The Branch Altar Table - A Labor of Love

Lou Quallenberg says goodbye to the Branch Altar Table

The Mesquite Branch Altar Table was a labor of love and a true stretch of the mesquite furniture and carving /sculpting skills that Lou Quallenberg has acquired over the years.  Working with wood, working with mesquite, and creating something from a vision in your head.

The Chapel at Noah's Dream in the Texas Hill Country

Created for a private Chapel in the Texas Hill Country the piece's unique, beautiful and serene final destination was designed to resemble an ark. 

The Chapel at Noah's Dream in the Texas Hill Country

 As most of Lou's pieces do this one started out as a sketch. Well make that three sketches....

Sketch by Lou Quallenberg

Fortunately Lou Quallenberg can put his ideas down, beautifully on paper and the amazing thing is most pieces come out looking very close to the original sketch.

Sketch by Lou Quallenberg

Originally conceived and designed as a hallway table, changes had to be made to adapt it into a larger piece with more presence. The thoughts of a limestone top came to an end as the issue of weight was raised and unresolved.

Sketch by Lou Quallenberg

Maquette

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A maquette (French word for scale model, sometimes referred to by the Italian names plastico or modello) is a small scale model or rough draft of an unfinished sculpture. An equivalent term is bozzetto, from the Italian word that means "sketch".

It is used to visualize and test shapes and ideas without incurring the cost and effort of producing a full-scale product. It is the analogue of the painter's cartoon, modello, oil sketch or drawn sketch. For commissioned sculptures, especially monumental public sculptures, a maquette may be used to show the client how the finished work will fit in the proposed site.

Maquette in Mesquite - Branch Altar Table

Maquette in Mesquite - Branch Altar Table

Maquette in Mesquite - Branch Altar Table

Maquette in Mesquite - Branch Altar Table

Lou created a miniature version maquette first, to be sure he could  actually reproduce it on a larger scale and to aid in the logistics of creating  this large piece.

That is one hefty chunk of mesquite with Lou Quallenberg

This piece's tree base was sculpted and carved from a solid laminated block of mesquite pieces. The block weighed approximately 1,240 lbs at beginning and approximately 350 lbs at delivery.

Lou Quallenberg begins carving the  Mesquite Branch Altar Table

Check out this video to see the carving process unfold:

The carved roots form the base of the table which grows into a tree form sprouting a branch that pokes through a carved natural hole in the mesquite slab top. The branch ultimately blooms into a tabletop candelabra. He sculpted designs in the top, sides and underside of the table top designed to catch the light and give the viewer hidden surprises to discover.

Several views of the Mesquite Branch Altar Table by Lou Quallenberg

The dimensions on this incredible piece are: 60"L x 22"W x 36"H and while the photos are good they just do not do the piece justice. It is most certainly one that calls out to be touched and explored.

May 2016 be Full of Heart!

May 2016 be Full of Heart:  Mesquite Hearts, Mesquite Furniture & More at www.LouQart.com

And now on to 365 new opportunities to shine our light, share our love, make: mesquite furniture, mesquite sculpture, mesquite hearts, mesquite art or whatever else we are guided to create. 

There are infinite possibilities as this new year awakens..... 
With ♡LOVE,
Lou&Cheryl Quallenberg

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

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

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

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

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.

NEW Mesquite Furniture Design: Walker CURVE Entry Table

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so this mesquite furniture blog post will be mostly pictures, a video and a only a few words.....  

The "Walker Curve" Mesquite Entry Table by Lou Quallenberg

The "Walker Curve" Mesquite Entry Table is the newest sculpted, live edge design by Lou Quallenberg Studios and while there are a few photos of the piece none of them come close to capturing the true essence of it as you stand next to and touch it.  When Lou took the order for this table he thought it was going to be one of his standard designs for entry / hallway tables.  That was NOT what the client had in mind. Even after they decided on the sketch below Lou still had no idea what was in front of him.

The challenges on a new concept and design style, both artistically and technically, can be both inspiration as well as torture at the same time.

This new bespoke piece emphasizes Lou Quallenberg's move in a more sculptural direction.  It also proves a point that while his look and style can be copied, they cannot get into his head and take the latest design, so he will always be at least one step ahead.  Always searching to see where the limits on design and mesquite sit and pushing to that point to create his work.  

