A Closing Season

Coming to a new year reminds me of the times I’ve had deadlines for customers to enjoy what I made over the holiday season. It has always meant more hard work for me but then the added income was critical too. 2008/9 was the greatest trial in building my designs for the White House. President Bush was leaving and it was the inauguration for the new administration and President Obama to take office. Uncertainty seems to dog us at the end of the year and I am never sure whether it’s because of Christmas or the year yet to come. One thing I do know is that makers like myself find a sure anchor at the workbench making and especially is this so because times are changing at a rapid rate.

My year’s work stacks up and racks up the miles of our endeavour to educate and reach the widest audience we have ever reached. It started with a leaning bookshelf and ended with a wine a wine rack.

There are a dozen other projects in between ranging from boxes to baby cots. This is the American Thanksgiving weekend and we in my family always celebrate along with our US cousins who have taught me so much through the years about thankfulness and love. Blessings to everyone!

13 Comments

  1. Simply lovely words….as usual Paul. You are just so clever….all the superb items you show.
    IF I MAY SAY….a lovely work shop….I did comment on down pipes
    ( spouts) when you first showed the house, I can see all is not finished. Could I suggest you put the workshop and garage roof down pipes into a hopper then feed into a water butt with its overflow into a soak away.

    I sure the work on house is moving nicely….can we have more pics please
    Thanks john

    1. That’s is not the final stage picture. They now go into the barrel where I harvest the water for my garden needs.

  2. Reading this, I remembered celebrating Thanksgiving with my English friends when I was stationed at RAF Alconbury (1979-1981). It is a celebration of harvest for all.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Paul, family, and WWM team!

  3. One of the companies I worked for had a Scottish CFO. I remember one of the women in the cafeteria teasing him about celebrating Thanksgiving and his response was “We do celebrate Thanksgiving – on 4th of July!”

  4. Here’s one American cousin who is very thankful for you, Paul, and for all of your good works!

  5. Paul do you have dimensions for the small version of the leaning shelf; or is it just scaled down from the original dimensions? Not sure if that works with the leaning

    1. I would think you could scale it down without any problems. Just keep the angles the same at the floor and wall.

  6. Thanks, again for an inspirational year Paul. As a hobby woodworker without professional training I rely on people like you to help me learn and improve in my own workshop. I’ve done a couple of courses but the inspiration to get out and do things for myself is really helpful. I’ve been transforming my single garage from a family junk store and wannabe workshop I could not use into something more usable. I now have 1/3 of space where I can now use my bench. My first project will be your chisel box project. I’ll let you know how I get one.
    Best Wishes and Merry Christmas.
    Ian

  7. Very admirable.
    Sleep the sleep.
    Non, je ne regrette rien

    I’m still stuck. But I like reading about it

  8. Thanks Paul. Best wishes to you and yours. My biggest learning this year was understanding sharpening, setting up planes and not rushing. First farmhouse table on track for Christmas feasting.

  9. The best of the holiday season to you, your family, and staff. You all have helped make the world a little less tense and a lot more creative.

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