Blistered Imbuya and Ziricote ...Mmmm!

What a fantastic wood combination.

The blistered Imbuya veneer on the tops and aprons of these tables has a nice ripple, with a very rich natural colour. It's a great wood to work with too; great spicy smell. Also handy that the trees are usually big, so one piece of veneer can usually span the whole width of one of my cocktail tables.

The Ziricote has a grain pattern that has distinct areas with different shading, separated by black lines. It reminds me of paintings by Lawren Harris and other group of 7 artists. This wood is not cheap, therefore the legs and the beading on the bottom curve of the apron is cherry actually. I developed a convincing multilayer staining technique to simulate the ziricote. This made it  possible not to charge four times the regular price for such a table. This was also necessary because it would be very difficult to find a piece of ziricote thick enough to make the legs without having checks and splits in it. It's a small tree, almost a bush, so finding desirable pieces just for the edging was a task alone. The edging around the top of the table is the a more noticeable spot for it, so it all works out well.

I've used this combo for cocktail tables (15 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 24"H), pedestal tables (12 x 12 x 28"H) and I'm currently doing a custom sized end table.

I decided to bring these two woods together in my tables because the combination has a powerful presence with a low contrast. It's not screaming, but has a subtle strength. Also, I thought it would add a masculine tone to my table collection, but as it turns out,  the women were the ones who bought these at the OOAK show last month.

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Spalted Maple Wall Unit

My good friends not far up the road are quite environmentally minded. (Applause.) So it was quite in-line for them to ask their local furniture designer / maker extraordinaire to make a custom wall unit using the wood from a large maple that had come down on their property. Yes, I had yet another chance to play with spalted maple and use it to make some beautiful hi-lites on this piece.

As always, once the log was sawn up and I went to pick up the boards, it was not easy to see full sections that were still intact and where the spalting (rotting essentially) had not progressed too much. Also, I was not surprised that the character of the spalting "graphics" had a character that was unique. And, I was also not surprised again to see that the spalting was intense in some areas and completely absent in others. Yes, I'm getting to know this strange animal.

The patterns in this one had much of a "Japanese Script", as if inscribed with a fine Indian Ink pen. It had quite a personality. Some spots (see pic 3) looked like someone had deliberately marked off areas and then very accurately coloured them in. Sorry, but this just continually blows me away.

The base of the finished piece was leveled on the not-so-level farmhouse floor with accurate hardware, and then the rest started to solidly tower above. In the bottom sections there is a bank for a better than average collection of vintage vinyl, then a drawer on full extension silent slides.
Then above, in the middle two bays, there are fold down fronts that work as serving areas for a much better than average collection of  single malt scotch. Therefore the "rotting wood" was in keeping with the peaty good stuff. (He's a great guy to visit.)
Books fill the rest of the space on solid maple shelves that will not sag. I managed to locate a long single piece of birdseye maple to top off the crown. Nice.

In the second last pic, you'll see a pile of edging I was making on the table saw; there's not too many pieces that have desirable pattern, but a few stand out suddenly in spots. I found them and used them.

(Last pic, looks like my pant leg was inspired by the random zigzagging pattern of the piece. ...??)

If you want a piece of anything made of spalted maple, buy it when you see it. Or, provide a tree full of it to be carefully extracted. Don't expect that you can order a certain look of spalted maple; I'd say it's more unique than people are.    Ya, I'm a woodie.

(Note to Spell Check:  Spalting is a word!)

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OOAK... mission accomplished!

  Toronto Spring One of a Kind Show 2011...  Done!

It was great to catch up with past customers, meet so many new faces and talk with those who have the same appreciation for distinct furniture pieces.
A big thanks to those that have quickly contacted me after the show to follow up on snapping up pieces that are still available, and custom orders. 
 
The Latest Hot Colours:
Leading up to show, I was pumped when OOAK contacted me and said they wanted to give me a 5' x 5' pedestal out in the featured display area. That is very valuable real estate (see pic), quite an honor! It drew many people to my booth to see what the fuss was all about.  I have to admit that I may have sort of cheated though... I got some inside info when they called me; I got them to leak the colour scheme of the featured exhibit area. It was to be an "~apple green" and "a deep red / orange." I was able to find out from them the actual Pantone colours (179C and 390C) and pulled up the tiny swatches online to stare at for 5 minutes each. Once they were ingrained in my grey matter, I went downstairs to my spray booth and started mixing dyes like a mad scientist. It would be easy to just order these colours from a paint supplier, but on wood, it's up to the finisher (me) to make it look right on whatever wood colour is coming through from underneath.  Long story short, I nailed the colours, and better (Yes!). It was interesting to see the reaction from people as they ran their fingers over the smooth lacquered surfaces... "Is that wood?" they'd ask sometimes.  I'm not surprised really; I've been to the show quite a few times and I've never seen anyone doing colours like these on any wood. I jumped on these colours because they just seem so incredibly fresh and timeless. I think it might be because these colours are closer to what we actually eat...   "Apple Green" and, my "Blood Orange"...see?  I've also got a burnt yellow I call "Dijon".  
 
