One day in the life of Paul Sellers

Today was a full day. The fullest yet. Everyone worked hard on their projects and when the need arose they worked together. I enjoy watching this because there’s depth and value and meaning to it. Working together and giving help is better than being independent. Our culture tells us constantly to be the independent, self -made man. Rugged individualism and all that. Something happened this past three weeks. People that didnt know each other became friends, gave lifts to each other, carried tables to chairs and such like that. Some, seven people all together, rented a lovely holiday cottage and shared extra time together when the class was over for the day. Friendships grew as they always do and we remembered two of them had to leave tomorrow so we took pictures and then went on with the remainder of the day. You see it’s more than woodworking. I mean, what do a cafe chef, a plumber and a retired hospital professional have in common. They have a hand-made white oak table to glue and clamp. They care about the details and share the moment when all the clamps arrest the parts until the glue set. They smile that smile that sends an unsaid relaxedness throughout the workshop and others feel their released tension.

 

Here is the whole gang

I managed to finish the two clocks and polish them out completely. All they need now is the clock movements

I ordered from Veritas today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed making the clocks during class, amidst sharpening saws and scrapers and correcting the students as I watched them sharpening planes and chisels. In the end, they sharpened their own scrapers and plow planes and routers too.

 

This is the gang at work, or those you can see at this end of the workshop anyway.