made. They are actual working doors with a shadowbox inside of them.

Buy that final door knocker that I had to work with gave me fits!

First of all, it's heavy – and very big. This isn't the exact one I was working with, but it's very close. About 8" long, and roughly 2.5 pounds of solid copper.

I mounted this door knocker on a sample piece of wood, but its weight caused the board to topple over. So I knew making a door/shadowbox as I had before wouldn't work. The weight of this door knocker would cause the whole piece to topple. 

Back to square one... 

In the beginning, I worked with the idea of making a round door, because I felt that fish imagery lent itself toward curves. 

As with all designers, I flooded my brain with images to stir up more inspiration. Because the door knocker is a giant fish, the design I wanted had to include some inspiration with water. So I played around with aquatic themes. I'll admit – I was struggling with this, because of the parameters I had to work with, size wise. (More about that later.)

Meanwhile, I was at another client's home a couple of weeks ago; she's creative and inspiring. I brought up this design, and that I was struggling with it. It was a classic “analysis paralysis” that I was experiencing, where too many designs decision decisions muddy the waters, making it difficult to choose just one. My friend gave me a bit of a pep-talk, as well as made me promise that I would go home and settle on one design.

Easier said than done!

Back in my studio - I had more than a few designs rattling around in my brain. But I was determined to finish this project. It's only been four years since I started this! 

This pendant started me thinking about water themes. 

And away I went.... down the design rabbit hole... 

I searched for some door inspiration,  

  hoping to fit the knocker with the door.

And I'm embarrassed to say that the clients emailed me a few times, asking about the progress of this final piece. As they added more pieces to their collection in the gallery/room in their house over the years, the space that they had saved for this last door knocker shrunk. 

So aside from struggling with the design, I was also limited in size. To be honest, I was ready to call them and give the knocker back. 

But I kept thinking about the words from my friend, who basically said - get to work!

And that's just what I did - pulled out the sketchbook, came up with a scaled model in cardboard, then finally pulled out the block of Sapele that I'd been saving for a "special" project.  A little carving, milk-paint and some lacquer and it was finished in a flash.

 (Thanks for the pep talk, Heidi!) 

It's the best feeling in the world to call a client and tell them their project is complete. 

PS.... they received the piece today and were beyond thrilled.  I'm so relieved to have this off my mind!

Who knew stamps could be so cool?

 If you're like me, you still drop letters in the mail a few times a month. 

Oh don't get me wrong, I switched to online bill pay years ago. And most of my correspondence is through email. But I do like to send birthday cards, sympathy cards, and still have to pay a few odd bills that arrive in the mail.

I've learned something this month – woodworkers are definitely represented in the variety of stamps that are available through the US post office right now.

My longtime favorite stamp has been this piñata stamp, it reflects everything that I love about the Southwest. 

But when I went to re-order some piñata stamps recently, I found these other excellent stamps with woodworking themes. This one featuring Shaker Design was a MUST purchase for me, 

as well as this postcard stamp featuring tree leaves. Now I don't send a lot of postcards, but considering that it featured a sassafras leaf on the stamp, well – it won me over. 

Some of the causes that the stamps reflect are near and dear to my heart.

Hell, I went to college on a Title IX scholarship, so I'm particularly fond of this one.

This one commemorating women cryptologists is really great!

Hell, there's something for everyone!

These two women definitely deserve some recognition!

Here's the full sheet of the Shaker Design stamp that just arrived yesterday -It's almost a shame to use the stamps. I'd rather frame it!

The most ridiculous thing I saw this year ....

The end of the year always brings up thoughts of "wrapping up" the last 12 months. Good things and bad... 

Here's a great doweling tip to make up for that bit of woodworking nonsense...

click here

 

The joy of outsourcing...

I wrapped up these eight dining room chairs a few weeks ago, amen for that! 

The chairs were sent to the finisher for final sanding and the spraying of lacquer. Some people might feel that's "cheating" by not finishing them myself. But - to me, it makes a lot of sense to hire a professional to do what they do best!

Hector has been a finisher for years, and my friends who have used him rave about his work. 

Each chair had multiple coats of sanding sealer, 

followed by a few coats of clear lacquer. 

Now they're headed to the upholsterer.  

I can't wait to see the finished chair! 

So - yes, the finishing and the upholstery was outsourced. What's that Dirty Harry line?... a man's got to know his limitations? I fully understand that I'll never be an expert at spraying lacquer, and I'll certainly never be a master upholsterer! So it's much smarter to turn to the pros for this work. 

Stay tuned for final pictures soon!

 

Time to wrap up a few odds and ends...

 It's been a ridiculously long time since I posted anything here, but I haven't been slacking off.

From holding private one-on-one classes, to teaching at the local Woodcraft store, my feet are still firmly in the world of educating future woodworkers. 

Just a few weeks ago, I helped a friend correct a few problems on this hall table that she built. Most of us understand when I say "life gets in the way" and that's what happened with this table. There were some issues that needed fixed, and she was too busy and without the proper tools. 

Another past student needed help assembling the eight dining room chairs that started building years ago. When the wife put her foot down and threatened to buy eight chairs, he asked me to step in and get these done!

