This week in the slow studio

We have several projects going this week.  Although nothing complete yet.

An extra large supercool oak and walnut desk in process.  One leg of the desk will be flowing grain design, useing the same slab for the leg.

The other leg will be solid walnut.  Really a duplicate of our modern walnut console table, just a little shorter.  Really a very similar design that we showed at the NAHB show home in Winter Park in Feb.

Finally getting back to this credenza for Sheena, a top notch interior designer in High Point, for a client in Sarasota.

One of the modern solid walnut legs.

Finishing the sassafras benches for Phil Campbell Alabama's city park.

What does Seoul have to do with furniture anyway?

You might be beginning to wonder if you are on the right website.  Seeing a few blog posts and quite interesting, well thought out and well written pages around here.  Yes, I can't blame you for wondering if you are lost. 

But no, you are right here, in the space at this moment, but things might seem quite a bit brighter.  And I think that's an amazing thing.

Over the past month or two I've been reaching out and making new friends all over the country and planet.  In the wonderful article about Seoul, I can't help but think of how I might think of and describe my home, the deep South.  When you first think of the South (if you aren't Southern) what do you first think of?  Quick!  Well, most people that haven't had a chance to visit the South and get to know us, might think of 1960's Civil Rights Issues, or 2012 Immigration legislation.  But if they/you will just dig just a bit deeper, you might just find a wonderful, mesmerizing place that you might never want to leave.

I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Michael and his present home Seoul South Korea, from his perspective.  In his next piece (presently in our editing queue with more great stuff), let us tag along with him on a first date in Seoul, with photos along the way of the subway station, coffee shop that's closed, etc

So, what does all of this have to do with my little sustainable furniture business?  Nothing and everything.  I set up RWF as a means to celebrate life, creativity, and friends I meet along the way.  Well, I guess you could say that I've opened the doors, bumped the party up a notch, having the time of my life, celebrating with friends across the planet to better understand them, their way of life, the wonderful differences, and maybe arriving at the conclusion that we might just all be much more similar than we might first have thought.

Does Form Really Follow Function

Another new friend, Ben Manning wrote an amazing piece about - well - how deep do you want to go?  Primarily focuses on creativity, and just where and how it's sourced.  This piece is so well thought out, and understood by the writer that reading it is embarrassingly emotional for me.  It delves deep if you let it, into wonderful places of understanding.

If you are an architect, an artist or designer you might really appreciate this one.  If this side of your brain (I never can remember which) isn't your cup of tea, you won't be alone their either.

Thank you Ben, and welcome aboard.

Here's the link to the article:  Does Form Really Follow Function

ONE OF THE BEST REASONS TO VISIT SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

Crowds at Hangang Yeouido Spring Flower Festival / Kim SungjinOne of the best reasons to visit Seoul, South Korea

By Michael Jones, Seoul

Quick…what comes to mind when you think of South Korea?  I’ll bet it’s North Korea?  Or Kim Jong Il?  Or maybe a phrase like, “Korea is the country that’s dangerously close to North Korea.”  If that is true, what a shame.  The truth is, there is a lot to behold here in the Land of Morning Calm.  

Case in point…

Spring is coming, and that means Cherry Blossoms!  If there’s one thing to delight any designer, it’s the beauty of the tiny pink and white cherry flowers splashing their radiance into parks and along the sidewalks of Photo credit: http://www.seoulselection.com/seoul/?p=4427)Seoul.  Their brief beauty is reason enough for people like me to choose to live here.  

A cherry blossoms life is a perfect story.  It begins like an action packed novel, with an amazingly flashy entry into life, blooming in a day’s notice.  It develops its lovely character over a brief seven-day life span that seems to reach a fever pitch.  Then, in an encore of beauty, its petals break off and shower to the earth with a graceful, soft elegance; a perfect ending to a perfect tale.

