Clean Plate aftermath

 A lot of the time when people see the things I make they're very hesitant to touch or use them, treating the pieces more like they're in a museum than a functional space. So it was rewarding to be at Clean Plate a few times and see people gathered around the table, sharing great food and conversation. The 1-month Clean Plate residency, all the patrons, visitors and the food and drink, left their mark on the space and the table - literally and figuratively. I guess that's what it's all about with the Empty Room. Congratulations to Elle on such a successful and hopefully fulfilling (emphasis on filling) month!

Complete or Repeat? You (help) decide!

Recently I tried my hand at making Niz a cherry and walnut veneer table that I said was my attempt at something like Ikea. It turned out alright, but now we need another one that matches the style, but that's a little taller and a little larger in diameter. I also wanted to do a design on the top that challenged my parquetry skills (actually, lackthereof). I came up with the below design, to a "meh" reaction. I think it's pretty cool, particularly because the yellow veneer is called "myrtle burl", which just sounds funny. The darker wood is walnut burl. I can also imagine what it will look like finished, and think it will be cool. If I move forward on this one, I'll add the same style of half-tapered, cherry or walnut veneer legs as the first, and finish it with a semi-gloss polyurethane. What do you think? Should I move ahead and complete, or does it demand a repeat? Oh, and feel free to re-Tweet (this post).

Celebrating Others' Work: Kevin Jones, Doug Kiser & Mark Lane

I've had the good fortune to meet a lot of other artists, designers and craftsmen (and women) over the past couple years. I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight a few of those folks' - friends and acquaintances new and old - with this post. Hopefully, none of them mind me putting them in the limelight for a bit:

Kevin Jones does all kinds of photography, but I think his passion seems to lie in capturing the spontaneity and energy revealed in screams, sweat and spit during the live acts of touring and local punk rock and indie bands. I've also been lucky enough to have Kevin take photos of several of my pieces of furniture (i.e. the coffee table at the top of this page, among others). He also does portraiture and other event-related work. Check out some of his work on KevinAndrewJones.com. Rumor has it Kevin's also not a bad framer and drummer, and he's catching up with me in the woodworking department too.

Over the past year Niz and I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Doug Kiser and his wife Geej. Quite honestly, Doug's a more experienced and talented woodworker than I am, and he brings a background in cabinetry and interior design. I feel fortunate that Doug's been willing to share feedback, skills, resources - and even his workspace once or twice - while not making me feel like an amateur or total ass. Doug's a full-timer who does it all - furniture design and construction, cabinetry, kitchens and bathrooms and more. I'm also looking forward to seeing more of Doug's paintings soon. You can see Doug's work all over town, including Secret Penguin headquarters, Film Streams and Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance. And if you're lucky, your own house. Doug's website is dkiser.com. 

Very recently Niz introduced me to Mark Lane, who has been designing and building furniture for quite some time, but just recently launched a full-fledged business, Mark Lane Custom Furniture. Mark draws inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement, but puts a modern spin on it. I'm looking forward to checking out Mark's shop one of these days, and possibly helping him find a way to get his new thickness planer down the stairs. 

I know all three of these guys are going to keep pushing themselves forward in their respective businesses, and as they do so, hopefully their creativity, feedback and success will push me forward as well.

- Peter -

Babes 'n the Wood: Fancy Baby Rattles

I grew up with lots of wooden toys that my dad made, or my parents bought me at Art in the Park. Other than simple, traditional items like Jacob's Ladders, letter blocks and spinning tops, I don't see many of these kinds of toys anymore. Everything seems to be made out of plastic or rubber. Is it wrong for me to yearn for the days when a kid could get a splinter from a toy? I don't think so.

A couple of years ago a friend of mine had a baby, Simon. I decided I wanted to make a toy that would be crafty, safe and useful for kids, but would trump the clunky, old-school toys while appealing to the modern styles of parents. So I came up with handmade fancy baby rattles.

They're not something I've advertised much - mostly I've just made them for friends and friends-of-friends. This past week I made one for my sister's best friend, and I think I'm going to make some more. Each rattle is available in different combinations of colors and shapes to match the style of your new bundle of joy. They're lightweight and durable. And the smooth surface, finished with a baby-friendly oil, won't leave your 'tyke with any splinters.