our ad in the IHFC resource guide

Here's our two page spread ad in the IHFC resource guide this market.

IHFC Interhall ad

We were pleasantly surprised by this Interhall Ad. When we advertised in the Resource guide, I guess there was a two-fer I wasn't aware of.

featuring shaw living tommy bahama rug

We are featuring a beautiful Shaw Living Tommy Bahama rug in our InterHall space this week.  It's a perfect compliment to our all walnut collection.  It is so nice when things work out so well, and just "fit".  And I'm just talking aesthetics here.  It's obviously a well made, quality product.  But the remarkable thing is Shaw's environmental sensitivity as well as being an American Made product.  Unfortunately these attributes are becoming more and more rare these days.

Couldn't be more pleased

Our location is quite amazing.  I couldn't be more pleased.  As you enter InterHall, we are the first showroom on the left (just past the wonderful sandwich shop).  Also we are at the end of aisle 300.  Here's a pic I took yesterday from the opposing side of the building.  You can see our logo at the end of the hall.  Looks like I got it maybe 9" or so too high.

ihfc interhall setup

Got a little behind on my blog posts this week.  Wasn't able to get online in the DoubleTree.  Finally figured out it was a Firefox browser issue.  Went back to Safari, and I'm back online.

Set up basically went without a hitch.  We had already applied the vinyl decals to the acrylic back in the studio last week.  But were a little anxious about getting the vinyl placed on the back wall.  But with our buddy  Shawn's great help, it all went well.

Two more walnut benches

 

These two walnut benches were the last pieces to come out of the finishing room friday.  These two benches, along with a beautiful coffee table can be seen next week in the Shaw Living space in High Point starting next weekend.

Solid Walnut Love Seat

 

Completed this solid walnut love seat just in time for the show.  Most of these pieces recently have been a bit smaller than usual.  In order to fit more than a couple of pieces in our small space in Interhall, we had to think small.  But I'm pleasantly surprised how they are all turning out.  Solid Walnut Love Seat

Small walnut dining table

Here's a pic of the very small walnut dining table that joining us in High Point next weekend.  We added a second dimensional joint to the top and applied one last coat of oil friday.  Small walnut dining table

two slab walnut coffee table

 

Right out of the finishing room yesterday was also this two slab walnut coffee table.  Be sure to stop by our space in InterHall if you'll be attending the High Point spring market starting next weekend.  Two slab walnut coffee table

no clear cutting

No Clear Cutting:

Things are going a bit too smooth around here.  All the new tables are looking good.  Have one more coat of finish to apply to a couple, then they'll just need the weekend to dry.  We'll be blanket wrapping all the furniture and loading the trailer Monday, and departing for High Point early Tuesday.

Really pleased with the way this part of our marketing/signage turned out.  Two of the slab/signs will be on each of the opposing walls of our Interhall space.  Except for a several little bubbles behind the orange vinyl, I think it all looks pretty good.  You can see that the first sign is missing one piece of the standoff hardware.  Just can't find the 16th piece anywhere, but it should be arriving overnight.

new line - C Tables

Several new pieces just out of the finishing room yesterday, just in time for the show.  Here is our first pic from a new line - C Tables.  I've had some requests for cleaner, more modern lines, and I think this is a good start.  Particularly thick, solid walnut console and coffee table.  Another interesting feature is that the legs and top are from the same slice of the tree.  Up close, you can see that it not only matches perfectly, but the grain pattern continues down the leg.  Also available in solid, locally sourced maple, cherry and sassafras.

pair of walnut timber coffee tables

Fresh out of the finishing room this morning were several new pieces.  Here's a pair of walnut timber coffee tables, each with an opposing dimensional joint.

Ipad2 slide show marketing

The secret to our marketing campaign finally arrived, the Ipad2 slide show marketing.  Actually, I have been using the High Point show as an excuse to purchase one more Apple toy.  I would like to use it in the booth in High Point to allow customers to run some self directed slide shows, directly on the Ipad.  As before, we'll have a general slide show running on a large flat screen monitor, but this one might only show the new "seating" line, or ??.

Yesterday I completed the graphics on the 10 page press kit as well as our handouts for the show.  Also designed and ordered a few handouts for the Shaw booth, with directions to our space down in InterHall.

Today my primary focus(es) are the slide shows, the signs that'll be applied to the acrylic (that'll be applied to the four big slabs).  Each will tell one piece of the story;  No clear cutting, no importing, no veneer, no stain.

Still haven't quite completed all the last minute samples that we keep tweaking.  But we're making great headway.

