walnut coffee table atlanta market
walnut coffee table atlanta market
Trying to get some pics posted from the Atlanta Market before I leave for Las Vegas this afternoon.
The showroom was so large that there we entrances from two of the isles. This pic is from one of the entrances.
My organic American made furniture seemed to feel just right, along side Shaw's beautiful sustainable American made rugs and flooring.
walnut coffee table atlanta market
Atlanta Summer Market
Atlanta Summer Market
I am so behind on this blog. Have lots to share regarding the recent Atlanta Market. The Atlanta Market - another first for RWF - was quite amazing. We showed in the beautiful, supersized ShawLiving showroom, and had a blast. It almost had a museum/gallery feel, with the wonderful lighting and elbow room, and of course, surrounded by such beautiful, sustianable American made rugs.
Atlanta Summer Market
trinity episcopal playground tree
Trinity Episcopal Playground tree
A couple of years ago, my buddy architect Joey Leavitt, called and said that the beautiful old pecan tree in the childrens play ground of the Trinity Episcopal church was being taken down (next door to his office). I drove the five blocks up pine street to get a better look. And was happy to purchase what the tree service insisted was trash.
The base of the tree was almost completely hollow. There was some really nice heartwood further up into the massive structure of the tree. But, it clearly had signs that of metal. Which also typically sends an old tree straight to the city dump.
It was more than worth our trouble to use the metal detecorl throughout the very slow slabbing process in order to save some of of this historical old master, and shade tree to generations of children.
This is all we have so far. The remainder is still drying and awaiting the final kiln drying process. But for now, this piece, along with a few other broken pieces, just might make something pretty special.
Trinity Episcopal Playground tree
walnut trunk / root
walnut trunk / root
This week we finally got some time to work with some of our more funky slabs. These are the only walnut root slabs I've ever obtained. So, whatever few tables these make, that's going to be it for years. A couple of years ago, Louis Bartmess had an old walnut tree fall down on his farm. We spent the morning, pulling and shoving this walnut root up onto the trailer. We found that these roots don't roll quite as easy as logs do. I saw Louis at a city council meeting recently, but didn't get a chance to tell him (two years later) that we are getting closer to a table!
walnut trunk / root
16" timber frame saw cutting through walnut beam
Timber Frame Saw
Several of our primary shop tools are down for maintenance this week. So it's a great opportunity to work on some of our more unusual projects. Here, we are using a massive 16" Makita timber frame saw to cut through this thick walnut beam.
I'm thinking this extra large natural walnut beam might make a great base for some walnut low tables.
Timber Frame Saw
the best phone in the world, except . . .
The New American Home 2012
The new American Home 2012The New American Home 2012
I can't wait to see Phil Kean's New American Home in Winter Park during the International Bulder's Show in February. Love his updated take on mid century masterpieces from some of the modern greats.
Phil dropped by the studio a month or two ago, and seemed to totally get what I was doing with modern natural, sustainable furniture. It was great to get such positive feed back from someone of his stature in Architecture.
Ok, so here's today's big news. We will be providing at least one piece of furniture in this beautiful modern sustainable home! This is going to be fun.
The New American Home 2012
planing a big oak tree
planing a big oak tree
I'm just now getting around to posting these pics of the outdoor work we did last week. The mornings were amazing, and we seem to find any excuse to get outside during these extra beautiful days.
After just receiving these big oak tree recently, we were anxious to see what was under the wrapping. As you can see, this tree was more than a little rough around the edges. But I'm finding that what used to be considered nothing but scrap or the cheapest pulpwood very often can become our most prized pieces when we are all through with them.
Stay tuned. . .
planing a big oak tree
Lion available today
Seems like the skinnier Steve Jobs gets, the better his company and products are. hmmm?? - maybe a lesson here for mua? The "goldmaster" has been released to developers, so I'm looking for it any day now. Should be some new Mac's available as well.
I'll be checking the Apple App store throughout the day to see if it's Christmas yet.
Oops. I just remembered reading somewhere that some very significant software apps wouldn't be running on Lion. Most traumatic for me to lose would be Adobe Photoshop. Hopefully that was just a rumor, because without out Photoshop I'd be "up the creek", possibly a beautiful creek with a city landfill long with a killer lowhead dam.
walnut scraps dining table
walnut scraps dining table
This is the dining table that's been on display at the library for the past year. It is made from nothing but local walnut. The varied coloration is from the mix of walnut sapwood and walnut heartwood. A couple of times a year we make a few tables from the left over scraps of other tables. More often than not, we end up with a more stunning piece from the scraps. Not sure what this is telling me, but I am listening.
We just got it back from the library last week. It took some abuse, but nothing that just a little sanding and a couple more coats of tung oil won't fix right up.
walnut scraps dining table
oak & walnut root coffee table
oak & walnut root coffee table
The oak root came from an ole friend's farm a couple of years ago. To see a pic of us slabbing the walnut root back in Feb '09, click here. I'm haven't yet found the pics of the day we Louis Bartmess invited us out to his farm and fished the big old root off of his property and onto the trailer.
