More Wining?

I am actually getting some work done on furniture orders even though it may not seem like it. Sometimes in the evenings though, I would rather take a break and work on the lathe.  Here are some of my latest designs for wine stoppers.
Let me know if any of these strike your fancy. These are headed to the Art on Main
Gallery in Bristol and to the Studio V Holiday Sale in Vergennes.    I was right that the black background made the photos come out a lot better.  If I knew more about photography maybe I could make a white background work but all I know is that the camera does not like it.  Too much brightness I guess.  Enjoy the nice weather.
Tim

 
 
 
 

Stop the Wine, Hand Turned Wine Stoppers

Each year I search for a new small project that will work as stocking stuffers for my family.  Well, here is this years project.  I am also offering these for sale through some local galleries as well as directly through my website.  I turn them from native Vermont hardwoods and each one is a bit different from the last.  The actual stopper part is solid stainless steel.  Most stoppers of this type are made from chromed steel that will eventually pit and corrode. These will not.  The rubber stops are designed to fit various sizes of wine bottles. 

A few examples are below.  I believe that they will make great gifts and I will ship them to you for $30. each.  $55. for 2 stoppers.  $80. for 3.  (or $25. each plus $5. for shipping)

Send me an email if you'd like to place an order.  Tim@TimothyClark.com

Let me know if you are interested or if you have any ideas. A few examples are below. Click the images to make them easier to see.  Next time, I will photograph them against a dark background. That should make them jump out a bit more.

Happy Fall,

Tim

Cherry Pencil Post Bed

The defining elements of the pencil post bed are the posts that go from a square to about mattress height and then switch to an eight sided taper.  These are a lot of fun to make as there is quite a bit of hand and eye work involved.  The posts are sawn to a four sided taper on the table saw and then marked with a spar makers scribe.   Then the lamb's tongue is chiseled and finally the new four facets are hand planed to the scribe lines.  You can see the other beds on my website here.  Lately,  I have been asked to do cherry beds with a milk paint finish.  They really are nice. The milk paint is worn off a bit at the edges of the facets which really lets you see the geometry of the parts but also lets the red high lights of the cherry come through.

Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival in Woodstock, Vermont

A bunch of Guild members spent the weekend in Woodstock at the Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival on Sept 25 and 26.   We had a group booth that included work of around 15 members and a handful of members also has their own booths at the show.   At this point it is hard to say if the show was a financial success or not.  Selling furniture is different from selling scarves and such as usually there is some back and forth before a sale of furniture is made.

 For me, the opportunity to chat with members and other furniture makers and woodworkers was well worth the effort to do the show.  We spend so much time on our own that this can be a great opportunity to recharge the mental batteries.  Having the opportunity to bounce ideas off of each other over a couple of days is a great thing rather than through an email or short phone call. Mostly just laughing together.  Being a member of the Guild has financial reward for me by feeding customers to my website from the Guild site but has the even greater reward of community in an otherwise solitary endeavor.  Even though many of us are potential competitors, we actually have a good time when we get together.

Why be a member of the Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers? The Guild is great. Long live the Guild.

Thanks,

Tim 

Below are some shots of members and member's booths and our group booth.  These shots are taken during the quiet times at the show when I had a chance to leave my booth. (That is why there are so few extra people around)

David Hurwitz featured in his own work.

Janet Collins hard at work on some of her inlay work that she demonstrated at the show.

Janet's daughter, Lauren was a cheerful addition to the group.

Jim Becker

Bill Laberge had his own booth

David Hurwitz and Dan Mosheim

David Boynton helped man the Guild booth

Walt Stanley wondering where he left his shoes.

My (Timothy Clark's) shaving horse (center) that allowed me to demonstrate and get some work done.

Timothy Clark's booth

Janet Collins answering questions in her booth.

David Hurwitz's booth.  David , center, his dad , Art , right and winner of the Studio and Custom portion of the Design Comp,   Doug "sideboard" Clarner.

Jim Becker in his booth

Charlie Shackleton in his booth.

Walt Stanley's booth.

Janet Collins carving one of her turned bowls.

McGuire Family Furniture Maker's booth

Dave Boynton and Dan Mosheim in the Guild booth

Guild booth

Guild booth,  Kit Clark's chair center

Guild booth, Timothy Clark's bench.

Guild booth