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!
Recently we were privileged to receive pictures from a scout project we were able to help with. Parker, an Eagle Scout in Gilbert, Arizona sent us pictures from his recent project. Parker’s project was to make tables for the Chandler Preparatory Academy’s new drama department. To make these tables, Parker and the boys helping him needed tapered legs. They came to us, and because it was an Eagle Scout project, we were able to give them a discount on the legs they needed.
Parker wrote us a letter, thanking us for the legs. In his letter he described the process they went through in order to make the tables: “Everything went smoothly during my project. We used a drill press to drill holes for attaching [the legs] to the table apron. Once the legs were attached and the rest of the tables and benches were assembled, the legs held the furniture up very sturdily. [The other helpers and I] are very happy with the outcome.”
Here are some pictures of Parker’s project!
Thanks for sharing your pictures with us, Parker! This is beautiful work!
A customer of ours was recently featured in Home Living, A magazine that makes a monthly appearance as an insert in the News Tribune, a Missouri newspaper. Wayne Werdehausen of Countryside Woodworks had recently done an extensive kitchen remodel, which Home Living featured on their front page. Below is the press release Osborne issued concerning this event.
Wayne Werdehausen is a contractor who understands how to provide value to his customers at a reasonable price. Werdehausen, owner of Countryside Woodworks, specializes in unique kitchen cabinet concepts, specifically tailored to individual customer tastes. One of his most recent designs was the cover article featured in the March 2009 issue of Home Living magazine, which is an insert to the News Tribune, a Missouri Newspaper. The photographs taken for the article include several items from the Osborne Wood Products line.
Werdehausen believes that it is important to get excited about every job that one does. In a time when many designs are generated on a computer, Werdehausen’s concepts come from his imagination; the culmination of studying articles, pictures, and products combined with a high degree of personal creativity. In his words, “The best ideas come from the imagination, not out of a computer.”
Werdehausen utilizes components such as corner corbels, kitchen island legs, corner molding, and crown molding to bring his concepts from ideas into reality. Osborne Wood Products is proud to be a supplier of many of these components. when asked why he does business with Osborne, Wardenhausen stated that he can bank on on-time delivery, knowing his costs up front, and depending on people who know how to do their job.
Werdehausen’s current kitchen project involves a set of cabinets with a design incorporating Osborne’s new Basket Weave corbels and kitchen island legs for a range hood and a corresponding flat-screen TV installation. Sure that it will be a real “attention getter,” he reports that upon seeing it for the first time the customer exclaimed, “That is massive!” It is reactions such as this which inspire Werdehausen in his unique designs. Similarly, it is feedback from customers like Werdehausen that inspires Osborne Wood Products to constantly update our product lines, in order to help our customers continue to generate their artistic designs.
Wayne, keep those ideas coming! We cannot wait to see pictures of your latest job incorporating the Basket Weave Components. We will have new products in our next catalog for you to choose from, and we can only imagine what design concepts might be created utilizing these new components.
