Big Plans for Big Treehouses

In my grand sceme in life I would like to have kids, and I would like my wife and I to create a handmade childhood for them. I imagine our young ones running around in clothes that their mother has made for them, eating at kitchen table that their father built, and living in a house that is designed and built by both of us.

One thing that I want in a house for my family is a lot of little hidden surprises and unique spaces. Coming from the barren wasteland of western Kansas we did have a lot of trees in the neighborhood, let alone trees big enough to climb. I imagine one day having a family treehouse. Our little activity room in the sky. You link a lot memories in your childhoos with your favorite spots, and it means a lot to me to be a big part of the creation of those spots in my kids' lives.

Stainless Steel Shadow Luminaries

A Few Words on Books

I've been looking lately at how different designers deal with storage space. How to hide it or how to use it creativly. Books are something that can always create a focal point in a room. The mutiple colors and the learned nature of the things are very attractive. I love storage that is built into the side of staircase. I've seen entertainment centers as well as bookcases, but a staricase is a really interesting space to use for a built in.

The chair isn't quite practical, but it is a brilliant use of space and a clever conversation piece.

These are a few of my own cutting boards. I had problems getting these shots up when I put the fisrt post up. I hope that you like them.

An Ode to Cutting Boards

This was the highlight of my journey into the world of cutting boards. This woodworker has a brilliant simplicity. I love the compound angles on the sides of these rich wood pieces. The branding of the two squared emblems is really the perfect addition. Plus, he is clearly unaware of his brilliance as indicated by his prices. So, go to his website and support his humility. Michael Talina from Ripper Art Studio and Gallery in Kingsport, TN.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ripperarts

An Ode to Cutting Boards

Another fine woodworker that deserves special attention: Wolff Woodworks from parts unknown.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WolffWoodworks

An Ode to Cutting Boards

An artist that deserves to be highlighted on his own: Grand Prairie Woodworks out of Chicago.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/tpursell

An Ode to Cutting Boards.

It's really incredible the amount you can do with this 12x16 in. slab. Intricate and complicated is sometimes as affective as simple and chunky. The weight that this round piece has is equal to the to the weight of the laminated intricacy of the pieces with several laminated species, and the feet add a subtle touch that I think adds a lot of sophistication.

An Ode to Cutting Boards

I thought that I would devote a few posts to this wonderful little kitchen staple. One thing that I've heard a lot while chucking my wears is that people don't want to use my cutting boards because they are too pretty. I think that these boards are really beautiful in their virginal state, but I also think that they would look really good after a few years heavy use. I think that they only truly exist when they have deep trenches of wear and tear. These are all images that I pulled off of Etsy, and the way that they achieve these patterns is to glue, cut up, and glue again sometimes four and five times. The one at the top has all these curves that are cut out with a band saw, smoothed and then have pieces laminated into the curves, recut, and glued several times. These are pieces that a lot of work goes into, and definitely deserve a lot of appretiation.

J. Rusten: If I killed him and ate his brain, maybe I could be as good as him.

This guy, J. Rustin, is so super clean and he is a definite over-builder. I love to build in two or three times the strength in to my work than will ever be necessary. That type of thinking will really ensure that your work will be around for thousands of years. I really want a robot to be able to sit down at an original dining room table of mine and eat a nice meal of nuts and bolts after all the humans have left this world.

Who knew that California was such wonderfully desk shaped state. It so elegant and simple, and this gentleman TOTALLY look like he is reading something. I want to be him, or move my family in with him and never leave him alone.

Something old, something new, something carved, and something glued.

Some silly things made of wood. One thing that I would love to do is make sophisticated electronics look like they are old world and wooden. The Hummer is ridiculous to begin with, but the wheels are just awesome. In the true tradition of Lancaster, I really wish that it was being pulled horses.

The Computer is classic good. The Grecian inlay is a really good touch. I'm really interested in how this person de and re-constructed the keyboard.

Intermediary Inspration

One of my big influences in working with wood and working with wood the way that I do is a man named Matt Burke. Now, a couple of years back I was traipsing around the MOMA in New York with some friends and I stumbled upon the special exhibition of the work of probably the foremost artist that works with wood; the amazing and talented Mr. Martin Puyear. I had formerly had no experience with Mr. Puyear's work, but I was immediately impressed. I also immediately noticed that, without pleagerizing, this must be an inspration in the work of Matt Burke. I was expressing how much of Matt I could see in this work, and how much I bet he would love this show to my, now, wife when Matt Burke himself walks up from behind me and taps me on the shoulder. Here, half a country away from where we both live, we happen to be in the same place at the same time just as I was discussing this very person.

It was the coinsodence to end all coinsodense. The timing actually could have gone like this: Me - "Wow love bug, this show is really cool. You know, I bet that Matt Burke would really love this stuff, and I bet that he finds a lot of inspiration in Martin Puyear's work. Matt Burke - "As a matter of fact, Evan, I do love this show and I do draw some influence from this incredible artist. Thanks for noticing."

That's not how it actually went, but it seriously could have. I wouldn't lie to you people.

Wooden like like to cruise around on one of these.

I sincerely hope that the punny post title didn't make you puke on your keyboard. This is a classic wooden good that has already made it's way around the net a couple of times. This piece is just wonderful artistry. Every different color on this Vespa is a different species of wood. It is a masterful hand made recreation of a staple of the motorized world and I can't help but gauk at it. This is one of those things that I can't even phathom how you would begin to make. So, I guess I'll just have to oggle.

Can't go wrong with customized cases for Apple products.

It's no great wonder that this little product caught my eye. I have a certain affinity towards Apple products already. Why wouldn't I love a beautiful hardwood case for my macbook. This is one of those things that I see on the internets that I immediately think, "I can make that." In this case, I totally could, too. Alas, I probably won't. I can never make fun stuff for myself anymore. Oh well, I'll just have to find comfort in the fact that I would have absolutely no use for it. Since I'm graduated from college I can't show it off in class, and my laptop battery no longer holds a charge so it would take one fashionable, futile trip to the airport to frustrate me. Maybe someday I'll make one for someone who gets out more.