Category Archives: Grandpa’s Workshop

The Artistry of Tools

Posted on August 1, 2018 by

The trades of the carpenter, joiner, cabinetmaker and turner, and their tools, have long been an inspiration for artists. Woodworkers and tool historians have, in turn, studied artwork to learn how tools were used in the past and how they … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop, Historical Images, Virtuoso: The Tool Cabinet and Workbench of Henry O. Studley | 17 Comments

Books in the French Tradition

Posted on July 23, 2018 by

You know that this post is going to be about André-Jacob Roubo. But not entirely. For me, woodworking books in the French tradition begin with a title we haven’t been able to publish from the “other André” – André Félibien’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Felebien Translation, Grandpa's Workshop, Roubo Translation, To Make as Perfectly as Possible, To Make as Perfectly as Possible, Roubo Translation | 20 Comments

In the meantime, tomorrow, there is school.

Posted on February 22, 2018 by

This is an excerpt from “Grandpa’s Workshop” by Maurice Pommier.  Pépère watched me with a strange expression. He ran his fingers through my hair, and he said, in the softest voice : — That’s the story… — But I woke up just afterward! Tell … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop | 1 Comment

Pépé Clothaire’s Tool Chest

Posted on August 31, 2017 by

This is an excerpt from “Grandpa’s Workshop” by Maurice Pommier. The darkest corner of Pépère’s shop both fascinates and frightens me. It is full of spiderwebs and dust. It is there that Pépère keeps the tools he doesn’t use anymore. … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop | 11 Comments

‘Grandpa’s Workshop’ in Chalk and Asphalt

Posted on May 29, 2013 by

Graphic designer and woodworker Tom Buhl reproduced an illustration of “Grandpa’s Workshop” for the Santa Barbara I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival, and it is quite cool. You can see more photos of the painting being made here. See more … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop, Personal Favorites | 1 Comment

The Mad Chef Abuses Fine Belgian Beer

Posted on December 1, 2012 by

Editor’s note: Normally, we would not post a blog entry such as this, where a writer abuses a fine Belgian ale. But because this is Brian Anderson, who happily translated “Grandpa’s Workshop” for all of us, I am willing to … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop | 8 Comments

The Mad Chef’s Milk Paint gets a Shellacking

Posted on November 28, 2012 by

Despite word from Tibet from my milk paint supplier that Agnes the yak was busy assembling her hope chest and flirting shamelessly with a certain strapping young specimen of yakhood, I decided that I needed to take the bull by … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop, Mouldings in Practice | 20 Comments

A Six-board Chest – a la Français

Posted on November 22, 2012 by

Well, actually it was more like a 12-board chest, but they were 2-meter-long skinny tongue-and-groove floorboards that I glued together, so I guess it still counts. I have ended up using quite a bit of the tongue-and-groove pine, either 3/4″ … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop, The Anarchist's Design Book | 8 Comments

About that Odd Tool from ‘Grandpa’s Workshop’

Posted on November 18, 2012 by

It is not often that my love of tool geekery and word geekery coincide. But over several posts about “Grandpa’s Workshop” and the besaigue (bisaigue) there have been some questions about the tool and how to pronounce the word. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop | 9 Comments

A Visit to Grandpa’s Workshop

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

“Look, it’s Jean-le-Vert!” Grandpa’s Workshop is real, and we visited it last weekend in Normandy. My wife and I and two girls spent a long weekend in Normandy. It is a beautiful region, known for its timber-framed longhouses with reed … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandpa's Workshop | 10 Comments