Debut of "EDGE Series: STIPPLE Mesquite Bench w/ Contemporary Calf Leg" at 15th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show

Unfortunately my health and family care duties have kept me from my regular monthly blog posting. I hope that I will be able to be a bit more regular but only time will tell.....

Fall is always a very busy time at Lou Quallenberg Studios. 

Lou's work was on display at Quail Point for the 

Lighthouse Gala 

in Horseshoe Bay 

by 

Marta Stafford Fine Art.  

The very next day Western Trappings on The Llano 2014 kicked off with it's Meet the Artist Reception. 

 Western Trappings on The Llano

October 18, 2014 thru January 4, 2015

Approximately 70 Western Artists and Gear makers featured in this 

International Juried Exhibition & Sale 

inside The Llano County Historical Museum 

Celebrate The Art & Artists OPEN HOUSE 

December 6th

9am-6pm

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If you are in Llano please check out this wonderful show of Artists and Makers and give us a ring and swing by the shop. Just call first to be sure Lou is there and not off on delivery. 

We just delivered two pieces to the

15th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show
October 30 - November 30, 2014
A Statewide Competition of the
Finest Custom Furniture Makers in Texas
Awards Reception

November 8th 

5:30p.m. - 8 p.m.
Kerr Arts & Cultural Center in Kerrville, Texas

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Lou Quallenberg tries to support this show by creating a mesquite furniture piece each year but lately due to limited time we have had to borrow pieces back from client homes in order to have a show worthy piece.   
  
Lou did get a chance this year to make a smaller new piece which will begin a beautiful new series of pieces and design style. You can be sure he will take this simple EDGE idea and evolve it to see what more he can create from it.

EDGE Series: STIPPLE Mesquite Bench w/ Contemporary Calf Leg by Lou Quallenberg

EDGE Series: STIPPLE Mesquite Bench w/ Contemporary Calf Leg by Lou Quallenberg

Read the show entry Description:

EDGE Series: STIPPLE Bench w/ Contemporary Calf Leg

Always searching to see where the limits on design and mesquite sit and pushing to that point to create his work. This new concept piece for the artist represents another evolution in his distinct design style. This Texas mesquite bench features the artist's signature floating top/seat on stainless steel pins, welded to steel bars that are screwed into routered grooves in the table top. The “Contemporary Calf Leg” style leg design debuted at the 2013 Texas Furniture Makers Show. The new EDGE Series design features a stippled process using a Dremel tool and approximately 4,000 indentions for a unique texture. The silky finish is a very fine, 400-600 grit, hand, wet sanding with a custom blend of oils topped off with several coats of liquid cream wax, a two week process.

Dimensions: 18” height x 11.5” width x 48” length

The second piece we did have to pick up from a client's home in Bryan College Station. Avery and Martin Walker generously allowed us to show their Mesquite furniture piece "The Walker Curve Mesquite Entry Table" in this years Texas Furniture Makers Show.  You may have seen this mesquite entry table in an earlier blog post here: http://mesquite-musings.blogspot.com/2014/04/new-mesquite-furniture-design-walker.html

Walker Curve Mesquite Entry Table by Lou Quallenberg

Walker Curve Mesquite Entry Table by Lou Quallenberg

Read the show entry Description:

“Walker Curve Mesquite Entry Table”

Always searching to see where the limits on design and mesquite sit and pushing to that point to create his work. This new concept piece for the artist represents another evolution in his distinct design style. Custom designed for Avery and Martin Walker, to place in a front entryway. The piece combines and incorporates his signature, sculpted, live-edge style with a more sculptural, art piece, edge slab. This Texas mesquite entry table features the artist's signature floating top on stainless steel pins, welded to steel bars that are screwed into routered grooves in the table top. The “curves” are achieved with 14 slices of 1/16^th of an inch mesquite planks clamped and epoxied onto an arched jig. The curved bases are artistically joined with sculptural mesquite brackets and meet the floor with sculpted feet. The silky finish is a very fine, 400-600 grit, hand, wet sanding with a custom blend of oils topped off with several coats of liquid cream wax, a two week process.

