oak slab desk no. 2 in the finishing room

Last week we completed the construction of this oak slab desk, and applied four hand rubbed coats of our tung oil/linseed oil mix to the bottom.  This morning turned it over.  Soon as it warms up (with the little heater) to 55 or so, we'll start rubbing the top.

Oak slab table in the works this morning

Started sanding the natural edges of the oak slab table top.  We usually start with an angle grinder, then move to a pneumatic sander, and we'll be finishing with 0000 steel wool (probably sometime next week).

any trackers out there?

Woke up to another beautiful white, snowy morning.  Reminded me to find this pic I got last week.  The redhead is Mattie, our 65 pound golden retriever.  The small tracks are hers.  I'm curious what the larger track is??  (It was taken 50 yards up the road from the house).

keeping the Faith

Here's a pic of our dear friend Mary Ruth Edwards, who we don't get to see nearly enough, along with a local that stopped by the booth for a brief visit.   Ok, now I'm going to stop acting so cool.  We were quite pumped (to say the least) for the two minute visit we had with Faith.  surprisingly normal.  Very nice.  Down to earth.  Now, how do I un blah, blah, blah her from a couple of posts back?

Last day of Nashville Show

Although these shows are always hard work, Linda and I are having lots of fun, making lots of new friends, and a few customer's as well.  This new friend and customer lost her home during the 2008 tornado.  This past summer she completed the rebuild, right on the same lot.  We are designing a console table made out of a walnut tree that also came down during the storm. 

1 more day

Of the Nashville antiques & garden show. Dealers from London, Paris, ny, & Florence al.

no Faith, Martina or Gwinneth, but . . .

I think every exhibitor (of the 150 up here) but me saw Faith, Gwinneth and Martina strolling the isles yesterday.  Gwinneth's doing a movie here, working on a singing career, staying with Faith and Tim blah blah blah.  But Ryan Gainey (and his perky entourage) hung out for a while with us last night at the booth.  He's one of the featured speakers here at the show, and invited us to do a showing in Atlanta this Spring.  Ryan, if you are serious, I'm game.

Booth next door almost sold out already

Nothing but porcelain breakables right behind the banner

4:45 heading to Nashville

AA platinum doesn't seem to have any cred in this old borrowed truck

Packing for the Nashville show this morning

We are packing the truck this morning in prep for the Antiques and Garden Show.  Will be leaving by 5:00 in the morning to be there to set up the booth at 8:00.  Quite an honor and nice surprise to see the article "Artist finds beauty from fallen trees" in this morning's Tennessean.

video referral from very satisfied customer

My first youtube referral from a very satisfied customer.  (Hope he's not skipping school today)

duck!

In addition to our three rescue dogs, we have several mallards in the family.  They've all been doing great. That is, up until a few weeks ago, when I heard two gun shots, and saw lots of birds immediately taking flight.  A friend reported that two high school age kids were in camo gear in the creek with shotguns.  Jeeze!  (There's a neighborhood on each side of the creek!)  They must be good shots because they got two of my sic ducks.  Since then two more are missing, down to these two now.  Between local idiots, a red fox, turtles (a neighbor saw a turtle take one down one last summer), and I have a feeling even some of these big catfish,  it's amazing they've lasted as long as they have.  

where's milk and bread when we need it?

We received a beautiful surprise this morning.  We (southerners) have no idea how to drive in this stuff.  4wd helps!

More work on this old oak slab (back)

oak slab swirl

one man's trash, not mine

We are getting ready for next week's Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville.  Last year we set up 3 big slabs in addition to a few tables.  I think the slabs were a magnet to the booth.  Here we are using a brush to get tung oil down the cracks of this 220 year old oak slab.

way to go Shannon-Virginia's new Episcopal Bishop

Listen in Saturday to Jack Dever's Home Improvement Radio Show

Will be interviewed on Jack Dever's popular radio Home Solutions Show Saturday morning 8:40 (cleveland time).   If you are in the area listen in, or you may be able to listen in online Saturday by going here:  http://www.jackdeveronline.com/radio_show.html

last coat of tung oil on three oak timber tables

We just applied the last coat of tung oil on these three oak timber tables.  They'll be ready to come out of the finishing room in the morning.  If I have time, I'll try to get some pics before we start packing for the Nashville Antiques and Garden Show.

help me here with this oak timber table

Ok, I've got this amazing 8' long oak slab.  Seems perfect for a dining table.  One problem.  Back three years ago, when we were flitch cutting the log into lumber, we ran into metal in this slab.  We removed it by poking the end of a chainsaw around, making a notch and pulling it out.  The notch is more than visible, and there is a hole all the way thru the slab.  My thought is  that this makes a wonderful table with a little story behind it.  Linda just walked by, saw it for the first time, and can't imagine leaving the notch in a beautiful thick oak timber table like this.  Ok blog and facebook friends, what do you think??