Mesquite Furniture takes a Sculptural Direction

So as we wrap up this year of mesquite furniture making and look back on the client list, projects and creative challenges we find that this was the year that Lou's work has REALLY jumped creatively. The exciting projects currently in house will be released in the coming New Year 2014 and show a leap in the direction of his work. Lou has been moving into a much more artistic and sculptural direction and these new pieces will certainly showcase that direction.

Lou Quallenberg with Jig to bend Mesquite

Lou Quallenberg & Shawn Walker remove mesquite curve from jig

We are thankful for the new clients this year that have helped push this new direction, but are also aware that several of the former client's (now collectors) with their new projects have added to the momentum.  What a true blessing to be able to hone your skills and craft as you create commissions for people that truly appreciate your work! We are so very thankful to our clients and collectors, past, present and future that help Lou Quallenberg's work increase in value as they seek it out.

THANK YOU!!!!

This year we entered two contests Martha Stewart's American Made and Intuit's Small Business Big Game. While we did not win either contest, we like to think that we gained experience by entering and competing and perhaps got a bit of exposure that we would not have had otherwise.  Creating a video for the Intuit contest reminded us that we never really did the YouTube video series that we had started a few years back. So maybe this new year will be the year?!

Check out the video that we did for The Intuit Small Business Big Game Contest:

Check out the first video that we did on YouTube and let us know if you think we should do more:

This year brought us a few surprises with the reunion, connection and reconnection of family.  It reminded us that the world works in mysterious ways and God's hand is in all of it. We are very blessed to add more family and hope to strengthen the family bonds that we already have as well.  With that said we need to add a word or two of THANKS to the Walker Family (AKA Cheryl's Family). Shawn for his work in the shop and on deliveries, Steve for his creative genius in helping Lou make his sketches reality, Carolyn for putting up with the shop shenanigans and Heather for always being on call to Barney sit or lend a hand. Matthew and Taylor for being themselves and helping here & there. We LOVE all of our families: old & new, good & bad, known & unknown, alive & deceased because we know they are ALL in some way a part of what makes us who we are.    

The Lou Quallenberg Studios Catalog was updated in early 2013 but it along with the website are due for a TOTAL makeover this new year. We are open to any and all ideas and suggestions so please feel free to let us know what you think.

We received some good press this past year with an article in Tex Appeal Magazine and a mention in the "THINGS WE LOVE" section in Western Art & Architecture.  While mesquite is a Texas native and Western art collectors are aware of mesquite and its beautiful qualities. Our goal is to attract buyers and collectors that are not so familiar with the wood.

Sometimes a familiarity with something limits the imagination of what it can be,  we see mesquite as a beautiful medium that should not be limited by its Texan and/or Western roots.

Don't get me wrong, we embrace the Texas Heritage of mesquite.  We truly appreciate the favorable reception of Lou Quallenberg's work at The Texas Furniture Makers Show.  A "Jersey" boy Winning the "Best Texas Style" Category a whopping five times says something about the maker, the wood and it's Texas roots, but we see it as something bigger than Texas. Oh wait did I really say that?! Okay as BIG as Texas!  What I am saying is the beauty of this wood should not be limited to Texas or western homes and ranches.....

"Sometimes a familiarity with something limits the imagination of what it can be, we see mesquite as a beautiful medium that should not be limited by its Texan and/or Western roots." CWQuallenberg

In this coming new year we hope to continue our work of helping, encouraging and inspiring young artists (and maybe a few older ones.) We know that we learn from and are inspired by them as much as they are by us. We DO still dream, search and plan for a future creative workspace that will include an Artist in Residence program and be a place of inspiration for years to come. We truly love to collaborate and share with artists of all kinds and offer ANY and ALL of our experience and skills gained to anyone who takes the time to ask for or seek it out. 

We wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!  

May ALL of your Dreams and Desires 

Come True in 2014!

       

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.

