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For sale pricing on available pieces, please visit the shop on June 4 or 5 during the Bloomington Open Studios Tour.

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This guy needed a time out. He has become too boss

This guy needed a time out. He has become too bossy in the house, so he spent today in the shop. We hope he’ll be more appreciative when we bring him back in tomorrow.
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#shopcat

What a beautiful day, and it’s not over yet. I’m about to glue up this platerack (saying prayers to the glue gods) with spindles turned by Julie Jackson of @surclewood . I gave my lathe to @ogradycustom after it conked out, figuring he might be able to get it back in working condition, while I planned to replace it with a better model. That plan is currently on hold at best, depending on my health situation. This morning‘s walk was just beautiful. And kudos to @toolsforworkingwood and Midwest Dowel for shipping finish and white oak dowels the same day I placed the orders. Nothing beats personalized, prompt service.
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#makingthingswork #serviceoriented #goodbusiness #womeninwoodworking #womenownenedbusiness #womanownedbusiness

Mark captured a reflection of the sky in the lake

Mark captured a reflection of the sky in the lake where he’s been working. Spot the oak leaf among the clouds. Then, monkshood in full glory.
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#autumn #fall #reflections

This is for all of those who have not written me o

This is for all of those who have not written me off because I have pancreatic cancer. Your willingness to keep commissioning design work, writing, speaking, and furniture is deeply heartening and inspiring.

I know that many people keep such diagnoses to themselves, concerned that they will lose opportunities, and others may regard them with pity. I expected to be dropped like a hot potato. Instead, I have a list of design jobs that is still many weeks long, and I am loving the *extreme* challenge of some of them! I have a stack of small commissions for shop work from people who have told me they can live with the uncertainty that comes with my condition and they’re happy to because they want to work with me. I hate to turn down work but have done so repeatedly over the past 11 months because I can’t handle the self-imposed stress that comes with obligations, beyond a certain point (let’s just say I have no doubt that stress contributed to my development of this condition), and in those cases I’m happy to have the chance to refer work to others.

These are the first dovetails I’ve cut in a while, for a plate rack article in @finewoodworkingmagazine , one of those who have been stalwart when it comes to not writing me off. Thank you @anissakaps @pekovichwoodworks @benstrano @lizandrocky @betsye123 @tommckenna06492 @bnmd_ig

Thank you to everyone at Lost Art Press. I will spare you the tags.

And thank you most recently to @mesdagram for inviting me to speak next spring. I haven’t been anywhere or attended so much as a garden party for the past year-plus, thanks to the pandemic and chemo-induced immunosuppression, but I can’t say no to an institution that I have long held in super high regard. Thank you for giving me another reason to do everything I can to stick around and keep working at what I love.
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#keeponkeepingon #keepontrucking #pancreaticcancer #hopeful #furnituremaking #makingthingswork #womeninwoodworking

What a banner day! Thank you @lostartpress @pleiad

What a banner day! Thank you @lostartpress @pleiadesbee @1snugthejoiner @carol.a.russell and everyone else who made this book possible. I am thrilled to see this work in person, notwithstanding my over-familiarity with its pages on the screen. When I’m back in the office later I will add a link to the ordering page in the bio, but it’s available through Lost Art Press www.lostartpress.com
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#shoptails #animalsatwork #dogsandcats #livingwithcancer #pancreaticcancer

Things you can do with pancreatic cancer. 1: Mill

Things you can do with pancreatic cancer. 1: Mill wood.

Before this experience, I had no idea how many people convey the most dismal expectations in spite of themselves. No doubt I have done the same myself without knowing it; I hope I won’t ever do so again. One of the many lessons I’m learning is that bodies respond in mind-bendingly diverse ways to cancer, as well as to different treatments. The statistics for survival after diagnosis at Stage IV, grim as they are, still support hope. I didn’t even consider this until @lostartpress threw me a mental/existential curveball several weeks ago that has me thinking very differently about living after (and with) this kind of diagnosis.

A number of people here and in comments on blog posts have sent their own reasons to be hopeful. Even if I don’t acknowledge every one, I certainly appreciate them.

Bonus for this Wednesday: the rain brought Mark home early; hence this picture (while taking which he was cracking up because there was a big splotch of dust on my right boob and I didn’t know it).
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#pancreaticcancer #stage4cancer #stageivpancreaticcancer #woodworker #woodworking #furnituremaking

Things that grow in October, south-central Indiana

Things that grow in October, south-central Indiana edition. A catalpa leaf for my grandma Esse on her birthday, Monet-inspired nasturtiums, an orchid and some celery, a splotchy mushroom with bonus woolly bear caterpillar (the speck of rust in the grass).
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#october #flora #catalpa #nofilter

The light in October is so lovely. I am spending t

The light in October is so lovely. I am spending this week on design work and writing. Next week, back to the shop.

Working in the office or at the kitchen table gives me lots of opportunities to look out the window. my eyes are very happy.
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#october #designandbuild #ilovemywork

For the past few weeks I’ve been working a lot m

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