small cabinets

I finished a five day class on making small cabinets at ESSA despite having had a stroke on December 1. It was a test for me of both endurance and temperament with it being the first 5 day class post stroke.

Fortunately my students were both productive and forgiving. A number of small cabinets in various student designs were made.

Make, fix and create...

Why woodworking can be a political act

This is an attempt to explain why woodworking is a political act.

A democracy cannot endure if a large segment of its population is denied access to education which has relevance and meaning to its life. . . . This is one of the reasons why we must provide vocational education. What is more important, it is one of the reasons why we must have a valid conception of what vocational education is and what it isn’t. – John Dewey, 1919

A 2024 article titled “AI, Misinformation, and Manual Training," by noted woodworker Doug Stowe claims that eliminating shop class and  related courses teaching a mix of manual and mental skills has left today’s students without the tools they need to combat misinformation in an age of artificial intelligence. Stowe’s argument is persuasive, and he makes it based on broad learning from texts ancient to modern plus decades of teaching woodworking at a progressive school in northwest Arkansas and blogging about the experience.— From a paper by Connie Goddard, "Lessons on Industrial Education." 

In some situations folks are insufficiently experienced to see their connections with others. One of the primary lessons of Frobel's original Kindergartens.

Tomorrow I begin a five day class in making small cabinets. The photo is from my book about making small cabinets. 

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I was asked...

In response to a reader question, these are the next steps in making inlaid boxes. I cut stock at about a 6 degree angle so the lids will be of sufficient depth at the back edge for the hinges, but sufficiently thin at the front edge. It would be bulky design-wise if not cut and the angle adds interesting effects to the box. The process also allows for cutting two lids at the same time from the original stock. Thrift comes into play. 

Next, I'll inlay the pieces of walnut and linden using the patterned stock I'd prepared in earlier steps. (These are shown in the photo and in my books.) 

I was asked to leave politics out of my posts. All things are political in nature, including the choices we make in the woodshop. We try to make things that are beautiful, useful, and lasting in the hopes that they will live beyond our times and be beautiful, useful and lasting in subsequent generations. That's political. We may not aways be successful. That's where forgiveness comes in. Self then others. 

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Yesterday and next steps...

Yesterday I cut the mortise and tenon joints for 27 inlaid boxes, using the tablesaw and router table. The joints are barely visible in the finished box, but have lasting effects. The joints and floating panel bottoms (also prepared) will give the boxes (if cared for) a long life. Next I will cut and inlay the lids.

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the making of beautiful and useful things

We seem to  be nation at war, though despite the bombs, the Iranians had removed the enriched uranium and personnel before the strike. That no one was injured was a good thing. An odd thing was that American personnel  watched via satellite the removal of men and equipment and then made a big show of striking to little ill effect.

In the meantime, there are good things to be made, and violence or war are seldom the answer to our problems. It's the old swords vs. plowshares thing. One leads to greater peace and other in the wrong direction. Both are made with a craftsman's skill, but only one leads toward peace. Let's pursue the making of beautiful and useful things. 

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core values

Yesterday, I spent time in my woodshop planing and cutting parts for 27 boxes to fill spaces in my inventory. When finished they'll be sold to galleries, and then find places in the lives of others. 

I also finished a table that will be given as a gift to the Eureka Springs School of the Arts. It is made of white oak and a wide plank of spalted sycamore.

Woodworking for me has never been a disconnected arm hanging useless in space. It is deeply entwined in the rest of reality. It is a connecting point, that leads to greater things. And if it did not, what would be the point? 

Yes, it can be used to isolate oneself from the world, hanging out safely and alone in one's own wood shop. Or it can be a practice through which one attempts to be of greater service to family and humanity. It can go one way or the other. It has been a way to learn and practice core values. Craftsmanship, Creativity, Compassion, Connectivity and Forgiveness. I suggest some time in the wood shop. Attempting to make beautiful and lasting things from real wood is a great way to practice core values. 

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even the worst of us...

My cousin Larry passed away last night. He's entered into hospice care, and is now at rest despite having been on my mind enough to quote him at an ESSA board meeting last night. Among decades of wisdom he had once said, seeking to find value in all things, that "even the worst of us could serve someone as a bad example." Lawrence (Larry) Petersen was a Vietnam vet, and a generally wise man to know and hang out with. With his  passing, he will be missed.

Popular Woodworking at ESSA

Here is an article on the Popular Woodworking website about a visit to ESSA, the Eureka Springs School of the Arts, the school I helped found and where I continue to teach.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/end-grain/visiting-essa/

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Shaker tape

I finished weaving the Shaker tape top on a bench made as a prototype for a class at the Eureka Springs School of the Arts. Would you like to make one?

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Spoons

I just finished teaching a two day class at the Eureka Springs School of the Arts, making spoon carving knives and then carving spoons. We used the metals building, grinders and forges to shape and heat treat the knives, and then used the machine room in the woodshop to add handles. We then spent the afternoon and next day shaping the handles and carving spoons. It was a fun class, and based on an article I'd written for Woodcarving Illustrated.

My next class at ESSA, June 25-June 29, will be to make small cabinets. https://reg131.imperisoft.com/essa-art/ProgramDetail/3639313038/Registration.aspx One space is open to an additional student in this 5 day class.

In the meantime the government has noticed that Americans need to be making more of our own stuff, and is attempting to control matters by deportations and tariffs. When you are busy making things, however, you will have little time to waste shopping for things that will not last.

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Hippie Christmas and too much stuff

The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/business/college-scavengers-dumpster-diving.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NE8.5UZL.VWW8iKxVoSX_&smid=url-share tells about "Hippie Christmas" and college folks throwing out their valuable possessions at the end of the school season. 

I grew up in a household where stuff was valued even though it came free from relatives or was left at curbside. In the meantime, while college students are casting things away, I keep busy making things of useful beauty and lasting value, knowing the real value is in the making of such things, not in the having, as everything is likely headed in the same direction, but with some things lasting a bit longer. Anybody need a box?

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It's not easy

Folks might think it easy to return quality manufacturing to within the borders of the US. But it's not.The story from the New York Times may give a few inklings:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/fashion/american-woolen-textiles-jacob-long.html?unlocked_article_code=1.M08.gmEk.l5pXz2wXWkbq&smid=url-share

In the meantime, there are values at work. When you make something  useful, beautiful or both you are busy with your minds and hands at work. And developing yourself and your community for so much more.

I delivered parts today at the wood and metals classrooms at ESSA today for  class in making spoon carving knives that starts on Tuesday. It will be fun. https://reg131.imperisoft.com/essa-art/ProgramDetail/3639303535/Registration.aspx

Shown in the photo is a box done as a tribute to John Ruskin.

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