Sharing, September & Shows

September's shadows 

lean long and hard.

The feel of Fall begins it's bow.

The colors and the show begin,

as winter starts her harsh descent. 

- CW Quallenberg

Lou Quallenberg sharing his knowledge at Art Tour Demo

September always seems to be a stressful month of trying to make up for the slower pace of a heat filled August or sizzling summer (as the case may be.) Show pieces and items are rushed as the arrival of Fall signals  "Show Time" at Lou Quallenberg Studios.  Lou tries to create a new piece each year for the Texas Furniture Makers Show in an effort to support this showcase of incredible talent. We enjoy visiting with the other artists and Furniture Makers at this and other shows that we attend. The sharing of information and the energy exchange that comes from being in a room filled with such amazing artistic talent is exhilarating! 

In 2008 we met an amazing artistic couple at the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole. Tim Carney of Timothy's Fine Woodworking and Maureen Shaunnessey of  Brown Bird Studio.  Maureen is the one that taught me how easy it is to blog and inspired me to start the Mesquite Musings journey.  The have a great group of woodworkers in Montana  -  The Helena Woodworkers Guild

Check out their Blog: Sawdust & Shavings  It is on that blog that we discovered this great video about sharing skills and passing info along to the next generation.

I love this quote that they pulled from the Video:

"If you don’t hand it on, all that’s not given is lost. So you must — if you get good at something — show other people how to do this."

— Lida Cardozo Kindersley, letter carver

This is exactly what we believe. We are always sharing techniques, sources, information and just about anything else you can think of! Lou feels that if someone is copying his ideas it is a compliment and not a theft like some may see it as. He knows in his heart of hearts that he will always have a new idea or design in his head and nobody can take that from him.



What knowledge skill or craft are you passing along to the future? Do you share it? If not why not?

Lou Quallenberg's Upcoming Shows:

14TH ANNUAL TEXAS FURNITURE MAKERS SHOW

http://www.texasfurnituremakersshow.org/

October 31st-November 30th 2013

Kerr Arts & Cultural Center

WESTERN TRAPPINGS ON THE LLANO

https://www.facebook.com/WesternTrappingsOnTheLlano

October 18th, 2013 - January 4th, 2014

Llano County Historical Museum

A few shows that we wish we had the time for but just could not break away for this year :

The Texas Mesquite Art Festival        The Western Design Conference         Cody High Style

          October 11 - 13, 2013                       September 5-7, 2013              September 18-22, 2013

          Fredericksburg, Texas                    Jackson Hole, Wyoming                Cody, Wyoming

While Lou Quallenberg Studios did not make the final round in the Martha Stewart American Made Awards we are currently in the second round of voting in the Intuit Small Business Big Game Contest. We appreciate your support! You can use this link below to vote for us and who knows maybe Lou will win a Commercial during the Super Bowl!

 

 PLEASE

You can't spell Heart without ART

"You can't spell heart without art" via Keep calm o matic.

February is the month known for the heart. With Valentine's Day falling at the halfway point in the month, the CDC creating awareness of Heart Disease by proclaiming February American Heart Month and the American Heart Association's: Wear Red Day on Feb 1st. Hearts abound and  surround us during this month long tribute to hearts everywhere.  Even in Llano, Texas at Lou Quallenberg Studios the heart takes center stage as annually on February 14th Lou creates a mesquite heart for the quote "love of his life".   You can't spell heart without art!  This month I wanted to show support for a few wood Artists with heart that we are trying to support through KickStarter.

If you are not familiar with KickStarter it is an online funding platform for creative projects similar to IndiGoGo another online crowdfunding platform that is a bit more global and less specific project oriented. Both sites have their advantages but we seem to be drawn to KickStarter projects for some reason. The KickStarter funded film  Inocente — the story of a 15-year old girl from California who refuses to give up her dream of being an artist — just won an Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject). It was one of three KickStarter films that received Oscar nominations.

Lou Quallenberg's Mesquite Heart for 2013

The first KickStarter campaign that we contributed to was our artist friends Al and Mary Hone's Freedom in a feather project to purchase  PMC clay, tools and a kiln. We have always loved the wood carving and artwork of Al Hone and credit him as the reason Lou started doing the Western Design Conference in Cody, Wyoming.  The project was unfortunately unsuccessful at funding but it got us hooked. We began regularly looking at the projects to see if anything new was of interest.  We were hugely disappointed to miss out on Joshua Harker's 3D printed filigre skull Crania Anatomica Filigre: Me to You.

