Author Archives: woodworksbyjohn

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About woodworksbyjohn

I'm a retired woodshop teacher. I build one of a kind furniture pieces and custom picture frames. You can see some of my currently available work, boxes, carvings through my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodworksbyJohn?ref=si_shop Contact me about your project -- always up for the challenge of unique work.

Sofa Table Finished — Next!

Posted on September 1, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

There’s a feeling you get when you complete a long project that is often  compared to childbirth, kind of a let down that it’s over but overwhelming joy at the results.  As an ultra runner that was a feeling I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in custom furniture, Kumiko | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Kumiko Table Progress

Posted on August 25, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

  As many of you know, working on a project begins with various bits and pieces and then after a long span of time you actually begin to see things take shape, that’s the case with the sofa table project. … Continue reading →

Posted in Kumiko | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sofa Table with Kumiko : Starting Point

Posted on August 21, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

Lately I’ve been intrigued with the Japanese form of woodworking called Kumiko, you’ve probably seen the two boxes I recently completed using that technique as an accent. I’ve seen a few images of the Kumiko being used in furniture as … Continue reading →

Posted in custom furniture, Hand Planes, Hand Tool Woodworking, Hybrid Woodworking, Kumiko, Mortise and Tenon Joint, YouTubeVideo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Latest Frame Commission and Box Done

Posted on August 15, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

I recently received an order for two picture frames from someone in the Portrait Artists of Arizona, they will be used on paintings entered into shows so that’s exciting!  She asked for a fairly simple frame with a black finish. … Continue reading →

Posted in custom profile, custom profile, Hand Cut Dovetails, Hand Tool Woodworking Class, Picture Frames | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kumiko Box #2

Posted on July 27, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

Perhaps you’ve read my two previous blogs about the Kumiko process or are one of the Instagram followers who have fallen down the Kumiko Rabbit Hole — thanks HillbillyDaiku!  If you too have fallen down that hole you know how … Continue reading →

Posted in Hand Tool Woodworking, Hybrid Woodworking, Kumiko, Tutorial | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hand Carved Picture Frames — My Process

Posted on July 17, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

Why take the time to blog? That’s a question that I’m asked from time to time and the answer is somewhat complicated!  For starters, as a career teacher I seem to have a natural inclination to share with others.  A … Continue reading →

Posted in Artist, Carving, custom profile, custom profile, Picture Frames, Tutorial | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

First Kumiko Box

Posted on July 14, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

This has been a wonderful challenging project that was inspired by blogs I had read by Mike Pekovich of Fine Woodworking Magazine and Greg Merritt of HillBilly Daiku.  To start this journey “down the rabbit hole” as Greg puts it … Continue reading →

Posted in Hand Planes, Hand Tool Woodworking, Kumiko | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

June Frame Projects

Posted on July 3, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

June has been a busy month as far as frame making goes.  Kind of ironic because I’ve just fallen down that Kumiko rabbit hole and have a project half way started with that.  However, with my philosophy of keeping this … Continue reading →

Posted in Artist, custom profile, custom profile, Kumiko, Picture Frames | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Custom Picture Frames

Posted on June 24, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

I recently accepted a commission to do a series of  picture frames for a well known artist who also runs an Atelier here in the Phoenix area.  The profile he was after is a contemporary one that is deeper than … Continue reading →

Posted in custom profile, custom profile, Hand Planes, Picture Frames | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Journey down the Kumiko “Rabbit Hole” Continues

Posted on June 4, 2018 by woodworksbyjohn

  Here’s the first, completed Kumiko design.  This has been a cool process to get into and the teacher in me always likes to share what I’ve discovered during the journey!  In my first blog about this I showed the … Continue reading →

Posted in Hand Tool Woodworking, Kumiko | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments