This week we received a finished product picture that involved two of my favorite items! This design incorporated both the Basket Weave island leg (1774) and the Grapevine Molding (7422).
We recently held a drawing for employees to win a few overstock items. Among these were the 1774 in Rubberwood, and Russ (from Shipping) won a set of them. He had some friends over at Maple Ridge Cabinetry construct and finish the piece below, using the legs he had won.
The hand carving on the Basket Weave leg is incredible, giving the appearance of flexibility to something that is not actually woven. On this particular piece, I love the way that the rich, dark finish accents the “woven” section of the leg, as well as the fullness of the Grapevine Molding. The intricately hand carved details are not hidden, but neither are they overplayed. Putting two components that are both so artistically done into one piece of furniture could easily lead to a crowded feeling; but the rich, dark tones of the finish create the perfect medium. Instead of crowding, these different styles accent each other just enough, yielding a gorgeous end result.
On two occasions within the last year, we have had the opportunity to donate or substantially discount legs for a company we are proud to call our customers and colleagues. Superior Woodcraft, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania has created some beautiful handcrafted pieces for charity auctions on several occasions, and we are delighted – not just to be able to recognize their community minded-ness – but also to be able to participate alongside them.
In the Fall of 2009, Superior Woodcraft had the opportunity to bui
ld a table with our Basket Weave Island Legs – part number 1774 – for a fundraiser for the Doylestown Hospital. This gorgeous table (featured below) brought in $1,100 for the hospital. It turned out, however, that the buyer was a previous Superior customer, and once they learned that Superior made the table, they thought to see if they could get it in Cherry (the original table being Oak). So the fine folks at Superior made them a Cherry table, and donated the Oak table to a YMCA fundraiser! All in all, over $2,000 was raised with these tables, between the hospital and the YMCA.
Here is the table made with the Basket Weave legs (part 1774) while drying, prior to finishing.
Here is the finished masterpiece!
In March, we were contacted by Superior because of two new fundraisers in their community. The Travis Manion Foundation – in memory of a 1st LT USMC Travis Manion, who was killed during his second tour of duty in Iraq – held an auction to raise funds for their services to the families of fallen and wounded servicemen, scholarships they make available, and other such needs in the community. Additionally, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts held a fundraiser for their educational program, through which they make available to children – at no charge – musical performances which celebrate a host of different countries and cultures. For these fundraisers Superior made two butcher block tables using our 1408 Wilmington legs. See pictures below. Both fundraisers included auctions, both of which were held last night, April 26.
The two butcher blocks just after painting, before distressing took place
The gorgeous finished table, complete with distressing.
Superior Woodcraft published a press release regarding the second two charities, and made mention of Osborne Wood Products in their press release. The excerpt from that article follows:
The tables feature elegant turned legs, partially donated by Osborne Wood Products, providers of fine quality wood turnings, carvings and molding in Toccoa, GA. These legs will be joined using traditional mortise and tenon construction by the craftsmen at Superior Woodcraft. A solid wood butcher block top, hand-rubbed with a food-safe oil finish, is perfectly suited for direct chopping. Finishing at 36” high, these tables provide an ideal area for prepping meals or entertaining at home. Osborne’s Company Founder and CEO, Leon Osborne, commented on his company’s donation, saying “It is our pleasure to support our customers as they reach out to the needs of their communities. We believe that the backbone of our country is the value we share in supporting our communities.”
We are so glad to be able to contribute to these wonderful organizations, and grateful that Superior Woodcraft gave us the opportunity. It is refreshing to see their commitment to community involvement. This goes hand in hand with our statement of sustainability: We believe in developing, implementing, and maintaining innovative efforts to sustain and improve our quality of life, our community, and our planet; recognizing that these areas are interconnected.
Thank you, to everyone at Superior Woodcraft, for all your hard work! And thanks for sending along these great photos!
Long time readers of the Osborne Wood Blog may recognize the name Wayne Werdehausen from this post, regarding the beautiful pictures that made it into a Missouri newspaper. If you do, it should not come as a surprise to you that the photos to follow are also Wayne’s handiwork. Mr. Werdehausen was brought on to construct a tabernacle for St. Thomas church, where he himself attends. Using one of our newer – and most awe-inspiring – corbels, the Angel Corbel (part 8200), as well as the delicately hand carved Grapevine Molding (part 7422.96); Werdehausen has once again created a masterpiece!
As you will note from the photos below, the Grapevine Molding was painted in gold and set in sections about the piece. The lovely (and colorful) Angel Corbels found their home lending their support to larger angel sculptures in the mid-section of the layout. You should note the sheer size of this tabernacle. The Angel Corbel is 14 inches tall, 8 inches deep, and 3 1/2 inches wide; and yet in the middle of this piece they seem a bit smaller, which shows just how large the entire tabernacle is. The magnitude of the work as a whole is incredible, and it is obvious that Werdehausen put an unbelievable effort into creating something excellent.
An overall shot of the whole tabernacle
Closeup shot of the 8200 Angel Corbels
Closeup shot of the gold-accented grapevine molding, 7422.96
Bob R. from Dallas, Georgia sent us these gorgeous pictures of a hickory end table. Bob used our 1210 English Country end table legs to create this handcrafted masterpiece. My favorite characteristic of the table is the second tier, supported by delicate spindles.