 
And now, I'd like to do a couple of shout-outs to some deserving contributors:
 
First, I'd like to send one out to my Immune System:
Hey Immune System, how's it going? I just wanted to thank you for putting up with me for the last 3 months as I made a mountain of work for the show, and covering me right when I needed you. I know you said that I was making too much to sell in a 5' x 10' space, and I didn't listen, but you stayed with me and prevented me from getting sick while pulling the long hours. So, thanks Immune System, you rock.  (I understand if tomorrow morning you want to take a break for 3 weeks,  that's cool.)
 
Second, I'd like to thank my 5' x 12' Utility Trailer:
Hey Utility Trailer, how's it going? I just wanted to thank you for hauling my stuff around once more without breaking down right when I needed you. I know you said that 12 years in trailer years is like 12 dog years, and I didn't listen, but you stayed with me and prevented me from missing the show or wiping out 3 lanes of traffic late at night. So, thanks utility trailer, you rock. (I understand if you just want to get left at the dump next time I take a load of garbage, that's cool.)
 
Third, I'd like to thank my Plaid Red Pants:
Hey Plaid Red Pants, how's it going? I just wanted to thank you for not looking too tired by the 5th day of the show and for making me look totally stylish when I needed you. I know you said that wool lumberjack pants might look too goofy, and I didn't listen, but you kept people smiling when they came up to the booth and somehow, you didn't become itchy. So, thanks Plaid Red Pants, you rock. (I understand if you want to disappear into the back of the closet, that's cool. HOWEVER, I might pull you out if I'm doing the xmas 2011 show!...)
 
But seriously, I need to thank my Mum and Judy's Mum for helping with our kids for the 5 day show. Also, G&V for further kid logistics, awesome. Thanks also to Nick Craine for helping me with the graphics on my new sign.
Back to the wood, might take a day off first, cheers!
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Pod Bookcase

This piece was a follow-up to the set of Pod Bedroom Pieces, see top of page 2.

My client had taken the usual leap of faith with me 7 years earlier, and obviously was pleased with the process enough to ask me to make a companion piece in the same room. The requirements of this piece were to hold her extensive set of "top 1000" CD's, and some very particular books below. The shelves can take 2 Cd's deep for less-current storage. I spaced the shelving pins so that one day it could be all CD shelves or all books. A couple of spare shelves were supplied, tucked under her bed. The shelves are solid hard maple with a cherry front band, so they won't be sagging anytime. (Something I'm very conscious of; I've actually embedded steel inside longer shelves that need to stay standard thickness. It's a design thing, welcome to my world.)

Since I assume that this piece is going to be passed down to one of her arm wrestling kids one day, and that it will likely be in a spot where it is viewed from an angle that is totally different than where I set it in the corner, I typically treated all sides equally, including the top which is presently slightly above her eye level, but she is very aware of it's nicely bordered curly maple panel.

As with my previous Pod pieces I've done, the simple looking toed-up look of the elliptical feet are the most demanding. This is because they need to look like simple animated feet while being attached to a mating elliptical joint that is strong enough to take the weight of a fully loaded case. It looks good, and I have some satisfaction tucked away, knowing that you could park a truck on that piece.

Nick Craine helped me deliver this piece in Guelph Ontario.  If you need an amazing illustrator, OR, an amazing musical being, google away.  He's been accurately described as being "disgustingly multi-talented" (!!!).  (And seeing that I haven't gone on about anyone else in this entire blog other than myself, that's underlining it.)

And finally, this all leads me to say, that fully satisfied repeat customers are the best, and the pay-back is feeling really good these days.  I have massive satisfaction in getting calls from very familiar voices asking: "So,...how's your schedule looking Jim?...". These people who were once strangers, became friends (nooo, not facebook level "frenz"...), and they now call me up and are right into their particulars; there's no more scoping me out, wondering if I'm up to the task, and if they're investing in the right place. They already know the value of the end piece, they're already sold, it's that simple and blunt.  We chit-chat, and then the emails start flying, complete with pics, room dimensions, colour swatches, scanned sketches etc etc., and back into it we go. Not to sound cheesy, but I know that this process is what makes me feel at the top of my living existence, and I get a sense that my clients are experiencing a similar rush. They become part of a unique and personal evolution of design with the person who is going to be mentally and  physically creating a piece just for them. The end satisfaction for me is priceless, and I actually know that I can say that it is for them too; when I leave after a final delivery and we're all settled up, I can see it. Everyone's happy.  I've said it before, but DAMN, I love my job.    

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Non-Functional Work Sometimes...

