Leaping along in Llano, Texas

Well what a month it has been. I wish we could have leapt over the entire month. Our brother-in-law has spent most of it in the VA Hospital in Temple, Texas with a knee infection. We have made the two hour trip a few times, trying to help ease the boredom. The good news is he is coming home today! I know my sister and her family will be very happy to have him home. 

Sadly my Aunt was diagnosed with terminal, end stage breast cancer after what we thought was a year of surviving post treatment.  It has been a real shock to the whole family and has made Lou and I both remember how important it is for us to make each day count. We are both re-thinking our lives and making sure we are doing the things that really matter to us, the things that make our hearts sing.

Mesquite Valentines From Lou Quallenberg

4' Sculpted Hearts Mesquite Slab

Speaking of hearts Valentines Day was celebrated in our home in Llano, Texas with an amazing four foot, sculpted, dual heart, mesquite slab from the talented Lou Quallenberg.  The mesquite slab was left rough and unfinished with the mix of smooth hearts and  rugged texturing. (The photo does not do it justice I took it with my cell phone.)

I Just Love It! and have added it to my mesquite  heart collection that increases in size every February.  I know I have posted the photo before but I do enjoy my mesquite hearts that Lou makes and enjoy sharing them. Believe it or not each piece is usually created the day before Valentines Day.

Barry Bradley's "Two Halves Makes A Whole"

I also wanted to share this really cool limestone and mesquite heart by Barry Bradley of Artisans at Rocky Hill in Fredericksburg.  He always comes up with unique and interesting sculptures and furniture.   A True Artist.  

Speaking of Artists it is that time again.  @LAST Llano ART Studio Tour is the last Saturday in March. That makes it March 31st this year.  We are looking forward to the tour again this year and Lou will be doing a demo at 2:00pm on his turquoise inlay process and creating the mesquite laminate curves he uses in his mesquite furniture.

The following artists are participating this year:

Map 2012 @LAST Llano Art Studio Tour for use Saturday March 31st The Last Saturday in March Annually

@1
Ira Kennedy Home Studio
Painting Acrylic Ink
www.irakennedy.com/painting

@2
Texas Tin Lizard: Kathleen Smith
Mixed Media Bottle Trees
www.texastinlizard.com

@3
The Country Quilt Shop: Ann Fellar
Fabric & Quilts
www.quiltshopinthecountry.com

@4
Sweet Mesquite: Ken Cline
Wood & Frames
www.sweet-mesquite.com

@5
Tom Suarez Photography
www.tomsuarez.com

@6
Llano Fine Arts Guild
Guild Artists
www.llanofineartsgallery.org

@7
Nailhead Spur Company: Richard Wendt
Iron
www.nailheadspur.com

@8
DustDevilDiver Photography: Briley Mitchell
www.dustdevildiverphotography.com

@9
A Rosy Outlook
Mixed Media / Jewelry
www.arosyoutlook.com

@10
Gridiron Gallery: Jack Moss
Watercolor Western Art
www.thegridirongallery.com

@11
ClayThings: Lynda Hallmark Gammage

   Dana Williams Wood, the Single Tree Collection
   Shabby Chic

   Jane Lynch
   Altered Art

   Connie Lynch
   Stained Glass

@12
Sapphire (Sheri Zoch) Home Studio
Fused glass and oils

@13
Charles & Euneen Wendt Home Studio
Spurs, Iron, Fused Glass, Gourd Art
www.rockingwspurs.com

@14
Myrick Studio: Harriet Myrick
Mixed Media

@15
Bob & Lisa Pheil Home Studio
Iron & Baskets
www.pheilforges.com

@16
Lou Quallenberg Home Studio
Sculpted Mesquite Wood
www.LouQart.com

   Ralph Moresco
   Copper Wind Spirals
   www.westshorewindspirals.com

   Susie Fowler
   Shade Tree Potter
   www.shadetreepotter.com

Please respect the privacy of the Artists in Home Studios by making an appointment on dates other than the tour date of Saturday March 31st 2012.  Follow us on Facebook. and see photos of last years event.

 

Backyard Bluebonnet Bokeh by Briley Mitchell at DustDevilDiver Photography Llano,Texas

The bluebonnets are popping their heads out and with the recent rains it is setting up to be a good year for them.  I have included a photo of a few of these early blooming beauties taken by one of the @LAST Llano ART Studio Tour Artists, Briley Mitchell of DustDevilDiver Photography in Llano. Please note: This image is copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Lou has not had a camera in his hands in some time.  He has been busy in the shop but I hope to dust him off and drag him out as soon as there is a good show along the roadsides.  

If you get a chance it is a GREAT time to come and visit Llano, Texas.  Besides bluebonnets we also have a beautiful river with sandy granite beaches, a historic county courthouse and square, a bald eagles nest, and nearby is the incredible Enchanted Rock. The area is flooded with history and easily pulls up images of Cowboys and Indians riding horseback along the granite rocks and ridges.

A recent visitor posted about Llano, Texas and Coopers BBQ on twitter:

 @FrankBruni

New York Times Op-Ed columnist, food lover and author of several books, including the family and diet memoir Born Round New York, NY · http://tinyurl.com/3ev8hpn

"@FrankBruni: Finally made it to heaven. It's in Llano, Tex., and it's called Cooper's bbq. Brisket, pork ribs, taxidermy and ecstasy." posted Feb 25 @2:27pm

Don't forget to stop by the shop if you are in the area but do call ahead to be sure we are there. Life is short and I plan to make sure we put a few miles on the Harley this spring. At some point we hope to finally make it back to New Jersey for a long awaited visit with friends and family.

