We live in Michigan. Michigan winters are cold. I get that. So far, I have avoided openly complaining about how cold it is because, well, this is Michigan. However, the last ten days have been COLD. And WINDY. With SNOW. So, yes, consider this my complaint about this winter. I don't have the historical data to back this up, but, "This has been a cold winter, maybe one of the coldest ever." And it doesn't matter if I can support that statement with data because in the here-and-now of this winter, I really don't care if there was a colder winter sometime in the past - any past. We're cold NOW!
We heard what sounded like a snow plow go by early this morning but, judging by the condition of the road, I am pretty sure it was a Zamboni.
The landscape has been blown, swept, scoured and now sculpted by the winds. The drifts are interesting to watch and pretty, but digging out a drift in front of the garage so we could get the car out was not so much fun. The sun is shining, at least for now, lifting our spirits and helping us ignore the new drift building up in the driveway.
While the cold weather has made it pretty much impossible to get anything done in the shop, I have been working a few new ideas in the warmth of the kitchen. Of course, seeing new projects in my mind's eye or drawing them out on paper isn't has much fun as actually building them. I'll just have to be content with the "passive creativity" of dreaming up new ideas until I can "actively create" them in the shop. Oh, and by the way, the WoodDot Design shop on Etsy? It opened this week! It is still a work in progress, for sure, but it is fun putting my things out there for the world to see. WoodDot Designs on Etsy
Fifty (50) days until the calendar says it is Spring!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Evolution of the WoodDot
The WoodDot has evolved over time…
My original Tear-Drop napkin ring came into being one afternoon in the summer of 2011while epoxy was setting up on my boat-building project. The tear-drop resulted from experimenting with using white cedar. Stars, triangles, circles and squares didn't really work well, particularly with the tools I had available at the time. The plain tear-drop did work and it was different - and quirky - enough for me, so I made a couple of them and used them at home and during my Epic West Coast Road Trip that fall.
Next came the contrasting stripe - which allowed different looks using different combinations of wood.
Later, after using dowels to reinforce the mitered corners of small picture frames, I realized that the contrasting dot was a pleasant design element and I incorporated the WoodDot into the tear-drop napkin ring.
Recently, I have taken on the WoodDot as my signature design element. It can be quite prominent - with sharply contrasting woods.
Or, it can be very subtle - as in these coasters.
Really, there is a WoodDot in those coasters!
Okay, so the WoodDot didn't truly "evolve" from the stripe… but I like it.
My original Tear-Drop napkin ring came into being one afternoon in the summer of 2011while epoxy was setting up on my boat-building project. The tear-drop resulted from experimenting with using white cedar. Stars, triangles, circles and squares didn't really work well, particularly with the tools I had available at the time. The plain tear-drop did work and it was different - and quirky - enough for me, so I made a couple of them and used them at home and during my Epic West Coast Road Trip that fall.
Next came the contrasting stripe - which allowed different looks using different combinations of wood.
Later, after using dowels to reinforce the mitered corners of small picture frames, I realized that the contrasting dot was a pleasant design element and I incorporated the WoodDot into the tear-drop napkin ring.
Recently, I have taken on the WoodDot as my signature design element. It can be quite prominent - with sharply contrasting woods.
Or, it can be very subtle - as in these coasters.
Really, there is a WoodDot in those coasters!
Okay, so the WoodDot didn't truly "evolve" from the stripe… but I like it.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Welcome To WoodDot Designs
What is WoodDot Designs? It is my platform for exploring and sharing creative ideas and efforts. My creative energies find expression in small woodworking projects such as napkin rings, tea-light holders, coasters and other decorative and functional items. However, recently I began hanging around with a talented woodworker and learning new skills by helping with small peices of furniture, so I am hopeful of expanding my efforts.
Why the WoodDot? Well, the Dot evolved as a distinctive design element for my small wooden items. While the Dot is not unique to my work - others use dots as decorative accents - it does represent a focal point for me, visually as well as mentally.
For me, that little Dot symbolizes the concepts of
WoodDot Designs, the blog, will explore and share creative ideas, my woodworking adventures (and misadventures) and the occasional social commentary.
Why the WoodDot? Well, the Dot evolved as a distinctive design element for my small wooden items. While the Dot is not unique to my work - others use dots as decorative accents - it does represent a focal point for me, visually as well as mentally.
For me, that little Dot symbolizes the concepts of
- What If?
- What Else?
- Why Not?
WoodDot Designs, the blog, will explore and share creative ideas, my woodworking adventures (and misadventures) and the occasional social commentary.
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