Waste not want not

Last week's attempt at making chestnut shakes was in vain. The customer has decided that they want sawn shingles instead, which leaves me with a pile of flat pieces of riven chestnut.

I've never carved chestnut before, but there's always a first time.

 

I've not really been able to do any riven, joined furniture for the past few years; we've been moving house and sorting that out. And of course all of the everyday work. This summer I have been building a dedicated hand tool workshop, and now I have my bench and tools installed, time to crack on. First on the slab, this piece of chestnut.