Latest Piece

Here are a couple clam stools; 16" high, white oak seats with green milk paint legs, the approximate color scheme for my next piece.

For the past few weeks, I've been making poplar props as illustrations for Blanket Chests, the book that Scott Gibson and I are working on for the Taunton Press. Some of the props will be part of my next piece.

I plan on a woven hemp seat that will pass through these grooves. I am curious about the best round over radii to protect the cord and offer maximum seat comfort.

Here's a sketch with my sample corner. I'll use through wedged tenons to join the legs to the frame. The asymmetrical, simplicity of this piece appeals to me. This one is built to fit the foot of a queen-sized bed. It will have 2 interior, sliding, dovetailed, 4" deep poplar trays.

RISE to the Occasion

Here's the poster for my next gallery show. It will be a diverse mix of art and craft. Rise Photographic Gallery is right here in South Portland, near where Elm Street intersects Broadway. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine.

I'll have a few pieces of furniture in the show, along with gift items like these charming rolling pins. These are curly maple with green milk paint.

These clam stools with green legs are pieces that I just finished for the show. They have white oak seats and painted maple legs. If you're near South Portland and free Friday night, please stop-by the opening.

Holiday Sale

This Friday and Saturday, I'll have a booth at the SEA Holiday Sale. If you're free, please join me to see my new work and a wide array of unique gifts. Please click here for a list of participating artists.

thanks, Peter

I love pie!

A couple years ago, our old rolling pin with the red handles started to fall apart. I made a rolling pin, similar to these, to replace it. These are native hard maple, displaying both heart and sapwood and have green milk paint in the small coves at each end. I turn each one to its diameter, sand and cut a small cove at each end, then turn off the lathe. I rotate the piece by hand to apply the milk paint to both coves. The pin comes off the lathe and I chop both ends to remove any trace of its having been attached to the lathe. Finally, the edges are sanded smooth, prior to 2 coats of walnut oil.

I call them green pins because of the green milk paint and because the maple is native and fairly local. The red handles of the old pin gave me the idea of adding some color to the ends.

This batch is curly, soft maple. They're all about 1 3/4" in diameter and about 18" long. With my palms on the pin to roll, I feel the dough respond to my movements. The length of the pin makes it easy for me to transfer the rolled dough to its pan.

I ask $32.00 per pin plus about $5.00 to $10.00 for shipping, depending on how far away you are. Please contact me here for more information. Green pins were just featured on a blog dedicated to exploring and highlighting flavor. Please go to www.flavorista.com for more. Pie is Good!

Work of the Hand, 20th year

Welcome to the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport, Maine. In early October, I'll be exhibiting in their 20th annual Work of the Hand, craft show. Please click here for more about the show. I'll be there Friday evening for the opening as well as volunteering Saturday morning. Approximately 50 fine crafts artists will be showing.

Furniture Masters' Auction

This Sunday, September 20th, is the annual Furniture Masters auction. This year it's in Manchester, NH, at The Currier Museum of Art. Our silent auction and reception go from 6 - 7:15 pm. The live auction starts at 7:30. This ash, hickory and Danish cord bench is my offering for this year's auction. To see all of this year's pieces, please click here.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the 20th, the Currier will be offering programs related to the Furniture Masters and the auction pieces. For more information on the tours, slide shows and demonstrations, please click here. This is an opportunity to see some wonderful furniture and the auction is great fun.

Ryan's Blanket Chest

I recently discovered that Bessey makes these angled clamping pads to fit their K-Body REVO clamps. They offer plenty of clamping power without a hint of slipping. They tilt from 0 to 15 degrees and saved me from having to make a set of angled cauls.

I had to make 2 small cauls to focus pressure at the ends of the lid divider.

With everything glued and cleaned-up, I can rout for the hinges and attach the lid. This shot shows the wedged through tenon for one foot. The frame and panel bottom goes in later.

I did a little splicing, attached the eye straps and now it's off to my friend Carl for stain and a lacquer finish.

The finish is 2 coats of stain and crystal lacquer. This color corresponds to the color of 2 lamps in the room that this chest will call home.