Some have asked about a carving class, with the focus on the Townsend clock carvings, that sounds like a good idea to me, with that said we are thinking on talking with Mary May on this one,  again its hard to beat someone at their own game, I personally would also love to take a class with her, I can carve, but feel sure I would learn something new, would be different for me for sure, would be the first and only class I have ever taken, so stay tuned, but let me know if you have an interest,  I have mentioned this to a few folks and they are excited, about it, so again, post a comment , below if you have an interest, I realize timing and cost will be a factor, but that’s easier to determine if we have an idea of interest, .

As many of you know, we had our email account  hacked, and it sent out emails  for Viagra,  sorry that happened, but it is all secure again, also for those who were concerned about credit cards and so forth , first off, we maintain no such information on anyone, as well that is thru an entirely different system, so there is never an issue, with that said, Sherri also did some sort of DVD sale, so if you missed it and need info on it, drop her an email  Sherri@charlesneilwoodworking.com    just an FYI

It Is Saturday morning, and about 50 degrees, quite nice for the end of Jan, so we have all the doors open, and blowing the dust and dirt out of the shop, looks 100% better,  every now and again, ya just got to clean up a bit.

Guess when we are done, I need to get the material list done for the spice chest, and all the router bits we will need, done, but it won’t be alot, so guess I need to get to the gettin, later , y’all be safe,

I just stepped off the camera, filming the final mockup and design of the spice chest, and in the show I discuss some of the issues with building the Townsend Clock, for the average guy,  and without a doubt the carving of the shell as well as the finials, will be the top of the list.While we will be showing you and doing our own,  it is recorded and well know that the old masters had  master carvers who did just that, carved, day in and day out, thus mastering the art, well that is what Mary does, so I wanted to introduce you to her, and let you have a chance to get some of her DVD’s and plaster castings.

**** note : the clock shell is smaller than the secretary, so I will also need to get her the pattern as well , but we will have all of that for you

Its winter, so it’s the perfect time, to sit down and learn to carve, but don’t use 2×4 and stuff like that, get you some bass wood , mahogany, or whatever trust me when I tell you that the wood can play a huge difference in success, or failure.

I am not trying to sell anything here and have no involvement other than I think you can learn alot from Mary and will give you a little clue, I also am ordering her products, so thought I would pass it along,  it hard to beat some one at their own game.

I also ask Mary if she would be able to help with carving the clock shell and the finials, she said yes,  the shell would be about 300.00 and not sure on the finials, which would have to be turned first, and I need to get her the pattern and so forth,   she says she has some one who could  turn them as well, if needed, so for those of you looking to stretch your skills, here ya go.

Stay warm and safe, and tell Mary I said hello

For many its the ability to cut a successful dovetail, others its carving a ball and claw foot,  for some its simply getting a board flat and square.

For me it’s very difficult to design shows that encompass all the aspects of it, I initially thought the show would be an evolutionary progression ,meaning, we would consistently be doing more advanced projects, and I think we have, but now I’m beginning to think perhaps we are taking  bigger leaps than we should.

We are now working on the Pennsylvania, spice chest, and will have 2 versions of it, an advanced and a simpler one, to try to be all-inclusive for everyone as well as to perhaps suit varying taste, then we go to the Townsend, Tall Case Clock,  I am concerned this is perhaps a little over ambitious for many, and will isolate them from participating, not only due to the woodworking involved but the expense and all things associated.

When I was at the met museum , I stood looking at  the Goddard/Townsend secretary, http://www.cn-woodworking.com/townsend-desk-with-book-case/

this is a piece that for me, that has been a “must do” , from the first time I cut a piece of wood,  and I now feel confident enough to do it,  but to put this into a show , it would be a very long build as well it would be daunting for many, so its just not something I think would appeal to all the folks, and from a business stand point I think it would cost us from a loss of subscribers,  it’s a hard call.