We were excited to discover the work of James McNabb of  McNabb &Co. with his City Series. Even more excited when we realized that he would soon be doing a KickStarter Project, which meant we could have a small piece of his amazing work. We also felt it necessary to support him winning a Laguna Tools Band Saw in their Show us your Love Contest.  A great bandsaw is a required tool for the kind of work he is doing.  We love the fact that he works with his wife and has his dog featured on his KickStarter and website. As we post this he is less than $100 from his $5000 goal on Kickstarter and with 16 days to go we think you should go sign up and support him and his amazing work.

James McNabb
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
www.McNabbStudio.com

The next artist we discovered on KickStarter was Gustav Reyes with his unique bent wood pieces of furniture and jewelry. He was looking to purchase a  wood compression machine for $135,000 and we had hoped to really help push him the next two weeks of his project but as I started to write this we discovered that he has canceled his project. :(  He is still a very talented artist and we won't be surprised to watch as his work increases in popularity. 

Gustav Reyes
Chicago, Illinois
www.GustavReyes.com

The thing about these two wood artists is they each have unique vision and an obvious passion, putting their HEART into their work.  We truly love to be around and support talented artists in as many ways as we can. I know that if we had unlimited resources this is where it would go. With that said an idea has been brewing. As we outgrow our current location and begin the work of finding and relocating to a larger property and  pace. Perhaps it is  an opportunity to create a place of  art. A place  of  learning and sharing between artists and our rural community.  A place for artists to reside on location in guest houses to pursue their passions.  As the dream or vision comes more into focus perhaps a KickStarter project will help make it into a reality.

Time keeps ticking away

"S-curve" an early more primitive piece shown at 2011Texas Furniture Makers Show

Time is ticking away. The year is already winding down. Is it just me? or is time moving faster? It seems as if there is not enough time in the day to get all of the many things that are required to function in this day and age, accomplished. Most of the things originally considered time savers have actually snuck their way into the time waster category.  Cell phones make us slaves to their tones and vibrations.  The internet that connects us to everything and everyone, tempts us with meaningless info, cute cat photos, bizarre happenings, and viral videos. Don't let me get started on social media.....

Lou is often overheard saying he does not have enough time left in this lifetime to complete the many projects he has bouncing around in his brain.  I have seen some of his sketches and I know he is right. Don't get me wrong,  I know he will definitely be leaving behind an artistic trail of mesquite furniture and objet all photographed, cataloged and assigned to their original buyers and locations.  I suspect this feeling is true of most artists and probably one of the very catalysts that drive them to produce that thing that they each do so well - their own individualized "art."

We are currently under a serious time crunch as Lou tries to finish up a new piece for the Texas Furniture Makers Show and a few commissioned pieces that are due to the clients in early November.  This has been an incredibly busy year for us and we feel so very blessed to have such great clients, both old and new.  Last year Lou did not even have time to attempt creating a new piece for the Texas Furniture Makers Show and we ended up putting in an earlier more primitive piece.  Lou Quallenberg's work has become much more sculptural and artistic. This years entry piece will clearly show how much his work has evolved.

 Texas Furniture Makers Show 

A Statewide Competition of the Finest Custom Furniture Makers in Texas

November 8 through December 8, 2012

Kerr Arts & Cultural Center
228 Earl Garrett Street

Kerrville, Texas 78028

Reception November 17, 5:30 - 8 pm

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, 1 - 4 pm

We recently had the opportunity to visit with our friends, Utah Artist Les Powers and his wonderful wife Tauni. They stopped by Llano on their way to a show in Austin to visit, see the shop and pick up some mesquite wood. Les makes such amazing sculptural pieces combining wood and stone that wrap, twist and weave around each other. Each one carefully named and thought out with a story full of meaning. His work can be viewed online at NaturesForms.net.  During our visit Les made the same comment Lou does about not having enough time to produce all the work floating around in his head.  I think Lou feels the way about Les's brain that I feel about his.  "In awe" is a probably a simple way to describe it.

Sharing ideas and info.

