LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

"Hobbit Holes in MyWorld" --by RusticWoodArt

Tags
000 words of wood 100 pure tung oil 2 lb cut of shellac 50 a story of lakh all good wood projects need all i see is no-junk an introduction of wood happenings apple wood art art born out of chaos article awakened in your gobi barn tales barns barns of new england beavers beavers and the environment benches bents birch birch burl black knots black walnut blog stories blogging bob dylan branch joinery broadax brushes burl burl on a spit burls business cabin cabin in the woods canted purlin posts chain saw mill chain sawing chainsaw chainsaw mill chainsaw milling chainsaw milling of wood chainsaw mills chainsawing chainsawing free form chainsaws cherry wood china wood oil chisel chisels coalescing with wood colors of fall colors of fall in nh colors of shellac colors of shellac from a kayak controversy and knots counter top counter tops de-waxed shellc doldrums complaisance and working the wood dreaming dreams drupaceous drupe drupes and drupaceous nuts as tung oil echo-friendly ways to work the wood encased knots english barn english sitting bench explanation of experience and art fall colors finishing finishing of wood finishing with shellac finishing wood firewod forest forests frederick franck fredericks francks ten commandments free form sculpture free form wood art free form wood bench free form wood sculpture free form woodworking free style wood sculpture art freehand chainsaw milling froe furniture gargantuan green ninja turtle garnet shellac garnet shellac flakes gb bar gb lumber mill german garnet dewaxed shellac flakes glamdring glamdring and chainsaw milling of pine glamdring and hard-rock sugar maple go ask the lac-bug about finishing wood gouge gouges haiku hand cutting wood joinery hand hewn beams hand planes hand tools hand working wood hemlock pine hiking hobbit holes hobbit holes in myworld hobbit holes in myworld --by rusticwoodart hobbits hobbits and hobbit holes holes and their purpose of un-veiling the box holeswoodworkingand wood gathering mode hopes tung oil husqvarna 395xp images imagination imagination in wood in search of imaginations greatest dream incense holders inspiration intergrown knots j r r tolkien japanese altar japanese planes japanese pull plane japanese tea table joinery junk art jubilee kayaking knots knots in wood kurokongouseki lac bug lac tree left overs lets test art-full shellac lilac live freework wood living within the shadow of crazy fire looking at jonke loose knots mallet mallets malus pumila maple maple slabs my jeweled black diamond my soul of maple my woodworking ten commandments myth busting shellac national novel writing month nature new england new england landscape new england woods novel oak oak bark oak leaves oak slab occulation of the wood old wood on the lighterside of wood orange shellac out in the woods painted expressions in wood and canvas paintings phantom of my woodworking heart photos pine pine slabs plane planning safe plate poetry post and beam post and beam construction prepping wood and shellac for rain purlins quercus alba rafter random orbital sanders ray planes reclaimed wood red knots red pine reflections on beavers and trees ridge beam rive rived quercus alba rived wood riving riving wood rock maple rustic rustic furniture rustic ritual landscape rusticwoodart rusticwoodmangmailcom rustis safety salvaged barns salvaged wood sanding sandpaper sculpture sculptured wood beauty sculptured wood burl shaker pine bench shellac shellac flakes shellac waxed shellac shiplap pine sink sitting with some old friends slab table top slabbin at more wood slabbin at wood slabbing wood slabs slabs of wood sounds of silence spalted maple stone fruit struts sugar maple summer awards and table top table tops tales of a wood-workers tools tea table tell tale footprints testing shellac the beauty of a soul in wood the revelation of wood the soul of the wood things have changed things have changed in these woods thrones tight knots timber frame timber frame construction timber framing timber framing slick tinting shellac tongue oil tongur and groove red pine tools treasures of snow tree colors tree friend tree nails trees trim saws tung oil twinings of woodart two maplesone pine and unorthodox woodworking tools untrammeled possibilities and unexpended opportunities varnish veteran of the woods walk abouts walking walnut walnut wood warriors of the wood waundering waundering walkabouts weathered barn boards weathered wood what is nanowrimo what lights up an english barn what size is your wood art whats a woodworking economy to do or be where dreams are made which came first white oak wood wood altar wood art wood art picture of beauty wood art wood wood burl wood burls wood dreams wood dyes wood finishes wood finishing wood from an-others wood bin wood gathering mode wood holes wood joinery wood maple slabs wood mentation of today wood nut oil wood poems wood screams in the dark wood sculpture wood slab table tops wood slab wall art wood slabs wood studies and wood tales and stories wood tools wood walks wood wax woodart woods woods darkside woods forest woodshop tales beyond woodworking woodworking hand tools woodworking vision wood’s darkside woolgathering i go words working the wood writing zebra effects on birch burl zebra effects on wood
191K views 574 replies 84 participants last post by  TDog 
#1 ·
An Introduction of Wood Happenings

An Introduction of Wood Happenings

So it's that time again….and if you've spent any amount of time around here at LJ; last spring, summer and fall then you must know by now, some-what as to my occasional excursions into the forests and woods of New England. This year I have decided to re-name and post under a continuation of short story 'series' and so I will be calling these posted blog stories…."Hobbit Holes in MyWorld". J. R. R. Tolkien once started a story; "The Hobbit" with this first sentence line, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." and so finding a fitting name if I may borrow from Tolkien's way of thinking and imagination, is of my journeys around and throughout my landscape here of New England.

As an all time worker of wood, I see into the landscape of my surroundings here….forest, woods, trees, land, mountains, rivers, lakes, gardens, old barns, old homes, wildlife, people and all those other's which are likened as 'rustic wood spirits'. The images that I get, so enliven my imagination into the creation of 'wood art', that I would like to share some of these simulacrum's with you the reader. I would like to welcome all and any to come along with me as you may want and to also feel free to comment and add your own pictures as you may find meaning into your sense of your own world. In reality there is no-separation between your world and my world as we are all workers of wood and therefore the use of wood is the common ground that unites us together. I pass through the terrain that surrounds me here by atv, truck, canoe, kayak and on foot, so this year promises to be a very much traveled walkabout. As you will come to understand, I use the term 'going on a walkabout' much freely as I have come to understand this and, yes I like this word play which also goes along with an-other word I use….'waundering'. Now as one who uses words and loves words, for the most part I try to maintain a correct spelling of those words….and yet, some-times it be-comes me to play with their spellings and meanings in order to get my-self out of the box of common thinking and let my imagination go. So yes, I do play with that word 'waundering' in meaning and spelling….but then just as I am a worker-of-wood, so also am I a worker-of-words….and so I hope that none shall be offended.

