Work Related

Last week was a lead-in week to more full-time working where I tested different parts to my body to see what could and would not work and to see what I could and could not do. This was all in relation to pain surrounding my ribs being broken and the breathing issues that followed. During the last few weeks, it became evident that it was not just my broken ribs that restricted me. I discovered other injuries, particularly in my right shoulder and my left lower leg and ankle areas. Through lack of mobility and stiffness coupled with pain in the first couple of weeks, I couldn't do too much self-examination. The swelling in my foot has been there for the past weeks since the incident but has lessened to the point that I feel healing is well on its way. My leg sores went deeper than I thought and did get infected from scraping on the pavement but I managed to clean it and now it's healing fine.

Last week, I returned to work on a more casual and cautious level but work it has been. I'm a fortunate man because writing and drawing are an integrated part of my work life. I have several drawings underway with a couple of them completed for future use. I also have some blog posts done too. Drawings and blog posts are like poems though, they're never quite finished until they're finished. And that is what making things with your hands different from all the other things you might be involved in. You just know when it's done and there is nothing you can do or need to do to change a thing. You went through the idea-to-design phase, made drawings, found the right balance in proportions you were looking for and there it sits or lies or stands in front of you with the finish on looking glorious. But more than that has been the development of an idea.

Already this year I have been involved in making a range of designs and the types are quite diverse. That's what I love about my craft and the ability to work with wood. There is no shortage of ideas.

I enjoyed making a few experimental clocks, working to develop some prototypes and allowing myself to go down some rabbit trails in the process. It's quite usual for me to end up with half a dozen alternative versions I can use somewhere or give away to family and friends. Through this process of reduction I end up with two or three different types that, if I were I still a maker selling my work for a living, I would gear up to make small batch productions in half dozens in three types and put them in my display area or take to shows. There are some unique concepts in the making of them. Challenges if you will. Why? Mostly because the projects are now the vehicle and product for teaching and training rather than a line to be sold.

The pine clock as a wonderful simplicity with such an open and transparent look and feel to it. I like the unbusied feel the uniform grain and style gives me. And how did he do that over such a wide expanse without expansion and contraction issues in the panel front against the rigidity of the subframe anyway?

I have really fallen in love with the stripes of wood side by side whether uniform in one wood or a combination of several. If you have been watching woodworkingmasterclasses.com and sellershome.com you will have seen me include this concept even on large and wide panels. It's really worked well for using up the skinny offcuts we often cannot allow long-term space for.

I cannot say that the stripes make the work easier but the contrast gives a clock an unusual look that draws the eye with a certain warmth and depth that I like very much. It would look equally good if it were made from just one wood too. oak would be very nice as would one made from my remaining offcuts of spalted beech stock.

Spalted beech is one of the most stunning materials resulting from decay I know of. Yes there are indeed others that give great beauty but somehow beech stands out from the rest as one of the best.

This is one of my new frame designs in action as a shadow box version giving the bear soemthing of a 3D effect.

This is what I might refer to as my traditional clock because it is a remake of one of my earlier pieces for Woodworking Masterclasses ten or twelve years ago. But it originated a long time before that when I used to hold classes and teach the making of it in the USA.

Hannah's frames are gathering pace here with the first half already together.

And these are the completion of the order. You might think from looking that you know how these go together but you don't. i developed the design to look this way but the end result is very radical!

Needless to say I have been back in the saddle for a week and I never really missed a lick of time though I could not make for the first few weeks. Of course, I have no idea yet what any long-term effects of my injuries might have on me nor whether something might be permanent. My age may well be against me at 74 but the importance of not being angry or bitter going into the future is important for as full a recovery as possible. This too will be my work in progress.