A customer named Jack recently sent us a kind word (which, of course, we love to hear!) and some pictures of the table he made with our Husky Farm Table Leg, part 1121.
The table that follows below is Jack’s table. Simple yet elegant and obviously well constructed, this table is sure to add beauty to the room around it for years to come.
The table as it stands in the dining room, beautifully finished in rich color.
Jack has incorporated a drawer into the end of the table
The built in drawer is a great spot to store placemats, coasters, and the like.
Anne S. of Bartow, Florida recently purchased a pedestal center and four pedestal feet for a granite table. The Extended Pedestal Center (1520) and the Cabriole Pedestal Feet (1430) were used to make a lovely round counter-height table, in order to create more workspace in a kitchen that was short on counterspace. Counter-height tables are a great solution to such a problem, as well as a fantastic way to add a unique appeal to your dining area.
Alan H. sent us these photos of a beautiful bed he constructed using these two pieces. The finials blend with the post so easily that on first glance, it looks like they were constructed from one piece! The Heritage Finial is the perfect complement to the simplicity of the Pencil Posts, adding a touch of elegance that is not too subtle, but not overstated, either. Thank you, Alan, for sharing your handiwork with us!
Recently we received photos of a beautiful pine table using our Husky Dining Leg – part number 1109. James S. of Wisconsin sent them along.
The table looks great, obviously complementing the knotty pine flooring and trim quite well. Thanks, James, for sending this picture along! We love to see how our customers use our products. The glossy finish on the legs and table top looks fantastic! And those Husky legs are the perfect fit for the thickness and breadth of the table top. Very nice work!
The better part of the reason for posting finished pictures of our products is that it is easier to see the potential a component has when you see what someone else has done with it. For some it is rather easy to try different finishes and different furniture “on” a given leg in their mind’s eye. For others, though, it is good to be able to benefit from someone else’s vision.
We have a wide variety of customers here at Osborne, too. While it is true that many of our customers are kitchen cabinet makers/installers, there are also furniture makers, interior designers, and of course, artists. Gregg Novosad (of Divine Design), for example, is both a furniture maker and an artist. Creating furniture pieces in keeping with classic furniture styles, Gregg also weaves a storyline into each piece with painstaking attention to detail.
This week, Gregg emailed us a link to some photos of a Rococo styled cabinet he made with our part number 1119, the Tapered Mission Dining leg. First, you can find the story this cabinet represents here.
Now the dining leg. The Tapered Mission leg presents a great deal of versatility in its simple and straightforward design. The bold presence of a square leg combined with the almost delicate taper generates a unique yet subtle flair. Add to these elements the vibrant color of Mr. Novosad’s Rococo cabinet, and a star is born. This is a stunning piece!
First, the leg in its unfinished form:
Now, here is the leg in its finished setting, as a part of Mr. Novosad’s Rococo cabinet:
Today I received some pictures of our Husky Farm Dining Leg in my email from a man named Carl Kemp. For the record, finished pictures are my favorite thing to receive in my email. I love seeing the ingenuity and craftsmanship of our customers at work! Carl called us with a dilemma, just after Thanksgiving. He was building a Cypress table, but could not find legs in Cypress anywhere. I very sadly informed him that we do not carry Cypress, either, but we could turn Cypress blanks if he could provide them. Well, he had the boards for his table, but nothing more.
Carl sent me some pictures of the Cypress boards he had, and I saw a lot of (beautiful) color variation. Ultimately I was thinking there was no way we could match this. I saw the color and texture of Alder with the distinct grain patterns of Oak, and failed to think of a wood type that would combine the two. So, I called our good friends in the warehouse and had them bring to me the leg in question. He was looking for our Husky Farm Table Leg, part number 1121. I asked them to bring it to me in Alder and in Oak. I took pictures. Lots of pictures. I sent the pictures to Carl and asked him to choose between the two. He enlisted the help of his wife, Jane, and together they chose the Alder. A coworker of mine who shall remain nameless commented upon seeing the pictures, “I think they should have gone with the Oak.”
Well, after receving the pictures, I have one thing to say: Carl and Jane chose very well.
They sent me these beautiful pictures, and the pictures showed two things very clearly: 1) the wood was a perfect match, and 2) Carl is quite the craftsman. The legs do match the wood type well, but the finish on them is a significant part of that, and Carl chose the finish well and did a fine job constructing this table.
Also, the Husky Farm leg was a perfect fit for this table. With the length giving it a slender appearance and the width giving it substance for a nice sturdy table that looks simple, but not at all plain. Not lacking in beauty, the rich colors and the glossy finish contribute even more to the overall look.
Without further delay, here are the pictures!
I just love warmth and the depth of these colors!
The spool here, just below the top block, is my favorite part of this turning; it is detailed, but not overdone.
Again I was really amazed at the match. These two wood types look like they were meant to go together!
Here, you get a taste of what I meant when I was talking about the dimensions. The slender turning adds length to the leg, keeping it from looking stocky. At the same time, its width helps to make a very secure foundation for this table. Of course, Carl’s tenoning here is also a very secure construction (the first thing Mr. Osborne noted when I showed him these pictures!). How securely the skirt assembly is done has a direct impact on how sturdy the table will be.
Carl and Jane, thank you for sharing your pictures with us. The table is gorgeous, and we are pleased and proud to be a part of it! Many blessings to you both.
