In my very first post, I said that once in a while I’d talk about  cars, guitars and other hobbies besides furniture. If it weren’t for these two, I’d probably get a lot more accomplished in the shop. They are always in their stands, somewhere close by. I find them almost impossible to walk by  without one of them stealing some of my time. They’re both partscasters, assembled from various old and new guitar parts. Here’s a rundown of what each is made up of.

The Bigsby Telecaster: Body by Fender/”51″ Nocaster, Neck by Fred Stuart, Vibrato by Bigsby/B-16, Vibrato arm by TK Smith, Bridge by Bigsby, Pick-guard inlay by TK Smith, Walnut armrest by TK Smith, Rear pickup by Fred Stuart “Blackguard Tele”, Front pickup by Virtual Vintage “PA 1946“.

The Telecaster: Pine body by Brian Poe, Lacquer by TK Smith, Esquire neck by CW Fleming/Fender custom shop, Early Fender ashtray cover, Rear pickup by Fender 1953, Front pickup by Fred Stuart, Knobs are 1955 Fender. Both guitars have Thomastik-Infeld flat wound strings, .013-.053

With temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s for the last week, our minds are definitely moving to outdoor living. There’s nothing like opening up the house, hanging out on the patio on a warm evening,  and enjoying a cold beverage, especially after a frigid winter. About ten years ago, when we bought our first house near Los Angeles, one of the first projects we tackled was the patio. This house was a mess! We had to do what we could on the cheap, and we had to do it all ourselves.

TK tore down an existing patio cover to replace it with one that he fabricated. It was made with steel square tubing to create the frame, and 18ga galvanized Deep Vercor, suspended at five points.   Besides the cover, we also laid flagstone for the patio floor, put up a new fence and landscaped.

We had not been by the house for almost five years until recently. It was great to see that it still looks as good today as the day we left it behind, even though we had used inexpensive materials. To see other examples of Shade Structures and various outdoor projects, check out TK’s photos on flickr.

We constantly talk about creating beautiful objects that are functional and that can be used in our everyday life.  Items that we use on a daily basis and will last for many years, not just to be tossed out when they wear out. We are actually pretty disgusted at this point with the “disposable” lifestyle that most people have become accustomed to. We have, unfortunately, become a disposable nation.

Even when it comes to something as simple as a cutting board, why not work on a quality, handcrafted wood surface that will look better with time, taking on a patina of experience and the soul of the user. Good quality wood is also easier on your knives so they will last longer as well. TK and I have always made an effort to live with and use the everyday objects from our parents and grandparents, or anyone else when we can find a good estate sale! If taken care of properly, these Walnut cutting boards will be around  for generations. Each board has been handcrafted in TK’s shop. Each has it’s own distinct personality grown from an individual touch and the uniqueness of each piece of walnut. There are four sizes and the handles are sculpted in a square or round shape. These boards are beautiful but they are meant to be used, not just look good! They have been treated with a custom “food” for the wood to keep them beautifully conditioned.

We’re trying to get into the habit of photographing TK’s work before it goes out the door, so here are a few recent shots. The client requested an Eames inspired storage unit for his office. They can literally be fabricated in any size. This one is 48″W x 17 1/4″D x 32 3/4″ H  While set up to create it, rather than make just one, TK went ahead and made 4. These are made of birch euro-ply, recycled etched plywood and feature aged brass caps and screws. You can contact us for prices and locations.