The Apprentice

The World Series may be over, but Cash is still determined to make his own baseball bat.

Look out Louiseville Slugger!

Thanks for giving me a "get-out-of-wood-working-class pass". I'm jealous of the snowshoes idea. Sounds like a perfect project for MT. It's soo cold here, it can't even snow. I've been trying to come up with something horsey related to work on... maybe a fancy saddle rack... Or a fancy tack box instead of my rubbermaid. Corbels???? Aren't we just picking-up wood working? Make's my ideas seem flimsy. If we're doing that level of craftmenship, I'm making a canoe!

http://www.corbels.com/

Brother Eric !! Check out this website !! I think Im going to make snowshoes...or a sled.....

Eric's Update

Brother Eric checks in and shares this message:

Things are wonderful. The grand kids are so much fun I can't put it into words. I've been working a lot so I haven't had time to even stop and download any pictures. I'm three months behind on email. It will be so fun in Oregon next summer at the wood shop. Keep an eye out for decorative wood corbels on craigslist for next summers project. Love,Eric

My Project

I'm really trying to figure out what to work on at NAG Headquarters. My dream is something like this

But my skills are more like this

HA! I make myself laugh. =)

I need some inspiration. Hey Julie, can you post some photos of your finished bench? And Eric, what have you been working on lately? We'd love to hear from you and Scott too! I know Jordie's been a bit busy running from Zombies and trying not to freeze in her profs class (nice Facebook posts), so she gets a 'get-out-of-woodshop-class' pass..

Then there's Darin. Dear old Darin. =) He's always buying some new tool to 'do the job'. He bought a 20-foot sled when we were in Wallowa, OR from the junk man and wants to work on that, I think. I wonder if he has the tools to fix it? OK, OK. It's not 20 feet long, but it sure filled the bed of my truck. Silly guy. I sure do love him!

Tools Have Arrived!

Just gotback from AC putting the barn back together after getting the First installment of woodworking tools. Took 4 days to go thru every piece,,,,,clean, oil and repair as needed. The tools are old but usable, sturdy and big. They are the kind that last several lifetimes. Next week I believe hand tools are arriving. I put up two sheets of pegboard and hung almost everything that was not nailed down. Clear to the ceiling!

Hope hear about those Ideas!!!!!

Montana to Oregon

Hmmm. I'm kinda stumped as to what project I should do next summer... Something that is dorm friendly. Or horse friendly. I live in a postage-stamp size room. I know!: a super cool bulletin board to put all the pics from the summer on it to hang in my room. Sweet. Mine will be done in an hour. Cheap too. Who's next?

New tools for NAG

Just returned from coastal retreat at AC and put finishing touches on the first NAG Bench. She looks great! Took Darin's advice and did not go with the purple stain and did use the outdoor wood treatment. It darkened it up some but still looks good. I'll be leaving it in for the winter so that its summertime debut will be sparkling. The tree house is almost dismantled and I think the resting spot under the big alder by the creek will be perfect.

If all goes well by mid month we may have more wood working tools for our use. A long time friend of Gordy's has offered the use of them, indefinitely, and as he is underemployed right now he may be there to teach me to use them. They are old but still functional. I just need to supply trucks and trailers to move them.

I did invest in a book of Projects (plans) so the next project will be a modified Adirondack chair....spent this weekend making templates. I was tired of reinventing the wheel, so to speak, with NAG #1.

So…….all of you start thinking about the project you’d like to work on over July 4th next year and submit here. I would like to suggest that the scope be something we can start and finish in a long weekend and that it be transportable. We can work on individual projects or another joint project to go home with one of you. I will, of course, supply bread, board and space/tools to be creative….you bring ideas and supplies.

Think about it and get back with suggestions and ideas….There might be a lottery to choose whose project to work on….I could get all materials ready ahead of time….Just some ideas to get you thinking about it over the winter.

Wishing you all creative thinking!

Project Update

Submit a post and share your latest, greatest, artistic achievements.
Don't forget pictures. We all love photos. =)

Outstanding Futures

This is great. All of us managed to find a funny small niche that we've been toying with, but want to take it seriously. The best part I think is the 4 laying hens. I was paroosing the Capitol Press's classifieds last night looking at ranches. It made me chuckle. To think that I could be looking for my dream ranch. But at the same time, I could be there in just 10 short years if all the stars line up just right. NAG could be a weekend once a year in the little town of Arch Cape where we try out something new. It could also be our chance to pursue those dreams we randomly would like to follow, stuff we know nothing about. Look at our fearless foundresses: They emdiately went out and bought two vintage trailers because they have been wanting to follow their fly-fishing dreams. A little shove in the caboose from a terrific 4th of July is all they needed.

Aaargh !!!
Mr Trigger finger and I will be building a skate board park on CARD board this week with plastic ramps ! He insists I increase the size of his work bench at Mansland, and his Producer has requested a work bench of her own for the BBQ deck. Purchased a marble top last week for it and will be scouting out Juniper wood for the rest....Maybe...soon I will get to work at BBWASS's.

Birth of 'NAG'

What started out as a basic bench and one woman's desire to learn how to operate her tools, ended in

• A labor of love
• A great debate about a wood stove and
• A spark that touched off all of our creativity, giving birth to 'NAG', the Niemeyer Artisan Guild.

Never before have I personally had so much fun hanging out in a barn, watching people cut (and re-cut), sand, carve, and design a piece of furniture. We had fantastic gourmet food, loved on our kids, joked, laughed, played with the dogs and had Frost & Dutch as the best managers a work crew could ask for. I think I can speak for everyone when I say 'a good time was had by all'.

With that, I invite you to become part of this blog.

Please post your works of creativity, photos, hopes and dreams (even if they have yet to take form). If you don't know how to Post or need help, drop me an email and I'll walk you through the process. It's super easy and you'll be a pro in no time.

In the meantime, here are a few artist bios (observations) that make me so proud to be part of our family and NAG. Enjoy and let me know how we can get the rest of the clan involved.

Darin is preparing to construct his first handmade, strip-built canoe and may soon open the Bend Boat Building and Snowshoe Company. I dare you to say 'BBBSC' 5-times fast after a couple shots and a mouthful of crackers. Most recently, he's been working as a hired hand outfitting a 1971 vintage travel trailer. Whatta peach.

Cash is the 'King of all things Cardboard' and has an itchy hot glue gun trigger finger. It can go off at a moment's notice and when it does look out. You never know when he's going to bust out a diorama or two.

Julie is the Niemeyer fiber goddess, gourmet, gardener, horsewoman, hiker, camper, fisher... you name it. There is no moss growing under, near or around her. She inspires us all to get off our duff's and 'do'.

Jordie tames the wild beasties and is stunning in the saddle. Rock climber, mountain climber, kayaker, pianist... she too has a plethora of talent and creativity oozing from every fiber of her being.

Eric is a woodcarver at heart. He 'wowed' us all with his ability to wield a mean chisel and embodies true artisan qualities: Focus, precision and determination to complete his work. And we thought he could only build custom homes. =)

Me, well I'm the wacky girl who loves to snap photos, scrapbook and create handmade cards/paper. My hearts desire is to ditch the 'real world' and open a glass blowing studio, artisan cheese making business, and own 4 laying hens... all of which I know nothing about. Poor Darin.