So I urge you to cast off the knee-jerk associations of tyrannical dictators or the threat of war upon hearing the name Korea.  Instead, from now on begin envisioning the image of a cherry blossom and its tale of beauty.  Ask photo credit: http://flickrhivemind.net/User/Seoul%20Korea/Interestingyourself if the storied life of its blooming splendour is all that South Korea has to offer.  Ask yourself if this natural poster announcing the beginning of spring is only but the start of another amazing story… the story of summer. 

ONE OF THE BEST REASONS TO VISIT SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

First Amendment Awareness Month

UNA hosting two upcoming speaking engagements to honor First Amendment Awareness Month.  I can't believe I'm going to be out of town for Pulitzer Prize winning native Hank Klibanoff's talk on the 23rd.  His forward thinking understanding as well as ability to communicate the subject of civil rights issues in the south and beyond is so desperately needed and appreciated.  This discussion should be taking place, and as far as I can tell isn't to any significant degree around here.

If a local would like to attend Hank's talk on the 23rd, and post what they learn here on my LOGblog, it would be very much appreciated. (A few pics digital pics would also bea helpful). Just email me at robinwadefurniture@mac.com if you are interested.

In the mean time, I'll be attending Gene Policinski's talk on the 19th, and look forward to sharing my findings.

First Amendment Awareness Month

Is anyone out there?

As a child growing up in the 1960s, I went to sleep many nights and woke up many mornings to the tap-tap-tap of Morse code. My dad was an amateur radio enthusiast and was constantly meeting and building friendships with people around the world—and at the time, that world seemed to me to be an enormous one.

I can see him now, tapping away on his paddle and transmitting signals around the world in an attempt to make friends with almost anyone tens of thousands of miles away. If ever Dad heard the signal for "Is anyone out there?" he would run downstairs to his office and start tapping away, reaching out to whomever was asking to verify that he was listening.
Through his ham radio and Morse code hobby, Dad made friends in places near and far, and discovered that deep inside we are all the same.  And he celebrated this understanding, from time to time, just when the atmosphere and his little ham radio antenna in the side yard were in sync.
When I was in grade school, he won an amateur radio competition. His prize: a family vacation to the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal, known as Expo 67.  At age 10, my first visit abroad. Technically, crossing an imaginary line on a land mass doesn’t qualify as “abroad”, but I was only 10, and I’ve never been into technicalities. And, since we drove, it certainly seemed abroad to me. It was the first time I’d ever experienced a culture and people outside of my small southern hometown. It was the first time I’d ever heard other languages spoken within earshot and the first time I’d ever made friends who didn’t live within just a few miles of my home.

Today, I’m continuing to make friends and build business relationships around North America and overseas, but I’m sitting in my office and in my home. But now, the tap-tap-tapping isn't Dad spelling out messages on his paddle, its me typing on my laptop keyboard. Thanks to modern technology, its easy to meet like-minded people from around the planet with whom I can work and share experiences and knowledge about sustainability and design. I’m enjoying learning about their unique vantage points in the world and their ideas and passions.  

In the short six weeks that I’ve been toying with this new paradigm, I've had the absolute pleasure to have begun business relationships and friendships with amazing people in Johannesburg, Lima, Seoul, Okanawa, New York, Murphreesboro, San Antonio, Mumbai, Flagstaff, San Francisco and more.
Fifty years after I fell asleep with Morse code bouncing around my head, I am following my father’s path.  Although he encouraged my brother and me to learn Morse code, we didn't really get into it like he did. But I’m finally realizing that the lesson was never lost on me. Today’s technology allows us to so effortlessly do the same thing, but with pinpoint accuracy, incredible speed, and the added bonus of visual imagery.
The question is no longer, "Is anyone out there?” The questions are: In what country do you want a friend?  In what city?  With what interests?  For me, its international issues, southern culture, philanthropy, human rights, environmental concerns, architecture and design, and sustainable, healthy living. With the help of social media, the introduction between me and an architect who loves to write, an attorney who lives green, or a journalist who designs furniture for fun, is almost instantaneously.   

