Monday 11 August 2014

New Baby!

There may be a slight production delay at Maple Ridge Creations over the next little while.

Let me explain:

I have a small, one man basement shop in my house. This means that while I might be feeling particularly industrious at any point in the day, there may be certain delays in production based on the schedule of the rest of my family.

This means that naptime usually precludes the running of the router, bedtime means no bandsaw, no sanding during supper and so on. Sometimes tools can't be run due to noise levels and sometimes I'm just (rightly) expected to be doing something with the family. Both of which are relevant to...



Our new addition! Many of you are aware that my wife has been expecting and Sunday afternoon we received our little Rebecca into the world.

This will mean at least a couple quiet days at the house for mommy and baby. I would ask that you please be patient if you are waiting for custom orders. They might be just a couple days delayed.

Friday 8 August 2014

Children Sized Picnic Table

A few years ago some friends gave us a small picnic table for our kids to play with in the yard. This morning, just after I had started work in the shop, I was given the news that my oldest had injured himself and the table was effectively no more. 

Always being up for a new project, I set to work to make a new bigger, stronger picnic table for the kids to use. Here is what I ended up with:


The old table had been made from wood that was roughly 2 1/2" x 5/8". Obviously something a bit stronger was needed so I used 1 x 4" (which is really 3/4" x 3 1/2", approximately). It was only around 16" tall and since my kids are growing (both in size and number) something bigger made sense. The finished product is a little over 20" tall and big enough for an adult to sit on one of the seats (although 2 adults on the same bench is not recommended - this is a kids table after all). 


It's around 48" long, which means it should be big enough for those times when friends come over and more than big enough to run around, climb on, climb under and do all those other things that kids are wont to do with picnic tables. 

The legs and crosspieces are 2 x 4"s, which provides more than enough strength to support a small horde of children, and the center crosspiece stabilizes the top 1 x 4"s for some added resiliency. 


The one thing this particular table doesn't have is a finished look. And that's because it isn't really finished. It has no colour, either paint or stain, no protection from the elements, and it doesn't quite look fun enough for little kids. Sadly, that's what comes from being the children of a woodworker: the finish comes when there's time. However, it also means that after breaking the old table this morning, my kids got to play with this one by the afternoon.

I will be making this table available for sale for interested customers, along with full size picnic tables. Pricing will depend on size, materials and finishing options. Contact me at mapleridgecreations@gmail.com for more information.

Carved Bowls: A Sampling

When time and materials allow, I enjoy carving bowls. One of the great things about bowl carving today is that they don't really have to be functional, since most wooden bowls today are used only as decoration. This allows a certain freedom to the carver, which I admit to enjoy. 

Here's a quick sample of three bowls I've done so far in 2014:

Top view. The live edge is visible around the rim and along the top of the handles

This traditional Scandinavian style bowl with intrinsic handles is made from solid cherry. The live edge has been left on the face and its been finished with Danish Oil. 

Side view with the Madoc Market Square in the background


 Crotch-figure in the wood can be seen in the top left of the bowl above

Bowl? Tray? I don't really know, but I do know that this large decorative piece is made from a solid piece of silver birch and has some beautiful crotch-figure at one end. The bark has been left on and secured to the wood. Sunlight makes this bowl light up wonderfully.

The bark can be seen around the edged. It covers the entire bottom naturally. 

Top down shot showing the branch "stripe" through the middle

Bowl carving is just better when you can exercise a bit of freedom in design. This bowl shows off a pedestal style bottom and a branch inclusion really sets it off. made from solid poplar the cut of the bowl follows a tree branch all the way through from one side to the others. A bit of spalting on one end adds a final natural accent. 

The profile shot. High gloss finish makes this one hard to photograph well in direct sunlight.

Unlike most of the things I make, bowl like this are truly one of a kind. Each one is dependant on both the characteristics of the piece of wood as well as the mood and inclination of the carver for its form. I likely won't get to posting every bowl separately here, but I will try to get some up from time to time. 

However, all of my in stock bowls can be viewed (and purchased) weekly at the Marmora Farmer's Market on Saturdays or the Madoc Market on Fridays, at least until the end of August. I will be putting up a fall schedule soon. 

Thursday 7 August 2014

Mini Wishing Wells

So I was approached a couple weeks ago about the possibility of making a miniature wishing well. After some design work and pricing these were the final result.


Aren't they cute?

Side profile

They stand just short of 30" and are made entirely of eastern white cedar (except for roof base of plywood). The customer wanted something that would be left unfinished that would weather naturally but not rot quickly. White cedar fir the bill.

The cedar roof is glued down to add strength against wind

A great little wishing well for a small planter or to add a flourish to your garden. As always, custom orders and items can be made to order.

At present these little guys are priced at $120.00 CDN