Moving: Lessons From a Vancouver, B.C. Bookstore

  This post is for anyone that is moving and gets to the point that they think they just have too much "stuff". Well after reading this you might realize- you don't.

   As I mentioned in the "Getting On With It" post, Filliquist Studio is moving! So while the sun is setting on our place by the Tacoma Narrows Airport; it is rising on Pine Knoll, the farm that we are moving to. As we begin to move the question of what is necessary and what is just "stuff" becomes glaringly apparent. I also can't help but think about a book store that we visited recently to make myself feel better about the whole process.

   Now I don't feel so bad.....  Every nook, cranny, shelf, floor spot, crevice, fireplace (yes even the unused fireplace had books in it), closet, stair tread or other potentially unused spot had a stack of books in it. 

A little more after the jump.....

Trellis Bench

  This bench came from a desire to have a comfortable place to sit in the garden while not dominating the garden itself. Not only are the lines nearly transparent but they also allow (as the name suggests) vines to climb up them. Sweet pea's, tomatoes, jasmine; take your pick of balsam flower and with a season or two you will have a private little hide-a-way that is as sweeter and more special than anyone could ask for.
   Details after the jump.

Getting On With It

  The pace is quickening. More is happening. The Chris Craft has to be flipped over and on its trailer by the end of October. Filliquist is moving to Pine Knoll! More on that soon!
 

   The ply bottom has been replaced. Today I finish replacing the port chine board. After that on to the bottom planking! After much deliberation and consultation I have made the decision to use a new material that I am fairly sure has never been used on or in a restoration of such a boat.

The Rancho Yolo Lodge Table- Built From a Ranch for A Ranch

   This is a big table with a bit of a tale.

  More pictures and tale after the jump.

A Guest Bed with Hint of Gustaivan



The photos above the bed are by Sharon Montrose

   With guests coming in from Sweden we are overdue for a proper bed and frame. For a number of years now we have been punishing our guests with an inflatable bed. We are far to nice for that! Really though it is time to grow up (a bit) and get a real guest bed put together. Keeping with Swedish design gives the piece direction without too many frills and at the same time simple without being straight boring lines. Oh Gustav, where would we be without you today?

More details and photos after the jump.....

A New Light for Our Table

  We live in a small farm house. We love our small farm house. Sadly, we do not own this farm house, we rent it! The kitchen in this house has track lighting. We don't like the track lighting. We can not get rid of the bad track lighting. We made a light that fits in our small farm house in our small kitchen. We like this light a whole lot! Here is what it looks like.

    The black and white  helps to see the construction, which, by the way, is vintage cloth wrapped cord, 1/16" steel wire for the hanger, 1" square tubing, and 3 (10 points for seeing it before being told about it!) Ikea Vasen vases that have been sandblasted, drilled and inverted.  More pictures (color) and details after the jump....

A Complete DIY Farmhouse Table

  Tis the season all 'round the (Northern) world that we begin to think about the harvest season, the holiday season and most of all- just being indoors. Spending more time indoors working and entertaining requires a good size table.
    I myself am not interested in shelling out a few hundred to a couple thousand bucks for a good size table. So I decided to make one ! AND share the process with you! The cost of materials?  Wood, glue and screws-$60 Tops. That's it.
    If you need to buy the tools then plan on about another $150 to $200 for a low end table saw or a hand held circular saw, a cordless drill and some drill bits. Or borrow one from a neighbor or friend or work with them on the project!
  Surprisingly there are many steps that can be skipped and I will note them with an *. Not doing the steps will result in a less finished looking table but a table just the same.  So, shall we get started?

Then & Now Lamp

No springs. No tension. No problems.

Click the jump for the rest!!

Stereo Cabinet Restoration Inspiration

I've been working on this little gem:

   If you can believe it I picked this Magnavox stereo cabinet up for FREE!! The stereo inside didn't work any more. I suspect the of the tubes had gone bad as this is a pretty old unit. Regardless the record player still worked beautifully. But I had other ideas for the unit check after the jump for a big surprise!! I promise it is worth it!!

The Caterpillar is Released!

   As of late much work has been done in the bench genre. Now I am up to my neck in them! I have completed another Wine bench, a trellis bench (post coming), a navy chair bench(also- post coming), and the newest, the Caterpillar bench.
   This little wonder was conceived spur of the moment and now that I try to remember I can't even place its origin. All the same, it is just brilliant and I have to share.
   Each piece is 18" wide by 16" tall by 9" deep- But that's not a bench you say.....and I say RIGHT! But!...check after the jump.....