My circle of friends is mostly populated with men who inspire me due to their knowledge, skills, talents, temperaments and character. No person better embodies this than my long-time friend Ripplin’ John (you can meet him at my booth at Handworks). Engineer, craftsman, and theologian, his company is a treasured enrichment to my life.
Mrs. Barn and I recently traveled to attend his exhibit as he received his Sculpture MFA safely into his eighth decade of life! He is indominable rather than monomaniacal, a distinction worthy of note. The exhibit attendees were treated to an impressive compilation of work and creativity; his thesis dealt with the question “What Is Art?”
The attendees in rapt attention as John elucidates the purposes of his artworks.
Congratulations, John, and thanks for being my friend and fellow Christian soldier.
Here are some pics from the exhibit.
One of the many beautiful objects crafted by John’s hands and tools
One of a series of miniature turned boxes John created with his Rose Engine Lathe, a creative technology completely unknown to most of those in attendance,
The assignment here was to create a sculptural artwork from a book. John excavated and epoxy-laminated a stack of pages, then turned the resulting block on his lathe.
John was exploring the realm of formed, enameled metal medallions.
One of the many facets of John’s program was to teach a class. This is the student workshop where he instructed the kids in basic metalwork. From what I could see they related wonderfully to this graduate student the same age and their great-grandparents.
No doubt, the most bizarre moment of the visit to the college campus was spotting this dispensary in the men’s restroom. Our culture is doomed.
During my ongoing/never-ending efforts to impose order in the barn I came across some pieces of very large bamboo (~5″). These were no doubt the remaining fragments of a pickup load I harvested thirty years ago from the giant bamboo forest of Clemson University when I was there for a conference. If I could ever connect with someone there again, I would return to get more.
These pieces caused me to reflect on what I could do with them, and once again Maki Fushimi was a source of inspiration.
About 35 years ago as our girls were getting tall enough to use the bathroom sink and help Mama in the kitchen we used large, unwieldy folding stools for them to accomplish the tasks. I decided to use some scrap birch plywood and made a foot-high two-step stool for each of them, Older Daughter, Younger Daughter, and Mrs. Barn. They were simple and sturdy, painted with some leftovers from unknown projects; black, red, baby blue. They were stout enough that all three of them are still in service today after three decades of service.
A couple years ago I made a similar one for L’il T, painted in what were at the time his favorite colors with a little pizzazz.
Last week I finished the stool for his little brother, ‘Dozer. (L’il T is long and lean, ‘Dozer is not, and not. A nose tackle in the making.) We weren’t sure what his favorite colors were, are, or will be so I left it to my own discretion.
In a year I’ll be making one for grandson #3, and the same for grandson #4 the year after. These are so simple that they are not really even “woodworking,” but they are treasures that will likely last several lifetimes.
Building precious memories and robust traditions, one stepstool at a time.
One of Mrs. Barn’s favorite things is the annual visit from “Eddie the Spoon Guy” at the craft market during our local celebration of all things pertaining to maple syrup. She stocks up on a multitude of wooden spoons, spatulas and similar items to use and to give as gifts throughout the year. This year Eddie had some teensy spoons that she thought would be perfect as gifts for each of the grandsons.
Once she had them home she asked, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have their names carved into the handles?” What could I say, other than, “Of course.”
Sorry, just can’t seem to get this image to load horizontally.
Givin the diminutive size of the workpieces my first task was to find a good work holding system, something that would hold these itty bitty pieces solidly yet allow me to have access to the surfaces to be worked. Fortunately, I have a jeweler’s bench top rotating vise with movable jaws, allowing a close fit for the round a tapered handles. To maximize the grip and eliminate the risk of damage I used abrasive pads to cushion the jaws. That solution worked perfectly, padding the wood yet gabbing the spoons hard and steady.
Then the question was, “What do I use for the incising?” Using a chip carving knife was not within my ken as the pieces were like carving names on a round pencil. In other words, beyond my confident skill set. I thought about using one of my engraving burins or a tiny chasing tool, but practice with them was not encouraging. Looking through my box of carving tools I came across a 1mm veiner from a project I cannot even remember now. That was just the ticket.
The end result was great. I won’t show that as I strive to protect my loved ones from the netbots.
In my never-ending quest to organize and reorganize the barn, I often find myself in a Christmas moment; “Wow, I forgot that I had this!” or more likely, “Oh, so that’s where I put this.” Four floors of tools, books, and supplies to sort will do that to you.
I recently had an instance that was and was not one of these times. I found myself relocating a chair frame I commissioned Philippe Lafargue to make for me probably more than three decades ago. It served for so many years as my reading and writing chair at S.I. and for some time at the barn.
Being a classically trained chairmaker at Ecole Boulle this project was like falling off a log for Philippe since virtually all of his fabrication work was curvy fancy French chairs. This severe boxy form was no challenge for him.
He was there long before the beginning of the Roubo Project, he translated the Table of Contents for me around 1987 when he was a post-graduate Fellow with me in the Furniture Conservation Studio. That ToC burned brightly for me, and when Michele Pagan and I started the project for real more than a decade later we knew that Philippe had to be part of it. Philippe was a classically trained 18th Century Ecole Boulle craftsman, where he completed the full four-year curriculum, simultaneously conversant in 18th craft technique and lexicon, a native Francophone and fully conversant in vernacular and academic English.
For the years of the project until his untimely death a few months ago (somewhat unnerving to us since his fatal illness was the same one that took Mel Wachowiak from me a decade earlier) his contribution was a vital connection to reality.
I am now diligently searching for someone to take up his portfolio. If you know anyone who fits the job description above, let me know. Really, let me know.
This was the last time Philippe and I were together in person, at the premier of the Deluxe version of Roubo on Marquetry during the 2013 Woodworking in America shindig. He eventually wound up back in France, fleeing his domestic life here in the States.
Recently L’il T participated in one of the greatest American traditions and rites of passage; he started t-ball. Thanks to diligent practice with his loving dad (boy, did we luck out in the son-in-law department!) L’il T hits the ball practically every time.
We saw is first ever t-ball game last weekend and it was immensely entertaining. Describing it as “herding hogs on ice” would be accurate.
They’re starting them younger now, these tykes were 3 and 4. My brother and I remember playing t-ball at 7 and 8. I was an enthusiastic and pretty good player until late adolescence when my vision started going south. When your eyes can’t pick up the ball coming from the pitcher your baseballing days are over.
Last week I finally wrapped up processing all the windfall I’d harvested several weeks ago. The bounty was impressive, the cribs are three rows deep. The pile on the ground near the splitter are all the wonky pieces I will use next winter in the barn wood stove. The haul *should” get us through next winter when combined with the leftover wood still in the cabin firewood crib, but the harvesting and processing will continue through the summer and fall. When you heat with firewood, you can never have too much.
This coming weekend is the PATINA tool swap near Frederick Marlyand. You can get the details here. If you are anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic it is well worth the effort to get there. Yes, there are scores of tables with thousands of premium vintage tools, but for me the real treasures are out in the tailgating tool swap.
I’ll be there Saturday morning on the hunt for tools appropriate to little boys. Can you believe Lil’T is four years old? And his brothers and cousin are stair stepping right behind him. I’ve got plenty of tools a-waitin’ for them, but not nearly enough.
Anyway, it you see me there and recognize me come up and say “Hi.” If you see me but do not recognize me, well, don’t.
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