The Furniture Project at the 2013 New England Home Show

The Haddam Neck Woodworkers' Guild will be well represented at The Furniture Project, an annual show feature of The New England Home Show. Chris Boule was one of several makers accepted to display their work.

If you are one of the many to attend this show make sure you stop by and see his work. It will be worth your time. I'm going Thursday.

The entire demo schedule was just posted here.

2013 Class Schedule (with a couple surprises)

Connecticut- Check.
New York- Check.
New Jersey- Check.
Pennsylvania- Check.
Maine- Check.
Iowa?- Check
Washington?- Check, Check.

Using Hollows and Rounds- Check.
MAKING HOLLOWS AND ROUNDS?- CHECK!


I have finalized my schedule for 2013...finally. It is posted on my website.

Upcoming Shows

Lie-Nielsen Handtool Event 

Peters Valley Craft Center

Layton, NJ

April 26-27

NWA Woodworkers’ Showcase

Saratoga Springs City Center

Saratoga Springs, NY

March 23-24

Handworks

Festhalle Barn

Amana, IA

May 24-25

Connecticut Historical Society

East Haddam Library

East Haddam, CT

June 12, 7:30-8:30

Upcoming Classes

Using Hollows and Rounds

Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking  

Manchester, CT

February 23^rd and 24^th

Lie-Nielsen Weekend Workshop

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks

Warren, ME

April 6^th and 7^th

Lie-Nielsen Weekend Workshop

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks

Warren, ME

August 10^th and 11th

Port Townsend School of Woodworking

Port Townsend, WA

8/1-8/2

Port Townsend School of Woodworking

Port Townsend, WA

8/3-8/4

The Acanthus Workshop

Pottstown, PA

10/12-13, with optional 3^rd day on 10/14

Make a Pair of Hollows and Rounds

The Acanthus Workshop

Pottstown, PA

11/18-22

With the blessing of Larry Williams and permission of Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, I will be teaching this final class about making a pair of hollow/round planes. The process that Larry illustrates in his dvd will be heavily relied upon, but not used exclusively. As a result, much of the material in the class is copywritten and used with permission.

I am increasingly anxious for this week. Due to the small size of the class, 6 total (which is always the case at The Acanthus Workshop), the process may go quicker than has been indicated. In short, I don't know if it is a 5 day class or only a 2.5 day class.

I will be bringing extra material for any students that finish early to make a rabbet plane or fill in the gaps with my usual instruction with your new planes.

The class my be shorter in the future, but it will not likely be more available. A class of 6 people appears to be the perfect setting for this class.

I hope to see a few of you at one of the benches in these classes or at my bench at one of the shows. Check your schedules.

A Mahogany Wedge?

This is the first wedge I've made that's mahogany. Any guesses?

You're cold

Getting warmer, but still cold.

Freezing

Warmer

Hot

Found it! 

Preparation continues in the Tuesday nights and predawn mornings for the NWA show in Saratoga. 

Homeschooling 101: A Day at the Sawmill

While children were getting on the bus to return to school and adults were heading back to the office on Wednesday, Sheldon and I headed up to Stow, MA to mill a log my friend had been eyeing on his property. Fortunately, he also has a woodmizer, a metal detector and a willingness to spin a single log a few dozen times to quartersaw wood by my definition, which isn't quite as stringent as Sheldon's.

Here is a picture that is representative of the quality of milling for every single piece that made it into the back of the truck.

And for the record, the entire log made it into the back of the truck. 10.5' long, 32" at the widest end and 26" at the other.

The wood is standing on end for the next few days while I pick out a color for the latex paint. Then the wait begins.

Acanthus Leaves, etc.

Progress continues...

I very much look forward staining these things. The pale look of sanded, less-than-ideal mahogany needs to be hidden.

Happy Holidays!

Update

Here's a quick picture of my progress with the tea table.

Guild night tonight. I will be starting the acanthus leaves and knee carvings.

Additionally, I will be presenting at a Lie-Nielsen Handtool Event in Beverly, MA on Friday and Saturday. Stop by to say hello and check out Phil Lowe's Furniture Institute of Mass. and the other great vendors.

A good time will be had by all.

Handwork and Handworks

If you build it, they will come...

My family and I will be making a trip to Iowa on Memorial Day weekend of 2013 for the Handworks Event. 

The event has a long list of hand tool vendors and enthusiasts.

It is free

The door prizes are incredible.

All you have to do is register and be present. This can be done through the website.

Be there, or be out of square.