Week 35 - Guiding Light

This is the hardest posting I’ve written as this week we lost a truly amazing woman, my wife’s grandmother. She was the guiding light and matriarch of the Hays family. In memory of her this week’s project is a lighthouse perched on an oak burl left in its natural state. For me, it’s how I always viewed her and in my mind just seems fitting of her.

A lighthouse is constructed to withstand immense storms and is built to be sturdy and strong. June was that. She was a strong woman and as my wife says always seemed invincible. She was the protector for her family and kept them all safe. She offered direction and guidance with a gentle hand that had seen its time in the sun as well as the storms.

She was much like the lighthouse keeper as well. She was ever present, diligent and always on watch selflessly giving of herself. She kept the light burning and I saw it in her eyes and smile on every visit. In that smile I felt peace and hope. There was also joy and a little mischief when the sun was out. But if you needed anything she was there to offer guidance, an ear, her opinion, her hand or my favorite a comforting hug you felt all the way to your spine and in your soul.  

As the lighthouse stands tall so did June “Memommie” Hays. She was her own individual in every way. A lighthouse is often placed at the highest point to be closer to the heavens and so now is Memommie. Even as I’m writing this with a sad heart I feel her warmth and light in my soul.

Week 34 - Love

Well after some time in the sand and surf it's back to reality. However, with all the crazy going on in the world right now I don't feel quite as encouraged as I once used to. Where is the love? My wife says I always find the good in every one and every situation, but it's tough these days. So help me out and hug someone today. No, really PLEASE. Stop reading and HUG. The world needs more love, mutual respect and understanding. Everyone is going through something, in most cases it's not outwardly visible, but we are all dealing with some difficulty in our lives or know someone who is. 

During these times I'm reminded of the story about an Indian chief who is teaching his grandson a lesson. I'm pretty sure we've all heard the story, but it helps me keep things in balance so I thought I would share it. In short it goes like this. The chief tells his grandson there are two wolves fighting inside you. One evil that is anger, sorrow, regret, greed, lies and ego. One good that is joy, peace, humility, kindness, truth and compassion. After a little while the grandson asks which one wins. The chief responds... the one you feed. 

Feed the right wolf. Commit. 

Moving on to this week's project. It's a rustic barn door for some good friends down the street. They are just putting the finishing touches on a new kitchen remodel and I was lucky enough to be able to construct the door for their pantry. It measures roughly 32" wide and seven feet tall out of reclaimed oak. It's constructed of random length boards so quite a bit of thought was applied to the structural integrity - no just slapping them together. My favorite detail is the existing nail holes that let the first morning light stream through, dancing on the kitchen floor.

View fullsize

Week 33 - Castles in the sand

The shop is still there. However with time off for the long holiday weekend who could pass up the chance to spend some time with the family by the sea. It seems that even when relaxing there is a need to create. So this weeks project is daddy and daughter sand "castles". I'll let you guess who's is who's. It's a different medium than what I'm use to and a different subject matter as well but still so much fun.  

I love the Texas coast. Oh, there are much prettier beaches in the world for sure but none that hold as many fond memories. The family has been driving down to some beach along the coast for as long as I can remember. It's a place where time stops and goes by so fast at the same time. (I'm not really sure how that happens.) The shoes come off and my biggest decision is what pair of shorts to wear. I think I could get use to this, or maybe I already am.

One of my earliest memories of the ocean was a trip to Port O'Conner with my grandparents and my brother. I'm not sure where my parents were but on this trip it was just the four of us. There are some details that I can see just as clearly as if it was happening in the present moment. I remember the crushed shell parking lot of the hotel, my grandfather backing the boat into the water the whole time my grandmother was backseat reverse driving. I remember the super clear water of the bay and that fish we caught. There was also the ice house/factory that made the largest blocks of ice I have ever seen. I remember the hermit crabs along the waters edge and the fact that some of them actually lived for quite a while back at home. 

My brother and I were quite a handful back then and thinking back on it I can only imagine that was not an easy trip for my grandparents. But it was a trip that I will never forget! I wonder if they would have remembered it quite as fondly. 

"It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe." 

View fullsize

Week 32 - Service

I'm either a week early or late with this weeks post. The project is a shadow box frame for my dad and it displays his military patches. They represent his more than 23 years of service to our country. It's constructed from red oak with an ebony stain. I had a lot of fun making this little piece that is deceptively simple and the entire time I spent working on it I was thinking of him. 

