Can I brag a little?

 The bookcase class is winding down at the shop, and I have to say - these students really rose to the occasion. It's so much easier to teach a class where everyone is on the same page, building the same design. But - my old woodworking teacher never stopped anyone from building what they wanted to build. I mean - isn't that the point? You want what you want!

So when some of these students came to me with their designs, I had some apprehensions about their projects. Especially since some of them had only completed the Basic Woodworking class, and didn't have much experience under their belts. But I'll tell you - they really surprised me with their pieces. And believe - some of them really struggled! 

This bookcase is constructed from 1" red oak, designed to hold a large collection of record albums. Those are pretty heavy, and although she had a few technical problems,  this bookcase is going to work perfectly for K's collection.

 JR's walnut bookcase was compact and solid; a sweet little design. when this gets a finish on it, the colors are going to pop and this will be amazing!

 Freya's cherry bookcase has a lot of detail and elements that really stretched her skills. This piece will (gorgeously) darken with age, and I suspect it's going to be a great addition to her home. 

Again - she had one or two technical issues that she solved, and well... isn't that what taking a class is all about? Learning to put out little fires while we build?

 One of the huge surprises in the class was Jen's corner cabinet - this was a pretty complex piece for someone right out of a Basic WW class. 

She had to learn a lot of new techniques, with tools she'd never touched before this class. She nailed every aspect of it! I can't wait to see how it looks with finish on it. 

Ama's energy and vision for her pieces are a constant source of pride for me - she is one of those rare students who works like the energizer bunny. She never gives up, has energy and technical skills for every piece she builds, and when she sets her mind to it - there's nothing she can't accomplish in the shop. 

I've lost count of how many huge pieces she's built - from this massive built-in desk, with upper cabinets,

to the cantilevered TV unit, to the Murphy bed. 

These two twin tower bookcases will be mounted next to the Murphy bed - all told, this piece is about ten-feet wide, and seven feet tall. She's only been building with me for a few years, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. 

And finally -  Luis designed this piece for his office -  six-foot wide bookcase with beefy shelves, and (eventually) doors on the front. He completed this piece in only four sessions, so about 12 hours in the shop. It still needs some work, but he's one of the most efficient woodworkers I've ever met. 

Proud? 

Me? 

You bet!