Authentic Nautical Accessories, and Custom Furnishings
Figureheads get lots of attention in maritime museum exhibits. There are even museum collections of figureheads lost at sea. Often, the names of the ships they graced are unknown. If we knew, we could reconstruct a travelogue of all the ports they'd seen. But many ships lacked figureheads. The old figure went overboard in a …
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, a Drummer was not just a percussionist. A drummer was a traveling salesman who'd make the rounds with tools, clothes, or anything else you might wish to purchase but could not easily find at the small retail establishments in your town. Think no internet, no Walmart, and few …
Yesterday, I spent a significant part of the day working on a carving of a large schooner. I based it on research I did for an earlier schooner built by the same yard around the same time in the late 19th century. I used skills acquired in the earlier carving to ease the work on …
Photographs help me remember steps and processes. Years ago, I used photography only to record the results. But pictures of the in-between stages were more than a bit helpful. One of the big reasons I say this is because there are some things that I only do rarely. Reminders are valuable.I need to be a …
If you studied economics, process engineering or are an enthusiast of popular psychology, you might have heard of the Sunk Cost Fallacy. It's alive and well in woodcarving too. Sunk costs are costs you have paid and can't get back. That's fine if everything works out. But if the project just hasn't been the success …
This is my second run at the Steam Yacht Zaida. I've used different techniques and am more satisfied with the outcome.
I found the wood sitting in the shorts at my favorite hardwood dealer. It was very dark, heavy, and dense. It was mahogany but so dark and heavy that I felt it was a wayward piece of Dominican, not Honduran. It was just what I wanted.
We all want to be instant experts. One of my sensei describes this in terms of the training montages that are standard fare in martial arts movies; the neophyte progresses from clumsy beginner to skilled pro in thirty seconds of cinematic snapshots.
I admit that the sort of non complex carving that happens when I carve a small bowl is pretty alluring. No antsy detail. No pattern that needs to be followed. Just follow the will of the wood.
We can easily get lost in the weeds talking about tradition in crafts.
This chest was not in stock long enough for me to do a proper set of photos. It sold at it's first appearance at the Maine Boatbuilder's Show to a pair of Boston Harbor pilots who were going to give it as a retirement gift to a colleague.
As consumers, there is much that you don't know about your favorite woods.
It sails on my wall with a cherry ocean and sky heading east from Japan or China towards Los Angelos. I think my father is pleased that his ship is restored to an essential place in our lives, through the unexpected kindness of a fellow seaman.
While teaching, I always like to decorate the workshop with carving examples for students to use as a reference. Week-long excursions to teach away from home mean emptying the house of many of my carvings. But samples in three dimensions often are better than pictures or demonstration, and the extra work was worth it.
The problem with imagination is that it's boundless. On the wall is a poster telling you that you can do it if you can imagine it. Don't take it too literally.
There are holidays and then there are holidays. We all have those that we celebrate with others, and then I'll bet most of us have quiet little ones that are personal. Some evoke blue moods and others joyous celebration. Some we share, and some are private. My favorite family holiday is Christmas. It's the time …
Camping tonight? I think this summer it's not quite going to be glamorous camping ( glamping?), but certainly not the setting up the tent and sleeping on the ground variety of the old days. The talk among the family, with the kids now taking the lead, is that there is a campground not too far …
Productivity? Do you mean input/ output? Quantity versus quantity? Or have you developed a metric for it which more subtle? Maybe you are in the "just ordinary feel good" camp? You know, my muscles are stretched, that pile of mulch has been moved, and I'm going to find a chair, sit down and have a …
And the number is - 244 Blood root - often the earliest flower that opens in my garden A Samuel Robb Tobacco Store Indian Architectural detail - Newburyport, Massachusetts A carved cutting board Eagle walking staff head modeled after the eagle on the boarding planks of the USS Constitution A portrait of the halibut schooner …
I'm one of the crowd whose use of emojis is limited to smiley faces and assorted other emotional display symbols. I think I've used a few ship symbols on occasion. I don't disparage emojis, it's just that whenever a system update pops up and makes a big deal of "ten new emojis!!!!" I don't rush …
I am on vacation this weekend, but I thought I'd offer a post or two on my favorite topics. The first is on -how not to care for kitchen woodenware - Spoons, bowls, spatulas, and cutting boards.
I realized a few years ago that many of the people who knew me when I was working various jobs as an applied anthropologist thought that I was very risk averse, and staid. When I "got straight" in 1971, I backfilled over the old life pretty thoroughly. Year by year, I buried it. There was …
I was fourteen, and the taunting words of my friend lingered in my ears, "No risk, no reward." He had meant it as a joke. But Bart would not get on stage himself, even though he was a very advanced classical guitar player. I had only been playing for a bit over a year. I …
The Devil made me do it. It was one of those nights when the gang got together and made up an idiotic game challenge. The loser of the dice toss had to do or respond to the challenge. Ingrid chose the challenge that night, and I lost the dice toss. Ingrid smiled, and then she …
That's right, boredom makes me nervous. I've never been the type to sit around and examine my navel. Action is my meditation. My mind can roam freely over thousands of things and be relaxed while doing the springtime yard work. I know I've often mentioned the "List". The list is stuck to the wall by …
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