Has Wooden Furniture fallen victim to Technology?
I have been in the woodworking business for over 30 years and boy has technology changed how we do things. Also the products that we as a society enjoyed once long ago have now I find, have long gone by the wayside. There is nothing like the craftsmanship of a wooden piece of art. It's a lost art. Today you can virtually replace anything with plastic or some kind of textile product, but the quality is greatly depreciated. Today my post will talk about the pieces of woodwork that I made 30 years ago, that are now a hard sell, and the ones that still have a life on the family homestead.
First lets talk about the "QUILT RACK"
it is a simple functional piece that I have made for years and years, and I found that in the last 10 years or so, I have only been asked to make a couple. I used to sell 10 a week. What people have been asking for is for me to build them a ladder to hang their quilts from. I guess it is trendier.
Next I will talk about the Wooden Rocking Horse. Now this piece is one that never get's old. It has become somewhat of an heirloom piece to some families. Generations over and over will enjoy this toy. I never have a problem selling these. Here are some that I made this Christmas.
Another piece that I make and never have a hard time selling is the ole wooden cross. I usually don't sell them, I tell the customer to take the $15 that I would normally charge and make a donation to your church. It is just my belief that all rooms and houses should have a wooden cross hanging somewhere in it. What I do charge is for me to wood burn the family name on the back with a date. Such as a birth, of a child, etc.
I hope you like my post and I encourage anyone to feel free to comment with suggestions of new functional pieces that I can build for a typical homestead use. I think I have built everything that I would use, but who knows how creative you people are.
Now Back to the Shop!
Image Sources:
All images are my photography accept for the ladder quilt.
http://www.jessiefincham.com/2014/05/quilt-ladder-diy.html
OMGosh! YOu have an unbelievable talent!
My dad used to make things all the time. Bookshelves, little end tables, all kinds of great things out of wood. But after he retired and his health started failing, he gave it up. I sure miss the smells of cut wood from his garage workshop area.
Thank you my friend @goldendawne
Yes I agree. I have seen things change. I like your designs.
I used to make lots of welsh dressers and Belfast sink units but these are rare commissions now. We have to go with the times I guess.
I tend to agree with you, fads come and go, but I still believe a lot of it is being in right market. Ikea makes it tough anymore, but there are still folks willing to pay for craftsmanship.