As a way of celebrating these folks and sharing their ideas and thoughts with you, I’ve invited my new friends to have voices on my LOGblog and RobinWadeFurniture.com and you will be hearing from them on a regular basis. And somehow, one friendship and blog post at a time, these new friends from around the country and the globe might just be helping make this big, sometimes scary and dangerous world a smaller, more friendly place. I hope you enjoy the words and images they share with us.

Is anyone out there?

2 walnut benches in progress

The underside of these two imperfect walnut benches are exposed in this in progress pic.  Of six or so benches we made recently out of these heavy 13" walnut beams, this imperfect one is clearly my fav.  Love the balance of the rotten imperfect beam with the simple lines of the two feet.  Just perfect really.  You'll see these two benches complete and ready for your butt at this summer's Atlanta Furnishings Market in July.

smoked chicken & asparagus

Just getting around to posting this pic of last week's smoked chicken and asparagus.  I wish I could say that either was local.  Linda picked them both up at WalMart, so we all know they weren't local.  Looking forward to our little farmer's market opening for the season. 

smoked chicken & asparagus

Walnut cubes just out of the finishing room

Nine walnut (almost) cubes stopped by our little photo area after exiting our finishing room this week.  They may not look like that much to you, but this little porkers were almost six years in the making.

Walnut cubes just out of the finishing room

The Guardian by Carly Palmour

The Guardian from Carly Palmour on Vimeo.

Nice work Carly, thanks for sharing!

The fork in the road - and I took it

Have you ever been on vacation, enjoying yourself immensely, but taken a wrong turn?  A wrong, totally unplanned, unintended direction, totally off the very exacting gps coordinates (or printed itenerary from  Google Maps) that you had all so perfectly laid out?

But, once you got over your original panic and brief sense of failure, you look around and find a magical little spot on this earth that you may have never ever known about.  Well, a couple of months ago, another fork (in our ever beautifully winding road) presented itself, and we've been immersed in the new direction ever since.

So glad you have joined us for at least a bit of the ride so far.  But stay tuned, buckle up, you will never guess what's waiting for us - just down the road a piece.

The fork in the road - and I took it

Eating Alabama

Eating Alabama

Wonderful trailer of a local film about local food.  Can't wait to see the movie.  Well done who ever you are!

I've been intrigued by what I keep hearing about the annual SXSW events.  Great to see a local group involved.

If you see the film shown around here, let me know!

Eating Alabama

inside the slow studio

inside the slow studio

We've got lots going around here.  New stuff, new people, new designs, and thank goodness for plenty of new cups of coffee.

Lot's of preparing for the upcoming High Point Market.  Press Releases.  Marketing books and handouts.  New pieces to complete and show off.

This morning I've got to complete my first snapfish hardbound book.  It'll have the standard 20 page layout.  And they have a full bleed image capability.  I think this will be a wonderful marketing addition in a venue where we can only show a few of our pieces.  This very professional, hard bound 8.5" x 11" photobook should help convey the feel of pieceswe've made previously.

For now, all I've got are few images of what's we've been up to the last couple of weeks.

Quite soon, I'll be letting the cat out of the bag about what's been taking so much of my time lately, and possibly a new waypoint on our fulfilled, rewarding voyage.

inside the slow studio

 

