Monday, January 30, 2023
Rustic made-from-a-pallet with hand tools box.
rough work
In keeping with the character of the rest of the box, the hinges are rough work... not necessarily unsophisticated in the way they're made, but purposely left rough.
Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning lifewise.
Sunday, January 29, 2023
back on the wheel again.
I was rusty. I had a few failures as one would expect, but I managed to "throw" a few bowls. The photo shows one. It will be interesting to see how they turn out after trimming and firing. It was fun. Centering the clay is a process of centering the mind as well, and when the mind wanders, the clay wanders also. I don't have the skill for this that I once had, but in my test of the theory of it, my bowls offer testimony of sorts.
I thank ESSA and my teacher Jessica for the opportunity.
Make, fix and create... assist others in learning lifewise.
Saturday, January 28, 2023
a box from a pallet
I chose to leave the materials only partly planed to provide a more rustic result. For joints, I chose a simple hand-cut oversized finger joint. I may choose to strengthen the joints with authentic cut nails.
There's a reason that pallets can be gotten free. They are made from very low grade, very cheap wood, and they are often severely abused. So even as lumber prices climb, pallet lumber will remain cheap and free but for the amount of time you must spend making it ready for use. And then because the wood is low grade, the results of your labor may not match your hopes and dreams. That does not deter one from having fun with it.
Be on the lookout for pallets that are relatively clean and made of soft woods like pine that will be easier to plane and work with hand tools.
Make, fix and create. Assist others in learning lifewise.
Friday, January 27, 2023
revolutionary power
This article from the New York Times tells of the revolutionary power of crafting beautiful and useful things. The Revolutionary Power of a Skein of Yarn.
Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning lifewise.
Monday, January 23, 2023
New benches at ESSA
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Giant Froebel Blocks
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Hinge mortising jig...
https://www.finewoodworking.com/2023/01/11/hinge-mortise-jig-for-boxes
Make, fix and create...
Friday, January 13, 2023
new counter tops
In the background is a new wheeled base for a countertop that I've replaced completely from frame up.
Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning lifewise.
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Hidden spline joints
This video featured in the FineWoodworking weekly newsletter can be found on the Fine Woodworking website through this link or on my youtube channel at youtube/MrDougStowe
Make, fix and create...
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Monday, January 09, 2023
a prescription for what ails us.
Temple Grandin laid out a case for hands on learning in this article in the New York Times. If you've not read my book, The Wisdom of Our Hands: Crafting, A Life, I hope you will do so.
Make, fix and create. Assist others in learning lifewise.
Sunday, January 08, 2023
a pleasant start
Make, fix and create. Assist others in learning likewise
Tuesday, January 03, 2023
practice boxes
Today I start working on a larger version in walnut.
I've placed a couple calls to my local US representative in hopes of persuading him to elect a moderate as speaker of the house. He and other Republicans are unlikely to do so. But it would be good for a few Republicans to propose a less inflammatory conservative that even a few Democrats might support. But making boxes will be a much better use of my day than holding my breath.
Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning lifewise.
Monday, January 02, 2023
Jögge Sundqvist
Jögge Sundqvist, author, teacher and master of sloyd sent me a booklet, "Surolle," of a poem about sloyd, and its relationship to life. Last summer when I taught a class at ESSA on making spoon carving knives, one of my students, Bob Farris was planning to take a class with Jögge at Marc Adams School. I asked if Bob would give one of my spoon knives to Jögge and he did. The booklet is Jögge's gift in return. I'll treasure it. The spoon knife that I sent will I hope find use. The world of sloyd is a small one. And it is my hope that it grows enormously.
Make, fix and create. Assist others in learning lifewise.