Big news!

Announcing Wisp Woods the website.

With the help of my ultra talented wife, I put together and launched my new website. Check out http://www.wispwoods.com/ today and tell me what you think. Email me at contact@wispwoods.com, or use the handy contact page.

Thanks for looking,

David J. Ulschmid
Designer/Craftsman
Wisp Woods

Valentines Day is fast approaching so head over to my Etsy shop for an extra special gift package for your sweetie.

http://www.wispwoods.etsy.com/

Featured Project - Student Desk

Having a proper workspace is something that is invaluable, especially in this day and age where everyone is concerned with doing their best work in the always-too-little time available to complete the task. Everyone will, and should, have their own idea of what a proper workspace is. It might be an enlightening experience to take a look at our own working environment and scrutinize the way it affects our day.

The basis of a good workspace must begin with evaluating the demands we will place on it, both functionally and aesthetically. Finding your own point of balance between these often opposing characteristics will help to narrow your options.

I presented my client with three options for this project.

Since his workspace is occupied by many heavy items, I designed this model with maximum sturdiness in mind. The four laminated legs could no doubt support his equipment (and probably his car too).

A design that seemed popular online was one that included a small bank of cubbies at one end of the desk. This would increase the desks functionality, but also occupies much of the floor space available for the desk. And anyone who has rented an apartment will surely know that space is often at a premium.


This design was the most aesthetically based, but I kept strength in the back of my mind, knowing his needs would require an rigid base. The advantage this model gives over the four legged option is that it will be easier to slide up to, since the legs have been moved back, yet still support the front thanks to the cross bracing.

This was the model he chose, so now it is on to joinery selection and ( most importantly ) execusion.

Another twist in this projects path to completion is that it must be able to be knocked down for transport. Solid yet agile is the battle cry.

David J. Ulschmid

Craftsman / Designer

~Wisp Woods~

Arlington, SD 57212

www.wispwoods.etsy.com

Featured Project - Etsy Shop Re-Opened

Featured Project - Etsy Shop

Last night was the grand re-opening of the Wisp Woods Etsy shop!

Head over and get a closer look at the gift items and other cool stuff.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wispwoods

I'm excited to see what type of feedback I receive from my latest products.

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

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

wispwoods@gmail.com

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 Project - Christmas '09 Gifts

Gifts that come from the heart are a joy for both the one who gives and the one who receives. We decided as a family this year to offer each other hand-made gifts. So out to the wood shop I went.

I was inspired by an article in Wooden Boat magazine about a handy tool box and I decided that that would be something useful for each family.

The Pine for these gifts had the large "bird's eye" figure in it, so it was a joy to apply a finish to, just to see it pop to life.

The handle is an octagonal shaft with a sculpted arm on either end that is as functional as it is beautiful. When the handle is in the up position, it locks the lower drawer shut, so you can move about freely with your stuff securely inside.

The hardware is brass, which compliments the light colored wood very nicely.

We filled the upper section of the toolbox with goodies, family photos and this carved ornament.

My thanks go out to Marty at http://www.mychipcarving.com/ for providing the pattern.

For my notoriously hard to impress Father and his fiancee', I designed and carved an Aspen trivet with horse motif and their names with an unity symbol between them.

Again my thanks go out to another chip carving master, Wayne Barton for writing the book from which these designs came from.

This January, Wisp Woods will turn one year old. To celebrate, I may switch to a new blog hosting service. Keep a look out for that.

Best wishes to you and yours for a blessed new year.

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

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

wispwoods@gmail.com

Featured Project - BC Cabinets Finished

Here are a few pics of the cabinets. I'm very happy with the way they turned out.

The whole group.

The individual pieces.

A pair of upper cabinets.

A space for a microwave with a set of small doors below.

The "Wisp" in these cabinets is found in this center cabinet. The board above the doors was selected for its pair of catherdral patterns that originate on each end and meet in the center with just a wisp of a connection.

The contrast of the carefully selected rift sawn door frames to the plain sawn panels, most dramatically demonstrated on the above set of doors, really makes me smile. This is a concept that mass producers mess up on all the time. Their grain matching within the panel and with the door frames is often simply awful. The grain is what your eye follows, and I hope that these cabinets are pleasing to the eye.

A big thank you goes out to the customer, for pushing Wisp Woods to a new level, and to Mrs. Wisp Woods for the loads and loads of support she showed during the construction.

Enjoy!

And look closely, please.

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

wispwoods@gmail.com