“The wood is the center of what we make.”
What are we doing and why?
We love doing is wood-forward furniture and home decor pieces. Sourcing wood locally, in a lot of cases milling and drying it out ourselves and celebrating the character of the wood. There are many times that we do not know what piece we will be creating until we start working with the wood and allowing it to guide what suits its unique form best. This is what allows our creations to really shine, the wood is the center of what we make. This part of our business will never change. It is foundational.
“ It is foundational.”
It is necessary to do this craft to feel whole and grounded in life. Our family needs these woodshop days to function.
HOW DO WE DO IT?
Short answer: TOGETHER
Long ANSWER:
Chris has been a carpenter for 13+ years building decks, arbors, and general outdoor construction. Around 6 years ago he started working in fine carpentry, we haven't looked back since. Rachel (the writer here) has been soaking in the knowledge and craft of woodworking every second she can get. Chris’ ability to turn hard, planed out wood and turn it into a piece that speaks beauty just sitting there is not found in many. He sees opportunity in each knot, knows the knots that cannot be pushed, and cuts the wood that allows it to shine at its best. He is a true master carpenter who is continually honing his craft and growing his skill set. Rachel has an eye for the finishing details and how to complete a project with permission. Giving each piece its final once over before showing off to the outside world. She is a loving apprentice to Chris taking in every bit of advice he offers, learning the tools, and listening to the wood as it speaks. Her desire to grow in woodworking is only matched by Chris’ ability to teach her ;)
okay okay, but really how does this work? who is doing what?
Chris Bass:
Master Carpenter, Artistic Drawer, Plan Developer, Furniture Mover, Starter of Pieces
Rachel Bass:
Carpenter’s Apprentice, Artistic Typographer, Business Manager, Social Media Coordinator, Finisher of Pieces
The 10 Steps:
1 Find the wood, usually more than we need
2 Prep the wood; planing, milling, drying, sanding, glue ups, it takes a lot
3 Make a plan for what we want to make based off what we are seeing with the wood, what is needed, what process we want to do
4 Go shopping for supplies needed
5 Get in the shop, turn on the oldies playlist, and make sawdust
6 Go shopping for forgotten supplies + eat a hot dog
7 Finish with as little argument or interruption as possible (the hardest of steps)
8 Work the fine grit sandpaper, 1,000 or 4,000 or if you are feeling crazy 6,000
9 Surface finishing at last; be it oil, poly, stain (hardly ever), or resin
10 Marvel at the God given beauty and the work we put together
What you will receive:
You will receive a piece that shows the detail God put into the grain pattern and how imperfectly perfect it is. When you get something from our Paper Mill Store you will see the spelling errors on display that come from the raw act of word mapping and the artistic imagery that comes from looking at nature all the time.
You get a piece of us, something we have poured our heart, soul, tears, sweat, and time into. The piece you hold be it wooden or our elusive paper goods (we will work on getting better on sharing them, they deserve some attention), whichever you have you can know it was deeply thought about as it was created. Laughter was had over it, a loving argument may have happened about it, a grubby boy for sure put their hands on it, and our family passes it to you with joy.
“I just need a hot dog in the woodshop.”