Chilterns Craft Show

Wow has it really been that long since my last post? My apologies, I started this blog determined to keep it updated every fortnight....then work became busy...then hectic....now I have a brief reprieve between commissions.

Exhibiting at the Chilterns Craft Show was thoroughly enjoyable, meeting new people, talking to fellow makers, people in the industry and new clients. All in all very encouraging, I'm glad so many people are supporting British Craft - on the whole we have so much to offer.

Our marquee was labeled the 'Graduate Show Area', for all exhibiting within have graduated from various universities in the last two years. The marquee was set up by couple Richard & Patricia of Informed Design who are absolutely devoted to promoting quality british craft. Informed Design is a collective of new and established designer makers producing the highest quality work in all manner of mediums, if your interested please follow the link.

Setting up the marquee. The chap you see before you is Harry Gleaves a talented furniture maker from the university of leeds, now working for a highly reputed firm in High Wycombe. Harry had his Seed of Life Table on display, an excellent piece incorporating a steam-bent Oak under frame and Sycamore inlaid top.

I had a number of pieces on show; a collection of handmade boxes, wooden planes, Embrace, Lowback Armchair, and an Ash Jardiniere (I may do a post on this at a later date - quite an interesting piece to make). One of the best features of our tent were the two 'room sets', as the name suggests these areas were laid out to simulate a fully furnished room. More is the pity I'm missing many photos from this fair, room set pics included.

A rather gormless looking Oliver discussing the merits of wooden planes. A surprising number of people understood the benefits of working with a well tuned woody, usually I get the delighted response 'you mean you actually use them?! '.

Scroll wedged smoothing plane, small size, in English Boxwood. The iron is made by Herring of Sheffield and I have to say; not impressed, it's a more recent vintage iron (c.1950 ?) sadly the quality just isn't there.

Traditional English pattern mitre plane also in English Boxwood. The iron in this one is homemade, on reflection it really didn't need to be 1/4" thick - it takes ages to sharpen, but boy does it add some welcome heft! A plane best used for fine trimming end grain jobs/shooting in.

Miniature finger plane in Brazilian Rosewood, cannibalised Stanley iron. I have made quite a few of these with various sole profiles for Luthiers. At 1 7/8" long and weighing just over an Ounce, they excel at delicate shaping tasks.

This beautiful bowl was made by Ceramicist Jane White. The outside is reminiscent of fired bricks with the most amazing texture.

Jane had to fire the piece three times to get the colours right. I wanted it so badly but couldn't afford it at the show. I spy with my little eye something beginning with future commission....

During the few quieter moments we got a chance to have a wander. The grounds were stunning with many mature trees surrounding the site. Luckily the weather held up for the most part with only one squall, brief but violent with forked lightning to boot!

If we did see you there many thanks for coming along, I hope you enjoyed our work.