Dimensions: 36” height x 19.5” width x 69” length

We hope that you can make it to the 15th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show and see all the hard work and incredible talent on display.

Lessons of a Lectern

Lou Quallenberg peeks through the crack in the Mesquite Lectern

Each new  project usually brings with it a set of lessons and insight into an artist's ability. We always find that each new project helps stretch and grow us in both art and in spirit.  The clients for this project: The Mesquite Lectern, have played a distinct role in stretching Lou Quallenberg artistically as well as spiritually and for that we are so very thankful.

The Lectern was part of the original order for the Chapel with the Dancing Trees and Benches/Pews. Since there was no specific time frame or deadline for this project Lou was able to develop the piece while working on other projects. This gave him a chance to play with the piece and in doing so, add a pop up shelf and small fold down reading light.

Lou stands next to the face of the lectern to establish size for the client progress report.

The project began with a unique slab from the same tree that the Dancing Trees were cut from. Lou wanted to save the shape of his unique slabbed piece of mesquite but also make it "Dance" alongside the Dancing Trees. 

Sketch of Mesquite Lectern

Lou's work almost always begins with a sketch. He usually has an idea of which mesquite slab he will be working with. That helps to develop the sketch which then gives the client a visual confirmation that he is moving in the right direction. 

The YouTube video below shows Lou Quallenberg & Shawn Walker as they begin to carve the Mesquite Lectern with a chainsaw.

Lectern begins to take shape

Progress report photos for the client.

Lou Quallenberg's Signature Mesquite Bow Tie

Progress reports  and photos are regularly emailed to clients to keep them up to date on their special piece. This allows the client to help direct the design decisions that need to be made and gives them the feeling of participation as well as anticipation.


















Lou Quallenberg's Signature Bow Tie  on the Lectern makes a  symbolic cross shape and holds the large crack in place.  We have several clients that request the Bow Tie even if it is not required structurally to hold their commissioned piece together. They like Lou's  Bow Tie purely as a design element. The  Bow Tie  on the Mesquite Lectern was also sculpted to add dimension and catch the light . This required an extra thick, BIG Bow Tie in order to to have room to sculpt it.

Lou with Lectern in the shop for @LAST Art Tour before the finish. 

Photo by John Hallowell - Highland Lakes Weekly

The Mesquite Lectern was in the shop for quite a while as Lou worked on other projects it even made an appearance, showing off its basic shape at the @LAST Llano ART Studio Tour.     



The Mesquite Lectern was professionally photographed by Lou before she was taken on delivery to her new home in the chapel alongside the Dancing Trees.  

Mesquite Lectern by Lou Quallenberg

Lou Quallenberg's Mesquite Lectern

Shelf DOWN Light UP

Shelf UP Light DOWN

Light from front in DOWN position.

Light side view in DOWN position.

Lou Quallenberg with his Mesquite Lectern

Many Lessons were learned as Lou Quallenberg stretched creatively and spiritually to create the Mesquite Lectern.

DELIVERY DAY

Arriving at the Chapel in the scenic Texas Hill Country

Entering the Chapel

Making its way into the Chapel towards the Dancing Trees

Mesquite Lectern in its rightful place alongside the Dancing Trees

The Dancing Trees and Benches admire their new friend the Lectern.

 A final touch goodbye

The "Susan" Mesquite Table: A "Birth" Day

Birthday Ride to Enchanted Rock

April is our birthday month here at Lou Quallenberg Studios.  Mine arrives first on the seventh followed a week later with Lou's on the fourteenth.  Two Aries rams butting heads until one of us decides to be the lamb. We celebrated mine  this year with a beautiful, bluebonnet filled ride to Enchanted Rock on the Harley.  Lou spent his in the shop where he is truly happiest working with his mesquite. I tried to get him out but he said it was his birthday and he could do what he wanted.

April is also the "birth"day for the "Susan" Table.  She was all finished up and delivered on Sunday the 29th. I know Lou felt a few pangs as he let her go.  She went to a very good home and we know she will be well loved for a few generations at the very least.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Susan Table!!