What you may expect this spring, summer and fall; is a continuation of life, work and play around here at my place on the farm, the barn, in the woods, in our gardens of flowers, berries and veggies and into the surrounding milieu of New England landscape. There is much to do this year with making furniture, some shows, a cabin renovation still ongoing, cutting trees and milling slabs of wood, landscaping, planting….which was covered in some detail last year. This year I also plan to add hikes and kayaking trips, along with my often well thought out….but, not so 'in the box' thinking out loud….plus, poetry on life in the woods of my-world. Now I understand that some may wonder as to how hiking and kayaking connects to wood and woodworking and so I will be happy to answer those inquiries with this reply. One of my great loves during the winter months is the study of topographical maps and going over notes I have taken during my years of waundering herein and talking to folks who live in out of the way places, as I search the land for 'old growth' trees. This year I have decided to occasionally include some of these treks, along with photos through-out the forests up here. However I might also add that as to exact locations and such, I may often forget, (and that is intentional of course) to mention exact directions, as I do respect the 'old growth' and some of these trees need to remain hidden. So again let me say welcome and if you have a comfortable pair of hiking boots, tape measure, along with pencil and paper for sketching and notes….be sure and bring them along. I might also add that if I have forgotten any-thing in this introduction of sorts….well after a good long hike or kayak trip, I'm sure it will all come out in the wash!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

While out walking some time ago, (and what meaning after all has time in hobbit holes?) I was plodding along at one of the local dams near to me here….



....and in my walking….



....I came upon a hobbit. Taking up his invitation to follow, I hurried along as he disappeared down a hobbit hole and I right behind….



....my baptism of sorts, into his world was only one that started years of ages ago, but felt as if only for a recent near season, as I soon emerged and walked out into the brightness of a new spring day….



What better place to start this years 'walkabout' then where we left off at last fall….and, so bringing up the picture of this apple tree as then,....



....we can now precede to where I was standing on Saturday. This one ancient apple tree, all set against a background of blue sky and satin finish, hand rubbed to a tree hugger's delight of brilliant sheen….



....and so turning my head around,
i found that the ground was drying out with patches of grass still brown,
till the thought kept coming my way of what if i lay my head as down,
to see beyond into the eye's of blue sky where clouds abound….

--walk softly across this your landscape of seemingly desire,
and know for most assuredly that all that entertains the eye of acquire,
often spends their days caught up in the act of feeding fire,
while belly aches are soon mismanaged with the hardness to conspire,

....so having already paid my dues i kept the change,
and cast my cares to wind swept dreams of noble exchange,
since from the eons of beginning i now can give my-self a place of grange,
till comes a next one passing by who calls from past and welcomes me to interchange….



....when my days are done, let me stretch forth my hands as the quaintise of the birches do, likening my self to an awakening of what comes next….



....and so in studying the land, I often am drawn to studying rock walls. These are the beauties of creation that often bring remembrances of next morning sore backs….and yet, works of art they are in all their be-holden strength….



....and so I borrowed a piece of wood that was stuck in the cracks of yonder stone wall and decided to create a piece of 'wood art', where wood and shadow be-come as one….



....so some snow is still hanging on and this tower of wood blesses the eye with what can be….



....looking to the west, I am drawn to remembering the times I have climbed your summit, giving thanks that as a friend, your loftiness is once again in sight Mt. Kearsarge….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
See less See more
12
#299 ·
"Explanation of Experience" and Art

"Explanation of Experience" and Art


....tempt me and i shall speak,
if not by words of a common tongue,
then i shall speak from within the wood,
where the soul of a tree lives very much free….

....infatuate me and i shall speak,
come out from amongest the copy-cats,
brush aside the hands that ever are clutching too hold,
when will you escape your defined walls of self-imposed exile….

....provoke me and i shall yet speak,
push the envelope and forget to lick the glue,
overstuffed i am from sitting herein confined all too long,
bearing up from the stress of an under indulgent aborted idea…..

....ignore me and i shall yet speak,
deathly tired of playing other's musical chairs,
when will this silence burst the voice of my despair,
my likeness shatters the mirror that offends the image before me….

....seduce me and i shall yet speak,
your kisses have awakened my inner being,
explanations of experience have long ago gave up on me,
my hands grope in the darkness to feel an expression of philo love….

................................................................i am art.........................................................................

-by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"....art for my-self cannot be an explanation of experience, since by so doing would erase the coming of the next frame that ever wants to be free….but first of all must shun the walls that have in-doctrinated my-being!"

And so I just offer some of what has been….as we cross through this door-way into the world of art. And just remember that it's not about what you've been given, but how you use the given before it starts to define your walls….



....no-more words today as I will let these captured moments speak of them-selves….

















Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#305 ·
Controversy and Knots

Controversy and Knots



....i love the controversy that comes from working the wood,
i love the controversy of knotted knotty knots,
picking up pen and paper i stir some words that cut like wood,
soon i realize that words and wood and knots are all what it's about….

....controversy 'just is' the sweet smelling aroma that describes my knots,
and so i throw out some descriptive words by telling tales of knots,
i offer this advice that says it all about my story dreams of knots,
how could anyone call a knot just a knot when there are so many….

--'knots' that are found in wood--:
....Spiked Knots....;
....Oval Knots....;
....Round Knots....;
....Intergrown Knots--Red Knots....;
....Encased Knots--Black Knots....;
....Decayed Knots....;
....Knot Hole....;
....Warty Knots....;
....Tight Knots--Intergrown Knots....;
....Loose Knots--Encased Knots....;
....Pin Knots....;
....Checked Knots....;

....ah yes i love my knots,
i love the working of all my wood,
i love the sculptures that come from these words,
i am the wordy wood knot of all that i am….
-by flp



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#313 ·
Tell Tale FootPrints....

Tell Tale FootPrints….



....frosted silver hoariness,
aged from within the confines of time,
and so my oaken leaf settled down,
imaged herein i left an image of my likeness,
time continues on with presence of mind,
upon a slab of golden shellacked rock maple
....
-by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------



-slab table top in the making….
-one rock maple slab covered with shellac….
-two oak leaves gathered from the wings of the wind….
-time to sit and leave an imprint of likeness….
-all carries on as I await the coming of spring….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#317 ·
Occulation of the Wood

Occulation of the Wood



....what is this shadow that transverses your mind, when you look at wood?

One table top of rock maple that I am presently working on and hope to have done by the end of March. Many of the details as to how and what I am going after have not yet been fully worked out//worked in, but that's only a matter of time as I listen to what the wood would say to me.



