To mark the release of the revised edition of “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest,” we asked the artists at SKT Ceramics in Cincinnati to design a large porcelain coffee mug in the company’s signature green-blue celadon glaze.
We are offering 100 of these handmade 12-ounce mugs. Each is stamped on the underside by SKT and signed by me. The mugs are about 4″ tall and 3-1/2″ in diameter at the rim. They are made with lead-free glaze and are both dishwasher and microwave safe.
The mug-making process began with Susannah Tisue – the founder of SKT Ceramics – visiting our workshop to photograph the chest and discuss what was important to see. Susannah then made several sketches to see what looked best.
The final design was silkscreened onto rice paper, then applied to the handmade porcelain. It was then fired, waxed, glazed and sanded over a period of a couple weeks to produce the finished mugs. Each one is a little different, and they have that familiar feel – that someone made this by hand.
We’ll have them up for sale sometime this week, $44 plus shipping.
Kale, Katherine and I shot the video above, documenting the process of making the mugs.
To make room for a revised edition, we’re selling the last 500 copies of this book at a significant discount.
If you’ve ever wanted to make your own chairs, “The Stick Chair Book” shows you how to do it with bench tools you probably already own. You don’t need to be an expert woodworker – anyone can make a chair. And the book has complete plans for five comfortable chairs.
Like all our books, “The Stick Chair Book” is made in the USA with a library-grade binding. And at $27, these are selling fast.
I built this lowback for the third edition of “The Stick Chair Book” (coming out this year). This chair reflects all the design changes I’ve made to the form during the last five years. But the one thing I didn’t change is its seating geometry.
The lowback chair (and my two Irish chairs) are the most comfortable chairs I make. This one is ideal for keyboarding or dining, with a wide sweeping back that supports your lower back without intruding on it.
The chair is made out of red elm, assembled with animal glue (that we make) and finished with soft wax (which we also make).
If you’re curious how this chair is different than the one in “The Stick Chair Book,” here are the major changes. The seat is thinner with a steeper (45°) underbevel. The arm is narrower (1-7/8″) without sacrificing any back support. The hands are an old shape that I now prefer and a bit longer. The undercarriage uses octagonal components, which are lighter and just as strong.
One new detail to this particular chair is that I have left the leg tenons and their wedges just a wee bit proud. This makes them a bit stronger and looks nice. I have been trying to get this effect for several months now, and I finally nailed it.
Details: The chair has a seat height of 17″ at the front and drops about 3/4″ to the rear (I am happy to lower this chair for shorter customers). The chair is 27″ high overall. The soft wax finish is non toxic (so your toddlers can suck on the stretchers). It has a mellow sheen and lasts for many years if treated kindly. But if you ever damage the finish, it can be easily repaired by applying more soft wax.
How to Buy the Chair
I’m selling this chair via a silent auction. The final hammer price includes shipping and crating to anywhere in the lower 48. If you wish to buy the chair, send an email to lapdrawing@lostartpress.com before 3 p.m. (Eastern) on Monday, September 8. Please use the subject line: “elm chair.” In the email please include your:
Your bid (opening bid is $600)
U.S. shipping address
Daytime phone number (this is for the trucking quote only)
If you are the highest bidder the chair will be shipped to your door. The price includes the crate and all shipping charges. There are no auction fees or additional charges. Alternatively, the chair can be picked up at our storefront. (I’m sorry but the chair cannot be shipped outside the U.S.)
South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization that supports artists and organizations, is now accepting applications for its FY26 Emerging Traditional Artists Program (ETAP).
“This program recognizes and supports a new generation of traditional artists that have demonstrated a high level of skill in, commitment to, and leadership in their traditional art form. Artists must reside in anAppalachian Regional Commission-designated County in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee. Awards provide financial support to ETAP participants to ensure the continuation of traditional knowledge and artistic skills within their cultural communities.”
ETAP artists receive $5,000, and participate in workshops to further their education and opportunities.
ETAP “advances the purpose of the In These Mountains initiative to ‘provide intergenerational opportunities to share, teach, learn, preserve, document, and carry forward the folk and traditional arts and culture of Central Appalachia.’”’ For emerging traditional artists who have demonstrated a commitment to their artform and community and exhibit a high skill level, this award will provide resources for learning opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Megan and I are teaching two scholarship classes for The Chairmaker’s Toolbox this fall. I’m teaching a chair class (surprise) Sept. 15-19. Megan is teaching a Dutch toolchest class (double surprise) on Oct. 17-19.
For these classes, we supply all the materials, plus lunches, morning pastries and a yay-you-did-it dinner for the students. If you would like to contribute a little something to offset those expenses, we have created a link that allows you to do that.
Note that these contributions are not tax-deductible. If by some chance we collect more money than we need, we donate the excess to The Chairmaker’s Toolbox.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to help these classes in the past. The Chairmaker’s Toolbox is absolutely creating the next generation of woodworkers. We’ve had some amazing students who are now professional woodworkers and are teaching others. So it’s working.
