Texas Woods

This April, we have 2 shows in Texas. That got us to thinking about the kinds of woods that come from Texas. Since all of our boxes feature wood that is not stained or dyed, the beauty of natural wood shows through, and we think the types of wood that goes into each box is essential.

We use the following types of wood from the continental US:

• Ash
• Cedar
• Cherry
• Maple
• Olive
• Rosewood
• Mahogany
• Hack Berry
• Holly
• Walnut
• Walnut Burl
• Madrone Burl
• Ambrosia Maple
• Birds Eye Maple
• Curly Maple
• Curly Ash
• Curly Cherry

The following types of trees grow in Texas:

• Oak
• Pecan
• Ash
• Mesquite
• Palm

Only Ash is grown in Texas that we also use in our boxes. In fact, most of our hardwoods come from Asia, Africa, and South America!

April Shows

Come join us in April to see our beautiful hand-made boxes in the following juried shows:

April 14-15
Art City Austin
Downtown Austin, Texas

"Where the award-winning Austin City Hall rests on the banks of Lady Bird Lake. A gateway for many, a beloved tradition for others, Art City Austin is a temporary art utopia where curious and delightful discoveries await!"
April 21-22
Fiesta Arts Fair
SW School of Art
San Antonio, Texas

     "The art fair is nestled among the shady trees of the school's historic Ursuline Campus adjacent to San Antonio's River Walk, and in the art school's gothic chapel. This event draws over 12,000 people to enjoy art along with regional music and some of the best Mexican food San Antonio has to offer.
     Fiesta Arts Fair has something for everyone – especially children. At the Children's Art Garden, kids work with professional artists and volunteers to create their own mini-masterpieces. From stained glass to clay to creative new Fiesta medals, there is an art project for everyone to discover."

Wood of the Month: Olive Ash

Olive Ash is a hardwood found in the USA that is most prized for it's burl. It is found in many veneers and is a popular wood for making furniture.

Please note: we use no veneers, but only authentic wood in our pieces!

March 2012 Shows

We do hope you'll come out and join us in March for either of two wonderful shows.

March 3-4
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Tampa, Florida
This outdoor festival features live music, the chance for a child to be an artist-for-a-day, and of course, loads of craftsmen showing their wares.

March 9-11
Vero Beach Art Club
Vero Beach, Florida
Another outdoor showing, this event is under the famed live oaks and will feature over 200 artists!

Additional shows added:
March 16-18
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
Winter Park, Florida
Located in Central Park, this show is a community project that features a children's workshop.

March 24-25
Downtown Naples Festival of the Arts
Naples, Florida
In addition to all the art, be sure to catch the lecture series in this arts and culture festival.

Wood of the Month: Chechen

Wood of the Month-----Chechen

(Caribbean Rosewood)

This is a dark-red or brown hardwood, derived from tropical trees. Heavy, hard, and dense, rosewood is noted for its stability and excellent decay resistance. Though commonly used for Oriental furniture, rosewood is now used for traditional European designs, as well as cabinetry. Quality rosewood furniture can be distinguished by silver lines, achieved by polishing with Chinese Tang Oil. This firm luster surface is different from the glossy imitation paint used on more inferior rosewood furniture.

A Brazilian import, is somewhat similar to mahogany, but contains tell-tale nearly black streaks across its reddish wood. Common to nineteenth century European antiques (also used in 18th century), rosewood can be difficult to polish.

Strength: Very strong and hard.
Color: Dark, with some curl. Purple to black.
Texture: Straight grain, medium texture and streaked figure.
Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, paneling, mathematical instruments, brush backs, inlay, sculpture, boat construction, hammer heads, and decorative flooring.

January Shows

January 7-8
Beaux Arts Festival
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida

January 21-22
Islamorada Fine Arts Expo
Mile Marker 81.5, Islamorada, They Keys, Florida

January 28-29
Boca Museum Arts Festival
Mizner Park, Boca Raton, FL

Juried Shows

In order to show my work in the best possible venue, I apply only to juried shows .

A juried show is where a panel of qualified jurors sit in a darkened room viewing digital images presented by the show applicants.

The jurors have approximately 7 seconds to view and score four images of the work and the display. The scores are then tallied and the spaces are awarded to the high scorers.

I have been fortunate to participate in over 200 shows.

I prefer to sell my work in this manner because I get a chance to explain the design process as it relates to my love of the medium.

Hopefully I will have a chance to see you walk into my booth someday so check my schedule frequently. My next show is the only one I will be doing in Dade County this year, the 61st Annual Beaux Arts' Festival of Art will take place January 7th & 8th, 2012 on the beautiful grounds of University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The festival is open each day from 10 AM to 5 PM, and it's free!