Let me start out by saying I am so sorry to those who can’t come to the open house starting this Saturday but know this, YOU are all in my heart and every demonstration and lecture I am involved with this coming week will include you in my mind. Everyone here has been getting ready for the upcoming ArtWeeks that involves each one of them.
Hard to imagine but four months have passed since my leaving North Wales and moving to Oxfordshire. It still feels a little transitional but I have made some fine friends who are truly gifted artisans.
Neil Scott is a creative designer with unique concepts using everything from chrome on steel and casting resins and woods he would risk his life for. He’s highly proactive as an independent designer in his own right and a neat guy to be around; you cannot do anything but love his work.
Mary’s upholstery work is just beautiful and as a skilled seamstress much of her work exemplifies the hidden detail and craftsmanship she keeps alive through an impeccable quest she has to know her craft from the inside out.
And then there’s Chris Boreham, a young designer who takes on just about anything that helps everyone achieve their goals. He and Rodas Irving are both independent craftsmen who often share their different space to bring a project together. 
Rodas is a highly productive maker producing all types of outdoor furniture from oak. 
There are others too, special people, crafting artisans, and I hope to cover that in later blog next week.
On Saturday we have the literary evening and yours truly will be last man on to talk about his book and why he wrote it. I wish that you could all be here with me but I know you will understand that this is an important part of the vision we have for the future of woodworking, so please be with me in spirit.
Those of you that can make it to see us during our open house we would love to see you. Of course it’s more than just Art Weeks and the Literary evening and the Wood Centre. It’s about living your work and living your craft. I will have more on this soon.
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