....and….



Things not known at this point:

1.)-no-name….

2.)-although I am doing this one in the non-tradition of Japanese furniture (free form sculpture), I have not yet decided as to type of style….tea table or altar….

3.)-I will be using hand tools on this one, but have not at this point determined to what extent shall I proceed//stop with finishing smoothness. Although I am presently engaged in hand sanding the top with #80 grit sandpaper so as to get an understanding of the character to be found in the wood, I have not resolved as to when I shall bring the hand planes, chisels and gouges out//in….hmmm….

4.)-and then there is the determining of what shall be when it comes to settling on whether or not to add feet….

5.)-although I have decided on the first coat of finish, what comes after that first coat will have to wait until I ensconce more on how much finish//smoothness I can conciliate into the top of the wood….

One bit of information that I am sure of at this point in time, is that when finished this piece of sugar maple will in-deed be a work of art-full 'wood art'....

Before coming in-side, here is how the piece looked out-side….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frankk
RuaticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#322 ·
Veteran of the Woods

Veteran of the Woods



....veteran of the woods at northern end,
i scamper to keep ahead in this wood-worker's dream,
what if's and thought's of where it all began,
are only the past rumblings of more to come as i work in stealth….

....my modes of stealth are vast and often un-explained,
since why should a creator re-veal the secrets of his//her art,
no-one who works for art can be a copy-cat of borrowed dreams,
much to the demise of clones who pass me by on borrowed sorrows….

....often i hear much of these who walk the road of borrowed sorrows,
and one thing i hear is why does it not work for me in terms of great,
to those i have many times replied that ''greatness only comes with pain'',
after all what is art that has never been furrowed behind a stubborn ox….

....how can one go into the needed fields of silence in stillness of heart,
where the demons of voice clutter seek me out to produce after them,
i am no follower of the ways of man and so i sit amidst my trees,
learning from these gods that have much to give and none to take….

....sometimes while out here in the growth of what i call deep woods,
comes a sound of singing trees caught in a time warp of old growth,
and what one does after hearing their songs and stories is not for sale,
even now i gather my tales of poems inside my soul and turn a page….

....old growth-new growth-veteran of the woods by which i live,
these trees bear me up well under their now covered gowns of white,
my place within this veil of time has been the uniqueness of knowing trees,
even now the flakes of white start to fall before eyes that see light….

....time passes-silence gathers from the abundance that fills my heart,
unfurling my down filled nest i realize it's time to dig a mound of white,
silence passes as the spirits of trees start to speak a story of past,
warmed within my cocoon of down i learn the ways of working wood….

....all i have to offer in this dream of what i have called 'wood art',
will not speak much to the sounds of cluttered minds of having no-dream,
so who can have a dream unless they go to furrow behind a lumbering ox,
my ox knows my name and still we often cannot work together as one….

....so it is with the working's of wood in a place called treasures of snow,
trees i have known that have told me of their ways before man came,
but who can know the sound of falling snow as it shakes the evergreen,
i can and so my fingers work the wood from height of experience….

....should i go on or should i be as silence of snow falling down to earth,
clangoring into the mighty evergreen who laughs at my pasquinade,
i think these words bare me out as a mis-fit raised in the image of man,
time for silence now as i go to bring forth from creations of 'wood art'….

-by flp



----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#329 ·
Awakened In Your Gobi

Awakened In Your Gobi



....it seems as if i am teller of tales that bears your beauty forth,
why am i so woodly anomic when all your warmth of hue surrounds me,
culler of the art that comes from hand-tooling your existence of being,
while faith-fully noted are the cracks of character that provide story….

....planed from the start by gouges that wrought some sense of stability,
your spoken desire was what soon caught the attention of my ears,
and what if my hands started breathing with anticipation at your words,
i know now that your soul has planed mine in our journey of one….

....gravel desert-waterless place-in this zone of rock maple beginning,
new life that was all-ready within just waiting to spring forth as given,
from the tree i sucked your maple blood-line in years that have gone by,
older than i and yet was it not yesterday that i was older then thee….

....these stories of our past are now be-ing penned in light of a new day,
can my heart ever stop beating so vibrantly since waking to your future,
who but the artist can spell the speaking that you have drawn on wood,
tales tell the the stories i write in words while speaking of 'wood art'….
--by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#335 ·
Gargantuan Green Ninja Turtle

Gargantuan Green Ninja Turtle



....gargantuan green ninja turtle on a six pack of steroids,
digital reading with 12 inch's of steel and plastic on a motor and frame,
offers all the sliding ability of a compound miter that is needed,
ah yes life is good as i continue to work the laser across the wood….
-by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was working a few days ago on an-other piece that is be-coming 'wood art' and I happened to catch this golden oldie in the background as I was taking some photos….so, out comes a blog post. And this one is a bit of a beast to lug around, which means when moved to a location of work, I try to let it remain in place. Pictures like this one are also good, in that they additionally show the contents of the surrounding wood-scape.

Now I know that some are all-ways concerned about where and what as to storing chisels and gouges….but in my way of thinking and working, these are just tools that I use all the time, whether for 'wood art' or just working the wood. So if I'm using them on a regular basis….they're out, and then when that phase is done….I will retire them to canvas and leather holders. I do not build special boxes to hold my tools, just as I do not live my-self in a box. After escaping that small world of box-thinking myself, how could I ever ask one of these to start living in a box.

Just as there resides within my self the soul of a woodworker, so it is that I have all-so known the soul of a tree. What remains then when one also comes to an understanding that within a chisel//gouge there is to be found the soul of that tool. Just as I learned many many years ago how the tree works to reveal it's wood, so all-so have I learned how the hand tool inspires to reveal what it has seen in the wood….to the hands of the worker of wood. Put that hand tool in a coffin and diminish the soul of that tool. Place that hand tool out of the coffin and watch the inspiration that comes to ones hand as their imagination is set free.

Now having said all that about boxes, let me also clarify and go further on the subject of boxes. No-thing wrong or good about any-one who is building boxes for hand tools….I just don't. I will add though that I do in-deed build boxes such as cabinets for rooms inside houses which are also boxes. Cabinets are boxes, rooms are boxes and houses are boxes….does any-one want to understand more on boxes. I drive//ride around in a Ford Ranger which is a box, plus the full size Chevy truck which is also a box. My cd music in those trucks comes in a plastic box, which I take out and place in a music box which is mounted into a box of a dashboard. While driving in my box of a truck I also look out a windshield which gives me a box-full point of view. I have an English Barn which is also a four bay box of a workshop box. Maybe I am better off or worse off….who knows, but at least from my point of view I do not have to go daily to a box of a factory//building employment and deal with all the boxes of emotions and opinions that reside therein….although I have in times past worked there inside that box also. Could I go on, yes….but what's the point of spending time on boxes. Woodworking for me is no-box, just as when I am out in the woods….that also is no-box….and for that I give thanks.

