Sideboard Finished

 Just in time for the end of the world, Darrick completed the Douglas Fir sideboard with tambour doors and Madrone drawers. Another triumph. A truly great piece. Now for a much needed holiday!

LCCM Maker Faire + Silent Auction

 This past weekend I participated in Lost Coast Culture Machine's Holiday Maker Faire and Silent Auction. LCCM has a knack for corralling interesting makers of the Mendocino Coast. It was a great time and an impressive collaborative effort. Locals set up stations for origami, metalwork, screenprinting, leather animal ornament making, photos, paper-making and block printing. We were all a little disappointed that the Tarot card reader couldn't make it. 

I walked away with some wonderful treasures, including a painting by an artist I've come to admire around here- Carolyn Schneider... as well as selling my own drawing that I donated to the auction (photos below). 

Observing Rabbit, 2010. Carolyn Schneider.

My donation piece. Goodbye Moon Chair drawing.

Close

I like many things artist Chuck Close has said. Similar to jokes, quotes don't really stick with me. For some reason I can remember some of Close's words. This is a CBS special where guests write a letter to their younger selves. Those of us who have nothing to complain about need a bit of perspective from quadraplegic painters sometimes. A couple pieces I like:

Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.

Quadraplegics don't envy the able bodied. We envy paraplegics. 

Never let anyone define what you are capable of by using parameters that don't apply to you. 

Killscrow?

KILLSCROW: one word, pronounced exactly as it reads. This is a Delaware Lenape name passed down from my late grandmother Sharon. We have slowly adopted this name for all the work Darrick and I are building, a collaborative brand still very much in the works. Darrick and I have big dreams for Killscrow, all surrounding the idea of a life together selling items we make, food we grow and space we build in an area with a wilderness.  Ley Lines was the original online space for that, but soon everything will be streamlined as Killscrow only. Thank you for all the support! You know who you are.

Thank you Neil Harrison for the logo love!

Full site is currently in maintenance, but coming soon. 

still playing with size

 From the summer drawing series, I've drawn much inspiration to convert those images larger. At first I considered having prints made for me, and then became very possessive. I decided I wasn't ready to send anything to anyone that I hadn't touched. Instead, I've decided to experiment with different ways of reproduction from the original images I pulled from the series- working as if the original 5"x7"s are my demos/sketches, as I had done little to no sketching on that collection. Each of these is 22"x30", ink on Arches paper.

Found in Print

Carpenter's Bench. Photo William F. Winter

 The function, craftsmanship and ethos of Shaker life has always been intriguing, especially how it effects their built environment. There are many romantic quotes from the sect regarding their approach to craft, none of which they intended to sound romantic to us of the outside world I'm sure. There is certainly something in the Shakers' closeness to every material aspect of their lives that so many young people are trying to connect with once again- though I'm sure you won't see me or any of my friends rising into the workshop at 5am, peforming my "sundry chores" before 6am, working aaaalll day until the "bell on the roof of the dwelling sounded the five-minute warning for supper" at 6pm. Never say never. 

From Mother Ann:

Do your work as though had a thousand years to live, and as if you were to die tomorrow

These images and words from 
Shaker Furniture: The Craftsmanship of an American Communal Sect
Edwards Deming Andrews and Faith Andrews

High pine desk used by trustees. Photo William F. Winter

Pegs and pulls. Photo William F. Winter

The craftsmanship of the Shakers, being a joint or community enterprise, is definitely distinguished by that fact from the products of individual effort. One result, of course, was a tendency towards uniformity. But more important was the evolution of certain standards of excellence whose widespread application was made possible by the compactness of the group and the genuineness of its ideals. Talent was stimulated by social contacts, the constant exchange and interaction of ideas and the consciousness of a united destiny.

Corner of early Shaker schoolroom. Desk, bench and hanging rack.
Photo William F. Winter

Yaffe Mays

Personhood, exhibited in 'DUBH - dialogues in black' at the American Irish Historical Society on Fifth Avenue in New York in October/November 2011 and at the Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin in February/March 2012.

