Does It Matter?

Welcome back to the Banner Hill Blog. We've just completed our summer programs this week, a week earlier than usual. I'd like to say we're taking some down time but we are doing something more exciting, we will be enclosing our new ceramics studio. So stay in touch here, on Facebook and visit our website to follow the progress and get updates. Our ceramic studio will open for classes in December for our winter/ spring programs.

On the woodworking side I am launching the first of a continuing series on related topics entitled Does It Matter? This was a constant question put to us by Anselm Fraser at the Chippendale International School of Furniture.

Does it matter is a question I am constantly asking myself and students here at the school. It's easy to get caught up in the complexities of a project once you get started. Then before you know it those blinders start sneaking around the side of your head until you become fixated. That's the perfect time to take a break and ask the question, does it matter? Are you sweating over some complicated joinery work that will never be seen when the piece is done? What are the other possibilities for attachments? Or, have you ever got caught up making a free standing piece of furniture and the size changes because a stretcher, apron or leg was cut a half inch shorter than the rest? It happened to me once when making a hall table from expensive wood. Do you scrap the whole thing or is it time to ask the question, does it matter?

Earlier this summer I was purchasing materials for an up coming class. While I was selecting timber I came across two beautifully grained cherry boards 20 inches wide. They were perfect for a bed frame I had to make. When I got them back to the shop and began cleaning them up the boards were uniquely beautiful. I had a design and set about milling the legs and rails. However, as I worked away I knew full well the future head and foot boards would never fit through some of the machines we have. This is a woodworker's lament. We'll never have every tool to do the job.

What to do? Do I rip the boards down, 4 square them and glue the up? The boards were flat sawn. Do I re-size them and reverse the boards for stability? What about matching the grain after milling? Does It Matter? With consistent straight grained wood you can rip it down on the table saw and do a good job matching grain. But think again when it come it inconsistent graining where it twists and turns at every degree and angle. The saw kerf from the table saw or even a band saw make it nearly impossible to re-align the grain.

So, does it matter? Well, sometime yes and sometimes no. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. What you want the piece to show. I the case above I asked my self, does it matter and then reached for the hand planes.

What do you think? Does it Matter?

Kip Christie

Welcome to the Banner Hill Blog

Welcome to the Banner Hill School of Fine Arts and Woodworking blog site. Over ten years ago I had a vision for a multi-disciplined art school in the northern Catskill Mountains here in the Hudson River Valley of New York, the same area that drew artists to the Hudson River School of painters over 100 years ago. Home to Thomas Cole, Fredrick Church, Washington Irving and the likes of many other native artists who took inspiration from the natural beauty of the area. I'm very pleased to announce that the vision has become reality and we are excited to celebrate the one year anniversary of The Banner Hill School of Fine Arts and Woodworking this month.

My passion started in woodworking, furniture making and saving pre-1850 timber frames, restoring them and turning them into beautiful homes, work shops and artists studios. Being both self taught and professionally trained in furniture making in Edinburgh, Scotland, my goal is to offer something for everyone from rank and file beginner to accomplished craftsman.

Along with woodworking our talented staff will be offering courses in, ceramics, painting, drawing, blacksmithing and special children's and women's only classes. My staff members along with myself will be blogging away on everything that is fine arts and woodworking. We hope that you will follow this blog to keep up with all the goings on at the school and for tips on everything from paint brushes to wood stains.

At Banner Hill we view our students as a valuable reasorce for input to the evolution of our school. We hope you will join in the discussion, pose questions, propose courses or just stay in touch.

If you would like more information on the school please visit our website www.BannerHillLLC.com or email us: BannerHillWindham@mac.com.

Stay tuned!
Kip Christie