Madrone Wood

The Pacific Madrone tree is found locally through the Pacific Northwest from California to British Columbia. Easily identified by it's peeling orange bark, these trees are quite tenacious, often growing on bluffs and cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound.
Madrone wood is a rich creamy pink with a lighter cream colored sap wood and it can have very dense and figured burls. Due to availability and other factors, it is not widely used by commercial furniture manufactures, however it is much appreciated by local artisans who use the wood for turnings and in studio furniture pieces. Many of these artists salvage the wood from local trees that were cut down or removed from urban settings. In this way, these dramatic trees find a second life in one of a kind heirloom pieces.

Many of Northwest Fine Woodworking members and artists have made use of this beautiful natural resource. In fact, there is a stunning tansu made by fourth generation cabinet maker Evert Sodergren in our gallery right now. For me this really illustrates the core difference between studio furniture made by local artists and the mass produced; a connection not just to the individual artist but to the natural materials, the provenance. -NV

Happy Birthday Hank

A Happy Birthday goes out to Northwest Fine Woodworking member Hank Holzer. Here he is demonstrating the strength of his beautiful Akira Chair. Looks like fun!

Salad Bowl Set

Dale Larson has the knack of turning the perfect salad bowl. Always the right shape, the right size and immaculately finished, there is a good reason he is one of the top selling turners at Northwest Fine Woodworking. When we got in this salad set last week (one large bowl and four matching serving bowls in figured Myrtle wood), I was again amazed. Dale not only created the perfect salad bowl, but four matching bowls to go with it. Beautiful wood, beautifully turned and functional too! Did I mention he also made a set in walnut and another in madrone wood? You'd have to dream up the most perfect salad to be worthy of such great bowls. -NV

Happy Late Birthday!

A belated Happy Birthday to Northwest Fine Woodworking member Nick Boynton. Shown here enjoying the day out on the beautiful Flathead Lake in Montana.

It just goes to show you that woodworkers do, on occasion, get out of the workshop.

Judith Ames' "One Woman Show" opens for Artwalk

For those of you who were not able to attend the Pioneer Square Artwalk last Thursday due to other committments (or hesitation over the Seattle Mariners baseball game traffic), I must say you missed out on a great gathering at Northwest Fine Woodworking.

Artists Judith Ames, Hank Holzer, Tom Deady, Robert Spangler, and Jeff Pfeiffer engaged old friends and new with lively tales and funny furniture-maker humor. The debut of Judith's Vinca Cabinet generated a fabulaous response from visitors. A demure piece of case work at 32" x 16.5" x 36"H, the Vinca Cabinet's graceful curves and sinuous growth of inlaid vines in spring bloom is breathtaking. The showcase of 14 designs, 9 featuring Judith's signature styling of natural themed inlay, conveys a sense of femininity and solidity that has become a hallmark of Judith Ames furniture design.

That handsome fellow lingering amongst the collection of mango, koa, and birds-eye maple scuplted furniture was none other than Mr. Tom Deady. On display for a retrospective spotlight are Mother and Daughter in maple and Father and Son in koa whose animated postures conveying the intimacy of the parent-child relationship garnered much enthusiasm and laughter. Tom Deady will be making another appreance at Northwest Fine Woodworking on Saturday July 12th from 2-4pm. Come say hello to a legendary wood artist with nearly 40 years of custom furniture making experience to recall stories about.

500 Chairs Book

It's always thrilling to see pieces you know and love in book form. The new Lark book 500 Chairs (part of their 500 series) features not one, not two, but eight examples of furniture created by Northwest Fine Woodworking cooperative members.

Like other books in this series, this book is mostly photographs and bare bones descriptions of the chairs featured. The photos in this book are stunning however, and the diversity of design, functionality and use of materials makes for engaging viewing. You'll find everything from classically designed dining chairs to impossible to sit on modern works of art and everything in between.

This book is a must for anyone who is interested in furniture design, studio furniture, or just wants a new look at an everyday object.

You can find this book on Amazon here.

Welcome

Welcome to the new blog of Northwest Fine Woodworking. This will be a collaborative effort by those on the front lines of Seattle's premiere Wood Working Cooperative. In the works; reviews of new studio furniture and fine woodworking, books, craftsmen and artisans, and assorted commentary on the world of Fine Woodworking.