In warp speed mode!

It is crunch time in the woodshop as I finish up Christmas gifts. The preparations for Lauren and Nathan's project are complete and the precut pieces of wood are numbered and neatly packed in individual storage bags for them, complete with brads and dowel pieces for assembly. That should be a really fun project when we visit them at their house next Sunday. The rest of the week will be spent finishing the other gifts and getting some of them in the mail. The rest will be delived in person over the holidays. There is lots to do this week, but I am having a great time at it. Maybe some pictures after the holidays!

Progress...

Making good progress in the woodshop toward completion of Christmas gifts. Worked several hours last night and will do so again tonight and tomorrow night.

The Christmas Woodshop

Will be in warp woodshop mode the next two weeks trying to finish Christmas gifts. There are two projects underway, but may switch to only one...of course, that is the one that takes the most time to make :) Will have some pictures AFTER Christmas...don't want to spoil the surprise, of course!

A good day in the shop

It was raining here in North Carolina yesterday so I couldn't mow the grass. Darn! Thus, it was a good day to work in the shop. After a trip to Gibsonville to the hardwood store and to Woodcraft, I spent several hours in the shop restocking my supply of turned pens. I made three of them and have one more ready to go today. Also took a block of the 12/4 walnut that I got in Gibsonville and turned a candle stand. I have several more of those to make, and then I need to figure out what to make for Christmas gifts this year. Perhaps small candle boxes with sliding lids. Maybe the Civil War era candle lanterns. Haven't made any of those for a long time. Will need to get started on that.

Today is sunny and cool, so I'll have to attend to the grass before I can get back in the woodshop.

It's been a long time...

It's been a long time since I posted to this blog. The boat carpentry class at the North Carolina Maritime Museum was fantastic, and I am very excited about building a boat. Since then I've discovered that Graham Byrnes lives only a few miles from the Kershaw Woodshop! I need to meet him and spend some time with him! He has quite a few good boat plans on his site, and they seem to be unbelievably fast...although that's not my goal.

Things are good in Oriental, NC.

More soon, I hope..

An exciting weekend planned...

This weekend I will be taking the Contemporary Boat Carpentry Class at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. It is a prerequisite for other advanced boatbuilding classes at this wonderful place, overlooking Taylor's Creek in Beaufort. The schedule is 9-4:30 on Saturday and Sunday, and I am going to try to place some photos from the class on this blog. Come back and visit early next week!

Reflections at 60

Well, it's happened...I just turned 60--that age that I thought was so ancient when I was 30. What happened? 60 just doesn't seem so old anymore; maybe just wiser. At least I can hope so. It is an ominous occasion, but it was made sweeter by the surprise appearance of my family and friends...thanks to my dear Liebe....

Just trying to work with all of this. I know there is good ahead, and I am trying to sort that all out. Stay tuned as I do so :)

A long time...

It's been a long time since I came back here....more than 6 months. The last post was just after Christmas. The Woodshop at Kershaw Creek is getting closer to reality...perhaps two years now! That is a good thing, as this blogger turns 60 in two days.

Most recently I got myself a carving knife and a block of bass wood at Woodcraft and am trying my hand at some carving...first a fish key chain. It is not as easy as it might look, particularly with my post-surgery hand. But, I am determined to do this and see what happens.

More importanly, I am very much interested in getting into boatbuilding. While I contemplated taking a week-long class in Beaufort, I did not have the prerequisite class for that, which I will take in July. I can't wait.

More on that as I get closer to the event.

So, don't think there is anyone even looking at this blog. I guess that's ok. Perhaps I should send it around to family and friends?

Post Christmas

Christmas has come and gone...it was good. Eight silverware trays later, we are approaching the new year--2009. Time goes quickly. Lauren and Nathan, baby Alex and their moms and dads (Jen, Joey, Sarah, Scott) were here for the holiday and we all had a grand time. Grandma and Grandpa gave Lauren and Nathan real tool bags with several real tools--hammer, sanding block, shop pencil, notebook, paintbrush, and a tape measure. They both used all of the tools on the projects that Grandpa had prepared for them to do in the shop--car for Lauren and train engine for Nathan. They had a good time with Grandpa, and we were able to get the projects completed the day after Christmas. It was good to have some time with them one on two and one on one. They are eager to build things and seem to enjoy working in Grandpa's woodshop.

Now it is quiet...everyone has moved on to the next stop for the holidays. We are grateful they were able to come and spend three several days with us...

A month later...

It has been over a month since the last posting...six silverware trays later (with the attendant hand-cut dovetails, thank you!) Christmas is approaching. It is cold in North Carolina today...down to 20 degrees overnight. The sun is out, though, and the forecast promises warmer temps as Christmas Day approaches.