Service is a great word and one that fits my dad perfectly. According to Mr. Webster it's the act of helping or doing service for others. Whether its his military career, his commitment to the church as a deacon or in being an all around great father/grandfather.

The work shop is completely full and busy this week. With work begun on the massive conference table tops it feels like the Chinese puzzle game in order to get anything done. In order to move one piece you have to move eight other pieces all the while hoping the dominos fall correctly.  

Looking forward to the coming long weekend and a little down time. 

"The best way to find yourself is to loose yourself in the service of others."

Week 31 - Figures

There is a quote or a saying that goes something like this... "any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a Dad." I have been thinking a lot about what to write about this week. I really wanted to have a topic other than the obvious, but I kept thinking about my dad, my grandfather and the people in my life who no longer have theirs. So here goes...

I think we remember what we want to about people. There are the good times, the happy moments and then there are the sad, hurtful ones that somehow get stuck in our heads. I consider myself beyond lucky to have many more of the joyful memories than the not, but in the end we are all human doing the best we can with what we have. That applies to fathers too. I know for sure it applies to my dad and grandfather. 

One of my earlier memories of my dad was us huddled under the dining room table constructing a toy car and train set. My dad, brother and I would spend endless, guttural laughing hours playing under that table. On the other end of the spectrum and laughter was being next to my grandfather's side as he weathered away from the effects of chemotherapy. Regardless the happy or the heartbreaking, both men were and are very strong, loving and ever present. My supermen! My beacon of light!

So today I'm thinking about the happy moments and the impact those men had on me. I am a far better person because of them. My wish for you is that no matter where your dad is you can do the same. 

A quick blurb about this week's project. Five (yup five) bathroom vanity tops in a chevron pattern made from white oak. They are destined for a new commercial space in the Bishop Arts District that I can't wait to visit. Man, do they make the shop feel small. However the next task is three conference tables measuring 6' X 10'. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to manage those, but the universe always seems to assist. 

"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms, even when his hands are empty."

View fullsize

Week 30 - Today

Compared to last week's project this one falls on the other end of the spectrum. The thinking stool, end table or massive champagne cork measures 17" tall and 13" wide. It's turned from a solid piece of pecan that is not quite dry yet, meaning it will continue to develop small cracks as it cures. I love the character it adds. Normally I would avoid or prevent them, but for this piece it's like a little peek into its soul. 

This particular piece of wood has been patiently waiting its 'turn' under my lathe for over a year. Waiting, why do we do that? I read an article this week, published some time ago, with some fascinating statistics. The gist of the story is that on average we only have 30,000 days to live. If that is true, I have 12,297 days that remain. Wow! What is even scarier is that the pace of life seems to be gaining speed, even with my commitment to slowing it down. 

A lot to ponder...

So today seems as good a day and time as any to do the thing you've been putting off or you keep telling yourself you'll get around to doing. So enough pondering and more doing... owl blanket sliding down the hallway with my daughter, a very long embrace with my wife, and a glass of wine and cigar on the deck with nothing but quiet and the occasional rustling of the leaves. Now that makes for a good day. 

"Someday is not a day of the week."

View fullsize

Week 29 - Summer

Well it’s official. School is out for the summer and I’m already jealous of our flip-flop wearing daughter. I absolutely LOVED summer as a kid, it was a season where anything was possible... the world was my oyster. It was filled with imaginary adventures to far off lands, tree forts, popsicles and chasing fireflies in my grandparent's backyard. When my brother and I weren't slaying dragons barefoot, we were up to some silly, nonsense shenanigans.  

Funny as we grow up, at least for myself, that ability to transport oneself to another world or time seems to fade. Don’t get me wrong, I still love summer but as I’ve grown older and become a father, things have been a little on the safe side. The sense of wonder and marvel replaced with responsibility and never ending laundry. Oh the dreaded R word… Responsibility.

Well this summer it’s back to my youth. Back to slowing down. Back to barefoot. Back to imagination. Back to anything is possible because it simply is. It’s part of the reason I started this journey and 52 week challenge. So starting today, right now, I'm going into summer mode. It's a place where things don't matter quite as much and the color and taste of things is just a little brighter and sweeter. 