Les Powers, Lou Quallenberg & Simba

Les Signing a piece for the show

Tauni makes a beautiful background

Les even stacks his wood artistically

 
We met Les & Tauni at the Western Design Conference in 2008 the first year it was held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We connected immediately and chose to meet up and hang out again at the Western Design Conference the following year, along with Tim Carney and his beautiful artist wife Maureen Shaughnessy - who by the way encouraged us to start this blog. Meeting and sharing with incredible artists is one of our favorite social pastimes. We met Tom Dean of Milo Creek Carvings at the 2009 WDC and continue to joke and tease with him to this day. We always enjoy connecting, sharing and feeding the inspiration and energy that occurs as artists gather, socialize and share.

This quote sums it all up: 

"Artists are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime.... Every day, artists face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get real jobs, and their own fear that they’ll never work again. Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream. With every role, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment. With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg. Why? Because artists are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that line, that laugh, that gesture, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul. Artists are beings who have tasted life’s nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another's heart. In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.” - David Ackert

We would have never known about the show if we had not discovered the incredible work of Al Hone in a copy of the Sourcebook from the Western Design Conference. His work and the opportunity to meet him was one of the reasons we decided to do that final 2006 Western Design Conference in Cody, Wyoming. (That and the fact that Sam Maloof was one of the judges!)

Al and Mary Hone and their pup named Roxie are the authentic faces of Western art and design.   Al's award winning carved masterpieces and sculptures are so incredible in their detail and design.

Check out a few of his available pieces:

Spirit of the Tetons 46w x 26d x 30h

Executive Desk

Credenza: 93w x 98h x 22d   

Desk: 60w x 32d x 30h

Longhorn Cabinet 90h x 46w x 21d

Raven Magic Mirror 52w x 44h

For  more take a look at his website: AlHone.com.  Mary uses antique trade beads and creates beautiful beaded jewelry, leather work and accessories inspired by native Indian patterns and design. Together they are traveling the country in an RV, creating their art and living their dream.  I suspect that even living that lifestyle they still feel time leaking away here and there.  Who knows maybe quelling that feeling of time shrinking away is why they chose to pack up and hit the road in the first place.

Two Sisters from one AMAZING Tree

That is one big Mesquite Tree!

Lou Quallenberg was quietly approached by an unassuming man at the 2006 Texas Mesquite Show in San Angelo, Texas. The man said he had a large mesquite tree that he needed removed from his yard. “Large Mesquite Tree” is a phrase that will create lots of interest at a place like the Texas Mesquite Show. Lou had been in the business long enough now though, that he knew one man’s version of a large mesquite tree was not necessarily what he himself considered a large tree. Expecting to be disappointed he took the man’s information and promised to drive by after the show and take a look.

Upon arrival at the given address Lou and his crew knew immediately that this tree was something special. It was indeed a large tree and even more important she looked to be full of beauty and spirit. “Looked to be” being the key phrase, because the favorite saying at Lou Quallenberg Studios is “Mesquite trees are like a box of chocolates, you just don’t know what your gonna get.” This popular saying had earned it’s place time after time with both disappointment and delight. This time Lou just "KNEW". (See Lou Quallenberg's Dancing Trees.) 

Lou Quallenberg & Steve Walker: BIG mesquite Log.

While the tree spoke to them of promise she also revealed that she was a very complicated woman. She was not going to be easy to take. She was firmly planted on the side yard next to the house with large looming, branches dangerously close to the home. To make the complications worse she was 150 miles from the shop, home and the many extra hands it would take to pull her free.

Two months later armed with chain saws, three trailers, six men and a local tree removal service, Lou was on his way to bringing this special gift home. It took all day and all hands working together swiftly to get her loaded on the trailers and safely on her way to Llano. Many thanks go out to Steve Walker, Shawn Walker, Terry Martin, Karl Rhodes and Bill Gleason for their help in safely releasing this beauty from the ground.

Once in Llano the next challenge was to open her up and see what treasures she actually held. This was a particularly difficult challenge since her main trunk was 38” in diameter with an s curve of about 46” and Lou wanted to keep her whole if possible. This required a saw with at least a 48”opening. None of the Mills in Central Texas were large enough to handle a tree of this size. Lou was patient and determined and finally a month later, convinced a man in South Texas to attempt to open her up. This required another road trip this time 270 miles up and back. She was really putting on the miles but many more were still to come on this journey.