I have thought about how I could do both,and there is no simple solution, it would be hard to intertwine, the smaller projects with some thing like this, I thought perhaps we could do separate shows, but that really hold’s our hand’s, hard to the fire, that is a tremendous undertaking, and again from a business standpoint, means double the work for the same  revenue,  I thought , perhaps we could do a seperate show, which would be self funded, and if we had enough to make it worth while we could go that route, but I think in this economy that could be a stretch, so the more I have pondered on this, the more  perplexing it became, so I simply decided to  ‘shelve’ it for a time, and continue as we have been and not worry too much about it, and allow everyone’s skills to advance at a steady and controllable pace.Perhaps the secretary need to be a DVD’s , or remain a personal thing.

Ok so today, I will be filming more on the spice chest, I was pleased to get numerous emails  about the design process of the chest, this is something that hopefully will expand your horizons a bit, and allow you to not be dependent on plans and other’s design’s but allow you to design and create on your own,.

Well its time for the 2nd coffee, and get to filming, , y’all stay warm and safe

the Museum photos are right beside the furniture pictures http://www.cn-woodworking.com/

have a safe Weekend, and be safe

It would help us alot , if you have an interest to let us know,  as well as dates that work for you,  we will probably do a spring and early fall class,  but are open to others depending on participation, so please let us know,   either post here or drop and email  Charles@charlesneilwoodworking.com   ,  the classes are usually done on Thursday , Friday and Saturday, and they are primarily designed to , simply put, have you leave , able to color and finish about anything you want to, any way you want to,  lots of hands on spray finishing and so forth, the cost is 425.00 for the class.

We will be doing a full finishing class as well at the Rockville Md Woodcraft store, http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=101&page=home  , the cost of the class is 225.00 per day, or 400.00 for both days,  again, this is a full-blown class, and I really suggest you do both days, day 2 is where all the hands on spraying and so forth takes place,  and the goal of the class is exactly as stated above, we want you leaving, capable of finishing,  the dates of the class are Feb  18th and 19th, I hope to see some of you there.

We are still sorting thru museum photos and so forth and over the next week or so we will get some up.

Ok folks, back to  sawdust and whittling,  be safe

This trip , for the most part was business, however while still business related the trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC , was a real treat, especially to get to see the John Goddard and John Townsend collection.  We were able to take alot of pictures , and as soon as we can get them all sorted out , we will get some up for you.

I, personally am still trying to digest the craftsmanship and design that I saw, and relate it to the time period, it would not be easy accomplished today,  but to step back hundreds of years and see what they accomplished is amazing.

One of the things that really struck me , in viewing this collection was the similarity of all the pieces,  and with that said, the repetitive use of the various forms,  like Maloof, Stickley, Duncan Phife ( saw this as well),  they did the same thing over and over again , while it may be a chest of drawers, or a secretary, or whatever, it all carried the same theme.

In thinking on this, it became evident this was a major key to their success, or better put their ticket to  “the masters club” , and to having their work revered and placed in the realm of art, and to have it become one of the major achievement  goals of the woodworking and furniture world.

There is a major lesson in this for all of us, they developed a pleasing style and form and perfected it,  all of them , from Townsend to Maloof, think on it, they did the basically same thing every time,  thus allowing the perfection of it, and I have to be very honest, that in its self is a major factor , and something I envy.

I feel sure that they did many things other than the projects they became famous for,  no doubt, and while repetition in a mass would not be alot of fun,  and could be boring, it afforded them the luxury of  perfecting of  their style, something to think on.

Well , today is a catch up, see where we are at sort of day and, get back in the groove of things,  so time for some coffee and see where to start, catch ya later be safe

Both of these are cases where its make alot of sense,to do kits , because they involve several different thicknesses and various widths, so simply put a board footage number is not the best way to approach it, but having someone like Bob who can help put it together helps alot , first it assures you get what you need and second it allows for less expense, because for example if you need  one piece of 8/4 , you will normally have to buy an entire board to get it, since Bob is doing multiple kits he can divide it up, so it saves alot.

