fredricksburg harvest table

One I worked on over the past summer. Delivered back in August of 2012.  I like the design, but I would prefer to have a cross-brace and beam across the bottom. The client didn't want that, but if I ever make one for ourselves, I'll make the table have beam supports like the bench has.

For more pics of this one drop the hammer down on this link:Rustic Fredricksburg (dark, reclaimed barnwood style table)

slab bench

This new bench I made for the entryway is sort of inspired by a stonehenge type design. I've seen similar benches before, but basically my motivation and thought-process was:

1.) Make a long bench (narrow, yet with space for storage underneath)

2.) Keep it simple.
        <>   Keep it rootsy. Don't overthink it, (as I tend to do).
        <>   Get back to the very basics of what makes a bench. Often what makes something elegant/classic and/or special is not what is added to it, but what is omitted.

3.) I wanted to contrast and balance modern/minimilistic styling with classic, roughsawn and rustic beams. The beams are roughsawn, but sanded slightly to expose the grain.

3.) Additional/secondary considerations:
        <>    I made it slightly lower than standard seating. Standard Chair/Bench Height = 17"-18". I made this 16" so it is easier for the kids to sit on, as the root function of it is to have a place to put shoes on. Form ALWAYS follows function. For me anyway.
        <>    I loved the way Kristin's Hill Country Manor Dining Table turned out with the Local Texas Yellow Pine beams, that has dark figures and interesting grain patterns. I wanted to echo that effect, so I used the same beam stock from the load I ordered from the sawmill in Bastrop. As with Kristin's Table, I sanded just enough to expose the grain and figuring of the wood, but left the texture of the roughsawn kerf marks.

Old Brick Building

Every time I go down to Spaghetti Warehouse downtown San Antonio, I always admire the old brick buildings around the train tracks with all the old painted signs and stuff.

Having been a bricklayer, I have a special appreciation for masonry, and the magnitude of work and effort that went into some of these all-brick buildings.  Many of the older ones are multiple layers of brick thick because the brick was used for structural purposes, not just a aesthetic facade.


Finally had the presence of mind to get a shot of this one last night when we went.

Pallet Coffee Table: Cool Idea

Here's a cool coffee table one of my clients made out of an old pallet. Really like the patina/color she added to it also.  She said she ordered some big steel castors for it, can't wait to see it with them on it.

Personal Projects

With the Thanksgiving crunch-time over with, I'm finally taking some time to work on some projects that I've wanted to do around the house. (Still have to find time to make a new Table for ourselves, I might mention.)

One of them is this old Vintage, Marquee Arrow Sign. I had been thinking about doing a huge letter, that looked like it was part of an old Company Store Sign. Like something a person might find at a flea market. I had decided to make a huge letter "C" but my wife didn't like the idea. She said, "What does the C stand for?" --- That's just it. It doesn't stand for anything. I felt like if it was to appear authentically like a flea-market find,  it wouldn't be something cliche like one of our family's initials. That would be too obvious and too much to ask of coincidence.

With letters being too cliche, they were out of the picture. I wanted to completely allay any questions when people come in such as, "Ah, what does the letter stand for?"  --- Or, "Why the huge letter on the wall?"

So, I just kept the sign sterile as a huge lit-up arrow. Self-explanatory. Simple. Obvious. Clean. No Question Marks. No Explanations. 

Don't ask me why it's pointing the direction that it is. It just is. Everything doesn't have to have some profound symbolism. Sometimes things just exist. And that's okay.

 COAT RACK: BLACK CHERRY AND BRUSHED STEEL

The next project I've had marinating for some time now and just haven't had time to do is this Coat/Hat Rack.

The Cherry is from some logs that were cleared to make room to build houses near Mechanicsburg, IL. We were laying brick on one of them and I noticed the huge pile of logs that looked too good to burn. So, after work several days I took my chainsaw and cut manageable lengths of Cherry out of the pile. The interesting part is that they were quite straight, which is unusual for Black Cherry trees. Typically Cherry trees grow very crooked and curved.

Several days I loaded up what I could fit in my truck and took them to Hank Whitehurst, my local sawmill man near Tallula, IL. He was a great woodworker and had his own sawmill. He would build bartops for Local Restaurants, tables/chairs, anything anyone wanted made out of wood; he could do. He taught me most of what I know about woodworking. Without rambling on too much about everything under the sun except the aforementioned hatrack; I should mention that Hank died a few years ago. His sawmill burned down a year or two before that. So sad. 

Anyway, this cherry wood is one of the priceless pieces of that Cherry wood. I've had to wait a few years for it to completely dry enough to work with. I've brought it 1000 miles with me down to Texas. Moved it 3-4 times since then. And I suppose it just keeps getting more sentimental to me as time goes on.

As you might know, Cherry wood gets darker as it gets older. I don't know/remember all the specifics, but I think exposure to light has something to do with it. I can vouch for that as a desk I made out of the cherry was a lighter pinkish-yellow when I built it and today it is a dark, rich reddish burgundy-brown color.

Without further ado, here is the Coat Rack in the Front Entryway:

Hill Country Manor Table: Delivered

Kristin's Hill Country Manor Table all set up in her & her family's "Hill Country Manor." 

So glad to see her face lit up when it was all set up. This reminded me what it's all about.

The Table Set for Thanksgiving. She texted me this photo and gave permission to post it. Looks wonderful. SO happy for her and her family.

It might sound 'cheesy' but I don't care: The Finished Product is not just a completed project. 

The True Finished Product is a Smiling Client.

Stain & Polyurethane: Finishing the Hill Country Manor

Putting some finishing touches on The Hill Country Manor Table Top. Have started on another one and two more to do before Thanksgiving. Have put a hold on taking any more orders until after Thanksgiving. Might have some time to do one or two over the Holidays, but we'll see how it goes. Have had to turn down several already, (and/or put them on a waitlist for now). Unfortunately, just cannot do it all. Kids, Family-time, Work, School, and this is just a hobby! Can't let myself become a slave to something I enjoy so much. Going to reinforce the "Quality over Quantity" principle going forward.

Was hoping to have a chance to build a new table for ourselves by now, but have just been too busy with clients' projects. Really appreciate everyone's patience so far. It doesn't go unnoticed, I always find a way to make it up somehow.

Thanks again.
-Ricky