Little used wood combinations

In the studio trying out new combinations of woods, it is always fun to see what works. I have recently discovered that Teak and Oregon Myrtle are meant to be together, an interesting and wonderful pair. Here are some other experiments:

Pear (top) and Cascara

orange on orange but it works. 

Teak (top small strip) Myrtle and Pear

Real proud of this one

Teak (top) Myrtle and Ash

This mix really works. 

Box and Container Show

I will be exhibiting the piece in the center of the above image at the Box and Container Show at Northwest Fine Woodworking from Nov. 3rd to Dec. 31st. If you are in Seattle be sure to check out the show and the Gallery both of which present some of the finest studio furniture in the Northwest.

Gallery Link: http://www.nwfinewoodworking.com/furniture_events.htm

Design2share

We were recently the subject of a blog post on Design2share on the subject of biophillic design. Check out the post: 
http://www.design2share.com/design2share-qa/2011/9/22/biophilic-design-wraps-its-tendrils-around-furniture.html

Here is a wikipedia definition of biophillic design: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biophilia_hypothesis

Some light reading.

John Adams- Take 3, Success

This is my third attempt to make this colonial inspired Table-chair. Finally, determined not to reinvent the wheel and empowered by a crucial discovery of the necessary mechanism to allow the top to work appropriately, this design finds its contemporary incarnation. The top operates via a sliding tract that allows the dowel attaching the top to the chair to be placed in the center of the top for a more sturdy back.

Little Known and Little Used- Dogwood

For those unsatisfied with the with the overused "Neapolitan" (Cherry, Maple, Walnut) woods there are plenty of other options available, as long as you are willing to hunt them down. One such wood is Dogwood. The lumber is very dense and fine-grained and wears smoothly over time, which makes it ideal for shuttle looms and tool handles; it’s seemingly only commercial uses. The white sapwood smoothly blends to very pink hue and then light brown heartwood. When spalted it makes a very decorative wood for small accents. Small because it is an understory tree that is unlikely to reach a foot in diameter, but that is not always the case. Pictured below is an 18" Dogwood board I recently acquired. It also demonstrates beautifully the full range of colors and textures the lumber possesses. 

And here is the same board planed and then finished. 

Here are a few examples of spalted Dogwood I personally milled from a neighbors tree, probably the best way to obtain such material. As you can see the result was well worth the effort. 

The lesson: never let what is readily available hinder your options. 

Five Fifths at the Belmont Street Fair

Look for Five Fifths Furniture in tandem with Ashley May Jewelry Designs at the Belmont Street Fair in Portland Oregon on September 10^th 2011. We will be located on Artist Alley on SE 34^th Ave from Noon to 8pm. Stop by to see a beautiful assortment of smaller furniture items made with the same quality materials and solid joinery as our larger pieces. We will also be displaying our new business card holders in an astonishing assortment of little used and seldom seen woods.