....hmmm, and maybe some folks believe I never use power-tools!

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
".... work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#340 ·
Sacred Places of Wood

Sacred Places of Wood



….herein lies the door to my soul,
and where is the worker of wood's soul to be found,
but in the shop of their own making,
far re-moved and off the beaten path of to-day's clutter….

….out here with the wood i can let imagination spread her wings,
just as the lady called wisdom also dwells deep within these walls,
enter in at this door and one enters a sacred place as time expires,
just as in the forest of wood that so encircles me calling out my name….

….were i not a worker of wood my silence would fall on deaf ears,
just as the usefulness of my be-ing is measured by my soul's woodbeat,
i long ago learned that just as i work the wood so the wood works me,
and together over the ages we have attained an understanding of places….

--the places i go to practice my silence are found in the forest of wood herein--
-by flp



-----------------------------------------------------------------

Morning comes early today so after a breakfast of Indian curries and rice I'm out the back door to my barn, so to have some time before the work begins and after all ,morning shots are very good in here especially with the early sun from the east….



….in here through this door is my wood-shop which at the moment lies in a state of chaos as the work continues in the fourth bay (which is being done for my wife) and my shop has be-come a catch all, after all an-other name for barns are 'giant closets'….



….still tweaking the bench more here, which just goes to show you that one can build a work of 'wood art' any-where, even in the midst of construction mode, while the friend//client that I am building this Shaker bench stopped by this morning and gave me his input on the type of finish that he wants in the wood….and so we decided on one coat of tung oil, and I will brush on at least eight coats of shellac before proceeding to finish up with about four coats of varnish, which I will also brush on….



….and so my day draws to a close and it's time to start testing out some finishes as I go searching and seeking after the color of shellac for the wood. Tonight I start lighting sanding with 80 and 120 grit on a test piece of rough sawn pine and one coat of pure 100% tung oil cut to a 50//50 mix with gum turps. One point to understand is that when testing finishes, one should all-ways proceed on the test piece with the exact same steps that will be applied on the finished piece….and yes, finishing a wood project is much looked forward to and enjoyed….



….evening comes and the lighting in here has changed just as this day passes on….



….as I head for home, I stop and look north to the mountains and so my day ends in peace.



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/
-
''….work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#351 ·
Three Acts of Working the Wood

Three Acts of Working the Wood

….three acts of working the wood that have be-spelled me,
one is the art of hand-cutting wood joinery,
two is the collection and using of old weathered wood,
three is the beauty of creating pieces of 'wood art'….

….one;



….two;



….three;


--by flp

------------------------------------------------

And so while out in the barn today, I started getting a bit mind fried at cutting some wood joints, so I decided to take a break and practice some meditation. Gathered three boards that I had collected last week, brewed up some 'pu-erh' tea and lost my-self in wonderment of what was before me. Next I shifted gears to a piece of wood (poplar) that has been drying out for some time and that was when I decided it was time to create. Hand sanded this last one with #80 and #150 sandpaper and then applied a coat of tung oil to get the grain to pop.

These are the acts of wood-working that hold a claim upon my heart. Often times I have found that when-ever I start to burn-out from doing some tedious wood act like handing cutting many wood joints, it is just a simple step of refreshment to just sit in silence and let time pass me on by. After a-while I soon re-joined myself to the work of cutting those joints and then started a light hand sanding of the wood with #80 grit sandpaper.

….well at least that wedding present is getting closer to being finished and I'm happy to see the progress that is being made.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/
-
''….work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#357 ·
Barn Cat in Training and More....

Barn Cat in Training and More….



I might as well introduce a new member in my barn and tell you some of her history. To start out with it might also help if I was to explain that the barn you are seeing here is an English Barn dated from around 1780. My wife and I started gutting this barn back in 2000 and then while I was on the road most of that winter, she along with a crew took the barn down in about a weeks time after numbering all the bents. Next after taking a year to get our variance and building permit I was able by the summer of 2002 to start putting her back to-gather again. The only point to remember here is that this is an English Barn….and so starts this story up till now.

From 2002 and up until now (2009) there has been many months during the New England winters and summers when I have been totally lost in getting this barn to where she is today….and still more to go. Over the years we have all-ways had cats or might I say many cats and up until last week we had three cats. These cats for the most part are inside and outside cats, which come in at night and are outside during the day. Yes they are also use to the snows and just as soon after a snow storm as I can start plowing our house out, they are ready to head out and explore, while in the house they serve the purpose of keeping us free of chipmunks and mice. One thing that has never been taught to them is about the barn, my workshop and how to deal with the noise of power machines when turned on. Actually their way of dealing with this noise is a fast exit out the door. And so lately I have been thinking and then my thinking grew legs as I begin letting it be known that I was looking for a barn cat and preferably of the female species, since females are better hunters and provide more….

So it should come as no surprise that last week a carpenter friend let me know that he had a cat for me, that had been abandoned when their tenets moved out of his duplex. When I first saw this cat I knew that she was the one for our barn, and so what better name to give her then to let her have the name 'English' after our English Barn. So her training has started and as you can see here in the above photo, she is really learning how to operate in the barn….but then this is with power machines all morning, the radio blaring and then the smell of shellac fumes in the air. Yes I've tried all types of music with her during our times out here and I have found that she is more and more leaning to country music….hmmm, I prefer rockin' and rollin', so we may have to have a discussion on this in the future. So at the end of my day before I head in to home, I am now stopping by the barn to pick English up and to-gather we both make our way back home….



….yes I'm still working on the shaker bench and after some fine tuning on one leg I was able to get the bubble on my level to fit where needed. Today I finished up with 6 coats of German Garnet Shellac flakes….



….my work station….



….a good brush….



….and then some photos as the shellac keeps flowing onto the wood….



….the legs have now 4 coats on them and so they are due for a sanding tomorrow evening….



….and so I will leave you with this parting shot, and soon it will be time to change over to the start of the last step in this bench and that will be 4 coats of oil varnish with a VOC of 650….the good stuff.