Here is her story:

"Susan" Table Mesquite  Slab Top

We first met with the clients knowing that they wanted a mesquite table that would go in an entry way under a painting.  Lou had carefully selected several mesquite slabs for them to choose from.  When  she saw the slab that would become her table our client knew it was the only one for her.

Conception: Lou created a sketch based on the mesquite slab that was chosen and the process began.

Conception: Lou Quallenberg's sketch of the "Susan" Table

Once the sketch was approved the slab and it's flitch (the rest of the slabs from the tree) was taken to Brandon Berdoll in Cedar Creek. Where they were placed in his kiln for drying.  Brandon has kiln drying of mesquite down to a science and he provided us with regular moisture content readings throughout the entire process.  The mesquite was in the kiln for a good eleven weeks.

Mesquite slabs stacked and ready for the kiln

The Kiln

Final moisture content reading on mesquite slabs dried in the kiln

Once the slab and its sisters were all dried throughout to a 7.5% moisture content it was brought back to Llano to begin the construction process.

Removing the mesquite bark

After the basic shape was defined and the outer edges were cleaned up the base curve was copied and calculated to create the laminated curve that is a signature to Lou Quallenberg's mesquite work.

Calculating the curve for the table base

Once the curve is designed the jig to capture that curve is created and carefully crafted.

The jig that creates the matching curve

Lou Quallenberg in the shop with his curve creating jig

The Laminated Mesquite Base Curve and Leg Pattern

The "Susan" Table got a new set of legs.  Lou gave the leg design a bit more curve because he is always trying to improve the design and look of his mesquite furniture pieces.

Mesquite Table Clamped and Ready for Final Design Tweaking

A First Glimpse at How the Mesquite Table Will Look

The Mesquite Base Curves Finally Together

Curved Mesquite Base Ready for the Finish

Lou's finish is a two week process of lovingly hand sanding the tung oil based finish into every nook and cranny on the piece.

Applying the Finish to the Mesquite Slab Top

 He then rubs the piece with a cream wax to seal it all in.  It is so satiny smooth to the touch.

First Coat of Finish on the Mesquite Base

Mesquite Slab Top With the First Coat of  Tung Oil Based Finish

Curved Mesquite Base All Finished

When he is finished with his finish each piece calls out for you to touch it. We encourage the touching an rubbing of a piece.  Even the underside of his mesquite furniture pieces are as finished off as the top.

The "Susan" Mesquite Table Ready for Her Closeup and More

Photography is the next step of the process.  Lou photographs each piece utilizing his skills and experience in commercial photography. The "Susan" was photographed in Tom Suarez's Studio because she was too large to set up properly in the shop.  Lou's work is difficult to capture photographically because of all the curves and curves and curves.....

Lou Quallenberg's "Susan" Table in Mesquite 116"L x 24"W x 31"H

After her photos the "Susan" Table was ready for delivery. Once a piece is "delivered" to the client the process comes to an end  for us and the delivery date becomes each pieces "Birthday" in our catalog of Mesquite Furniture pieces. Where each piece is photographed and the original client/buyers name and location is recorded to help track the provenance of the individual pieces.

Check out Jamail's in Horeshoe Bay, Texas

So going along with the birthday theme, I mentioned last month that I have stepped back into the world of work and my first love: flowers. The birthing or start up of a grocery store is such an amazing thing to be a part of.  It is very much like the birth of a baby with a great deal of pain at the end,  along with the reward of shiny new entity.  I have been involved in several store start ups with HEB's Central Market being the biggest and most difficult. It is challenging, frustrating work, that is at times very exciting and ultimately rewarding. I have seen it make grown men cry many times over.

The Jamail Family has handled this overwhelming task with such grace and efficiency, producing a wonderful gem of a store in the heart of the Hill Country.  I hope the floral department that I create for them can hold up to their high standards in quality and value.  I can't wait to finally get my hands on some of these flowers I have been carefully sourcing and ordering. Because that is when the real fun begins.