Remembering Centennial Park

As I was walking from the MARTA station, I had a Centennial Park flashback of sorts.  At 1:20 a.m July 27, 1996, Linda and I were sleeping soundly after a wonderful day visiting with our friends from Guatamala who joined us to share in the Olympic spectacle.  Unfortunately, our friends, with their children were still in Centennial Park during the bombing.  Fortunately, Guillermo, Ingrid and their family were fine, but two were killed and 111 were injured.  Each morning, on the way to this amazing woodworking show (IWF) that's only held every two years in Atlanta, I've been taking MARTA to the GWCC stop, and walking thru Centennial Park to the World Congress Center - offering plenty of non woodworking priorities to ponder each morning.

Win this solid walnut bench!

We have officially launched our first give-a-way.

Enter to win this $4000 solid walnut modern bench up to four times, with the following four actions:

1) on Twitter—RETWEET our sweepstakes announcement and FOLLOW robin_wade.
2) if you are a fan of (LIKE) the Robin Wade Funriture facebook page, you can enter again.
3) on your blog—POST about this sweepstakes and enter to win a third time.
4) at the High Point Furniture Market in October—visit our booth and enter in person.

walnut tree trunk slice

Although we had quite a tough time cutting thru this tree trunk, we were able to get several slices out of it.  It was a city tree and had lots of metal that chewed up several changes and bounced around our big sawmill before we were done.

Tennessee Valley Museum of Art - the exhibit

The museum is showcasing local artists.  This exhibit will continues through August 27.  Proud to be among so many amazingly talented neighbors.

The death of a tree

On my way to work this morning, I was driving South on Wood, and the very capable city street crew was hard at it, taking down one of the wonderful old oaks in Wilson Park.  Friday a massive limb fell.  Fortunately nobody was hurt.  The downed limb was hollow, and now revealed an unhealthy tree.  One that was risking the community.  Although it's sad to see this old friend go, it has served us well, and is time.

Is this friend heading for the landfill, or could there possibly be more service in it's future?  Stay tuned.

Florence Green Team Partner

Yesterday, I received notification from the city that we had been approved and been certified as a Green Team Partner.  It's great to see more and more green initiatives introduced by the city.  Proud to be a new Green Team Partner.

Meyer Wells article in the NY Times

Great article in a recent issue of the New York Times about another furniture maker.  Honestly, I had never heard of these guys (Meyer or Wells).  But I'm totally impressed.  Environmentally sensitive.  Clearly artists at heart.  The funny thing is that I felt like I kept reading about our operation all the way through the article. Great read if you have a few minutes.  Kudos to Meyer Wells.

thick walnut slab

  

In 2006 I cut a few walnut logs into 8" thick slabs.  Really just to test how long it would take them to air dry - before going into the kiln.  As well as what kind of shape they were in (cracks, etc).  Well, after four years, I sent left them in the kiln for a month and just received them back yesterday.  Although they are fairly dry, they are not down to the 7% moisture content that we need for our normal furniture manufacturing processes.  But, it should be fine for a few things like a small sculpture, legs or areas that don't require much joinery, etc. 

Almost ready for Robert Trent Jones

 

This fourteen footer has been "almost ready" for too long.  It will be on display at Robert Trent Jones club house as soon as we get several more coats of our tung oil / linseed oil mix applied. 

This big'un', our largest yet, is sitting on our shipping dock for this final step.  Won't come close to fitting in our finishing room.

Once it's been moved in to the club house at  Robert Trent Jones I'll get some pics for you.

Robert Trent Jones

to the kiln

After almost two years of our slow sawmill work, this natural edge lumber is headed north today.  Amost filled up the 40' trailer with our walnut, oak, and cherry lumber.  It'll air dry for quite a bit longer.  Once the internal moisture content is down to around 30 percent, we'll move it on over to the kiln for a month of the final cure.  Life is good, although very often quite slow, here in the deep south.

saturday's farmers market

 

Lot's of wonderful local produce again at Saturday's farmer's market.  My timing was just a bit off this week.  The blueberries must have sold out before I arrived, and the Athens peaches got a late start and arrived after my visit.  No complaint's here.  Just more to look forward to next week.

Saturday's farmer's market

new alabama art gallery

 

During downtown Florence's monthly first friday celebration I was pleased to see a new alabama art gallery.  These guys did a beautiful job of restoring an old upstairs downtown location into a thing of beauty.  Featuring several local artists, this nice little jewel should be well received.

new alabama art gallery

kiln dried lumber

It's a little like Christmas around here when we receive another batch of kiln dried lumber.  Because the drying process for this exceptionally thick hardwood lumber is sooo slow, I forget a lot of the nuances of each batch and tree.  Maple and cherry were the variety we were sourcing almost four years ago, and what is now ready to become your custom table.

kiln dried lumber

right side of the tree

   

Several years ago, we sliced the bulk of this tree into natural edge lumber.  The right side of the tree had such a nice wave, that we saved it.  Just received it from the kiln last week and started cleaning it up a bit.  Still not exactly sure what to do with this right side of the tree but I'm pretty sure it's coming.  If you have any ideas, bring 'em on.

right side of the tree

Alabama Arts radio interview

Several weeks ago, I delivered seven tables to Montgomery that were to be included in a group showing.  While I was there, our friend Georgine Clarke cornered me for an interview.  I was happy to get the "press", but am not comfortable with public speaking, etc.  But, I don't think it turned out nearly as badly as it could have.

Click on the logo to the left to go to the Alabama Arts website and hear the interview.

cutting coffee tables

We placed a few logs upright in order to cut some coffee tables this morning.  This is green lumber, so keep the coffee warm for a few years.

fund raiser and good times

Last night, our long time buddy Grace Fox, the executive director of the local education foundation put on another successful river boat cruise fund raiser.  The weather was perfect, and the master captain of the paddle wheeler masterfully commanded the vessel in and out of port without a drop of sweat.  The food and drink was good, wonderful music, and the boat was filled to capacity.   We are proud of our good friend's very good work again this year.

st luke - one more shot

Being the largest table I've completed to date, I kept having to set the lighting back up for reshoots of this one.  Here's a pic of the entire table.  It's kinda wild.  Hope you like as much as I do.

sweet sassafras permeating the studio all week

We've been enjoying the sweet smell of sassafras this week as we've been working sassafras timbers into furniture.  What a pleasure working wood can be.

Dillon at Riccatoni's

Dillon Hodgs is so talented.  What a treat is was at lunch today to have lunch at Rick Elliott's Riccatoni's with Dillon performing in the background.  Enjoy Dillon around town while we've got him.  Hope he stay's home, but I'm afraid he's going big time soon.