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
''….work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#370 ·
What Lights Up An English Barn

What Lights Up An English Barn



Well I believe that it doesn't take much to get me talking about barns….or might I add English Barns. I was asked to post some pictures of my barn, but how could I ever just show some pictures without also going into some barn terminology?

From the picture above I am standing on the third floor of the barn….or if some-one is counting the cellar also, then I guess one could say the fourth floor. My wife bartered some homemade jams for the chandelier, which is made out of a bone base. I just realized now that one cannot see the bone, so I will get a better picture of that up also soon. Standing on the south side of the barn here one can see across the top to the north side which makes for 4 bays and also means that there are 5 bents.

What one can see in this picture is:
Bents
Purlins
Ridge Beam
Struts or Canted Purlin Posts
Rafter
Tree Nails

I might as well set some standard point of reference here as I get started, so let me just mention that on the far end (north end) of the barn I will be calling that 'bent' #1 and 'bay' #1 and yes, this will carry forth in all ongoing stories. So coming from the north there we follow through with bays 1, 2, and 3 and you may notice that the purlins are all oak….and then in number 4 bay,the purlins have been re-placed and are now hemlock. One bit of fascinating information that I might pass along is that when one is looking at an English Barn such as this one, the first place to check for rot or punky wood is up here in the purlins. And since this barn is dated around 1780, we were making sure that there was not much wood rot herin from water leakage in the roof system.

One more bit of barn terminology that I will point out here is that of the 'tree nails', which I made out of white oak….whew! The tree nails are all hand driven in and to answer ahead to a question that some might be thinking, there are no-steel nails and no-gang plates used in the structure of this barn. In my estimation that is the reason why these barns are still around, and as you may notice mortise and tenon joints, along with the purlins which are half-lapped into the rafter and are all pegged. This type of wood joinery allows for the joints to move and….also the barn ends up 'talking' to you as she adjusts to changes in the weather and seasons. I might also point out that where the light is fixed to the beam above, this one is called a ridge beam. And last of all I will mention that the barn boards on the roof are all out of the orginal weathered barn boards that we managed to save//salvage from when we took this one down.

I do hope that some get enjoyment out of this and there is more to come in time and space! I might mention that if any have questions, please fill free to ask away and I will do my best to get back to you here.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#371 ·
Love the barn! Do not know much about them so I have some questions, If I may, or am allowed to pick your expertise. So why does not one saw the nails flat with the surface of the rafters? And another quetion, was this barn actually built by english people or is it the style. .... Do you have more pictures? I think it would be interesting to see more. What kind of roofing material goes on a barn like this.

Thanks for posting
 
#380 ·
Twinings of WoodArt

Twinings of WoodArt



….intertwined we gather,
dusk suspends time and i sit,
wood spirits apprize….

….i came for a dance,
what is the meaning of this,
time and wood makes years….

….wood be-comes fleshed out,
my priorities give way,
what was can now be….

….i am stilled in space,
wood-working life liners speak,
hands listen to start….

….grace-full is beauty,
i see the passion of end,
creation is art….
--by flp
-----------------------------------------------
Working the wood is my life-time drawing out of what was written with-in….



….and so I came to meditate for a-while as the ages roll on past….



….how far can the eye of your imagination see, when one stops talking and begins to listen to the silence that is before thee?



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#389 ·
Barn Tales

Barn Tales



….and so i sit,
watching the pages of my mind,
un-fold before my eyes in splendor,
surrounded by this old barn and it's love….

….old wood and new wood gathered here,
calling out my name to come and rest a while,
and so after a day of work i leave all behind,
to visit with an old friend as friends will do….

….no-secrets between us but what tales we tell,
stories of what has been and our dreams to come,
shared feelings of how it might have been done,
and the pains and joys that have left us in tears….

….it's no-secret that my days are numbered lesser,
while this one is still in the throes of 'urban re-new-all',
my hands gave this one new life from the pit of hell,
as i stood before a dozer's blade that panted for more….

….i fear no-evil shall come our way till time is up….
and on that day we part our ways from terra's clutch,
i know that i have been bettered by knowing his ways,
as all-so this old barn has been born from my soul….

….from the eyes of my imagination i can still see far,
but from the eyes of his ridge pole he has told me more,
the original builder of this barn assembled with 'his-story',
down in concord where they stood up to red-coats….

….and fired the shot "heard round the world"
while this barn was still a mix match of various pieces
awaiting transportation from the hurricane off the cape,
so much barn story here and even more to come….
--by flp

-------------------------------------------
Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"….work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#399 ·
A Story of Lakh

A Story of Lakh



….garnetiferous,
an expression of mein air,
your color plays me….
--by flp

----------------------------------------------
Every picture tells a story….



if I the recipient can just gather my senses to-gather,



and read betwixt the sorted de-waxed many,



understanding that the hue of garnet was created for wood.



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#402 ·
Warriors of The Wood

Warriors of Wood



….i have travailed the road that others could not see,
and while on this road i carried pictures inside my head,
where none could side-track me from my dreams of wood,
just as wood and i have learned to deal with our times of age….

….still working wood just as the wood works me in style,
my character has many times been planed by the hand of wood,
till even now there is the gnawing pain that pushes me faster,
much to do as still counting the opportunities of projects ahead….

….warriors of the wood who know their self in times as these,
are much aligned by the push sticks that occur along the way,
just as now the wood shares with me an ageless enlightenment,
that grants me satisfaction with those who have sacrificed also before….

….my expectations were all built on the illusions of those who taught me,
and so i thought reality was what was counted at the end of my day,
for so 'they said' having taught me well in their temples of merchandise,
ever working the fields of green to profit from selling my soul in search of more….

….that was then when the illness of wanting caused me to live inside my box,
my heart was strong but the dis-ease that struck my liver would scar me for life,
till came the day when I broke the walls that encased me within a prison house,
out of death my spirit soon began walking in a new found life i called freeman….

….awakened from my dream i found wings to ride the winds of imagination
that was when the trees of the woods began calling my name to be like them,
yes i still bear those scars of liver dis-ease while knowing my days are yet to come,
but the freedom of working wood is more now since i started living a new dream….
--by flp

--------------------------------------------------------------Paul Simon Slip Slidin' Away --Live at Abbey Road


Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#413 ·
Art Born Out of Chaos

Art Born Out of Chaos



….art is about the chaotic balance,
that one blends with harmony,
to create an expression of semblance,
that often plays host to our senses….
--by flp

--------------------------------------------
Some-times it's better to let the pictures do the talking….



….so that one can hear the breath of inspiration….



….and after inspiration gains a hold in the mind….