It's all about CURVES baby

In case you had not noticed, Lou Quallenberg’s work is all based on curves. The natural curves found in the mesquite wood, the curves of the female body form that inspire him and the curves and angles found in the 1959 Cadillac Coupe De Ville that continues to influence his work. Jim Brandvik an artist friend, AKA “The Original Horseshoe Engraver” pointed out that Lou had used the line of beauty on his Mesquite Partners Desk.  Upon further inspection we found the “Line of Beauty” in almost every single curve on that desk. It was hiding in plain sight in Lou’s signature bow tie, where he uses it in both the length and width of that design. If you take the time to look you will find it there hidden in most of his pieces.  This line of beauty knowledge must have sunk into his unconscious mind because it took Jim’s artist eye to spot it and point it out before we even realized that Lou was using it.  He may have learned it many years ago in an art class or from a book on art.  The “Line of Beauty”  is also known as Hogarth’s curve  or a “lazy S” design.  The Hogarth curve is one of the more common designs taught in floral design, which in case you did not know is a part of my educational background. The Central Market/ (for HEB)  Floral Department being one of my favorite little creations.

I cannot let the February posting of this blog go without mention of my usual but unusual Valentine’s Day gifts from Lou (yeah it’s an enigma - just like him.) It is ALWAYS some type of heart and with his plunge into custom mesquite furniture making, my most recent hearts have been crafted from mesquite. Lou’s hearts are not the standard, symmetrical, valentine style heart’s that we all learned to draw in elementary school.  His hearts have curves (of course.)  It is always a surprise and I never know what to expect.  I have received small palm sized smooth hearts, a standing heart with copper flames, and this year the heart was copper embedded inside of a large mesquite hinged card, complete with it’s own thin mesquite envelope/sleeve!

We have recently joined in partnership with a new Gallery that is set to open in Llano, Texas the first few weeks in March.  The gallery “Circle on the square” is owned and operated by the very lovely and talented Robin Chiesa. We wish her tons of success!! The Gallery Logo and website (still under construction) were both conceptualized, developed and created by yours truly - Lou Quallenberg Studios! We still do logos, brochures and branding as well as commercial Photography. Lou’s Mesquite Furniture and Photography will be featured at the Gallery along with artwork by the following Hill Country artist’s: Russell Baros, Danielle Carmichael, Robin Chiesa, Jane Lynch, and Sheri Zoch.

A big THANK YOU goes out to everyone that watched the YouTube first video we created last month. As of this posting it has been watched 250 times (with 249 of those being me- just kidding!) Thank you for forwarding it to your friends, family and other folks you thought might have interest. Please do not hold it against us that Video #2 is not quite ready for viewing. What can I say? February is a short month and 2-3 days to a procrastinator is a huge amount of time. On top of that we are perfectionists and well hey it’s just not perfect yet!! We will post it when it is ready, even if  it’s not perfect. I know you can't wait but please bear with us and stay tuned!!

Obviously not great at Blogging

So obviously we are not great at this blogging thing. Our intentions are there but.... well you know all about intentions and the path they pave.

Looking back it has been a busy, growing year for us. We just delivered another one of our OVERSIZED coffee tables. The "Sister" Coffee table won "Best Texas Style Furniture" at the 9th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show in Kerrville, Texas and was apparently centimeters away from taking Best of Show. (Well deserved congratulations go out to Phillip Sell for his amazing Bamboo Bench that took Best in Show!)

We attended the Western Design Conference again, this time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We were blown away when we opened the local newspaper every morning and saw our "Cody" Table in the full page ad for the Conference. It was also on the tickets for the Show!!! You just can't buy that kind of publicity. The BEST part of that show was meeting the incredible artists and being inspired by all of the amazing talent in that arena. Check out our website for links to some of our artist friends we met there. http://www.louqart.com/Western_Design_Conference.html While we did not actually sell at the Western Design Conference it looks like we will have a few commissioned pieces in the coming year.

We try to look at it all as seeds that we are planting, some will come to harvest when we least expect it. One of the biggest seeds this year was getting our website up and running properly. I won't say it is exactly how we want it but it is a working work in progress and we will continue to work on it. (As always we are open to suggestions)

We are so very thankful that we were able to spend the past year creating "art that functions as furniture" and living in the beautiful Texas Hill Country We look forward to the New Year and all of the interesting challenges and inspiration that we hope we will be fortunate enough to meet and create. We will not make promises but do hope to be blogging about mesquite at least once a month and maybe, just maybe a little more than that.