Richard Branson says screw Business as usual
Richard Branson says screw Business as usual
Wonderful to see evidence that you can mix business and pleasure and good and succeed at all three.
I look forward to learning more from Richard and others.
Richard Branson says screw Business as usual
low tables in stock - finally!!
low tables in stock - finally!!
Gosh, I'm not sure that I have an answer to why this took so long. Just didn't have it at the top of my priority list I guess. Well, over the last couple of weeks, we've been lugging all our tables around, separating by type, and photographing them all. The really wonderful improvement in the photography area of the project, is that I didn't have to take each photo into Photoshop for silhouetting. Just got the lighting right, placed each table on a white backdrop, inhanced most images in Iphoto, and here we go. Next will be dimensions, pricing and a password protected page for wholesale pricing.
low tables in stock - finally!!
cloudForce 2011 New York - began two minutes ago
cloudForce 2011 New York - began two minutes ago
How does a tiny, southern, sustainable, American made, furniture maker build a national brand in this economy? It has a lot to do with technology. And I'm really curious about today's announcements at CloudForce New York. The improvements and announcements of new products and integrations of amazing products benefiting small business today is quite amazing. Small business is a wonderful place to be today. -- Ok, it's not all perfect - but there is soooo much that is.
cloudForce 2011 New York - began two minutes ago
I had forgotten about this walnut lumber fire
I had forgotten about this walnut lumber fire
Originally, I was working with these very cool Amish guys up in Ethridge Tennessee. They began doing the sawmill work. Then it progressed to debarking the lumber with draw knives, and eventually tried to teach them to build modern furniture. Well, I this is a reasonable example of this "Amish connection" not working.
I remember driving up to the Amish sawmill, pulling up and seeing stacks of my lumber near a big fire pit. I walked closer to see that a lot of the lumber was smoldering, with black totally charred evidence throughout the stack of lumber.
But the really cool thing is, now years later with it all dry and out of the kiln, that I'm hoping that the "evidence" of the history of this lumber - fire and all - might just make it to a few finished pieces. Within the next few weeks, I'm hoping to work on a few of these "charred" walnut slabs to see just what becomes of them.
I had forgotten about this walnut lumber fire
big maple tree losing it's leaves
big maple tree losing it's leaves
I love this big maple tree that sits in our front yard. And every Fall, I fall for it all over again. Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful big maple tree's brillant leaf fall each - fall??
big maple tree losing it's leaves
walnut bench sale?
walnut bench sale
There have been rumors around here of a very big walnut bench sale. I can't confirm anything (this month), but I did take this pic last week, and there were quite a few walnut benches in process - and it doesn't look like they are sold. If what I've been hearing about the prices is true, they won't be lasting long. If you are interested might want to check back in sometime around December 1??
walnut bench sale
I finally made the Sioux City Journal
I finally made the Sioux City Journal
Not exactly sure just how this happened, but I finally made the Sioux City Journal!!! Our recent showing at the High Point Market, was taxing (in various was) to say the least. Made lots of new friends and contacts, and through it all, a few reporters, bloggers, HGTV folks, among others stopped by. Some asked questions, took notes, and lots took pics.
I'm thinking this might have come from a couple of gals from NY that have been on the Furniture Market scene for some time. Haven't had a chance to go through all the cards to confirm names/etc. But it looks like this might have made the AP/or ?? similar circuit (I'm kinda behind on all this media stuff).
But we certainly appreciate this and all press we can get. Thank you to ???
I finally made the Sioux City Journal
one table for Phil Campbell
one table for Phil Campbell
I know this doesn't look like much, but with a little time and care, I'm got big plans for these two stacks of wood? Our neighboring community of Phil Campbell was devastated by the tornadoes of the Spring. I've joined the amazing "I'm with Phil" campaign in an effort to do what I think I do best - to help. And I've committed to making and donating a table to this worthwhile cause.
This was a tree that was still standing after the tornado. It was right outside the door of the city hall. It was standing, but after the tornado, it didn't have a single limb, and certainly wouldn't have been able to survive.
The Oprah network sent a film crew and a couple of producers down to Phil Campbell to interview (several of the "Phil's) along with the Mayor and some of the remaining residents of the city.
I believe it is scheduled to air on February. Let's hope so. Although the Phil's have raised enough money for one Habitat for Humanity home for the city, I think that leaves around 99 more to do. Whew. Oprah seems to do a lot of miracles, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed about one more.
Oh, back to the table. This may look like a lot of lumber. But there are maybe only a couple of slabs intact. (There had been a lot of stress damage to the tree.) But the great thing is that, for this effort, we only need one table anyway. In the small stack, really impossible to see in this pic, there are some amazingly interesting organic pieces that, somehow, may find a second life as a table for good in a year or so.
Brooklyn Phil is reminding me to video document the progress of the table making effort. We've got some video of the milling of the lumber. And I plan to get more footage as we proceed.
one table for Phil Campbell
walk in closet with walnut bench
walk in closet with walnut bench
I get questions from time to time about the furnishings in our home. Is it only this beautiful wood? Walnut everywhere? Well, if I had my way it probably would be. But we do have plenty of wood most everywhere you look. Yesterday I got a pic of our closet walnut bench. Linda and I converted this small bedroom to a walkin closet a dozen or more years ago. We share it and the walnut bench.
walk in closet with walnut bench
Havana - our other dog's tennessee river view
Havana - our other dog's Tennessee river view
In an attempt to be impartial to each of our children, here's a pic of how Havana seems to be spending most of her time around here. We made a mistake a couple of weeks ago, and left the tailgate down of our 12 year old Range Rover when we returned home. Havana seems to have made it her second home. She just stares off into the vista of the 10 mile Tennessee River view during the day, or seemes mesmerized by the moon at night. We can barely get her in the house for meals! Seems to be her old Range Rover now.