She was a big gal 12 ft long , weighing in at 3500 lbs, the mill foreman had difficulty unloading her with the hi -lo and at one point his wheels came off the ground. It took a full three hours to open her up and cut her into the desired slabs. Once she was opened up Lou had his answer, she was a box of Godiva Chocolate. The trip home was full of joy, he knew he had something special in that trailer rumbling behind him.

The next part of her journey involved a trip of 30 miles to the kiln for drying. The drying of mesquite is a very important step in the process. Mesquite has several beetles and bug pests that must be eradicated and if the wood is not dried properly it is susceptible to cracking and those little bugs will leave their telltale sign of fine sawdust ruining all of your hard work. This little spa vacation lasted a good 12 weeks and then she was ready for her trip back home. It was as she was being placed into position for air drying that Lou spotted the two book matched sisters and knew that they were both to be created into coffee tables.

With a tight schedule Lou worked his new girlfriends in, hoping to have at least one ready for the September Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. While the table tops were inspired by nature and Lou was really just bringing out the character and soul of each piece, the bases were intricately created to match the curves of each top. The bases are sleek curves of laminated mesquite, a signature of Lou‘s pieces. Each curve created specifically to match the individual curves of each top. The natural slab tops float above the curved bases on steel pins giving the pieces a natural but also unique contemporary look. 

 

The signature laminated curves are created by slicing mesquite planks into 1/8^th of an inch pieces on the band saw and then they are stacked together, glued with epoxy and placed into handmade wooden jigs. Once in the jig they are clamped in place and remain clamped for at least 48 hours. Each curve usually requires it’s own special jig. The “Sisters” each required 3 jigs per table.

“Jackson” the more solid sister was bejeweled with inlaid accents of turquoise in some of the cracks and crevices that are characteristic of mesquite. “Sister” had more holes and sculptural aesthetic and since potential customers are always saying “Oh I love that piece I just wish it did/didn’t have turquoise in it” the decision was made not to add turquoise to “Sister” and to fill the spots with a black fresco epoxy instead.

After months of sculpting, shaping and sanding, the three week finish: a combination of sanding, oil and wax was lovingly applied. Both pieces were ready and the decision was made to take them both on the 1400 mile journey to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in hopes that they could both be shown together if space was available. Fortunately the space was found and the Sisters made their debut together that September at the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming .

The trip 2800 miles up and back added a few more miles to the two sister’s journey. Seeing them together in Jackson Hole displayed in an almost yin yang arrangement caused Lou to request that the tables both be put together at the 9^th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show in Kerrville, Texas. Jim Derby the Show Director at the time, agreed that they did look good together in that yin yang and found space for them to both be shown together in the show.

“Sister” won their category “Texas Style Furniture” at the 9^th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show in December. Making it the first of a three years in a row winning streak, that Lou Quallenberg won the Best Texas Style category.    A well deserved ending to a journey from tree to table.

Crated and ready to go to the UK

Crate arrives in UK

But that was not to be the final journey these two sisters would make. Because across the pond a new company was forming with a desire to promote mesquite around the world. This company formed in the United Kingdom was named: The Mesquite Company. They had been watching Lou's work in mesquite and had planned to visit Texas and the Texas Mesquite Art Festival in Fredericksburg hoping to find him and make contact and do business. They wanted to show his work in the UK and represent him in Europe as they introduced mesquite and mesquite flour to Europe.

An agreement was made with The Mesquite Company and Lou decided to send not one but both Sisters on this incredible journey over seas. As in the past he could not bear to separate them.  They are after all "sisters".

As fate would have it this adventure did not end with shows and accolades or even a sale. Due to an illness in the family, the owners of The Mesquite Company ended up back in Texas for an undetermined and extended stay. Therefore ending the promotion before it had a chance to take flight and get off the ground. A round trip of close to 10,000 miles is now being added to the travel tally of these mesquite beauties.

So as the US Olympic Team returns back to the US from London this month, so do these two amazing sisters. While some of the US Olympic athletes return with medals, MOST do not, but are grateful for the journey, the opportunity and the experience. That is how we feel about these two mesquite beauties. Their story remains to be told with the ending still unwritten.

