Just a reminder that registration opens at 10 a.m. today for January-June 2020 classes (and that a small, non-refundable registration fee ($12 per day) will be collected at signup). Click here to see the list of classes and to register.
I have to turn on the waitlist for each class after it sells out, and will do my best to keep on eye on the site to do that as soon as it becomes necessary – but if a class you want is sold out and the waitlist isn’t yet functional, please check back for it. (There is no charge to join the waitlist.)
If you encounter any problems with the ticketing site, please send an email to covingtonmechanicals@gmail.com (not to the Lost Art Press help desk).
My daughter Madeline has a new set of Lost Art Press stickers up for sale in her etsy store. A set is $7. The stickers feature three new designs – two of them drawn by my daughter, Katherine.
Here are the details:
Lost Art Pets: Now that we’ve moved to our new place in Covington, Ky., the cats are frequent visitors to the bench room. Especially Bean, a three-legged cat who has become the WalMart greeter of our store. And also would like to smell your hair. Katherine drew Bean with dividers as a replacement leg.
Anarch-Bee: Katherine drew this new anarchist bee logo for a new wax product we are working on (more details soon). We love bees, which commonly symbolized woodworkers in pre-industrial illustrations. And we use beeswax all the time.
Carpal Tunnel Saw Company: The logo of one of our sponsors. Great saws – just remember to take your anti-inflammatories before using them.
The stickers are high quality – 100-percent vinyl and suitable for outdoor use. And the proceeds from the sticker sales help support Madeline as she embarks on getting her doctorate degree at the University of Pittsburgh.
We’re busy getting ready for the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event (as evidenced by Christopher Schwarz’s full-on cleaning and organizational mode…he even made me dust and arrange the bourbon bottles yesterday). The event is Friday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m and Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lie-Nielsen will have its full line of tools here for you to try out – and you are heartily encouraged to actually use them – plus the company offers free shipping for event orders.
Lost Art Press will, of course, have the full line of books and Crucible tools on hand for perusal and purchase – but perhaps most exciting is the drawing for a free copy of the deluxe “Roubo on Furniture.” Measuring 12-1/4″ wide x 17-1/4″ tall by almost 2-1/4″ thick, “Roubo on Furniture” is the largest and most luxurious book LAP has printed. No purchase necessary – just write your name on a provided slip of paper, drop it in the hopper, and you’re entered. We’ll draw the winning name on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. – you need not be present to win. If the winner is local, I’ll drop your book off; if not, we’ll ship it.
‘Roubo on Furniture,’ cat for scale.
Chris, Brendan Gaffney and I are happy to give shop tours, answer questions about woodworking, demonstrate techniques and more. And I’ll have some copies of The Chronicle, the journal of the Early American Industries Association, to give away.
Andy Glenn joins us from the Berea, Ky., Woodworking School at Pine Croft – which you might recognize by its former name, the Kelly Mehler School of Woodworking. Berea College is continuing the fine tradition set by Kelly, with engaging workshops that use both traditional and contemporary methods (and in a gorgeous setting and shop, to boot). The school will soon be announcing workshops and guest instructors for the upcoming year.
At 2 p.m. on Friday, Andy will demonstrate how to weave a hickory bark seat, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, he’ll give a chisel-sharpening demo – plus assorted benchwork throughout the event.
Donna Hill and Bob Compton from the Ohio Valley chapter of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) will be on hand with examples of their stunning work. Throughout the event, Donna will be demonstrating stringing and inlay – a decorative technique that can be applied to both period and contemporary work. For those who don’t already know, SAPFM is a membership organization dedicated to the understanding, education and appreciation of American period furniture.
Mark Hicks is traveling from his Missouri shop with his small (but mighty) show bench, as well as an in-progress cherry shavehorse featuring the new Galbert Adjuster and a lower platform suitable for those with shorter torsos. He’ll also have a pile of Shavehorse Builder’s Kits, T-shirts and stickers. Plus, Mark will let you know about his workbench-building classes (and perhaps a few surprises).
The Deckle Edge, “a blog about books, libraries, books stores, and the ideas they contain,” recently posted a detailed review of Marc Adams’ new book, “The Difference Makers.”
In his review, Matthew Boutte, a Texas-based finance executive who is “a lover of many things, among them books,” writes: “As I step back and review ‘The Difference Makers’ as a cohesive work, rather than 30 individual profiles, two distinct themes emerge. The first of them is that of craftsmanship and how it is defined.”
Boutte shares some quotes from some featured makers as well as his own thoughts on craftsmanship, including this idea: “Craftsmanship then, is the relentless pursuit of excellence; the best you are able to do.”
Boutte then writes: “The second theme relates to the first: ‘The Difference Makers’ clearly illustrates that these people were driven to pursue excellence, to pursue craftsmanship, by something internal that would not be quenched and in virtually every case, resulted in years of economic hardship or the willingness to allow their art to be their passion while some other pursuit provided shelter and food.”
Boutte’s review is interesting in that while so much of the focus on this book has been on individual makers, he takes the time to point out some connecting threads – the themes that run true for many of those featured. Consider his observations about the number of makers featured who are left-handed compared to right.
You can read the entire piece here and be sure to check out Boutte’s other thoughtful reviews as well.
Oh, and Matthew, in answer to your question (“Embossed on the cover. What’s the story here?!?”), the diestamp on the interior cloth cover is a Tree of Life image that dovetails Marc’s preface and introduction. Thank you for finding it and noticing it, and thank you for the kind review!
