Roof on.
With skylights! No more dark cavern for me this winter.
I have also been without a computer to post with, but thankfully that is now remedied.
I had fun at the Hillyfield Woodland Olympics a few weeks ago, showing my wares and working on the settle. A good place for demonstration, with lots of interested people passing by.
17th Century techniques, new designs. Starting a new story, a new vocabulary of joined furniture patterns.
Here in Devon, in September we have Open Studios, artists and makers open their homes and workshops and invite all and sundry in. I only made it to Heather Jansch this year. She makes horses from old oak twigs, rather a lot of them. This is not one of her horses.
Neither is this.
Soon to be horse parts.
I bought this box at the boot sale last week.
Quartersawn oak, back and sides, flatsawn oak top, probably elm bottom. I really like its asymmetric design. I also like its size. 12"x 7"x 5". I have to make some smaller stuff for Crux Craft Fair at the end of November.
John asked me for some work experience. He has little wood working experience but is very keen, so I have set him the challenge of making a box of this size (in between grafting hard).
After a little instruction on using a froe.
Here he goes.
A few pointers in carving.
He has riven, planed up and carved the main parts for one of these bijou boxes in a couple of days (while labouring for me in between). Good lad.
With all the distractions of trying to weather-proof my workspace, the framing for this settle has been left too long. Its time to get on with grooving them to accept the panels.
Start at the beginning and work backwards.