Summer, Social Media, Shows & Sculpture

SUMMER

As the summer heat gathers and begins to bear down on us.... (okay! okay! I know technically it is spring and summer is a month away) but seriously this IS Texas - and it is already in the 100's around these parts.  We are trying to figure out how to keep the shop cool enough for Lou  (& Barney) to actually WANT to go to work in it.  I vote for a swimming pool but we would need one serious filter to keep that mesquite sawdust and English mastiff  hair from clogging up the system.  Lou wants an air conditioner but I know he would take one look at the first month's bill and never turn it on again. So I guess we will suffer through another Hill Country summer. We are all ears if you have a suggestion for an inexpensive, efficient way to cool a mesquite furniture making, wood shop in the heat of a Texas summer.

"Curves" Mesquite Coffee Table by Lou Quallenberg

SOCIAL MEDIA & SUCH

Does anyone else feel like the world is on hyper warp speed?  Trying to keep up with marketing and social media it is a non stop learning curve. We are currently on facebook, twitter, Linked in, and blogger, we email, snail mail, we have land lines and cell phones and it is all almost too much to keep track of. Oh and did I mention a website in bad need of a face-lift? I am thankful  that it is already a pretty mobile friendly website or that project would be marked "UBER" urgent.  

This QR code takes the reader to our website.

Our latest marketing effort is directed specifically at mobile users. We are incorporating QR codes into our marketing materials. What? You don't know what a QR code is? QR is short for quick response and a QR code has the ability to take a mobile user  with a smart phone directly to your website, video, message or phone number or information that you have embedded into the QR code. The QR code looks like a small square stamp-like bar code. Very popular in Japan since inception in 1994, they are finally starting to show up everywhere in the US. The only downside I can see is Microsoft's version Microsoft Tag, AT&T's version Mobile Barcode Services and the French company mobiletag watering down the use of QR codes making it confusing for consumers to know how to use them. It is frustrating enough when you can't get the darn thing to work as it is and adding three other tags to the mix means multiple code readers are needed. Yuck! I can't wait until they get the photo technology and image recognition precise enough to just take a photo to of the product to get more info about it. Yikes! That is really on its way folks! Check it out here: http://www.geosyncglobal.com/Kooaba.html  and http://www.pongr.com 

SHOWS

Unfortunately or maybe fortunately (because we are blessed to have the work) again due to a backlog of work and another October deadline this year, we will be unable to attend the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We always look forward to this juried show, the wonderful artists it attracts and the chance to get out of the horrendous Texas heat. We may or may not make the Texas Mesquite Festival October7th-9th in Fredericksburg this year. It is an outdoor show and we just hate to do that to our furniture. The weather can be tricky in October. We do plan to make it to the 12th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show  November 10th - December 10th at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center.  Lou has been honored to receive the Best Texas Style Award for the past three years in a row at this juried show that puts about 50 Texas Furniture Makers on display for a full month in a beautiful gallery setting.

Who really knows what artists want from a show? The artists of course!

Several of our extremely talented artist friends recently exhibited at a very expensive but poorly publicized and poorly attended show. This was very expensive show representing top notch artists from all over the country.  We had seriously considered putting Lou's work in this show but could not find time to make it work. We are so thankful now that we did not have the time and did not spend the money to attend this disastrous show. It did however get a group of us talking about putting together our own show or shows. Who really knows what artists want from a show? The artists of course! and the answer really is simple we just want buyers. Well maybe buyers and exposure, but mainly buyers!

If you have never been, you really owe it to yourself to attend the 40th Annual The Texas Arts & Craft Fair with over 200 artists and artisans is an amazing place to discover an artist or unique gift item. It is an outdoor show and really not an outlet for our work, but we love to attend, buy gifts and be inspired.  If you make it to Kerrville on Memorial Weekend you should also check out The 8th Annual Texas Masters of Fine Art and Craft Invitational Exhibition at the YO Ranch Resort and Hotel.  We stumbled on this show several years ago and are happy to see it is still going strong, representing the best of Texas Art and artists. We shouldn't be surprised since the show is organized and run by artists!

SCULPTURE

Lou Quallenberg's Sculptural Mesquite Furniture

Lou Quallenberg's mesquite furniture has always had a sculptural feel to it but ever since the Dancing Trees his work is taking on more and more of a sculptural feeling.  This was made really evident to us as we finally found some time to photograph the "Curves Table".  

