Making Things From Nothing

When things are slow with art--meaning sales, inspiration and such--I make things. This is a little blue stool. Made with some reclaimed redwood and one hundred year old long leaf pine flooring and some oops paint from Home Depot. I've moved these stacks of lumber about 5 times, now I'm working through the stack to get to a point of no-stacks-to-move-no-mo. The whole point for me is keeping this great lumber out of the landfill or burn pile, and to create something new with it. A way to give it purpose, or keep it 'alive.'  I can't explain why it is I do this, but I do identify with it closely. Feeling kind of old myself these days, like maybe I'm out of the loop and yet, not ready to go to the burn pile. I do everything I can to stay relevant and aware, tweeting and instagraming, facebooking etc...still, this world is geared to the young. (of which I am no longer) Oh jeez, I'm waxing poetic now, eh? Here's the deal--I believe in making something from nothing. The above is just an example. I'm fixin' to go out into the warm workshop (because it's in the upper 60's today for chripes sake) and make a lot of noise and sawdust.  Check previous posts for scratchboard workshop info. I'm goin' to Texas next month!

Kickstarter Dog Scratchin' Book Project

Well, the project has a life of it's own. I push and pull and try to control this wild dog, but ultimately I must just follow where it wants to lead me. Whew, that's some heady stuff! 
What I really want to say is; this kickstarter project, which you can see right here, is going at it's own pace, in it's own time. Am I having to let go of the leash sometimes and just let it run? Yup. Am I learning about patience and trust. Yes sir. Is all of this hard for me? Well, those who know me would say YES. I am so used to micro managing (some would call that controlling) and trying to push things in the direction that I want them to go in. This waiting and gently nudging is different for me. Not bad, just different. All that being said. Today I am happy. The project is at the 88% funded mark and I'm pretty sure it will reach the goal and thus I will be putting together a book of my drawings and folks stories with the help of Fay Barclay and the most excellent Liz Lester Design. I am looking forward to this new experience. Look at the project here.
All of that being said, what has happened to me lately is that I have not been working on anything new in scratchboard to hang in the gallery. But I will be dropping off the above dog and 8 other 5"x7" scratchboard pieces at Wally Workman Gallery in Austin.
 I have been doing some woodworking there are 8-10 small curio shelf units that I've been sanding and sawing on. When I moved (2x) last year, there was a huge pile of vintage lumber that went along with me. I have really, really, good friends who helped me move it.(Cindy Jo thought it should go on the burn pile!) It has been sitting under a blue tarp for the past year. A few weeks ago, I got a wild hair and uncovered it and started making stuff. Mostly these small table top curio cabinets. The lumber is from various remodeling projects. There is a lot of old long leaf pine, beadboard and trim. My 'problem' is I can not let lumber like that go to waste, or end up on the burn pile or a land fill. I am compelled to make something new from it.  One has sold already. When I have them 'more finished' I will post a photo here. They will mostly be around $65.00. I will put some of them in my booth at the All My Treasures Antique/Flea Market mall here. I may list some of them in my etsy shop. Stay tuned. Please share the dog book project. And Thank you!