22 days

People ask about hand tool woodworking, and there's no better way to start, even as adults, than with some of the projects featured in my book, The Guide to Woodworking with Kids: Craft projects to Develop the lifelong Skills of Young Makers. It features a number of box making designs that can be crafted with simple joinery and can of course lead to other things. 

Your creative imagination deserves an starting point and simple is good. We now have 22 creative days yet to pass before Xmas. You can, of course, spend your time shopping, or better spend it developing skills and gifts to others. Featured in the photo is a pencil box I made for my own use, and as a demonstration box for the kids at the Clear Spring School.

Make, fix and create...

AI won't replace me (I hope)

How to AI proof your life and of those in your community? Andrew Yang who had been a presidential candidate has predicted that AI will erase 40 million jobs. It may make google more responsive but may take away jobs done over the phone where artificial voices will replace your own, and over the highways with automated trucks driving to your door. AI will better serve the sales of stuff to us, but leaving us no way to afford to buy it. Even farming, nursing and manufacturing can go toward AI controlled robotics.

One sure way to insure success in your own life and in your own community will be to demand that things be locally made and grown by members of your own community, or even by yourselves. It's what we'll have to do when things come to that point anyway. What will you do when you've no work? I recommend the crafts. Get started.

Today I'm gluing veneered panels in finger-jointed boxes, making them ready for lids to be cut loose from sides and veneered. Ain't nothing AI about it and I could be replaced, but won't be. Yet.

Are worried bout your work not measuring up to machine standards. Are you reticent to even try? Henry, a friend's 6-year-old grandson has this carefully crafted message for you. It is OK to make mistakes.

Make, fix and create...