The Creativity Challenge

Rich,
Fascinating problem. I will look forward with considerable interest to seeing your solution. After all, it’s essentially a design problem, I believe. First, what item is “most appropriate” to the materials available? and second, the actual design of the specific item. Only then does craftsmanship as a woodworker become an issue. Just my two cents, and I’m sure you will come up with something exemplary.
Roger

-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)

Can’t wait to see “IT”, Rich. How long do you have?

-- Wish I were Norm's Nephew

We have lots of time. The entire group will get together to discuss the assignment, our progress and exchange ideas at least a couple of times. This is not a contest, but everyone wants to do the best they can do.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

Rich, it sounds like quite a challenge but i know that you are up to and I hope that you do well with the challenge. Please keep us up to date with it.

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

Can’t wait to see what you come up with buddy!
Good luck!

-- Eric, central Florida

For the cedar, I’ve been falling back to boring ol’ veneered plywood for the backs of things. I think there are always places where you need wood for something, but it really won’t be seen. Backs, internal braces, floating tenons, lots of uses for wood that you don’t want visible but still want to incorporate into the project.

-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke

Sounds interesting. Sounds like, rather than what Roger’s saying about picking the best wood for the project though, you have to pick the best project for the wood!

6bf is not a lot.. and 9 1/2 altogether isn’t much either.

For what it’s worth, I’d probably make decorative joinery with the bubigna, (use it for decorative inserts, butterflies, dowels, etc) and focus on how the heck to use the other three woods… Maybe a bench? a lamp? an end table? Whatever it is, it’ll be interesting.

You gotta keep us posted on this one Rich, I love these types of challenge, good luck :))

-- Pete G: If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got

would love to see a daily real time blog on this. from conception to completion. kinda like the one GaryK did. Man i could hardly wait to get home from work to see what Gary did.

-- Made in America, with American made tools....Shopsmith

This will not be an everyday project for me so a daily real time blog would be of minimal value.

My first step will be to make up a scaled down version of my idea with either cheap oak or pine. That will allow me to look at a 3D image and decide if I like it and what changes I may need to make.

I’m actually thinking about 3 different ideas but one, a very unique plant stand, is at the top of the list. I may have my scaled model in a few days and I will share it and seek reaction.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.