Function:

I am a visual artist and woodworker creating functional and character filled furniture and accessories using the many techniques I have accumulated over the years. I received my BFA in 1998 and have since done fine art, finish carpentry, cabinet installation, and faux finishing. I have been doing original furniture design and custom woodwork since 2010.
My goal and purpose is to combine these elements and skills to make functional beautiful furniture that is inviting as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Reclaiming a giant Doug Fir slab from the Willamette

So I have had my eye on this huge plank for a while, maybe 4 or 5 months. It has been an extremely wet spring here in Oregon and I keep pulling it out of the water only to find that the water has risen again. A week ago I decided I had to retrieve it or the river would wash it away again. Seeing as how I can barely lift the thing, (it's a true 2x12x18') my method to get it up to the road went something like this: First I drug it from the waters edge to the train tracks where a gated off road begins, next I tied it onto my mechanics creeper (which    I never use anyway) and drag it up the road to the car.
  

On the way up the road the thing was wildly swinging from side to side and catching in the weeds on the side of the road.

Finally get it to where Helga awaits me, only to find that it's so long it's actually scraping the ground on every bump. Luckily it's not too far to get home from here. Pol B drive velly slowly. 
Since then the water has come up way past the  point where this piece was, looks like there will be a new crop of driftwood to look over, too...
 

After a few days of watching it get rained on in my backyard, I finally caught a break and was able to cut it down and bring it inside to dry. My plan with these is to join all three pieces together to create a 34"x72" slab via dowel rods and two cunningly hidden shiplap joints.  

Sunday, May 15, 2011