Jessica's Bedroom Furniture

Very nice projects!

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

croquetman,
Just how long have you been retired? The last 20years? That’s how long I imagine it would have taken me to build all that bedroom and office furniture, if I wasn’t interrupted. The cherry head board is out of this world gorgeous! The matching of the crotch wood is superb. I had a chance to look at the office furniture as well. Your mix of the walnut and cherry turned out beautifully as well. I really liked the designs of all the pieces as well. You Sir are a true Artist of wood. Exceptional work all the way around. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to seeing what the other daughter has been gifted.

Sincerely,
Ken McGinnis

-- woodbutcher north carolina

Dear Ken -

My wife and I officially stopped working in 1999, but I began making furniture in 1995. Actually, while anticipating retirement, my wife told me I had to have something to keep myself occupied. I had never made furniture or anything other than barns, sheds, the sort of things one finds outside and require the use of a hammer and big nails; but I wanted to do this. I had a friend who promised to mentor me if I took up furniture making. All he ever did was tell me what table saw to buy, and tell me I was crazy to hand cut my dovetails. But he has a good eye, and I always build thinking that Rob is going to critic my work.

To make a long story even longer, I started out in ‘95 making boxes. There are a lot of skills to learn in box making. Once I mastered the box I started making other stuff. How much stuff? Lots and lots and lots. I try to make 4 or 5 big pieces a year, and probably as many small boxes as well. To me that sounds like a small number, but I only have time to work in the shop 3 days a week. There is golf, travel, garden and lawn, firewood, life. I wish I had taken photos of everything, but it’s all signed and dated.

Thank you for your kind words. Since I’m not schooled in furniture design, and am self taught in furniture construction, my designs can be a bit clutsy. And if the design doesn’t work, I am the ultimate Wood Butcher: the mistake gets eaten in the wood stove. My main goal is to try to emphasize the wood in everything I make.

-- Whatever

Nice peice ! Is there a hint of James Krenov influence ?

-- POPSHOP ,

Actually, POPSHOP, my influence was more some designs I had seen by Dennis Green. Other than that, Jessica is into oriental simplicity; I tried to capture some of that in the bedroom furniture. The bed was strictly influenced by the wood. I decided on the basic design as I was milling the log. It literally spoke to me. Of course, what I originally wanted to make I was not skilled enough to make, so what I made is a compromise. Luckily it worked.

-- Whatever