At this moment, I have not laid out all the parts, and will not until I return from NY , and actually visiting the clock, then I can better break it down into the parts we will need. so at this moment  prices are not available.

The spice chest can be anything, I am doing one out of Curly cherry, with maple dividers and tiger maple drawer fronts, and thinking a reverse using tiger maple and cherry interior and drawer front, also may do a walnut one,

The clock, 2 woods come to mind, curly cherry and walnut, tiger is also an option, but walnut or cherry are more traditional, the original’s were either mahogany or walnut, some poplar or maple as secondary , also white pine was the dominate secondary of the day, ( my choice) ( worked easy) .

All of this said , so that if your interested, please let Bob, know, this will help him to see what volume he is looking at and the more volume , the less expensive, just how it works.

The wood is purely Bobs deal, we do not make anything off of it, just so you know, nor do we want to,  better to see the price held down, and you build the projects, now the other thing is, you never want to build a clock, without the workings, because everything has to fit, and we realize the workings are expensive, so wood and movements together can be an issue, however, we will have the movements, so we can guide you thru the build so at whatever point you can get the movements they will fit properly.

Bob also tells me he still has kits for the bombe box, if you have an interest, and I personally want to thank Bob for helping with these kits, I personally know that small orders and especially kits are a real pain,  so it really helps us out, and I have also heard from alot of you abouthow nice Bobs material is, and I can also attest that I have always been delighted , and in case you don’t know, I am what ya might call  “ a might particular” .

So if you want on the list , please let Bob know, and we realize price will be an issue, but again the more folks participating the better the price will be for all, drop Bob and let him know if you have an interest   Bob@bobkloes.com

will be out next week but might squeeze a little blog in if possible, and plan to get lots of pictures as allowed 

While we have had a little extra time, we have been working on the spice chest and the Townsend clock, which is again a major build , and has taken alot of time and research to be sure we do this clock total justice, so it will be well worth the time invested on all of our behaves, this is taking a museum piece and replicating it as close as humanly possible to the original , something not often afforded , especially in video form where it’s done inch by inch, so for us as well its an undertaking, but again, hopefully it will be worth the effort.

I just wanted to jump in here and be sure everyone understood what was going on and what the schedule was, the next show we touch on the huntboard and its relation to the table series, and we discuss  the clock and the spice chest, then the next show , which I am wrapping up filming on today, we design and mock-up the spice chest, then we build it, during which time we will be working on the particulars of the clock.

So believe me when I tell you we been doing alot of  “fixin to” work for the upcoming shows.

Ok off to make a tombstone raised panel door for the spice chest,  catch ya later ! ,  be safe

Sherri & Charles

Online Paid Contributions:  $8,135.00

Offline Pledged Contributions (checks to be mailed): $1,930.00

Now being one who doesn’t like leaving alot to chance ,especially on a piece such as this, I am planing to go visit it next week, at the Metropolitan Museum Of  Art in New York City , I have mentioned I have to travel up north next week, so I decided to take an extra day and go see it for myself, for me that helps alot,  Once I see it , I can make it, not sure if that is a gift or just years of experience, but it sure does come in handy.

The spice chest, which I have located numerous pictures and so forth which gave dimensions and so forth, I have been able to sort thru and come up with what I think is a nice size,  and then after looking at many different variations, we will design our own, I like doing that as well, and I get a kick out of just thinking something up and making it, I do that more than anything, clients will give me an idea of what they like and basic dimensions and I go into design mode,  and come up with something they like and works , gets a bit challenging from time to time, but it is part of the business.

So next Monday I am leaving to go north, in the middle of January,  and then it looks like I will be headed South  around July or August, go figure,  but what would life be without challenges, right.

Ok I have to turn on the cameras and we are going to design and draw out the spice chest, then do a mock-up out of MDF, to be sure we have it all correct and working, so best be getting to it, camera girl ( Crystal), just arrived, so some coffee, and get to work, be safe