joined stool

The cupboard is really coming to an end. It's in sight at least. While some paint was drying, I finished this joined stool that had been waiting in the wings. All but one leg & the seat was done months ago. Here's a detail view - we've never found a New England example with carved aprons, but I like to do them. Lots and lots of English ones were carved. Why not the New England ones? Maybe they were, and just don't survive. There's only a small number of NE joined stools as it is...

carved apron

I sussed out the middle of the cupboard door last week. Here it is mocked-up. I had tried a horizontal oval turning in the middle, but didn't like the way it looked. The original has what I think is a 19th-century ornament added smack in the middle. Some have the date carved on the door, that would have worked also.

door just needs oiling & polishing

I did three of these turnings the other day. They're halves with a strip in between. They decorate the side panels. The toughest thing to turn on the pole lathe, very, very slender. 5/16" at the small end, 3/4" at the greatest. About 7 1/2" long. I'm glad they're done. Painted now & drying.

"drumsticks"

Soon I'll get to the part where I finish-turn these pillars for the upper case. First the base molding & feet get attached this week.

pillars

At the desk lately, I've been working on the next video in the new vimeo series - about splitting the chest parts from the log. So this video will at least have some action to go with all the blather. The link is now on the sidebar to sign up for that series. I hope to finish this video later this week.

half in half again

Every day in the shop is a good day, but snowy days are even better. Off I go.

the river this morning