Last weekend, I attended a private gathering of 40 of Port Moody's top artists. To help everyone get to know each other, we were given an activity. We were each given a list with everyone's name and we were to say "hi" to everyone else and share two words that represent an inspiration to us. … Continue reading Inspiration, in a Word
Right now, I have a lot on my plate. I have builds to complete, projects I want to start, seminars to design, events for which to prepare, deliveries to organize, and the list continues. Sometimes, my mind gets caught up in it all and it can be overwhelming. At these times, I try to find … Continue reading Forward Momentum
Eat when hungry. Create when inspired. Act when indecisive. Rest when required. Listen when addressed. Relax when deserved. Help when possible. Accept when invited. Sleep when tired. This is the fourth slide from my PechaKucha presentation.
David Savage is a name that you might know. He is a UK woodworker with over 30 years of experience and a very distinctive style of furniture. David teaches woodworking and contemporary furniture design at Rowden Farm Atelier and recently released his book, Furniture with Soul, a book which looks at the journeys and work of 20 accomplished, … Continue reading An Inspiring Story from David Savage
Inspiration fuels me. When I am inspired, I have seemingly limitless energy. When I'm not inspired, I employ a few strategies to try to rekindle that fire. One of them is experimentation which is fun and a good way to practice woodworking. I usually start with a piece of wood about 18" long and square … Continue reading Connect the Dots
There is more information than ever available and it is easy to get caught up in it trying to figure out the best way to sharpen a plane blade, join two pieces of wood, or apply the perfect finish. The thing is, you're not the same as everybody else. Just because all your woodworking friends … Continue reading Don’t Listen to Them (Listen to Me – at Least This One Time!)
Next month, I am giving a presentation at PechaKucha Night (pronounced Pechak-Cha) and have chosen to talk about the importance of the people who surround me. The presentation revolves around 20 slides, each with a duration of 20 seconds. My idea is to talk about the people (and their work) that inspire me, challenge me and enable me. I … Continue reading Brainstorming for My PechaKucha Presentation
I recently learned that the fine print doesn't always contain the most important, critical information. First I Researched I've been experimenting with casting using the Smooth-On's Crystal Clear resin and did my first pour in the making of Deconstructed. The resin wasn't cheap and casting was new to me, so I did my research before purchasing the … Continue reading How to Read Instructions
Today, I completed Deconstructed, making it the first piece of 2013. Although there are a couple of things that didn't go the way I wanted, I am very happy with the result. I find myself loving it more the longer I am around it. (The same can be said with most of my woodwork.) The shelf … Continue reading Deconstructed – Finished Shots and Reflective Thoughts
Fellow blogger Kenny Comeaux (aka The Wood Ninja) recently wrote about his path as a woodworker. He found that learning the skills to make good furniture was the easy part, as there was a wealth of information available on the subject. However, he found that developing good designs was more of a challenge, so, naturally, … Continue reading The Path of a Woodworker