Lou Quallenberg with new design: The "Walker Curve" Mesquite  Entry Table

Sketch for the Mesquite Entry Table

Making a jig for the curves

Making the jig's curve

Finished jig for the curve

Wood to be cut in thin slices to create the curves

Watch the YouTubeVideo making the curves:
Mesquite Furniture: Making the Walker Entry Table CURVES - Lou Quallenberg Studios

The jig is loaded and sits for 4 days

The first curve for the table

Jig to square the base of the curves

Squaring the base of the curves

A mock up of the table and design

Mesquite table ready for hand rubbed oil and wax finish

"The challenges on a new concept and design style, both artistically and technically, can be both inspiration as well as torture at the same time."

Photographing the "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." 

Liquid Lux Mesquite Furniture: Just Add Water

Lou Quallenberg Studios

Presents 

Liquid Lux

Our new & exclusive line of Mesquite Furniture 

Instant Gratification.

Just add water.

Due to the natural, native state of the mesquite wood pulp and a special non toxic process that we use, adding  water to the top of the capsule activates the living cells in the wood. Within hours the growing process of our mesquite furniture is complete and a fully functional and finished piece of mesquite furniture rises from the spot that you place the water filled capsule.

Natural Cracks and crevices as well as unusual wood character will be individually based upon the actual natural character of the wood. The finished piece will look similar but may not look exactly like the photo on the capsule. Turquoise inlay is available at an additional charge.

CAUTION: You must leave enough clear space around the soaked capsule for the completed piece to grow or the results will be stunted and possibly deformed. We are not responsible for improper handling and/or poor results due to inappropriate growing conditions.

Currently Available

in these Styles:

These Designs

Coming Soon:

BUY
HERE
NOW

If you have questions or concerns about this or any of our Mesquite Furniture products please first note the date of this post before inquiring help from one of our customer service representatives. Thank you from Lou Quallenberg Studios. Don't be a fool!  
© Lou Quallenberg Studios 2014 All Rights Reserved

Mesquite Furniture, Fire & Flames

Mesquite heart and flames by Lou Quallenberg

Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames -Rumi

Several friends have lost their homes to fire, so seriously - we mean no disrespect here. That is not the kind of fire that we mean. We are talking about that all consuming passion to create, write, sing, dance, make mesquite furniture or share whatever your LOVE or HEART is. That thing that keeps you up at night.  Surround yourself in talent, share openly, stay focused and positive.  Insulate yourself from the negative whether it is thoughts, words or people. Avoid the time consuming, mind numbing diversions of television and other so called forms of entertainment. If it is not inspiring you, then why are you wasting your time with it?  Make sure your thoughts, words and actions are all love based. When you come from a position of love you cannot go wrong. This is particularly important when you are talking to yourself. Do you treat / talk to yourself like you would a friend? You should.

Do not let fear get in the way of creating your life in this way. If it scares you then you are stretching and growing. It SHOULD scare you if you are doing it right. If the fire gets so hot everything blows up, then be patient. You can and will rise from the ashes. I promise.

Hopefully we will have some mesquite furniture / art to post about next month.  This month I will be stretching long and hard as I speak at the Llano Library:

Come celebrate spring and new beginnings at the Llano Library by interacting with a panel of four speakers dedicated to healthy living, diet, exercise, nutrition, mind/body integration, self healing, spiritual journey and more.

The Wellness Workshop scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2014, 9-12 noon, will be the first in a series of quarterly programs dedicated to body, heart, mind and spirit.

Healthy snacks will be served during short presentations by the panel, after which the program will be opened up for participants to ask questions or express concerns.

The panelists include:

Laurie Jameson, ThD; W.C. Jameson, PhD;  Nicky Immel, LMT; and Cheryl Quallenberg, BS.

Read more HERE
 

How is this for inspiration?   

“When you make something. When you go through the process, all the steps, and at the end you have a finished product, that you made with your own hands, out of your own mind, that is your own design; it’s a reflection of your soul.”
- Eric Hollenbeck / The Ox
Master Wood Craftsman
www.blueoxmill.com

Watch this inspiring video by Ben Proudfoot at Breakwater Studios

A few more FLAMES:

Don't miss the @LAST Llano Art Studio Tour held annually the LAST Saturday in March in Llano, Texas. Check out these incredible artists in their work spaces.