Being an environmentalist sometimes gets a bad rap

Being an environmentalist sometimes gets a bad rap

Miranda Cain - guest contributor

Sometimes being an environmentalist gets a bad rap, but not all environmental gurus are extremists. In fact, most Americans are just coming to grips with the idea of conserving the planet for future generations and promoting the idea that humans, as the dominant species on Earth, have the responsibility to maintain the health of the planet.
As populations rise, the idea of being mindful of waste and usage of natural resources is growing in popularity—and not just among tree huggers, but among young and old alike, community members are concerned about the wasteful nature of our daily lives.
More and more people are taking it upon themselves to help out the world in small but meaningful ways. They do things like walk to the grocery store, use canvas bags for errands around town instead of plastic ones, take shorter showers and buy food locally.
What being green really comes down to is a respect for this place that all of us call home. It’s not about a political party, it’s not about time or money; it’s about maintaining something that our survival depends on—this planet, the water, the air, and the food supply.
Ask yourselves these questions: Can this milk jug be recycled? Did I turn off the lights before leaving? Can I take a shorter shower or turn off the faucet while brushing my teeth? Is composting or recycling possible at my house or in my neighborhood?
Odds are that you answered yes to most of those questions. Make those changes! You don’t have to make big changes—you just have to make small tweaks to your routine and you’ll be contributing to big results.

Being an environmentalist sometimes gets a bad rap

wheatgrass juice - this week's adventure

Through the year's, I've enjoyed a shot of wheatgrass juice from time to time.  I think it's always been out of town.  And probably been in either larger metropolitan areas or at least healthy spots of the world.

Well, fitting right in with some health and aging concerns lately, somehow I came up with the genius idea of growing it so that I could enjoy the potential health benefits on a regular basis.

It's really amazing just how these little organic wheat seeds want to grow.  I know NOTHING about growing anything.  Really haven't slowed down to do it.  I watched a couple of youtube videos on the subject, was given a few little discarded plastic plant trays with holes, purchased some seeds from the health food store, and almost instantly started sprouting.

Rinse the seeds, then soak them for 12 hours.

Rinse them 2 to 4 times a day for a couple of days.

Once the sprouts have grown up, and the little jar is fairly full;

Place them in a tray to grow.  Here you've gotta cover with a newspaper, keep moist, then uncover once the grass is up an inch or two.

There are a few little tricks, but it's all really so simple.  So far so good anyway.

Yesterday I finally gave the grass a haircut and we juiced some.  I LOVE THIS STUFF.  So sweet.  Really.

Linda uses the paint strainer to strain out the fiber part of the grass, just drinking the juice.  This is a great little trick that we use daily with our/my daily breakfast juice of:  kale, carrot, celery, ginger, and a little protein powder added in to the mix.

I seem to love taking things too far, or at least plenty far.  And I feel the juicing, live food, becoming more and more conscious of what I'm eating, health awakening.  We'll see.

Oh, the pick below shows my first attempt.  Sort of a hydraponic technique, just placing the seeds directly

on newspaper, adding a little liquid kelp as nutrition. Grow number 2 is presently using the time tested method of dirt.  I have $80 worth of wheatgrass and sprout supplies ordered which will use an organic, fibrous mat (instead of the newspaper or dirt), that should help eliminate contaminates into the process.

wheatgrass juice - this week's adventure

walnut and maple slabs back home

It's been almost seven years since I started this little business.  Right from the start I realized that soucing these sustainable, american hardwood, thick, natural edge slabs was the first bottleneck.  This "product" that I was looking for just wasn't available on the market. 

Sure wonderful walnut lumber could easily be purchased.  Although expensive, it's a commodity product.  Quite easily accessable from most parts of the country.  But if you are looking for three or four inch thick walnut (or cherry or maple), then you add the natural edge spec to the pile of requirements, we had a problem right from the start. 

And, it took a couple of years to get the word out, find these logs, find sources for these logs, develop relationships with the small loggers and lumber companies all primarily within 60 miles of the studio.

Yesterday, we received one of our last 40' trailer truckloads of now kiln dry lumber that we began sourceing so long ago.  I think I can safely say that the original bottleneck has cleared, and we now have other fish to fry during this little self navigated (with no rules of charts) voyage.

Looks like we have one more truckload to receive next week and we'll have all our hardwood slabs back home, dry and safe.

walnut and maple slabs back home

The Green Flash

We have been on the lookout for a few excellent guest bloggers, each sharing a passion for a unique niche area of ours.