I was asked to submit 1-3 pieces for a show at the art gallery where I sell my work. The place is Styll, in Elora, Ontario. Great place, great owners and staff, very good critical taste I must say.  
The challenge was to create pieces that reflected the artist's current ideas, in a 12" X 12" frame, to be show-cased on a wall.

I stepped up and made these 3 pieces which were reflective of my path from "Raised in the Suburbs", to "Compressed in the City", and then "Settling in the Country". 

The background on all is a copper sheet with a variegated patinaed texture, then added bits of wood, metal, guitar strings, hardware, ideas.

I was very happy that someone bought the whole set together.

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Totally Sick Table!

So, if you're of an age where you remember when there was no interweb, you probably aren't hip to the term "sick", which as the kids know, means really cool. This table is appropriately named because of its insane, radical graphic qualities, and also, the whole piece is made with spalted maple, which is maple that has contracted a fungal disease. (See? Yes, woodworkers can be cool too.) In the whole log of spalted maple, I was only able to machine out 4 pieces that could be made into legs. Shorter thinner pieces for the top and aprons were slightly less difficult to extract, but these 4 legs had to have a matching quality in character.  All together, it's quite the package.

The curved beading on the bottom of the aprons is dyed black to accent the natural black lines running throughout. The beading is actually made of  cherry, so okay, it can't be called totally sick....  maybe just kinda cool.

Ya dig? Are you down with that? Does that rock your world? ... All right, I give up.

(Sold at OOAK 2011, a present for someone who is up on forest management /  biology; can't remember the exact credentials, but sounded like the perfect home.)

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Custom Spalted Table with Drawer

This is a sweet little custom table I made for a customer, through Styll Gallery in Elora, Ontario.
I got a call from the gallery saying that the potential customer was thrilled with my other pieces at the gallery, and would like a custom table made that was a combination of sizes, woods and finishes represented in the tables she saw there. "So you want that table, but as high as that one, and the wood from that one, the shaded green finish like that one, and the look of wenge like on that one, and a shelf... and a drawer."  That one sentence told me everything I needed to know. I faxed back a sketch with a quote and it was a go.

I love this combination of colours; very fresh and alive without screaming bright shades, earthy but vibrant.

The drawer was a bit of work for the amount of storage space, but in this case, storage isn't really the issue... it's the satisfaction when you reach for that little inviting knob and slide out the sturdy drawer, revealing the pleasing construction details, and then rewarding you with a nice woody "clunk" when you close it. This is a nice place to put something small that you reach for everyday but want to store away, like your wallet, by the front door maybe.

Seeing that my studio was currently packed with other projects on the go, I hauled my paper backdrop up to the new tree platform in the backyard and took these snaps, thus the dramatic shadows.

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Martian Sofa Table

This sofa table is made with cherry and tineo. I discovered tineo at my favorite wood supplier and had to get some. It's natural colour is very close to cherry, but it has the added distinct black lines between the sap wood and heart wood, very unique. I've got a red finish that really punches out on this type wood, and did just fine on this sofa table. I made two identical tables, one red, one left natural. $600.

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Woodworker + Drummer = Drum Top Table

Finally!
Just as my mantel clock and liquor cabinet designs eventually found some curves, my family of small tables has now been rounded out.  At 24" high, these drum top tables are the same height as my cocktail tables, and with a 15" diameter, they would just fit within those square tops (which are 15 1/2" x 15 1/2").

Proportions were even more critical on this one, and therefore the full scale prototype got ripped apart quite a few times. Eventually, I arrived at these dimensions, and parked the model by the door of my studio so that I'd glance at it every time I walked by. It passed the walk-by test.

This one has a solid hard curly maple top, curly maple veneered aprons and the legs and beading are solid cherry. All with a clear laquer finish, super smooth. I will be able to prefinish each component, so it will be possible to have separate finishes on each of the parts.  (I think I'll try putting an "ebony-black" finish on the cherry parts for a high contrast.)

You'll see that the two top view pics show quite different character. The wood for these two tops was purchased in a lot as curly maple, but not uncommonly, some of it ended up not having the text book rippled pattern of curly; some of it sort of has the dots of birdseye maple, some sort of has the slow wave of quilted maple...   therefore, before I get into trouble with any hardcore curly maple connoisseurs, I'm going to make a point of calling these tops "figured maple", and send out a pic of the intended glued up top for approval when someone orders a table. It's more work to do this, but I like people to understand the randomness of grain patterns and possibly change their impression of what beautiful wood is.     Sorry, am I losing you? Getting a little to woodie there. Guilty as charged.

The introductory price for these round tables as pictured is ...$360. Yes, a dollar / degree! (Yeah, kind of goofy, but I doubt anyone will try to talk me down even one dollar!) Drum sticks not included.

The last shot is me back in the day, at The El Mocambo, ~1989. 
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