Ponder This - Why Wood?

I was asked by a fellow blog writer to answer the question, "Why Wood?". Why not use some other medium to express myself. That got me thinking pretty hard. The answer I came up with was this.

Why wood?

To me, it is a connection to the past. My family history and the history of this great nation.

And at the same time it is my connection to the future. To build things that will outlast me. To be remembered for something, be it great or small.

I'm thankful for the talents I have been blessed with and I'm happiest when the results make someone's day.

Here is a sneak peek at a small Cherry box that I hope will make someone's day.

This will be featured in my Etsy shop when it gets closer to Valentine's Day.

Enjoy Life!

David J. Ulschmid
Craftsman / Designer
Wisp Woods
Arlington, SD

Featured Projects - Upstairs

A wise man once said, "One's mind, once stretched by an original idea, never regains its original dimensions". This is evident in our everyday life and can be a means by which you can improve everything around you. The idea need not be your own. As long as you understand the impact the idea has on your environment, as comprised by your location, state-of-mind, and relationships.

Perhaps at this point you may think I am being much too philosophical on a blog site about woodworking but, here is where I am going. It all comes back to what is commonly the last line of my posts here, "Enjoy! And look closely, please."

Look closely that your location. How did the things that surround you get there?

Look closely at your state-of-mind. Where is it taking you?

Look closely at your relationship to your environment. How do the places you spend the most time make you feel? What is missing? What needs to be removed?

I encourage everyone to explore the ideas that are affecting their unique environment and, by all means, challenge them. It is by looking within, and understanding what is there, that we can begin to move forward in a positive direction.

A common bond we share is that we all want to feel good, comfortable and safe in our homes. It stands to reason then, that we should feel these things about the items we consume, particularly the "durable goods" that will be a part of our environment for a long time to come (at least that is our hope when we put down our hard earned dollars for them).

But when we purchase items that we know are below our standards, what are we really getting? More importantly, what are we contributing, to our community, society and personal well-being? If the item was produced over-seas, you, in the case of a sub-par item, just contributed future garbage to your community landfill while taking away the work of local craftspeople. You've told society that you value low price over quality. And have potentially compromised your own well-being (can you say lead poisoning?).

Again, heavy words backing up a picture of a bookcase. I do apologize for my bluntness, but I keep my sharp tools in the shop ;).

Did you notice the differences between those two bookcases? No, I'm not talking about what is on the shelves. Is one "softer" or "smoother". Is one bigger, deeper or taller? (a description of the differences is found at the end of this post) Why are the differences there? How do they make you feel? What would you change?

Perhaps this bookcase isn't something you would want in your house, but you still need somewhere to put all your books. You need something that suits you. And only you know what that is.

Now consider this....

We all know the best tasting meals come from our own gardens. There is something special about enjoying the spoils of your labor. Sometimes the only thing better is a meal from your neighbor's garden (all the spoils, non of the toils). Think about how a simple garden can transform your environment. How it can tie a community together, and if done on a small scale around the country, can have such a large impact on society. This doesn't mean everyone has to be a green thumb and no one is obligated to do anything. I intend only to shed light on those around us, and the actions they take, that in a small, and impressively significant, way, collectively benefit the world.

You deserve something special and you have the right to get it from anywhere you please. Look closely at your options, and how they effect everyone's environment.

We've all made millions, if not trillions, of decisions that got us to where we are now. It is the decision making process within that determines our path in life. Be yourself. Make your own decisions, and know that when you pick up one end of the stick, you automatically lift the other end as well.

The two pictures above show a newel post I built for our upstairs. I also built a half-newel for the opposite wall, the base that the balusters join into and the upper handrail. This project is just part of the "fingerprint" I will leave on this house. I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.

I love building things, because I enjoy making people happy. I'm inspired to be, and build, my best by believing the result of my effort will be shared joy.

How can I make you smile today?

Enjoy LIFE!

And look closely, please.

David J. Ulschmid
Designer / Craftsman
~ Wisp Woods ~
Arlington, SD 57212

wispwoods@gmail.com

Bookcase differences - The bookcases are the same size in every way. The feet are different and the tops-front of the side panels are different. It was an original idea of mine, to make these changes, against the urging of my wife. I'm happy I did, and she is too. Now our world is different and, as always, I can't wait to see what is next.

Ponder This

Ah-Ha moments, much like Ta-Da moments, can seem magical. The difference is that an Ah-Ha moment can change your life profoundly. I experienced one of these moments this weekend. In a Make: magazine article about the “consumption facts” (how much energy is used to make an object) of a simple plastic bottle, the author used the example of a dining table to prove his point. He said something to the effect of “it takes the same amount of energy to produce a cheap IKEA table that will last only 7 years, as it does to make a hardwood table that will last 20 years. Therefore the hardwood table uses fewer resources, because its consumption is amortized out over many years.” This goes along with a quote from James Krenov, “Much of our life is spent buying, discarding, and buying again, things that are not good.”

When the concept of conserving resources and purchasing durable objects converged in my mind, it changed the paradigm through which I view my woodworking projects. My goals for Wisp Woods now include the desire to take this concept one step further by reversing the consumption model by reusing discarded wood. This will serve as a way to achieve an even more ecologically responsible end product when combined with time tested construction techniques.

This concept is not new to Wisp Woods. Examples can be seen in many of my projects, especially the early ones. When I started woodworking, my stock of raw materials primarily consisted of plywood left by the previous occupants of our first house. I even used the wood from an old box spring when first getting started.

This is not to say that I have not worked with “perfect” wood. Wood that is the antithesis of a sustainable consumption model, being surfaced four sided and sanded by the factory before being wrapped in plastic, for what reason I do not know.

The best example I have of a project that I made that is consistent with these values is the Baby Changing Table seen below. The only things I had to buy for this project were the hardware pieces like the drawer glides and pulls. The solid wood and plywood was salvaged from our house, the main source being the shelves and dated built-ins that we removed.

I encourage everyone to look around them for sources of wood that could be reused. Many industrial companies throw out a vast amount of hardwood and plywood that are used in the transport of their raw materials. If you have a motorcycle dealer in your area, you could be sitting near a gold mine of exotic hardwood, since the pallets that those machines arrive on are often built overseas.

When working with this wood, it is often fun to use the flaws that are inherent to enhance the character of the finished product. This isn’t a way to hide your own flaws, but rather to leave the piece a bit of its history and to allow it to tell its story, to those who will listen to its “Wisp-ering”.

David J. Ulschmid
~ Wisp Woods ~