….all that remains is the need to create….



….till once again I am left with an illusion of my-self….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#421 ·
Sitting With Some Old Friends

Sitting With Some Old Friends



….sitting with some old friends,
and what is this need that shakes my be-ing,
till from the shards of my distant past,
comes the dust storm of ever present wood-chips….



….these friends have sat patiently now,
as the years pass and seasons come and go,
their numbers all-ways on the increase-decrease,
but with patience and expectancy they abide….



….my friends have with-stood the ages of change,
knowing that in these times-these too shall pass,
how often against the back-drop of shadow illusion,
I often feel their soul of wood starting to awake….



….these my friends live on the edge of chaotic desire,
where in-spiration is the off-shoot of maverick imagination,
and I often times be-come in-tangled in their future fate,
having long ago understood the need to hear them speak….



....friends as these have long ago accepted my needs of ego,
and yet they have shown me how to shape for the wood,
all the while giving me space to re-fine an art-full practice,
where wood meets the hands of one born to live a dream….



....up here i am truly in the freedom of silence,
where the winds of change can buffet my soul,
far removed from the busy chatter of noisy man,
and my dreams bear wings to soar with the clouds…..

--by flp

------------------------------------------------

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#432 ·
My WoodWorking Ten Commandments

Frederick's Francks Ten Commandments

These Ten Commandmentsments on seeing/drawing were revealed to me on a mountain, but also in a meadow, on a beach and even in the subway. For their revelation did not come all at once, but in installments, as it were, over the years, and always while I was busy drawing, and invariably on holy ground. But that may be because, while drawing, all ground is holy: unseparated from the Whole.

1. You shall draw everything and every day
2. You shall not wait for inspiration, for it comes not while you wait but while you work
3. You shall forget all you think you know and, even more, all you have been taught
4. You shall not adore your good drawings and promptly forget your bad ones
5. You shall not draw with exhibitions in mind, nor to please any critic but yourself
6. You shall trust none but your own eye, and make your hand follow it
7. You shall consider the mouse you draw as more important than the contents of all the museums in the world, for
8. You shall love the ten thousand things with all your heart and a blade of grass as yourself
9. Let each drawing be your first: A celebration of the eye awakened
10. You shall not worry about "being of your time", for you are your time
And it is brief
by Frederick Franck

--------------------------------------------------------------------

And so I thought how about using these principles in and for woodworking, and I came up with my version//vision of a woodworkers ten commandments.



My WoodWorking Ten Commandments

1. You shall work the wood in everything and every day
2. You shall not wait for inspiration, for it comes not while you wait but while you work
3. You shall forget all you think you know and, even more, all you have been taught
4. You shall not adore your good works of wood art and promptly forget your bad ones
5. You shall not work the wood with exhibitions in mind, nor to please any critic but yourself
6. You shall trust none but your own eye, and make your hand follow it
7. You shall consider the wood you plane as more important than the contents of all the museums in the world, for
8. You shall love the ten thousand things with all your heart and the shavings of wood as yourself
9. Let each work of wood art be your first: A celebration of the eye awakened
10. You shall not worry about "being of your time", for you are your time
And it is brief

--borrowed from Fredrick Franck's Ten Commandments, with my own version. My substitutions are in italics….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#441 ·
Wood's DarkSide

Wood's DarkSide



….from the blackened fire-side of the burl i come,
i came-i come but once a year to walk this way,
and what does it matter for whom the moon calls to-night,
that is the one I will invite to come live inside my burning burl,
after all is said and done i re-member i am a hobbit in my hobbit hole….
--by flp

------------------------------------------------------

Thank You.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#452 ·
On the LighterSide of Wood

On the LighterSide of Wood

So after last night….



I decided it was time to resume my identity, as I am known to mortals. Last night's photo avatar was a way of closing out a time worn photo image of my-self and, since I am much younger now, I thought I would post a newer version-vision of who I am. This one will run a short while here, till I can come up with a better picture of a hermit turned wood hobbit who lives 'out in the woods'.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hermit Turned Wood Hobbit



….should you ever go walking in my neck of the woods,
you may hear the footsteps of one who is following behind,
not that i am ever really behind but more one who is close by trees,
many are my waunderings here amongst the scattered landscape….

….but what-ever this place may be for others who come this way,
to me it is the holy ground that opens before the eye-of-i that i am,
trees give my soul the needed inspiration that feeds my spirit of wood,
so stop you may and feel my painted brush of wind that stirs the leaves….
--by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now lets move on to the picture from yesterdays blog story and show an-other side….



….what ended up last night as the 'darker side of wood'.... (hmmm, don't we all have a dark side) had it's be-ginnings from a picture I took last evening in the shop….



….and then that photo image comes from one wood piece that I cut and started drying out 5-6 years ago. Recently I brought this piece into my shop, and to tell the truth I just can-not stop looking over at the area in my shop, where I have placed this 'free form wood piece'. Ah, the beauties of wood….



....worked in the area of the above mentioned piece, for the afternoon into early evening on this one here….


….and so I will be posting some more pictures and stories of this one as I continue in my working of the wood.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#462 ·
Phantom of My WoodWorking Heart

Phantom of My Woodworking Heart



….out of the city i walked one day into a forest of wood,
never looking back at those objects that once held me,
saving my soul from the plight of the lost and un-redeemed,
i came to re-pair my-self from the time zone of asphalt jungles….

….those ills i took on then back there in that forest of steel,
have now cursed me again with a reminder of a jaded past,
but I am far better now by the under-standing i gained from wood,
i was made for wood and in this medium of art i soon came forth….

….i still remember a man who worked to furnish his own ego,
but out here a man's ego has no-place against a forest of trees,
soon i waundered into the woods to place my mark upon the land,
only to realize that sooner than later the mark was placed on me….

….learning the ways of wood taught by the words of ancient trees,
i soon learned that the meaning of silence is not what other's taught,
silence can-not be bought or taught but comes after the death of self,
out here empty spaces tell no-lies to a wood hermit turned hobbit….
--by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This feels like a hard story to write about, one slab of wood against a backdrop of silken fire desire. But what I have found in a life-time of writing words, is that if I will just be faith-full and write, then the words will come spilling out. Best that I can tell you is that this is much like how after cutting one's finger the blood flows forth, same with my writing….lay a pen across the phantom of my wood-working heart and the words just flow.