Sculptural side view of "Curves"

Lou Quallenberg's work has always had a sculptural feel to it but ever since the Dancing Trees his work is taking on more and more of a sculptural feeling.

Lou Quallenberg's Sculptural Mesquite Furniture

Our Sell Sheet layout for "Curves"

This table was Lou's first attempt at adding a glass top.  The glass is a beautiful, clear, large, piece of Starphire® glass. It was also a new design look and leg style.  He turned the mesquite slab  upside down from the way he normally uses it.  Isn't it interesting that sometimes when we turn things upside down  we discover that they are more beautiful than they were right side up? Perspective ALWAYS changes things.   The dimensions of the table are 96”Lx 20”Wx 18”H.  

Maybe you have space in a special place for this beautiful award winning show piece?

Dancing Trees: A mesquite art project in the Texas Hill Country

Last month I mentioned the fact that we had spent the last thirty days looking at hundred dollar bills and images of money in order to paint our entry in the Trail of Deer Community Art Project. (Bidding on the Bucks has now started check it out here: Llano's Trail of the Deer) I said that it had brought us good fortune but I failed to mention that we had been contacted by what we expect will be one of our largest clients/projects to date! So YES! Working on Big Bucks brought in some big bucks!!

Our new baby Barney

And its a good thing because the newest addition to our household is a 97 lb, six month old, English Mastiff puppy we fondly call Barney. He is on track to eat us out of house and home!! I am afraid he does not know his real size and this problem is only going to get worse as he grows into his 200 lb potential.

He has brought the puppy bounce into our lives and his bark reminds us to stop, take a break and play.  We also have our hands full with housebreaking and socializing- every rug in the house has been out on the fence this past week.

While his addition to our life is a bit stressful we both have fallen in love and can't imagine a life without him. Welcome Barney!!!

Large Mesquite Slabs

This NEW  PROJECT is one that Lou can really sink his artistic teeth into.  It is a for private chapel in the Texas Hill Country and includes a huge mesquite slabbed screen to match the client designed, custom, curved window/wall, mesquite benches and lectern.  Lou had been looking for some direction on his artistic path. I feel sure this project came into being to provide that direction for his creativity as well as his soul.

Lou Quallenberg with Mesquite Slab

The Mesquite slabs are pieces that Lou has been saving for "special" projects.  They have been in the shop air drying for a few years,  after their initial time kiln drying.   The center slab he will use in this design is another sister slab to both Jackson and Jackson Sister which were both made into coffee tables and debuted together at the Western Design Conference in 2008.  Jackson Sister also won the Best Texas Style Furniture Award at the Texas Furniture Makers Show® in Kerrville in 2008.  So these Mesquite slabs have a great family tree!

Sketch Mesquite Screen

It almost always starts with a sketch.  Lou Quallenberg has sketches and doodles all over his many work areas. They provide ideas as well as inspiration.  When he begins a project he usually provides a sketch to the client just to be sure they are all on the same page. Most of his work ends up looking very much like the sketch. Somehow he seems to know in advance the many directions the pieces and wood will take him.

The size and scope of this project caused him to really want an accurate visualization, both for himself and the client. The actual slabs are very heavy and require extra hands to move them around. Even though the project is on a tight deadline, Lou really felt it called for a scale model mock up. 

In order to do that we took photos of each slab chosen for the project. A 12 inch tape was placed on the slab so that all pieces could be accurately re-sized and scaled down. He then placed the photos onto small pieces of mesquite and cut each one out.  He drew on some of the smaller cracks and holes in pencil. We ended up with what is much like a puzzle. He played around with the mini slabs until he found the right balance.

Model with seven Mesquite Slabs

Model with five Mesquite Slabs

As you can see in the photos, the design was changed from the original five slabs of mesquite to seven slabs of mesquite. This is why taking the time to make a scale model version for your client can really pay off.  Lou was very happy with the design at five slabs but the client chose to add two more slabs and it really did make a difference visually.

