Fascinated with the form of the tripot, and interested to see what was involved in making one, I started my own. I couldn't think of a better way to understand and appreciate it than to make one myself. In my first two articles about making my tripot, I showed how I shaped most of the … Continue reading My Tripot: Final Cleanup
This question kept me awake in the wee hours one morning: What would it look like if I carved a knot in a piece of wood? I lay in bed trying to visualize it, and figure out how best to attempt it... Start by finding a fairly thick piece of rope, tie a knot, use … Continue reading Knotty Pine
In all the creative work I have done with live-edge material, I have always looked at a cut section - where a limb was removed or the material cut to length - as a shortcoming. But recently, I had an epiphany. Like so many of my revelations, this one came while experimenting on a piece … Continue reading Defects Are Hints For Something Better
Anytime I go somewhere and anticipate the possibility of having some free time, I like to have a knife with me to carve. My First Modified Carving Knife I started with a German #8 chip carving knife with a fixed blade. I modified the blade to extend the cutting edge right to the handle, and … Continue reading Woodworking On-the-Go with Modified Knives
This project actually started over eight years ago, but in a very different form. While down in California working a trade show for Lee Valley, the crew and I made a detour to Sam Maloof’s house in Alta Loma. We got a very inspirational tour of the very unique house which he had built for … Continue reading Stool with Sculpted Seat
Last week, I saw a picture of a roof top that resembled a wave. The roof prompted me to ponder the question: does a tabletop really need to be flat? Running with that notion, I carved this maple sample, dyed it black and waxed it to increase the sheen. I was really pleased with the sample, … Continue reading 21st Century Writing Desk – Making the Top
During the five years that I've been in business, I have made some great contacts, including local wood carver Grant McMillan. Recently, a customer bought a cribbage board (Cribbage Board #8, the last one available) from me and requested to have some letters carved in it. Since I am not particularly experienced with letter carving, … Continue reading On Team Flair: Grant McMillan
Last week, I worked at the Coquitlam showroom of Lee Valley Tools Ltd. demonstrating the Festool power tools. I was given a stack of pine and a set of plans for Megan Fitzpatrick's Shaker-inspired Step Stool which appeared in Popular Woodworking's column, I Can Do That. Over the three days, I had time to build two stools. The design was … Continue reading I Can Do That with Festool and Flair
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
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
Sculptural Woodwork by Chris Wong 