I was quite amazed that this guest blogger applicant, through his worldly sailing journeys, has followed a similar path as I.  In search for the ever elusive "green flash".

Welcome aboard Jo Luke Giles.  Originally an urban planner in UK, presently making Calgary his home, Jo Luke seems to share many common interests, primarily perhaps, suatainability issues.  Thank you for this wonderful story.  We hope to hear more from you! Oh, and be sure to; be excellent and keep your eyes peeled.

The Green Flash

by Jo Luke Giles

photo by Jo Luke GilesI'm of a mind to think of friendship like a tree. You meet, stick a seed in the ground together, you stand around and chat waiting to see if the seed sprouts. A long time from now this friendship could be a towering Sequoia, mighty against the wind. But only time will tell.
I feel I have entered into one such arrangement with a lovely man named Robin Wade. Electronically we met. Telephonically we spoke. But very soon into our conversation our words made nice.
 
We share a common mania, a thing that itches us in a likewise place. The Green Flash...

Robin advertised on the Internet for intern bloggers to spread his words of sustainability far and wide. I applied, he read my blogs as examples of my style. He called me from up a tree in Alabama.
 
Our trusty wiki friends describe Green Flash as "optical phenomena that occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible, usually for no more than a second or two, above the sun."
I am dubious.
 
I had read about the green flash in a book years before, and so, every night out there in the middle of the ocean, I watched, I observed, I drank in many a beautiful sunset waiting for the green flash. I even persuaded my fellow sailors into hoisting me atop the mast for a better look. I did not see it.

I’m not an untrusting person, but I began to think that the green flash was a seafaring tale that people liked to spout after a few too many rums… and that got me thinking. Why was it that I had never heard people talk about it before I sailed the ocean in 2008, but then any time thereafter that I described my adventure, The Green Flash was sure to be mentioned?
 
I investigated. I scoured through song lyrics and pop culture trying to find a book, an article, something that was putting the green flash out there for people to tease me with.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is an excerpt from the script for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Gore Verbinski, 2007)

“Ever gazed upon the green flash,
Master Gibbs?

I reckon I seen my fair share.
Happens on rare occasion.

The last glimpse of sunset,
a green flash shoots up into the sky.

Some go their whole lives
without ever seeing it.

Some claim to have seen it who ain't.
And some say...

It signals when a soul
comes back to this world from the dead.”

So ask me about the green flash, I will tell you the truth. I haven’t seen it and I tried my hardest. I will also assume you have seen Pirates of the Caribbean.

Be excellent & keep your eyes peeled.

The Green Flash

This dyslexic blogger will be getting some help

dyslexic blogger

For several years now I've (RW) been the only blogger here.  It's kinda like backing my truck with my 20' trailer, no one else around here wants to do it.  This year seems to be bringing on many new/interesting events here and in my life.  And obtaining some help here with the blog is another really good one.

Don't get me wrong here.  I love dyslexics.  Usually when I run into one, it's quite interesting.  It's either a party because we totally get and understand each other so well or, it can be quite - well difficult. But I'm pretty sure that adding a few non-dyslexic bloggers here will improve the bouquet. 

I totally plan to continue posting updates to this blog.   I have found several mostly students that share common interests and would like to share.  These interests might be quite a bit more diverse than you've been seeing.  Not just what's cooking in the back of our slow studio. 

The content might include subjects that I'm currently intrigued by, and wanting to learn more, or wanting to share what we have learned.  Some of these subjects, in addition to beautiful modern furniture include:  many aspects of sustainability, new age educational programs, health and nutrition including the slow food movement, juicing, raw food diet, the best of the south, the mix of business and philanthropy, and internet marketing. 

Our first guest post might be falling a bit further than I had planned, but there really aren't many rules here, and it's about a subject that has intrigued me for decades.  The Green Flash, fact or fiction.  Hope you enjoy our first guest post as much as I did.

