Things are picking up.

Despite my long silence,(sorry again) things are starting to happen slowly.  For most of this year, I have been working for John.  He has been busy and has been able to give me some hours during my downtime.  That’s partly the reason it’s been so long.  There hasn’t been much to write about.  Labor day weekend, we rented a vacant storefront in downtown Fair Haven and had a sale.  We put in all our spec furniture, sent out post cards, added a link on the website and opened the doors.  I wasn’t expecting a line out the door or anything, but i was expecting a bit more than we got.  It wasn’t a total failure, I did get one small job for a past customer, but it was dismally slow.  We didn’t sell anything in stock, but there were people in the door and we got some exposure.  After that, was the Woodstock show.  It’s the big annual woodworking show in Woodstock VT every fall.  This year was actually pretty good.  First of all, I got talked into entering the design competition and to my great surprise, I won second place with this table.

Curly birch coffee table

It’s part of a set that includes a Morris Chair, and two end tables.  All the vertical elements are curly red birch and all the horizontal elements are curly yellow birch.  They really came out nice.  I just wish I had been able to sell them.

I did get some business from the show though.  I met a woman from Boston who needed a coffee table for her new condo.  She was hosting her book club and wanted it for then.  We settled on a design and price and i got to work.  It is made from re-claimed butternut.  The top is wormy wood and the rest is what they call character grade.  I has knots, some worm holes and other character.  Here is a shot of it before It got finished.  It ended up with a walnut stain and lacquer finish.  It came out very nice if I do say so myself.

Butternut table

I also took an order for a small display table I make.  I’ll keep you posted.  I’m going to be starting that one this weekend.  I also got re-acquainted with a past customer who wants a credenza type piece which should be very interesting.  I think that one is going to happen over the winter.  They are spending the winter in Florida and don’t need it until they get back in the spring.

My last bit of news is that I finally bought a new lathe.  I am getting more into turning bowls and my old Delta just doesn’t have enough power.  It is great for spindles and small bowls, just not for bigger ones.  I did a lot of research and settled on a Grizzly.  I got the big one.  I haven’t used it much yet since I just got it going last week so I’ll hold off on a review until later.  So far though, I like it.

That’s going to be all for now.  I’ll try not to be so long next time.

Thanks.