The Osbornes Redo the Kitchen

Just to get a better feel of the before….

Benjie added a breakfast bar on the far side and cabinets and concrete counter tops to what once was a bizarre gaping hole. Also, you can't see it here, but down to the left, the cabinets all have sets of deep drawers.

This is our new sink, complete with an inlaid brass drainer for drying dishes. Isn't he clever?

For the sake of the Osborne funds, we just spruced up the old cabinets with new cherry doors (of course, made by aforementioned clever husband) and paint.
Benjie made his signature solid walnut handles.
We have three sets of these deep drawers, which are sooooo much more useful than regular cabinets.
The new counter has the this great semi-subtle curve. Also, and this was a big debate in the house, it has a double layer counter. Let me say (this is Becky), Benjie was right. The two layers are great. One side (normal height) is definitely all kitchen business and chopping and production. The other side(bar height) is guests and hors'dourves (or on normal nights, mail and everyday clutter). The combo is striking and open and welcoming and useful. Benjie = right (in this one case and I retain the right to be right again at a later date).

Dogtown Pizza

I have been out for a bit starting a little business called Red Rooster Coffee Rooster. I'll have to do a post or two about the wood work there at some point. But now, I am back and there is another new business in Floyd that needs a shout out and has a Benjie bar.

Dogtown Pizza is taking over the ol' Cafe Del Sol space in the Winter Sun building. The new place will have music and local beer from Shooting Creek Brewery and, of course, wood fire pizzas.

I was lucky enough to make their bar (and some more things on the way). Watch it happen below.

It looks happenstance...but I spent a lot of time making sure the sapwood was well placed...and the clamps too.

About to rough up the edges and make the curve on the front of the bar

Oiled up

In place with the chainsawed, burned edge on display

In place

Step Stool

Too busy for words right now....but how about this little stool that I made?

Repetition

So in September, the collaboration piece with Ellen Kochansky, mentioned in earlier posts, took up the majority of my time. Yet, for some reason, I neglected to post anything on it. On Monday and Tuesday, we drove out to Columbia, SC and installed it. I'll post those pics in a couple of days...but in the mean time here is how it came to be (or at least the structure stuff that I did).

The piece has 20 panels (the construction of which is shown in an earlier post) which need some way to stand erect. So, here you see 20 concrete bases in the works.

20 forms

20 metal armatures

20 concrete bases (with those armatures inside)

Benjie Goes Etsy

If you haven't heard of it, Etsy is "the place to buy and sell all things handmade". It is an addictive online marketplace of handmade stuff from all over the world. Now, I am not just a buyer, I am a seller. The cutting boards are up there. Check them out on my Etsy page or by stopping by Fitch & Company in Atlanta.

Benjie Goes Etsy - Cherry Cutting Boards

Charity Auction for the High

the High Museum of Art that is...

High Arts Day Monday, November 16

The event itself is a day of shopping, home tours, and lunch for the Art Partners that all benefits the High Museum of Art. At the lunch a silent auction will be held featuring sculptures by 33 different artists (including myself). The sculptures will serve as the centerpieces on each table. Check out my turned wooden platter (the erroneously titled piece that I call Turned & Burned) on page 14 of their pamphlet.

Also, while your checking it out, notice my fellow Artisan Resource Center comrades, Nick Cook and Stan King.

This is the piece that is up for auction. Wish it luck.