Last year a lot shifted at CR Fine Woodworking with the appointment of Laura Mays as its new director. On Darrick's end, he feels such overwhelming gratitude for sharing his first two years in the shop with Laura's first two years as director- momentous, life-changing years for both. On my end, I am more closely involved with Laura's partner, CR graduate Rebecca Yaffe and their gorgeous off-spring Thea. After weeks of stalling, I finally realized why I found this post so difficult to articulate. It is due to the deeply rewarding nature of my personal relationship with Yaffe Mays as a family. Although, I find the personal is essentially always a part of the woodworking community sprung from College of the Redwoods. It is what students rely on when they feel a little bananas in the shop and need to commiserate. It is what compels the instructors to open the doors of their homes to entire classes overnight each year. It is what bonds families of students outside of the shop. And it is certainly what makes the work special.

All things personal aside, the creative partnership of Yaffe Mays has recently opened an exciting inaugural group show at San Francisco's (seriously new) New Black Gallery- an impressive 9,000 square foot industrial space in SF's Mission, which appears to be marketed as a retail environment/gallery. The opening in September seems to have been nothing short of a wild success, for the space and for Yaffe Mays.  We cannot wait to explore the gallery ourselves and are thrilled at the prospect of such an interesting collaborative space being invested in makers from the CR family.

More on Yaffe Mays:

Official site

Laura Mays Interview on Hock Tools Blog: PART I, PART II

Profile Laura Mays/Yaffe Mays at Handful of Salt

*Some images shown are of work "made by one or other of us before we formed the partnership." 

Wholeness, 2012. Photo David Welter

#2 Light

Moon Spoon Holly. December 2010.

Sligo 1, 2009

Sligo2 'The Twins' Irish walnut, oil finish, 2009.

Two of ten boxes made for the Of Colour in Craft exhibition. 2002.

Stefan 4 Corrugated cardboard. 2010

Projects

 Having a quick look at Darrick's sideboard set on its stand. Only half of the tamboor door is in place and he will be making drawers for the inside. Clean. Should be finished quite soon!

Back view. The fine grain of the Douglas Fir is choice, though you cant see it in these photos.

Adam Vorath's chair made of solid Redwood. This view shows the chair sitting on its front end.

LARGE

Ink on paper

I've decided to take things larger, which is a welcome jump from the last series of 5"x7" drawings. Suddenly I had to remember how to use my right arm again. Moving larger doesn't just translate from the maddening micron pen marks I've been making. I'm going to continue to interpret some of the themes I started in the small series and just see how she goes- including some possible group arrangements (see below).

I am looking forward to the hanging process as well since Darrick has some excellent ideas for custom wooden top and bottom panels.

drawing series all laid out

Donations

Fireworks Capsules, ink on paper.

 Our parents recently held a benefit for the Dane Williams Memorial Foundation, so we contributed a couple things for the silent auction. They raised over $8000!
I was excited to try my new paper from the Lost Coast Culture Machine's paper mill. I think I might like it even more than that fancy French stuff, plus it's made right down the street from us. Darrick has a knack for these cutting boards now- each one very unique from the last. We thought this one looked like it could fit in with the Owl Hall of Fame.

teak

New Board

For our recently married friends Jaime and Talia, Darrick made this cutting/cheese board out of salvaged Teak (from a boat, hence those holes). Not a bad last minute off-the-cuff cord weaving wrap job too...

Darrick has adopted this carving in his last couple of pieces. It is an abbreviated Killscrow, a native name from my Lenape Delaware side of the family.

Final drawings of Summer 32 Series!

Treasures, 28/32

Hoping to release much of the work from this entire series to the public as soon as possible! Working this way has been quite interesting- quick and small with little to no pre-sketches. I've heard these images would make great t-shirts, tattoos and prints. I'd love any feedback...

Click HERE to see the entire collection. 

Sea & Grain, 29/32

Fiber on Paper, 30/32

Schtacks, 31/32

Fictitious Botanical, 32/32