This was the prototype chair he built years ago,  

with its leather upholstery, live edge crest rail, and a beautiful lacquer finish. These are companions to an amazing live edge dining table he built years ago. 

By my count, each chair had 16 pieces, 

each needing joinery cut on the ends, and once assembled, all the joints needed pegging to strengthen them. 

The glue-ups weren't particularly difficult, just time consuming. 

Once they started to take shape, they were loaded in a rental van. 

It really never rains here, but doesn't it figure that the one day we needed to move these chairs to the finisher's shop - it was sprinkling. Murphey's Law, no doubt.

And finally - I've been working on a few wall cabinets for myself. I always push my personal projects to the back of the project list, but I had a burst of energy and built a Monkeypod cabinet that I liked so much, 

I made another in Maple! 

These are hung on the wall via a French cleat, and all I need to do is a little more sanding and apply a finish. 

See? I have been busy!

The Antique Arms Show - I had no idea I would enjoy this so much!

 If you live in Las Vegas and complain that there's nothing to do here - well, you  just aren't looking in the right areas! 

Although - if you ask people who live here, most will tell you it's been ages since they've visited the Strip, unless they work there, or have to go for a convention or to meet someone. It's just too damn expensive - almost every casino / resort charges you to park, and even if you just want to visit two or three casinos, it'll cost you $100 in parking fees. Hence - we locals don't go very often!

That said - every single week, there are conventions, meet-ups, gatherings, performances and so much more. Yesterday, the Westgate hosted an Antique Arms show, which featured everything under the sun concerning historical weaponry and military armor. 

And even better - two friends who are knife makers had a booth at the show. So you know I had to check it out!

The show was held in two halls, not quite as massive as the main Convention Center halls we have here, but still - this venue was pretty big. 

My good buddy Len has only been making knives a couple of years - he started out as a wood carver (and he's a damn good one!) but his knives are really beautiful. Some knives seem almost "too nice" to use - but Len's knives feel great in your hand, and just give off a "use me" feel to them. 

He was primarily using wood for his handles, but lately has started experimenting with resin handles in all sorts of colors and cool characteristics. 

Because Len started out as a carver, you can see some of his carved walking sticks in the foreground of this photo. 

Len shared his booth with Tony, probably the premier local expert knife maker here. Tony is not only one of the most knowledgeable knife makers that I've ever met, but honestly - he's just an all around great guy. 

He never makes you feel stupid if you ask a question, and always willing to answer anything, no matter how many times he's probably been asked it! He's been educating me on Damascus steel knives, and now of course, I want one. For cooking. It might be my next big splurge, who knows?

If you are unfamiliar with Damascus knives - you should read up on them. Fascinating stuff!

I was so distracted by all the cool things at the show (asking a million questions, too) that I didn't get a lot of photos of some of the amazing weapons at this show.

This sword that belonged to Clark Gable.  

I believe the fellow who owned it said it was used in a movie that Clark filmed years ago. (Was he a swashbuckler in something? Gone with the Wind?) I don't know, I don't watch old movies... but my mom would know.  She knows more about old movies than I know about woodworking!

It was engraved for Clark - imagine this - this was decades before engravers were automated... so all of the tooling on this sword was done by hand. 

I couldn't believe they actually had cannons on the display floor! 

Several, in fact. I can't tell you how many cool things were on display - rifles and pistols from the wild, wild west...  everything from weapons from the Civil War, Revolutionary War, WWI and WWII, Vietnam and even more recent wars. 

One fact that blew my mind - many of the rifles had GIANT bayonets mounted to them, and someone mentioned that during certain wars - more soldiers died from bayonet stabbings than from being shot. That's because soldiers would run out of bullets, so the bayonet was the only way to fight. That fact kind of blew my brain up - some bayonets were so long, it look like you could go through 3 people at once! 

Bizarre.

Seriously - I wish I had taken photos of the rifles - there were models with dates and names carved into the butts (from the 1800's or earlier) and so many cool little details that were fascinating. Think - Billy the Kid, or Annie Oakly. 

Next time, I HAVE to get better photos. 

OK, on a lighter note - there were also quite a few booths dealing with Native American stuff - blankets, jewelry, trading post kinds of artwork. Moccasins, beaded work, peace pipes, very cool stuff. 

Lots of cowboy boots and hats, too. 

Out of everything I saw at the show - one little item caught my eye. 

This fellow had a lot of oriental stuff - swords, knives, Hari-kari daggers, etc but this little box with two very small (maybe 4" long) musical instruments were fascinating. 

I couldn't figure out what they were. 

Can you guess?

These were a set of antique sterling silver salt and pepper shakers. Simply amazing details.

There was a very small door on the back of each one, where you could fill the shaker. And on the side of the body of the instrument were 6-8 small holes from which the salt or pepper could pour. The attention to detail was ridiculous, and I'm kicking myself for not buying them.  Luckily - the man who was selling them lives close to me, so I may give him a call and pick them up. 

All in all - this show was worth the trip, despite the $45 parking fee (that included a $10 valet tip) and the $20 entrance fee. I'm not even that  interested in weapons, but went to support my two friends. But if you're a history buff or just interested in weaponry, this is a show you shouldn't miss!

And finally - someone with a sense of humor!