In order to finish this new piece before the approaching October Deadline, we needed to temporarily expand the workspace. Lou found what he thought was a great deal on an outdoor Garage/Canopy at Sam's Wholesale. We had hoped the canopy would be multi-purpose and serve not only as temporary workspace but also as a possible Show Booth at the Texas Mesquite Art Festival in Fredericksburg. We have been considering doing this show even though it is an outdoor show.

The canopy is now installed and is definitely serving its purpose as 200 square feet of extra work space, but the set up and installation challenges will probably keep us from using it as a booth. Maybe it can become my greenhouse? The lesson we learned from this whole canopy  experience is that Sam's does not always have the best price.  We found the exact same canopy (according to the manufacturer King Canopy-see emails below) at Walmart for $199 and Sam's has it priced $219.74.  So buyer beware always do your price checks before purchasing.

From: "Will Cowan"
Date: July 28, 2010 2:32:45 PM CDT
To:
Subject: RE: [Contact Us] Sams & Walmart Canopies

Hi Lou,

I apologize for the delay in getting back to you, we are running a backlog
on emails about 3-4 days long and are trying to catch up.

Yes, those are the same canopy. It is the BJ2PC (our model #). I am not sure
why Wal-Mart and Sam's have different prices, it might be for shipping
purposes that Sam's is $20 more, but I don't set their prices. Regardless,
they are still cheaper than what I could sell you them for.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Thank you,
King Canopy Customer Service

-----Original Message-----
From: info@kingcanopy.com [mailto:info@kingcanopy.com] On Behalf Of
info@LouQart.com
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 5:45 PM
To: info@kingcanopy.com
Subject: [Contact Us] Sams & Walmart Canopies

Lou Quallenberg sent a message using the contact form at
http://www.kingcanopy.com/contact.

These two Canopy's seem to be the same? Are they?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/King-Canopy-10-x-20-Universal-Enclosed-Canopy/1196 9438

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=131317&navAction=pus h

The canopy works well as extra outdoor space and the grinding has begun. Now cross your fingers that he will be able to get it done in time. I would prefer not to hear the call "All Hands on Deck!" I'm really not that good at sanding.

This project is one of the big reasons (a backlog on the schedule) we will be missing out on The Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole and Cody High Style (which Lou Quallenberg Studios was invited to for the first time) in Cody, Wyoming this year. We hope both Shows understand and will still consider us for their future shows. We enjoy our wonderful trips to Wyoming but it is a long haul.  It takes huge effort to get Lou out of the shop and away from the wood.

FYI
Lou Quallenberg refers to the Mesquite Slab Screen piece as "Dancing Trees" and by the time he is finished I think these seven little ladies will all be singing as well.

 ©

Spring has sprung (according to the mesquite trees)

As Spring finally springs into place and relieves us from the cold dreary nuisance of winter (Yes! It is official our mesquite tree has finally budded out-so spring has sprung here in Llano, Texas!) we are reminded once again that as Lou's birthday (April 14th) rolls around, TAXES ARE DUE! Yep that's right folks if you own your own business you gotta pay taxes. Okay, okay we know you pay taxes when you work for someone else, but they usually deduct it from your pay check and you also probably have a much simpler form to fill out - I did say probably.  So that heap of paperwork and pile of receipts and invoices that has been taking up space on the dining room table is going away. Yipee!! I will be glad to have the space back so I can fill it up with something else.

BTW did you know that Al Capone listed "Furniture Dealer" as his occupation on his business cards? Well known for his corruption and criminal activity as a Chicago gangster during prohibition (one of the most notorious criminals of the 20th Century) he was finally put in prison by the IRS for Tax Evasion of all things! So the moral of the story is pay your taxes. 

We are proud to announce our new partnership with Riverbend Fine Art Gallery in Marble Falls, Texas.  Marta Stafford spent an afternoon at the shop learning about Lou and his process of mesquite furniture making and we were so very impressed with her enthusiasm, knowledge and genuine warmth. We feel like it is a good fit and look forward to working with her and Lori both. We posted photos of the delivery on our Facebook account so be sure to check it out if you haven't already.  The Mesquite Cody table is sitting in front of "Gentle Spring" a painting by Milbe Benge and it almost looks like it is the river flowing out of the painting.  If you come to visit us be sure to plan to take a trip to Riverbend Fine Art Gallery as well. The drive is spectacular and currently splashed with bluebonnets and wildflowers. We feel so fortunate to live in the Texas Hill Country!