A Mesquite Dining Table : Dinner is Served

The Sketch: Mesquite Dining Table

I just noticed that in all these blog postings we have not ever shown a mesquite project complete from start to finish. Since the mesquite dining table was recently delivered in time for Easter Dinner and we happen to have all the photos of the project from start to finish handy on the desktop of my computer a mesquite dining room table will be our first project shown from beginning to end.

Most of Lou's mesquite furniture projects start with a sketch.  The sketch is a way to make sure he is on the same page as the client.  This project started defined as as a mesquite dining table.  The client  knew he wanted Lou Quallenberg to design a mesquite dining table for his second home that would seat eight comfortably.  We had photos and dimensions of the room but no decision on the shape of the table: rectangle, square or round.  In order to help the client make a decision Lou made scale model versions of a square mesquite dining table and a rectangle mesquite dining table. He had enjoyed making the tiny scale models of "The Dancing Trees", the chapel and benches so this was inevitable. Several clients have expressed interest in the tiny model versions but I doubt it could ever be a profitable business model and talk about a niche, niche market. Not just mesquite furniture but mesquite dollhouse furniture!  We are however looking at smaller versions of some products as a product line but more on that in a future blog post......

Square Mesquite Table Model

Square  Mesquite Table Model

Rectangle Mesquite Table Model

Rectangle Mesquite Table Model

After the client decided on a rectangle the approximate sized book matched mesquite slabs were found but once Lou started working with them the question became whether there would be enough space on the table to be comfortable. Lou recommended adding a five inch similar piece of mesquite down the middle to give a bit more elbow room and space on the table and the client agreed.

Two mesquite slabs too small?

Center strip added for size.

Brent Catterton's Shop

Rough mesquite dining table with tiny model.

 Once the three pieces were joined the top required some evening up and major sanding. Since Lou does not have a wide belt sander but an artist friend that makes beautiful doors has one, Lou Quallenberg asked Brent Catterton of Catterton Woodworks in Boerne, Texas if he could give him a hand and run it through his machine - a step that would literally shave some time off the project. In this solitary workshop life sometimes it is really nice to visit with and share ideas and information with another artist.  Lou drooled over the sander and the rest of Brent's shop and set up, a scene that has played out in reversed roles many times before.

Seeing the pieces all fit together roughly for the first time is always kinda magical.  The table still required hours of sculpting and shaping but visually it was well on it's way at this point. Looking more and more like the tiny model version.  

Black epoxy fills the hole.

A mesquite knothole inlay.

Knothole inlay?

The sculpting of the mesquite tables edge revealed that the one dip was going to be deeper and larger than Lou had originally thought.  The table was to have a sprinkling of turquoise inlay throughout  but this was a large spot. Lou filled it in with black epoxy and then tried to come up with a better solution than a large sunken black spot or turquoise spot. My brother, Shawn's idea was to use a knothole as an inlay to fill in the dip. Lou agreed and thought maybe it would add a bit of interest and camouflage.  The client also preferred the look of the knothole so Lou went for it with his usual attention to detail. Another wood artist friend has already told Lou he would be stealing this technique for one of his special projects.  That's the thing about artists they are always taking each others ideas and making them their own.  It is flat out copying that we frown on, but can also see the flattery in.

Attaching legs to the base.

Pouring the Waterlox Tung Oil

Bob Pheil sprays a layer of the Waterlox finish.

The legs were attached to the base and final sanded for Lou's hand rubbed oil and wax finish.  The mesquite top being used for a dining room table in a family with young children would require a more durable finish than Lou normally uses. Lou had brushed on the more durable Waterlox Original Satin tung oil finish in the past but artist friend and neighbor Bob Pheil of Pheil Forges had recently had success spraying the finish onto one of his pieces and offered to spray Lou's top.  Lou stood by and wiped any drips as the eight day process built up a beautiful, layered, durable finish. 

Lou Quallenberg wiping up drips.

Delivery is always an exciting day as the client gets their first look at their much anticipated new piece. It can also be a day of creative solutions as sometimes the homes have extensive landscapes, interesting entrances, and objects and animal that must be navigated through.  This delivery was relatively easy compared to a few in the past.

Delivering can be a tricky process.

Top and base ready to be joined in their new home

Placing the mesquite top on the base.

We had our artist friend, helper and deliveryman Karl Rhodes and his lovely wife Mary along for the ride.  It was a beautiful day to be out and about in the Texas Hill Country. Because we were in the area  we ended up taking in a demonstration by Wimberley glass artist Tim deJong of Wimberley Glassworks. Lou would love to collaborate with him one day.

Saying goodbye as a new owner finds her spot.

Lou Quallenberg always has a hard time saying goodbye to each piece, as he has released a part of his spirit to be left with it. 

I had fun watching as the children on this delivery picked their favorite special spots on the table.  I hope that mom agreed with their choices because they seemed pretty determined that their choices would be their spots for the many future meals they would enjoy on it. I am confident it will become a treasured family piece either way.