So I will start out by setting forth the main actor in this word-full wood play….and I shall call her 'KuroKongouseki' or if your not following my Japanese word usage, then we can go with my jeweled 'black diamond'. KuroKongouseki came into my life about 2 years ago and has been sitting outside gathering her beauty from the seasons of elements due to weather. During that span of time I have all-ways had my eye on her and, ever so often I would stop by where she was resting, to sit a spell and check her out.

Today I started a new and fifth burn on her, but for this blog//story I am going to re-capture some of those earlier burns. Some of what I am posting has all-ready been posted in different stories over the past couple of weeks, but today I am gathering all that information together in one act. The added treat is that there is much in the way I have chosen to work this piece, both in pictures and information, so brew your-self up a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy….and also remember that the wood, KuroKongouseki….all-ways has the last word.

My Jeweled Black Diamond

Every story must have a beginning, so I shall start with how this piece, which is full of character and also shows how the wood has mellowed with age….



….what comes now is the start of the first burn….



….in which I proceed to use a small propane torch. Next I'll start my second burn….



….while this burn is started to produce a much better burn, with some smoke thrown in. After leaving for about 30 minutes to do some work in the workshop, I re-turned to this pleasing sight….



….and now it's time to mix it all up with 10 gallons of water.



After letting the chunk-o-hunk piece of wood sit outside for a couple of days, it then be-came time to bring the wood in. Well one of these days I might start working with smaller pieces of wood, but until then I guess I'll keep working to get these 'smaller' sizes up. I will say that this one is not a big as what I have worked with in the past….



….some of my chisels that I use on my 'wood art' starts….



….and some more. You may also notice the 'all' handmade chisels, and I do not spend much time making these….whatever hardwood and then some-times softwood is handy.



Before the burn and….



….now I can get on with the third burn in and yes, I did this one in phases . I started doing a section of the wood complete with burning and then I would use the green woolite scrubbies, followed up with #80 grit sandpaper and then a brush….



….and, you will also notice the wood pattern here.



Moving on I then went to more of a heavy burn….



….and then the clean up. Done for the day.



Coming back the next day, since it was raining and I could not work in the woods, I proceeded to burn some more….



….and then the clean-up of the wood….



….with an-other view. You may notice in this photo how I have also cleaned up the crack in the middle of the wood with a timber chisel.



Well that's all for this blog post….and if you're wondering how far I'm going to 'charcoal' this piece of wood, just wait for my next post….and yes, plenty yet to come.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com

Two of my other wood blogs:

http://frank.wordpress.com/
….and….
http://rusticwoodart.tumblr.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#468 ·
Unorthodox WoodWorking Tools....

Unorthodox WoodWorking Tools….



….at some point in my woodworking story,
the point was made that i must create beyond,
"beyond what" i heard my-self asking again until,
"until the dreams you have be-come art" i perceived….

….so much that i was more at the world's lost end of my-self,
since all my be-ing up until then had be-come as un-perceived,
works of art back then all included "other's" concept for wood,
till the responsibility back then was all laid on my shoulders….

….so much was my relief that came from sitting with wood,
to understand the perceptions of wood as be-ing a player,
creating art is the releasing of a work built first in-side,
and as the art explains it-self i convert that out-side….
--by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Just to think upon an art-full creation is to give life into that object before you. In art there is no such thing as good or bad, as what is laid out before the eyes of the be-holders, is interpreted by their perceptual experience. Working with wood was first brought out from my need to convert wood into a cash product….and then there was the need to heat my castle. Supplying heat for my wood-stoves took me back into the woods where I found my-self working with trees. To give the short version here, is that in those woods I found the silence of soul that I craved. It was in this silence that I learned to listen to trees and the stories they were more then willing to share with one noisy as I used to be. Much could be written about trees, but let me just say that I started learning a new type of wood joinery (or might I go and say; living tree//branch joinery), along with the beauty of experiencing their natural art. Experiencing art, now there's a new one to think upon, till one will also need make use of their many senses, which will often 'make use' of the many more then five traditionally taught senses. Well enough said for now….and lets proceed on to working the wood.

Unorthodox WoodWorking Tools….

To give a better understanding of the piece of wood art I am bringing forth….known as KuroKongouseki and so I have decided to include some of the more unorthodox woodworking tools I am using at the moment on this piece. You may notice that the tools so far are all of the non-electrical form for working wood. Yes, when I originally took the tree down I did use a gasoline chainsaw, and then I did use the chainsaw to free hand cut this wood slab, but since then all my tools have been hand powered. Slowly over time I have started un-plugging my power tools, finding that now….the only tools that excite me any-more are of the hand powered type. While many in this day of woodworking have decided to move forward to more and bigger (better?) powered tools, I have by choice chosen to move back in time learning a new way of working the wood through un-conventional thought and technique. Slowly over time I have been giving away some of my smaller power tools and who knows but that yet in the future I shall be free of all those power tools that were used to malign the wood after my way of thinking. Again let me add here that for all woodworkers who use and want to acquire more power tools, I am in no-way making a judgment upon you as to good or bad….this is just my way and direction I am evolving into.

I have not posted many pictures of the more recent burn-in, except for that one photo at the start of this story and then I decided to show some of the tools I used to get the look above. First I made use of a larger model of a propane torch that I often use around here on the land….



….next there are the pair of dogs used to give a good all around burn. I can now move on….



….to my last set of tools used on the blackened wood slab. First you will see is the woolite scrubbie that is used to remove all excess carbon charcoal on the wood piece and then of course I use a good stiff and broken in brush to further clean the project. I might mention that there will come soon, a time when I will use a plugged in power tool of sorts….which is an electrical blower to further clean out and into the cracks of the wood. So you may also understand now that I am no-purist when it comes to working the wood….



….more to come:
KuroKongouseki
Charcoal Dreams of A WoodWorking Passion
Phantom of My Woodworking Heart
WoodWorks

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com

Two of my other woodworking blogs:

http://frank.wordpress.com/
….and….
http://rusticwoodart.tumblr.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#469 ·
..and of course, the best tool of all, is your imagination!

I'm liking that burned slab more and more. I'm starting to see where you are going with this and it does, indeed, look beautiful.

Burning as a tool of woodworking would have been a common tool from way back, as we've probably all seen people make bowls, spoons, canoes by burning the part of the wood away that isn't part of what you're making ( or even to cut the tree down in the first place).

So even the fire is your tool - whether we call it conventional or unconventional is a matter of point of view, isn't it? fire having been a far more conventional tool than probably anything else.
 
#473 ·
WoodShop Tales Beyond

WoodShop Tales Beyond



….two trees blowing in the wind,
a mighty forest surrounds these centennial's,
two loner's sending out their branching eaves,
many sentients come to waunder along the way….

