Janaury 2012 Chair

This is another light framed side chair that has a nice curved ladder-back

December 2011 Chair

I have been working on a lighter side chair that is quicker to make and so can be sold for a more realistic price.
This one is a curved spindle back. With a nice diamond weaved rush seat.

The New Ladderback

Everyone seems to prefer the look of the Ladderback chairs, so I have tried to find a way of keeping the traditional look but improve the comfort. My remit has always been to try and achieve a chair that is comfortable enough to sit on all evening, there is nothing worse than getting cramps at a dinner party!! I want my guests to feel reluctant to leave the table once the meal has finished, so that all continue to chat and play silly games.
So with this chair I have made the seat deeper and inverted the bottom slat and not bent the second one so there is much more lumber support. So far the response has been really positive and I now have orders for another two, so all very positive.

I have also improved the seat material, I now use real Rush, which is not only beautiful to look at with it's great mottled colours that changes with age but also smells wonderful too!!

Wood cutting delays

I discovered lots of problems getting up to the wood back in early February, as the track had been badly rutted by 4x4's and tractors, so, as I had none of these, I have had to wait until the track was dry enough. Today was the day!!
So finally I have some freshly cut Ash in order to make a start on some new chairs.
So watch this space.....

I'm Back Yippee

Well at last I am back on the shave horse saddle!!
I have been too busy at work to give any time to chair making, but now have a month of quiet trade, so can devote some time to making a few chairs.
I have been asked to make a rocking chair so will tackle that soon.
I am going up to the wood to get down some Ash on Saturday so hopefully will have a good store of straight wood soon.

Woodwose

What a great event!
For first off it was a great success, lots of people all keen and interested in green projects and products.
I demonstrated making some chair seat rails and rungs and was fascinated by the interest in the processes especially by the children, it was great to see all these kids all face painted up as cats/tigers/lions etc etc sitting there absorbed by what I was making. I particularly remember one blond blue eyed young man(6), straight out of "Oliver" casting academy saying "what are you doing Mister?" Classic, how I tried to keep a straight face.. (failed).
Anyway I met lots of great people one was my neighbours Andy Coates who was demonstrating bowl turning. he is an old hand at these events and was a great source of practical info. he is based in Beccles and his website is well worth a look at www.cobwebcrafts.co.uk.

Another New Chair

So at last I have finally got back to making chairs again after months of being too busy elswhere.
This chair continues the theme of trying to find something more comfortable on the back, while still looking good. My mission is to make a chair that one can sit at table all night without pain!!
It is still drying, so cannot give a thorough test yet, but hopefully at the weekend. I will let you know.