Just Enjoying My Summer Weekends
I cook outside all year round, but probably a little bit more in the summertime.
I havent blogged for a while,
so I thought I would just take you through a photo journey
of some of my favorite summertime joys.
Pizza ready for the grill.
Hows that for Pizza?
Growing my own peppers.
Family backyard campers.
Shes a pretty small boat but lots of fun to sail.
Not much wind on this day but so quiet and relaxing, without the sound of a motor and no exhaust fumes to breathe.
So, until next time . . . Heres wishing you all smooth sailing.Stay Happy,Steve
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"" BTW did you make the pool table attached to this email? One more question, I suspect I will lean towards 10 feet (need to confirm with decorator). About how much would the table run me? ""The above question typically arrives with the first or second email inquiring about a slab top table ... It is kinda like how much is a house? or how much is a new car? The answer, obviously, is, it depends .... on what? ... heres a list.
Size: The most popular size request I get is for a table about 4 wide and 8-10 long. Obviously, that requires a pretty big tree, something on the order of 5 to 6 feet in diameter, as the slabs in the immediate center of the tree contain the pith, an unstable area prone to checking and humping the centers of the slabs from that part of the log. The best and widest slabs come from about 6-10" on either side of the dead center of the tree. Since about 4 wide is the most popular requested size, that also puts pressure on the supply end for slabs of that size, making them more expensive than something in the 36" wide range, before they even arrive here at the shop. Once we agree on which particular slab you like, then we can start discussing the finial price
Thickness: The next item on the list is table top thickness. Think about it; 3" thick? twice as much wood as 1.5" thick .. 1/2 as many slabs from the log; twice as long to kiln dry them ... You do the math.
Finish: How rough/smooth, twisted, humped, etc. is the actual slab when it arrives. Thats something that is difficult to tell from my suppliers website, though Im learning what to look for. Goodhope (and i only shop at Goodhope) is VERY good at drying these things, so usually I expect them to be fairly flat, but its still a process to get the big ones ready to finish. Does the slab require butterflies to decorate and/or stabilize the cracks? Are you insisting on no cracks? (good luck), or would you like the cracks filled smooth and even with the rest of the slab? These are all things that add to the cost of smoothing and finishing the rough slab.The Base: In our shop, we offer many different designs with many different prices and we are alchoices open to new concepts. Our waterjet cut Shaker style bases are our most popular and typically range in price from $3500. per set in natural steel finish to $3900. per set with a rainbow or blackened patina shown below. for a brief tour of possible bases we have already done, check this blog post.
summing up quickly, our claro walnut tables range in price from (very occasionally) as low as $5000. (smallish table, 32-35" wide x 72" long, simple welded base) to $20,000. or so for really big ones. most of the tables we make fall into the $10,000., to $15,000. range. the details above, plus shipping and set up in your home, invariably determine the final, fixed price. just as every days different, every tables different too. and, every maker is different too. granted, i dont have a fancy storefront in a big city, or a huge inventory of finished tables to pick from, but the prices listed below in an article in this weeks new york times home section (which actually prompted this blog post) made feel a little bit like a chump from the sticks up here in vermont. we do what we do, and try to give our clients a fair price for a product thats the best we can produce. here is a link to some testimonials from our recent clients ...click the photos below to enlarge them ... 
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We are aboard Gypsy Rose on this hot 4th of July morning. She sails beautifully.
Connie and I are loving it. She was taking pictures on launch day and did not get in much sailing time but today we will be out for several hours.
The temps today will hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Thats why we dressed in light colors to beat the heat. 
Here is Connie, my smiling beauty of a wife with her sailing gloves on. 39 years together and we are still best friends 
Gypsy Rose is a very unique and vintage looking boat and we can already see that she will attract attention wherever we sail her. 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............Pirate Island?? 
A board sailor out enjoying the wind and waves. 
Lots of flags out today. I for one love the USA! 
Back in the slip and the weary but happy sailors head for home, only 10 minutes achoice. 
Shes a little beauty. 
Thank you for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading your comments and hope you have happy times ahead. 
Happy sailing everyone!Steve and Connie.
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And of course rigging up Gypsy Rose for a sail around the lake.
So, until next time . . . Heres wishing you all smooth sailing.Stay Happy,Steve
Kamis, 30 Juni 2016
how much does a claro walnut slab table cost
"" BTW did you make the pool table attached to this email? One more question, I suspect I will lean towards 10 feet (need to confirm with decorator). About how much would the table run me? ""The above question typically arrives with the first or second email inquiring about a slab top table ... It is kinda like how much is a house? or how much is a new car? The answer, obviously, is, it depends .... on what? ... heres a list. Size: The most popular size request I get is for a table about 4 wide and 8-10 long. Obviously, that requires a pretty big tree, something on the order of 5 to 6 feet in diameter, as the slabs in the immediate center of the tree contain the pith, an unstable area prone to checking and humping the centers of the slabs from that part of the log. The best and widest slabs come from about 6-10" on either side of the dead center of the tree. Since about 4 wide is the most popular requested size, that also puts pressure on the supply end for slabs of that size, making them more expensive than something in the 36" wide range, before they even arrive here at the shop. Once we agree on which particular slab you like, then we can start discussing the finial price
Thickness: The next item on the list is table top thickness. Think about it; 3" thick? twice as much wood as 1.5" thick .. 1/2 as many slabs from the log; twice as long to kiln dry them ... You do the math.
Finish: How rough/smooth, twisted, humped, etc. is the actual slab when it arrives. Thats something that is difficult to tell from my suppliers website, though Im learning what to look for. Goodhope (and i only shop at Goodhope) is VERY good at drying these things, so usually I expect them to be fairly flat, but its still a process to get the big ones ready to finish. Does the slab require butterflies to decorate and/or stabilize the cracks? Are you insisting on no cracks? (good luck), or would you like the cracks filled smooth and even with the rest of the slab? These are all things that add to the cost of smoothing and finishing the rough slab.The Base: In our shop, we offer many different designs with many different prices and we are alchoices open to new concepts. Our waterjet cut Shaker style bases are our most popular and typically range in price from $3500. per set in natural steel finish to $3900. per set with a rainbow or blackened patina shown below. for a brief tour of possible bases we have already done, check this blog post.
gold leafed bases anyone? we can do that ..
too rich for your budget? we also do reclaimed wood tops with steel bases (much less), and we also can use other woods like elm and cherry, ( different supplier here) and glued up narrower slabs of new wood, like this big ash table. i cant say we can alchoices make your dream table fit your budget, but were usually willing to at least give it a shot ... emails fine, a phone call is good too ... 802 867 5541
we also make quite a few claro walnut slab coffee tables ($2750. - $5000.) and some claro walnut slab desks, typically from about $5000. to $10,000.a complete overview of our claro walnut furniture can be found at this link
Jumat, 24 Juni 2016
How Did You Spend Your 4th of July
We are aboard Gypsy Rose on this hot 4th of July morning. She sails beautifully. Connie and I are loving it. She was taking pictures on launch day and did not get in much sailing time but today we will be out for several hours.The temps today will hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Thats why we dressed in light colors to beat the heat. Here is Connie, my smiling beauty of a wife with her sailing gloves on. 39 years together and we are still best friends Gypsy Rose is a very unique and vintage looking boat and we can already see that she will attract attention wherever we sail her. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............Pirate Island?? A board sailor out enjoying the wind and waves. Lots of flags out today. I for one love the USA! Back in the slip and the weary but happy sailors head for home, only 10 minutes achoice. Shes a little beauty. Thank you for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading your comments and hope you have happy times ahead. Happy sailing everyone!Steve and Connie. 