Havana - our other dog's tennessee river view
our puppy's first frisbee catch - 11/12/11
our puppy's first frisbee catch - 11/12/11
I am so far behind on my blog posts. But I just had to throw this one into the top of the list. Sassafras Wade, our seven month old golden had a milestone event yesterday - 11/12/11. She caught her first frisbee. This is big around here.
our puppy's first frisbee catch - 11/12/11
Business week quote, what do you think business leaders need to learn
What do you think business leaders need to learn.
I'm so far behind on my blog posts. Have lots of pics and stories, and catching up. But I just saw that I was quoted in Business Week, and just couldn't help but share.
When I was first contacted (November 1) by Vanessa Wong of Bloomberg/BusinessWeek, I actually thought it must be some kind of scan, junk mail, hoax. I googled her, and decided it might be legit. Well, looks like it was. And I think my response to this week's Business Week question, of What do you think business leader's need to learn" was just off the wall enough, that they had to run it.
Wine and Walnuts celebration was a big hit
Wine and Walnuts celebration was a big hit
At 4 yesterday afternoon, we popped the cork on several bottles of our fav California Cabernet along with Linda's amazing receipe of spicey walnuts and shared with all our friends. What fun. Thanks to all for welcoming us back to High Point! We are so glad to be here.
Wine and Walnuts celebration was a big hit
IHFC Market is the worlds largest to the trade in furnishings
IHFC Market is the worlds largest to the trade in furnishings
The bus terminal in front of the IHFC building at the High Point Market is one little example of the massive size of this market. Buses full of nothing but qualified buyers arriving in front of the IHFC building is quite amazing. I understand that Milan gets more traffic, but it's not To The Trade.
So happy to be in Interhall, the best location in the best building in High Point!
IHFC Market is the worlds largest to the trade in furnishings
Maxwell in High Point's IHFC sponsored by WITHIT
Maxwell in High Point's IHFC sponsored by WITHIT
Apartment Therapy's Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan shared wonderful (and inspiring) creative words of wisdom to a room full of (hardly surprisingly) mostly women at 7:30 this morning. It was a totally packed audience. He had every gal that I saw on the edge of their seats.
Maxwell has been working on this for the past year or so. Ten things you need to know.
It was a wonderful talk. I video'd a bit of it, but the wifi is sooooo slooooow in here. Hopeing to be able to upload tonight from the hotel.
Maxwell in High Point's IHFC sponsored by WITHIT
IHFC InterHall October 2011
IHFC InterHall October 2011
Made some great progress on the booth, after driving on into High Point this morning then waiting in the marshalling yard for a couple of hours for our turn at the loading dock. I've been anxious to see how the new wall mural installed and looks. So far so good. Shouldn't take too long tomorrow to install the last three our four panels. Really amazing how well the sepia tint matches the walls here.
I really like High Point. I don't know that I've ever seen a town that's so single minded. This little city has done almost nothing but furniture for ??? well lots of decades. And it's good to see, that even in these economic times, there still seems to be a lot of big business going on around here.
The booth's looking a little rough here, but we'll get it all squared away Thursday, and hopefully get an afternoon of rest before Friday's "soft opening" in Interhall.
IHFC InterHall October 2011
Beautiful drive to High Point Market
Beautiful drive to High Point Market
Yesterday I took this pic as Linda and I got on the road headed toward High Point, with our little trailer following right behind. It was a much needed beautiful, relaxing drive. We spent the night in beautifful Asheville, before driving on into High Point this morning.
Beautiful drive to High Point Market
American Craft / Andrew Zoellner Article
American Craft / Andrew Zoellner Article
Gosh, we've been so focused on preparing for the High Point Market, that I forgot about Andrew Zoellner's post. He did the interview several weeks ago . . . Yesterday I was lounging in the sun a bit, looking over some website analytics, and ran across American Craft referring several visitors. One benefit of getting old like me, is you can be nicely surprised by an event multiple times (if you are forgetful enough!).
Thanks Andrew for the nice post!
One more last thing; There should be another small feature in American Craft's next issue - where they asked several crafty's what their favorite hand crafted gift they received.
American Craft / Andrew Zoellner Article
2012 New American Dining Table in progress
2012 New American Dining Table in progress
Planning to ship these three pieces to Winter Park Tuesday. The low table has been ready for months. The dining table and desk are getting close. Although we've started finishing a few parts of these tables tables, we are still diligently working on the top of the dining table. Here's a pic of the top of our 2012 New American Dining Table at this morning's stage of what is seeming to be good evidence of our "slow studio".
If you'd like to see more about the NAHB 2012 New American Home - just click!
2012 New American Dining Table in progress
Sign for our space at High Point Market
Sign for our space at High Point Market
In addition to our new full back wall mural, we will have a few other signs around the booth space. Here's a new one that we were working on yesterday. It will be attached to a slab that came from the historic Barton Hall / documented by Charles Moore - tree, that we rescued a few years ago. This will be the first use of this tree since the storm took it down. We'll leave the blue back intact until we arrive in High Point and start setting up the space next week.