When I was a kid, when I wasn't in the creek, or in school, I was on the tennis courts. "Mr. Bartmess" was also a regular, and it was really fun to have more fun with him on this latest venture.
oak & walnut root coffee table
Modern organic oak slab bench
This ones been in process for a while. We keep getting distracted by seemingly less importat projects around the shop. At least to me. Because I really like this one. I've made it a bit taller, and I have to admit, it is much more comfortable. The seat is casually raked back 15 degrees or so, and the back is as well. I just wish I could make more similar benches. Two standard 20" cushions will fit perfectly, but it "looks" so much better without them.
Modern organic oak slab bench
custom walnut timber shelves
Custom Walnut timber shelves
Last week we completed two low tables, refinished a dining table, and finally completed this custom walnut timber shelves unit. This can be made to the customer or designer's specs. Typically, the vertical pair is cut square (much like most of our tables) and the horizontal shelves left with natural edges.
The walnut shelves are particularly stunning, with the contrasting, almost white, sapwood natural edges.
Custom walnut timber shelves
sassafras - getting her feet wet
Except for the wet part, Sassafras seems to really like the water. So far, at 11 weeks old, her record depth is maybe an inch or so. But she's hanging close to the edge, sitting in it, and following her big sis - Havana around.
Sassafras - getting her feet wet
the shape of the universe
The shape of the universe
It's amazing what we find in nature, and in life, if we just slow down and take a peak. Last we took advantage of the wonderful weather, and worked outside planing a few more oak slabs that have recently been dried and ready.
Throughout the day, as I stepped outside from time to time to check on things, I started noticing some interesting configurations in the natural edges of a few of the oak slabs. Then, I began to pay more attention to the details of the edges, to see if there was anything I was missing. There is was, the shape of the universe right in front of me. I've gotta start paying more attention.
The shape of the universe
right here in this big oak timber slab.
grouper with walnut and papaya
Grouper with walnut and papaya
Sunday's wonderful lunch was another from Linda's famous walnut recipe box. Grouper with walnut and papaya, along with yellow rice and Linda's perfect cole slaw. The walnut and papaya marinade had a bit of honey and lemon. The Orange beach grouper was from Crocodile Ed's Fish Market. The only way it could have been better would be if we had caught the fish ourselves, and grilled it on the boat. Even then, I'm not sure - because Linda probably wouldn't have joined us.
Linda's grouper with walnut and papaya
First Friday Find - Florence Alabama
Finding a new, possibly up and coming artist at First Friday is becoming a regular occasion. July's downtown First Friday event uncovered another. It was a pleasure meeting Carl Brackin and learning about his photography work. Carl is working on his Masters in Photography. I am totally intrigued by every facet of his work. Catching the moving fire of a local fire dancer, the salt and wax treatment of the work, along with the amazing, unique symbolism within each piece is stunning. Carl's got it going.
Kelvin Holly and Little Richard again at the white house this weekend.
Kelvin Holly and Little Richard
Our small community is chock full of creative types of all kinds. I'll try to start posting about them as I think of 'em.
Here's one that's right next door that doesn't receive nearly enough credit. He's been backing up Little Richard all over the country - and world - for years. I've been wondering where he, Kelvin Holly was this weekend. Well, I figured it out after reading this morning's front page of the TimesDaily. He, along with Wayne Chaney will be accompanying Little Richard again this 4th of July on the west lawn. It will be live again on PBS.
Kelvin, I know you are busy, but your dogs are barking. . .
low head dam kills another kayaker
Our low head dam kills another kayaker
The low head dam on cypress creek has killed too many boaters and kayakers through the years. The low head dam that city illiegally built back in the late 70's? is so much more menacing than it looks like. Even when the creek is at normal levels it is dangerous.
My dad and I organized and ran the Great Cypress Creek Raft Race a few decades ago. The first few years of the race, there was no dam. But after the dam was built, I kept hearing from racers that they had a close call. That the dam pulled them down under the water, kept them down, stole their beer and coolers, that it was a close call. Well, dealing with the public, honestly, at the time, I disregarded most of these "danger" comments.
That is, untill it happened to me (and my dog Wilber) ten years ago. We were living in South Carolina at the time. We were visiting family here in Florence, and didn't bring our kayak back with us. So, my brother and I grabbed some innertubes and jumped in for the 5 hour float (in a very slow inner tube). My brother elected to walk around the dam. Wilber and I just floated on thru the small dam. And, I think, we almost didn't come back up alive. The very strong vortex, first held us under for way too long. And, after we came up, it kept us about 10 feet from the dam, not allowing us to swim away from it for a bit.
Well, since then, I have portage around this killer - dragging my fairly heavy long plastic kayak each time.
How many more deaths is it going to take before the City of Florence decides to do something about this killer? My thought this morning, is that it might be a good "value" to the city to purchase some land just below the dam, and build a parking and safe "put in" area for boaters. Seems less expensive than more deaths or moving the dam upstream, above the Cox Creek Parkway launch area.
Here's Boatsafe.com's info on low head dams
Our low head dam kills another kayaker
in the workshop today - oak bench
Oak bench
This chair (or couch or bench??) is almost complete and will be moving to the finishing room tomorrow. I'm not sure what to call it, but it's feeling, looking, and sitting pretty good.
The curved top is the natural edge of the tree. I'll get some pics of the completed piece next week.