These folks will inspire you. 

We are so glad to have each one of them sparking and fanning in our lives.

2014
PARTICIPATING
ARTISTS/STUDIOS

@1
Ira Kennedy home studio
www.irakennedy.com/paintings
painting / acrylic / ink
Jerialice & The Enchanted Rock Band
www.enchantedrock.com
 

@2
Texas Tin Lizard: Kathleen Smith
www.texastinlizard.com
mixed media / bottle trees
 

@3
Dust Devil Diver Photography: Briley Mitchell
www.dustdevildiverphotography.com
 

@4
Tom Suarez Photography
www.tomsuarez.net
 

@5
Llano Fine Arts Guild & Gallery
Guild Artists
www.llanofineartsgallery.org
 

@6
Nailhead Spur Company: Richard Wendt
www.nailheadspur.com
metal art / custom fabrication
 

@7
Gridiron Gallery: Jack Moss
www.thegridirongallery.com
 

@8
claythings: Lynda Hallmark Gammage
Jane Lynch - altered art
Kathleen Riordan - pottery
www.kathleenriordanpottery.com
 

@9
Sheri Zoch (sapphire) home studio
fused glass / oils
 

@10
Charles & Euneen Wendt home studio
www.rockingwspurs.com
spurs / iron / fused glass / gourd art
Gayle Hardaway - leather work
 

@11
Myrick Studio - Harriet Myrick
mixed media
 

@12
Lou Quallenberg home studio
www.LouQart.com
sculpted mesquite
Ralph Moresco - copper wind spirals
www.westshorewindspirals.com

  

Check it out 

Saturday March 29th 2014 10am-5pm

Afterparty with the artists 7:00pm Llano Fine Art Guild & Gallery

Demos and Giveaways throughout the day!

Maps available at the studio locations, local businesses all over town, the Llano Visitor Center and the Llano Fine Art Guild.

FINALLY Do not forget to add some fuel to the FIRE!!!

Need wholesale mesquite firewood? or oak firewood?

JP Wood Supply

jpwoodsupply.com

(325)262-2598

Joe Prest

Menard, Texas 

JP Wood Supply in Menard, Texas

How much heart have you invested? Ours is in Mesquite Furniture.

So today marks the first day of the Chinese New Year 2014 which is the year of the Wood Horse. Since I am a Fire Horse and wood is fuel for fire, I am thinking this will be a great year for me to get things accomplished.  That and the fact that it is a WOOD year and well mesquite IS a type of WOOD -  I  am taking that as a good thing! Guess only time will tell....

The year has gotten off to a bumpy start with a rather lengthy 12 day hospital stay with my father.  Hopefully we are through the worse part but we will just take it all one day at a time.  My personal goal this year of the "Horse" will be to create a horse every day in some type of artistic medium. I hope to have quite a horse collection at the end of this year and maybe discover some things about myself that I did not know. It will be part of my getting back to myself and uncovering my artistic side. I only hope I can stick with it.

With the approach of Valentine's Day I have spent a little time focused on heart. I recently came across this quote at the end of a beautiful letter written by Ted Hughes to his son:

"The only calibration that counts is how much heart people invest, how much they ignore their fears of being hurt or caught out or humiliated. And the only thing people regret is that they didn’t live boldly enough, that they didn’t invest enough heart, didn’t love enough. Nothing else really counts at all."  -Ted Hughes

Lou and I have invested not only time and money, but heart in this mesquite furniture journey, because working with mesquite is what makes his heart sing.  We have ignored our fears and the warnings of others. It is at times scary and we have been known to ask ourselves "what were we thinking?" but all in all it has supported us and lead us to grow not only as artists but also in heart.  

This year we have some exciting, challenging new projects in house. We look forward to sharing them here and hope that you will check back each month to see how we are doing.

“The analogy between the artist and the child is that both live in a world of their own making,” -Anaïs Nin

Ted Hughes' letter discusses in great detail the inner child and how it has such limited experience in living because most of the time we are protecting it.  I hope this year I can let my child out to play and experience life and create a beautiful world of my own making. I also hope that you will let yours out to play.

And now for an early Valentine's Day SURPRISE to Lou a little :

LOVE BOMB

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!