This table is for sale and has just been added to my Gallery. It is one piece which almost never happened. An Odd Start, If You Could Even Call it a Start A few years ago, my wood guy, Dave Kilpatrick, stopped by unexpectedly. From his trailer, he unloaded a live-edged slab of maple roughly … Continue reading Some Ideas Require Great Patience and an Open Mind
This bedside table is my latest commissioned work. It is made of butternut. Although some woodworkers don't like to use knots in their work, I really like the focal point which a knot can provide. The grain around the knot is also very interesting and pretty. In the past, when using wood with two live … Continue reading Butternut Bedside Table
Broken Square originated from a drawing in my sketch book. I had been playing with variations of a cube when this form emerged. In the drawing, it stood on two edges but I later realized that it would sit nicely on three points. Intrigued by the form, I built a version using square cherry stock. Although I … Continue reading Broken Square
When posts on my blog are infrequent it's usually a sign that I'm preoccupied with other tasks. Here's some of what's keeping me busy. My exhibition at Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke Street, Port Moody) is being extended and there is no closing date set at this point. I am spending Sundays at the gallery, and … Continue reading Time for a Quick Update
Art is Now in the Trees I've installed Reaper in the tree outside of Gallery Bistro, where I'll be showing my work during Artwalk. I made signs for it, too. I've also installed Graft (table in a tree) and more signs. Newspaper Publicity I, along with Reaper was featured on the front page of the Arts section of Tri-City News in print … Continue reading In Preparation of Artwalk
Last weekend, I met with some of my fellow Artwalk participants and showed them the yellow cedar chair that I'd built to hang in the tree outside The Bistro Gallery where I will be showing my work. They loved the concept and encouraged me to make another piece for a second tree. So, that's what … Continue reading Table in a Tree
I recently completed this pair of coffee tables for a patient customer. They were made from a local fruit cherry tree. The client wanted two tables that could be used together or independently. Both tables were physically identical, with minor character differences. The design was the client's, but I was allowed creative license. One of … Continue reading Cherry Coffee Tables
Saturday was a full day in the shop. After breakfast, I went down to the shop and built 90% of a chair which will be installed up in a tree. (In case you missed it, here's the back story.) I documented my progress live on Twitter using hashtag #FlairWW (follow me @FlairWoodworks) which was useful because each update … Continue reading Chair in a Tree
Power carving is unlike working with hand tools because you can remove wood without regard for grain direction or knots. To me, this is liberating as I can focus on form. As I work, I constantly ask myself, "Do I want to save this section or obliterate it? My sculpting approach is to simply remove … Continue reading Include or Exclude?
Some of my recent designs have involved complex angled joinery, such as the base of this table inspired by a sketch by Vic Hubbard. I was having a hard time visualizing in my head how the joinery would work, so I built a prototype to help me understand. Since it's only a prototype to explore the mechanics … Continue reading The Value of Prototyping