….i was younger in those days that are behind,
one worker of wood leaves his shop for open space,
out here i am but the shadow of my own imagination,
my sentiments to those who can-not come out to play….

….two tree's,
two loner's,
many sentient's,
one worker of wood….

….if all my days were filled with such joy,
how could i suffer the contrition of such beauty,
my heart rejoices along the path full-filled out here,
let me sing once more before this shadow passes on….

….can a lover of wood ever see their passion at rest,
can one hewn from trees ever stop hewing the wood,
workshops and tools come and go but trees never fail,
i get lost in the abundance of a forest where i am found….

….two tree's,
two loner's,
many sentient's,
one worker of wood….

….two tree's upholding each other against wind shear,
two loner's bracing together from the phantom's of one,
many sentient's coming out to dance in a forest's after-glow,
one worker of wood who has been here before to watch it all….

….forest shadows come now to lengthen upon my brow,
silence passes over-head as my sight in-deed is carven herein,
i am soon enough passed out-of-sight by the shadows of night,
ah yes in-deed a long night ahead back in the glow of my shop….

….two trees I have known,
two loners walk blindly on by,
many sentients tell these tales,
wood or worker inspires one….
--by flp

---------------------------------------------------------

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com

Two of my other woodworking blogs:
http://frank.wordpress.com/
--and--
http://rusticwoodart.tumblr.com/

--
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#479 ·
Turning A Page In Life

Turning A Page In Life….



….can we define the moment that wood took hold,
can i fathom the canker i have be-come within my woods,
who can understand that time when light exposed pine,
and color bore witness to the heavens under which we lived….

….i have walked in silence before the trees of these woods,
where i shunned the teachings that came from noisy man,
after all what is man but a creature of manifold knottiness,
sent on his ways by the opinions he ply's daily in secret temples….

….yes i even now re-member those temples in which i toiled,
where night and day i was soiled by having to please the lords,
concrete-asphalt-plastic-steel-all straight from depths of hell,
till one day i saw my chance to break out of their guarded box….

….i ran from the city being grate-full to escape their watch-dogs,
and so i stumbled into the hands of the far north wood's kingdom,
un-sure of the way that was laid be-fore me i came giving thanks,
for-getting those things i left behind likened after an empty shell….

….what i carried within me were words written long ago before the ages,
words that the sages of yesterday spoke often but now lay for-gotten,
those words were but my sense of timing in that i had aged beyond,
and so out here in my woods i awakened to the singing of the trees….

….if one wishes to hear the wisdom found in the forest of woods,
then listen for the singing found where two trees rub each other,
like when the wind is caressing two tall pines to bring their color out,
and yet there is sadness from in knowing the price that was paid….

….when i talk of singing the songs out in these woods of wood tales,
then comes the stories that i gather from walking to and fro the land,
and then the questions i have to ask and ponder are answered in time,
can a man really live with-out a song or a story that makes up his life….

....one thing i know is that fermented and stagnant tales just won't do here,
one must rise each and every day and greet the day as if it be the only one,
when my hands start working the wood more and more i can value the meanin',
meanings at times like these get all gummed and sapped up till i move on….

….in times as these i have learned that life is like one who is planning on wood,
where-as i used to go about my planning by working on the 'push' stroke,
i have now come to find that all my labors are much better when I use the 'pull',
shavings now come across as more of a re-fined character in the wood i free….

….and as i walk these ways that keep me in tune with the heart of wood and trees,
i can hear the great spirit of the woods singing and calling me to come and feast,
for there is feast for all those who can come and listen in silence to take back home,
while back home in the freedom of my workshop i can once again sing a new song….

….i have sang the songs where my imagination turned loose the actions of inspiration,
but never have i had to fight a dis-ease of hepatikos re-membered such as faces me now,
in times such as these the dark clouds overshadow my days and the demons watch,
my hands are often silent and i feel as though i am losing my way in this great forest….

….some come-some go-some appear-some disappear but i feel as though nonextant,
too many things in my life right now and so I turn to my friends the trees who give hope,
all i once held in esteem has since been removed and yes the lessons i now am learning,
what matters most in life is not the battles i have won but more so the kindness i give….

....even now beyond the pieces of wood art i sell i have started giving away my treasures,
recently here i have deleted all my wood projects since why hold onto what is in my past,
if i can-not create new of wood art then i shall be most happy in being free of all things,
i am finding that my heart can stop clinging for more till now i learn to empathize life….

….some-times in life one needs to stop and turn the page to start a-new writing their stories,
stories and songs of the wood can be into new areas that give character and meanings,
by giving away all these old tales i am found naked till i go out and clothe my-self again,
but there again is the lie since who told i that he was naked but the feelings of dis-ease….

….i came here to earth by a birth naked-naked i shall re-turn to my place of before birth,
all my things i have gathered here i shall leave behind just as this dis-ease that stalks me,
yes i shall still fight yet into the eyes of death that have no-power except the lie of self,
the lie of self is the power of the illusion that i had a right to clothe my-self with things….

….hope that i am not loosing any-one here but again i must take the time and turn a page,
one can loose all things in life but let no-one come and take your songs and many stories,
my songs give me a link with these woods and with the trees that whisper my name calling,
i can give all i can to full-fill the needs of other's but that which i need is a cure beyond….

….turn the page and go deep within the confines of what only you can see as emptiness,
there one will find a way in their dark night of soul that can be the turning point in going on,
i still work the wood and more often than naught i now find that the wood is workin' my way,
this way of wood is one that i re-member as having chosen from before beginnings of time….
-by flp

-------------------------------------------------------------











Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"….work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#489 ·
More on Sankyaku Uddo

More on Sankyaku Uddo



….if i could count all my stories,
that have been re-corded as growth rings in trees,
what would soon come forth is how small of faith i am,
for who am i to stand up equal too one white oak…..

....it was one day back when that i walked into the forest of wood,
and oh the joy and pain that awaited me in my new found birth,
will i ever be able to express in part how my feelings felt back then,
the expresso drink that was mixed with my blood and wood sap….

....never can get enough of the singing of trees and their laughter,
these sons of the forest come alive in my in-grained imaginations,
that are soon carried forth in the worKings of 'wood art' i create,
our lives are but short spaces of breathing but wood art lives on eternal….
--by flp

---------------------------------------------------------------

A good place to start is with your own wood….(1) slab of cherry wood; (1) board of cherry wood; and (1) branch of white oak. Is there really any-thing more a worker of wood could ask for in life?

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmai.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

--
"….work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top