Dyslexic blogger

Alabama boy's first visit to an acupuncturist

Yesterday was my first visit to an Acupuncture clinic, and I'm quite surprised at my impressions.  Being a long time open minded skeptic, I've always tried to listen to most viewpoints, but usually have to have first hand proof before I become a believer.

Well, can't say I'm a believer yet, but I FEEL like I'm headed that way.  Let met note first, that there might be a tinge of bias.  You see, Linda and I first met Dr. Ly and his wife Catherine back in the late 70's when I returned to Florence Alabama after college.  They opened what I believe was the first Chinese restaurant in our area.  And it was really good.  Catherine ran it, and I believe Dr. Ly and possibly his Dad and others in the family, ran the clinic. But eventually they sold the restaurant, I believe Catherine also became an Acupuncturist, and I don't remember them in the past couple of decades.

Certainly an interesting place.  Way back in the country in Muscle Shoals.  Their office is a home overlooking a beautiful slough of the Tennessee River (not sure which slough right off?).  As I walked in, there was one wall full of little jars of Chinese herbs.  Quite intriguing.  Then there were several office assistants, nurses?, and patients checking in, checking out, all quite doctor office like.  (no opium wafting through, but there was some calming Chinese music coming from somewhere).

Three pages of application to fill out, just like your first visit to a traditional doc.  I was lead to a room, and asked to remove all clothing except my underwear and to lay down on my back awaiting Dr. LY.  As the young gal was leaving the room, I repeated the directions back to her, not wanting to startle them or myself just in case I missed something!  And she said I could cover my private parts (my word) with a paper towel kinda thing, if I was shy.

I followed orders, layed down, placed the paper towel over my brief covered privates and awaited their return.  Dr. Ly and his assistant soon returned, and he immediately removed the paper towel saying this wouldn't be necessary.

So he started placing needles around my body.  Asking which of two areas were more sensitive.  Eventually adding electrical stimulation to four needles - I believe - lower leg and lover liver area??

I was given a B-12 shot.  Diet was discussed.  Two bottles of Chinese herbs, and one bottle of b-12 (i've gotta confirm this one) were prescribed for before and after meals.  And that was pretty much it.

Dr. Ly suggested that I return Monday morning for another visit, which I plan to do.

Here's the surprise;  I felt great driving back across the river heading home.  Was that the b-12?  Or the acupuncture, or placebo?  Honestly I don't know.  I still feel great.  I've never received immediate results from a doctor's visit like this. 

But, I really wasn't visiting the acupuncturist just to feel great (but what an amazing side effect!).  I was there in an attempt to resolve two problems that traditional medicine hasn't been able to cure.  The first is a fatty liver.  I quite drinking six years ago, and it's much better now.  But the liver enzymes continue to erratic even with regular drugs for it.  The second issue I'm visiting for is a long story of it's own.  Well, in the 4th grade next door neighbor Nancy Hamlin tackled me in a neighborhood football game.  No one that has known her since puberty would believe it, but she was the best lineman and tackle in the neighborhood (and all that girth was helpful).  Well she grinded me into the Mussleman's front lawn, actually plunging my knee into the ground, and into a piece of flint, cutting almost completely through the top of the tendon near the top of my tibia.  Well, 40 years later, we've just figured out why my knee has given me fits all these years.  MRSA in the tibia.

Ok, I got side tracked there.  So, #2 problem I'm hoping to resolve is an attempt to build the immune system up to where it might be able to overcome this MRSA, which traditional medicine and Vancomiacin hasn't been able to.

I would say that this is a pretty darn good test for acupuncture.   I really don't think a placebo is going to fix these two alone.  If Dr. Ly and his needles and his herbal remedies cure these two, this skeptic will be a believer.  For now, I'm feeling great.

Alabama boy's first visit to an acupuncturist

Just Published - monoLOG Spring update

This afternoon our monthly branch of communication, the monoLOG was released.  If you didn't receive yours, check your junk folder, or take one minute to sign up here. 

Just Published - monoLOG Spring update