Posts

New Stuff in the Works

This week is new product week (and next week and probably the next). On the drawing board: chessboard, serving trays, nifty clocks, plywood graphic paintings, jewelry boxes, and whatever else shows itself. I’m putting together a mockup for a wood starburst clock (see picture below) – trying to figure out how to build the thing. There’s 30+ pieces that need to fit exactly, and while I could draw it to exact dimensions and angles, I don’t think those angles would translate to the finished piece. So I figure I’ll trial and error the operation until I figure out the best method.

Anyway – I liked the mockup – thinking it would look good on a wall by itself. So I’m going to take all the little pieces and transfer the angles to pieces of cherry and glue up with the walnut strips. Now I have to figure out how to glue all the little pieces together just so.

 

Happy Bungalow Wall Art In Progress

Yesterday I was working on some plywood graphic paintings. I’ve done a few before and like the way they turn out – I figure some other people might too. It’s delicate work and as long as I don’t think about it my hand doesn’t shake – but then it does and I have a little oops. My instant reaction? I look up at the top of the painting for the UNDO button. It’s not the first real life mistake that I’ve looked for a digital correction for.

Happy Bungalow’s First Show

Happy Bungalow’s public debut will be on August 20th (click shows above to learn more). Besides making things to sell, I’ve been busy making everything else I’ll need: tables, a nifty sign, display stands, and business card holders. I had a few sketches for complex holders, but opted for something less fussy. The holder is planed smooth lumber with an angled dado.  [edit:  we now sell business card holders, find them in out online shop by clicking here]

wooden business card holder

 

The Playhouse that Started it All

As I mentioned in my last post, here’s the indoor playhouse that I built for my daughter (before my son was born). The concept was a gypsy-wagon – the fabric roof and the swing out doors that make up the back wall (also handy for an adult entrance).
HappyBungalow-original_playhouse

The siding is recycled wood from a previous kitchen renovation project (wood that has been involved in three other projects). It turned out I had JUST enough wood to do the trick, though it took numerous layouts on the floor and swip-swapping of pieces to make it work. Sort of like a devious math puzzle.

wooden playhouse for kids

I made the hinges (except for old metal hinge pins) from wood and finished them with a torch – a technique I used for the knobs in my kitchen. Inside is a metal wall perfect for magnets. The roof is a cool old tablecloth.