We were so honored to receive an official invitation to exhibit at Cody High Style this year.  We have heard such great things about this new show in Cody,Wyoming and have had success first in Cody, Wyoming and then in Jackson Hole, Wyoming at the Western Design Conference in year's past. The photos above are from the 2006, 2008 and 2009 Western Design Conferences and show entry pieces. This year due to family obligations and a focus on our current client base we will not be going up that way. We do hope that the folks at  Cody High Style will consider us again in the future.  It has been such a wonderful escape each year to head for the mountains and cooler weather, we also really enjoy meeting and visiting with all the extraordinary artists that gather at these shows.  The problem is it is a long haul (1,400 miles) from Texas to Wyoming and the time spent away from the shop can really start to add up. We are a one horse operation here which unfortunately makes it very difficult to take time away.  When Lou's birthday rolls around, he begins to realize that he will not have enough time in this life to make all the wild and crazy things he has stored up in his head.  Maybe it would help if Allison at the Western Design Conference and the Gang at Cody High Style would consider changing their application deadlines to March or May?

IF YOU WERE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT VIDEO IT IS COMING SOON.  I PROMISE WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN OR GIVEN UP. 

Counting our Blessings and Giving Thanks

As we come off of a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday spent with family we wanted to reflect on the many things we are thankful for not only during the holidays but every day. So here we go in no particular order:

Louie our sweet rescue boy from Dogue De Bordeaux Society Rescue  . He was rescued in St. Louis and given the name Louie. (Yeah it was confusing at first but Lou is Lou and Louie is Louie.) Thanks to the Rescue group we only had to go to Oklahoma City to pick him up. That all happened 5 years ago this past October. Can't believe our boy will be six on January 1st!!! He got off to a rough start because he was so small and he had such HUGE paws to fill. Jake was our FIRST. First Dog as a couple, First French Mastiff/ Dogue De Bordeaux, First Rescue. Louie could never fill such huge paws with those tiny feet so he just made new paw prints all over our hearts.


I guess if we are talking about our fur family we can't forget our kitty babes. They are all ferals born under the porch. Lucia, Lily, Sophie and Leonardo. Leonardo lost his sister London right before the Western Design Conference this year. We managed to semi socialize them when they were little babies. They were inseparable and since she is gone he has been coming inside every night. He even sits on our laps sleeping in the evenings. You know life is good if you have a cat purring on your lap and a dog snoring on your bed.

You know life is good if you have a cat purring on your lap and a dog snoring on your bed. -CWQuallenberg2009

MeMaw and PaPaw own the home where we chose to build the shop. This arrangement gives PaPaw a chance to be a part of the design and building process as mentor and red pencil grade giver. (Teachers never die they just continue grading in the classrooms in the sky.) It also gives Lou company throughout the day. Working in the shop can be such a lonely existence. It is a good thing all the way around.

Our nephew Matthew and niece Taylor are our miniature apprentices that prefer to work on their own projects until they lose interest. Needless to say we have lots of started projects and few finished projects. But hey ya never know, one day when they grow up, they may find they love making furniture in the shop and enjoy being covered in sawdust. We can only hope.

Brother Shawn has been a great help going to shows, sanding, sanding and sanding some more. He may have inherited a bit of Papaw's packing gene.

Sister Heather has helped us whenever we ask and sometimes even when we don't. She definitely got that PaPaw packing gene. Her husband Terry is good at finding stuff and sometimes it's even stuff we can use.

Karl Rhoade's regular shop visits are a blessing bringing an artistic eye and a soulful approach to life. You can never have too much of either of those things.

Bob Pheil of Pheil Forges only two doors down offering sound advice, incredible metal work and a break from work here and there.

We want to say a big thank you to Jim Derby who has put on the Texas Furniture Makers Show for the past 10 years in Kerrville and retired this year.  We are thankful for winning the Best Texas Style Furniture Award two years in a row. Not bad for a Yankee!!

Our health has been relatively good the past year so we are definitely thankful for that. We have been down the road of health issues and it's not a journey we enjoy taking. We are still alive and kicking and all in all that's just a great thing!!

Our clients past, present and future are the biggest blessing we have as a furniture making company. We can't do this without you so we THANK YOU for your investment in Lou Quallenberg Studios.