scribe and saw

Let there be lighting!

Ever since Ross found an old enamel lampshade in a barn i have dreamt of having a series of them lighting up the display tables in my shop. After much ebay hunting and sourcing brightly coloured cables, they are now lighting up the space.

stripping wire, cutting cable and wiring up lights

lights in position

Spurred on by getting the lighting in and the birch ply for my table tops arriving, we got on with making some trestles for my display tables. We decided to go for a 3 legged trestle - meaning they'll be stable on even a slightly wonky floor. We planed and cut sycamore legs and elm tops for the trestles, carefully cut angles on the table saw, and then on the bandsaw. Ross's skills learned on house builds with timber frames came in handy here, I helped out with measuring angles and drilling holes, but Ross spent hours chiseling the holes (mortis) for the joints on the legs (tenons) to slot into. I would be lost without his help!

Ninja drilling

Drilling holes in the top piece of wood ready to chisel out into rectangular tenon joints. 

 Ross hammering wedges into the tenon joints of the legs, for a snug fit in the mortis.

We are really happy with the final look of the trestles, it was lots of work and angle measuring for a very simple finished look, but we love them.

                                      

  Finished trestles in the wood workshop

Our next job is to cut the birch ply table tops. Really looking forward to the opening of my gallery/shop at the end of march, along with the cafe and gallery at Calgary Arts. Hopefully visitors will slowly start to arrive and my little business will grow.

Maike x