This week's project is about imagination and perhaps a smidge otherworldly. Consider it summer or Game of Thrones influenced... it's just a cool little knick knack (and almost wood-free). It's made from deer antler, bone and cocobolo, which is a dark, very dense wood. The whole piece is tiny measuring 3" tall and no more than 1-1/2" wide. A perfect wine vessel for Tyrian Lannister or to toast a summer filled with unlimited imagination and wishful thinking. 

“The second star to the right and straight on till morning.”

View fullsize

View fullsize

Week 28 - Remembering

This spring has definitely been a wet one here in Dallas. Everything is green and spry. And as I sit here on our back deck thinking about this long weekend, I reflect on a family trip last year to Paris and Normandy. I love history, but I wouldn't consider myself a war buff. The visit to the beaches of Normandy was educational, humbling and moving. However, the most impactful part of the trip was a moment of clarity and perspective provided by our then five year old daughter.

After a visit to the beaches, we arrived at the American cemetery. The beauty of the grounds is both breathtaking and designed with profound precision...  a sea of perfectly placed white crosses. As we ventured into the first row of crosses, Stella stopped abruptly and delicately traced the carved letters on the first cross with her fingers. Once I finally caught up to her and am about to give a lesson in selfless sacrifice, dedication and respect, she asks me to "read the words". So I do. Then she proceeds to the next cross and again, "read the words, daddy". This gesture happens for the next eight crosses... we read the name, where the soldier is from and the date of their death. As we are about to move to the ninth cross, I ask how many she would like to read. Without pause, she says "all of them". In that moment, I stand and motion for her to look at all of them. The magnitude and realization overcomes me, and while she perhaps didn't fully understand, I felt as if she too was taken aback by the sacrifices made for our freedom. This was but a small part, a fraction, of those who have given their lives in one small corner of the world. 

So this week's post, where humble, is a bud vase turned from oak burl with a glass vial. The grain is a swirl of pattern with a portion of the exterior exposed. The grain reminds me of the paths our lives take, winding and turning, like the spirits of American youths rising from the waves. The missing portion reminds me of those we have lost.

"Nothing in life will call upon us to be more courageous than facing the fact that it ends... but on the other side of heartbreak is wisdom." 

Week 27 - Patience

This week's project is a kitchen bench for one of the most kind and patient individuals that I know. It will have a custom made cushion for the top and the cubbies were specifically sized to house baskets. It's such a gift to have friends who not only support what you're doing, but also understand the demands on your time and are willing to wait for their commission. 

The bench is deceptively simple; however, it has its fair share of challenges. The angle of the two halves have to be precise and there is a lot of hidden joinery under that fresh coat of paint. The joints are tight and rock solid even if you can't see and will support a lifetime of sitting. One of my favorite details is the levelers as this is being installed on tile floor. Tile fluctuates so this allows the flexibility to ensure a flat, even surface.

 "Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less." - Mother Teresa

I also need to learn to be patient with myself. There are so many things that I want and intend to do but somehow... well life tends to step in the way. But, hey, I actually accomplished signing up to receive my blog via email this week. No more need to spend hours searching through Facebook looking for what I've been up to. So if you're inclined, please click contact and sign up via micekmade.com. 

Week 26 - Reflections

This week's post is a walnut box with a zebra wood lid. Have I mentioned how much I like boxes? Maybe next year's challenge should be 52 different boxes in 52 weeks. This one is restrained and simple in design perfectly sized for pencils... cause who doesn't love office supplies?

Wow, week 26 means we are at the halfway point.  That was fast! Where has the time gone? In thinking about that question, I had to reflect on the past six months. What have I learned so far in doing this challenge? First, and foremost, is that everything takes longer than I expect it to. I should have learned this from my grandmother. She would always say "plan for twice as much time or only expect to get half done". I really should have listened to her more. 

A few other highlights of knowledge, in no particular order... Fear, where it might be real, is stupid and should not stop us from doing what we love. Just get in and get your hands dirty. For... "fear of things done will be tempered in time but fear of things not done lasts a lifetime."

I have some great friends who are beyond supportive. I cannot thank you enough for all of the kind words and encouragement. You mean more to me that I can say. Thank you for being you.

And the last one I'll share, at least openly at this time, is that I love my craft. There is so much more to learn as I continue to hone and polish my artistry. I have come to the realization that in my lifetime there will still be skills left to learn. That is both humbling and exciting at the same time. 

So here is a look back at some of the pieces I've practiced my skills on for the past six months.