January 2020
Sally and I now have two grandchildren, Logan age 5 months and Arlo age 3 years. As many of you know, they both live in Boston with their parents Dwight and Martina. So, as you might expect, we have made frequent trips to Boston since I last posted in October of 2018. Nonetheless, when home and not busy with the rest of my life, I have been very busy in the shop.
My primary focus over the last couple of years or so has been to learn the craft of chair making. I took three classes from well known chair makers. In each class I made a chair. In the first class I learned to make a ladder back chair from Jeff Lefkowitz . In the second class I learned to make a balloon back windsor chair from Pete Galbert. In the third class, using very simple hand tools, I learned to make a windsor chair (that Curtis calls the "democratic chair"). I learned a lot in all three classes, and discovered just how much there is to learn about the craft of woodworking. This was both humbling and inspiring. Oh...I also made one chair following directions from a book and DVD written and produced by Jeannie Alexander.
Sally and I now have two grandchildren, Logan age 5 months and Arlo age 3 years. As many of you know, they both live in Boston with their parents Dwight and Martina. So, as you might expect, we have made frequent trips to Boston since I last posted in October of 2018. Nonetheless, when home and not busy with the rest of my life, I have been very busy in the shop.
My primary focus over the last couple of years or so has been to learn the craft of chair making. I took three classes from well known chair makers. In each class I made a chair. In the first class I learned to make a ladder back chair from Jeff Lefkowitz . In the second class I learned to make a balloon back windsor chair from Pete Galbert. In the third class, using very simple hand tools, I learned to make a windsor chair (that Curtis calls the "democratic chair"). I learned a lot in all three classes, and discovered just how much there is to learn about the craft of woodworking. This was both humbling and inspiring. Oh...I also made one chair following directions from a book and DVD written and produced by Jeannie Alexander.
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So far, in addition to the four chairs mentioned above I have made three ladder back chairs and one stool on my own. The three ladder back chairs were each variations on the Jeannie Alexander design. The last of these three, in the photo on the right, is the only one included on the web page. Click on the chair to the right to see the chairs.
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Before I could make chairs in my shop, I had to spend considerable time and some money making and acquiring the necessary tools and jigs. Instead of simply buying everything, I took this opportunity to actually make some of the chair making tools. Click on the image of the shaving horse to the right to see some of the tools I have made.
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I made a large coffee slab table for a nephew in Ohio. And finally, I completed our dining table which has had legs for nearly two years while I waited for the table top wood to dry. Click on the table to the right to see the tables.
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The same friends that asked me to make the lingerie chest of drawers for "her" found that the lingerie chest was lonely and so invited me to make a bureau for "him". Click on the bureau to the right for more details.
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In between making chairs, tools, and furniture I also made a few fun items. Click on the train whistle to the right to see some of these items.
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When I'm not in the shop, I am gardening, singing, and visiting with friends and family. Hope see you in 2020!
Enjoy!
David
Enjoy!
David