Tomorrow we've got some deadline's for press, and hopefully we'll have all of our samples completed.  All is actually looking good at this point.  Might even have an example on the site this afternoon of my progress on the Ipad2 slide show marketing campaign.

converting to water based finish

 

We've been planning to convert our operation over to water based finish for a year or so.  We've visited the leading American manufacturer of water based finishes, ValSpar for traininig.  And they've been down to make sure it "took".  And, between jobs, my buddy David McAffee has been in and out of the shop fabricating and installing all the metalwork.  Looks like he's back on the project and should have it complete very soon.  20x20 filters go in each cubicle.   And the big vent hood on the floor (left pic) should be installed above these filters next week.  You should be hearing more about this big environmental step, once the project is complete, and we really have something to brag about.

Converting to water based finish.

acrylic display fabrication

 

Although aesthetically, I'd like to design some furniture with extra thick clear acrylic legs, etc, we've chosen not to - for the environment's sake.  But I did make a bit of an exception last week in that I ordered a 4x8' sheet of acrylic to help tell our story.  In the booth with be two slabs on each of the left and right opposing walls.  Each will have aluminum stand off hardware in the corners to attach these four pieces of clear acrylic to.  Then, we'll attach the vinyl lettering that tells the story;  No clear cutting, no importing, no veneer, no stain.

The easiest way to clean the edges of this acrylic seemed to be to give the edges of little "flame" treatment.  Worked like a charm.  The pic on the right is the 4x8' of acrylic in our panel saw.  Although I like the "look" of acrylic, I'm going straight back to the most environmentally sensitive product to make furniture from - American Hardwood.

Acrylic display fabrication

modern solid walnut love seat

 

Modern solid walnut love seat.  If all goes well, this will be our last sample to make for the upcoming Spring Market.  It's looking pretty good, but maybe because it's Sunday, but every time I look at it, I'm thinking church pew!.  Just like most of our furniture, this one's really simple.  Unusual in that their are no natural edges.  And except for the 10 big timberframe screws that are holding it together, there are only four pieces.  This one's only 48" long.  Can't wait to get it finished, and placed in our mock-booth to see how it looks!

print media and mountain laurel

Seven days till we depart for High Point's Spring market, and I haven't completed the art for the press kits or handouts.  Yikes!  Been pretty much dug in all weekend with one objective; to complete this project.  Well, the weather's been awesome and I keep sneaking out.  Spent the morning at the lake.  Today's the first day of spring, and it feel's like mid summer.  Hallelujah!  But, it's 2:41 pm, and it doesn't look like anyone's going to offer a miracle today. 

I'll catch up on a couple of blog posts and try to "get my mind right".  I love using all these wonderfully creative computer tools (photoshop, iphoto, digital cameras, Illustrator, etc, etc) to create marketing pieces, but with the turn in the weather (and a very cold winter, I feel like I've been sent to my room till I complete my homework!  Oh, here's a pic of what is probably my favorite flowering plant, the mountain laurel.  It seems to thrive on our northern banks overlooking cypress creek.  I'll try to remember to take and post a pic of the flowering part that should take place before long.

Does the "slow studio" need to slow down?

I vote yes.  Preparing our babies for market is always interesting.  The last few weeks before a show, I always get a little nervous.  We all start running around, somewhere near a frantic state, thinking nothing's good enough.  And this show, unfortunately, is no exception.  We've got 6 working days left before we pack the trailer for High Point, and I'm nowhere near ready.  I haven't ordered the handouts (or even designed them yet), some samples are still in process (just getting started on a small walnut couch this morning).  Half of of the display pieces haven't been finished(as in hand rubbed oil finish), and the remainder of the pieces (that are finished) probably need one more scuff of steel wool and a final coat of oil.

Will I ever become more confident, and be happy with our product, and be calm (and slow) before a show?  My guess is no.  But they say awareness is the first step toward something.  So maybe I am getting there.  Pictured are two samples from a new line that we'll be showcasing at Market.  We just need to sand these down a bit, and apply a few coats of oil before they will be ready.  I'd stay and chat, but I've gotta get back to running around in circles for a while.

cherry chaise made from scraps

Cherry Chaise.  Just out of the finishing room is a solid cherry chaise made from scraps.  It was designed so that a cushion can be added should the customer require one.

gnarley maple console table

          

I set up the lighting and backdrop to take some more pics of our newest stream of furniture:; seat, and this beautiful gnarley maple console kept getting in my way.  I think it wanted in the picture.  So here you go.  It's available, but unfortunately we won't have room in the High Point booth for it.  If you want more pics, dimensions and details, let me know.  Gnarley maple console table.