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A weekend project.

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by the Artist

The Carpenter spent time in the cabinet shop this past weekend creating custom craftsman brackets for our Bridge St project. I took photos and videos. Will share photos here of the creation of one of the side bracket sections. When complete the bracket will finish the gable end of the garage peak. It will have a "post and beam" look which is the finish detail the homeowners picked from the ideas we submitted.

I asked the Carpenter why he had to spend his weekend working. I said... "well couldn't you have spent less time supervising on the job site and some time here in the shop during business hours?" He said "no." He is always on the job sites. It's his "MO". (I ended up hanging out with him for awhile... taking photos and cleaning the shop.. if you can't beat 'em.. join 'em!)

I know he enjoys getting into the shop and doing some custom work.. and so that is why I found him there. I asked if he could have "ordered" the bracket detail. He said..."yes.. custom woodworking shops could have created what he needed from his design". But this would be a good way to keep project costs down and have an opportunity to be creative.

I did pick out some smaller brackets from a catalog for another area of the house that I'm hoping the homeowners will order to complete the design elements of the renovation. That would make this designer happy! 

I won't be able to get final photos (we will show the unpainted bracket finished in position via our Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.924098774343969.1073741922.342655239154995&type=3 which is being installed this week) till spring because the brackets and front door need to be painted to complete. Always hurry up then wait!

And last... I didn't get photos of the Carpenter creating the "pattern" for this side bracket. That in itself was quite the process. Including showing to scale how the final bracket would look to the homeowners.

This was the first time I have witnessed how a curved bracket is made. How do you "bend" wood? Now I know!

 

The little sketch in the gallery is mine which we submitted with other architectural detail ideas during the bid process. It shows my concept of the craftsman bracket on the garage gable peak. 


Capture the present.

by the Artist

The Carpenter took the day off. It is New Year's Day. He made plans to meet four of our Minnesota nieces for coffee at his favorite coffee place.

This has become somewhat of a tradition for him. He realizes that time is speeding by and soon the girls will leave their nests- start careers, marry and have families of their own. He has always enjoyed their company and loves them dearly. He knows the value of capturing the present and noticing the details. 

Just like on the job sites. He notices the details. To a fault. Nothing gets past him. I'm sure that can be bothersome to our crew at times! 

As we enter our 35th year of business our basket is full. We've had an abundant fall and the new year looks even more promising. A lot of exciting things are going to be happening which I will share soon.

In the meantime we will continue to be mindful of the present, notice the details and enjoy our family, friends and customers!

Oh and if you need someone to look out for the details... you know where to find that guy.

Happy New Year!

Some moments with our Minnesota nieces...

 


Dinner on us!

by the Artist

Last night we hosted our first Applewood Christmas dinner! It is something I've wanted to do.. have our crew over to our home. Spend time together in a quiet environment without the pressure of work- the sound of saws and compressors. It is also the first time we've had a large enough crew to have a party. Along with the guys came girlfriends and a fiancee.

I spent the day preparing. Stops at two grocery stores then home to start the meal. I spent the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen. The Carpenter came home in time to start up the grill. He on special occasions buys good steak at a local meat market. And he's perfected his grilling technique. I am usually the grill master around here but not for these special steaks!

It was a good night to get to know our newest crew member and his girlfriend. They are originally from Hayward Wisconsin -which if you're a regular reader of our blog- is the destination for our camping vacations. We heard some interesting things about our favorite camp spot. And also found out some interesting things I'd rather not know. I'd prefer to keep my rose colored tourist glasses on!

In the end it was a good time. It's been a busy busy time for us this holiday season. We definitely shared our home more then past years.

It's gonna be a quiet New Year's Eve... I'm liking that.

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Wrapping it up.

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by the Artist

It's a short week for our crew. Christmas. The Carpenter made plans last weekend to "wrap-up" the Bridge St project. All he needed was good weather and a healthy crew. It looked doable. It wasn't. Illness, rain and wet snow made a short week even shorter. But he knows how to be flexible. He and the crew pulled all the equipment not being used from the project and brought it over to the next project. Then he sent the guys home to start their Christmas celebrations.

We will finish up the garage gable craftsman architectural beam detail (which they are building custom) and a few odds and ends, between Christmas and New Year's. Despite the warm, wet fall this project is coming in on schedule. Very thankful for that. 

I've been busy keeping the "home fires" going and preparing to host Christmas Day for 23 family members coming to Applewood headquarters! We're having Italian fare (what else for a bunch of Swedes and Norwegians?) Yes... this New Jersey girl likes to shake it up a bit! 

We're looking forward to sharing our little home for Christmas. And these days I don't even mind that it isn't a big home. The more programs I watch about living in "Tiny houses" the more I appreciate my "small house". Why would I need more? It is enough. I don't even worry anymore about accomadating 25 of us in two days. It is what it is. It's more about spending time together and remembering why we are celebrating at all.

From our home to yours.... may you have a blessed Christmas with your family and friends.

See you in the new year!
 

Blue.

by the Artist

I've been noodling on what to write. We're finishing up our large exterior remodel... the Carpenter has been busy working on bids. The weather has been gray and gloomy. No white or real cold yet. We are thankful .. except along with the warmer temps comes rain. And that stops work.

I've been busy gathering gifts to mail to my east coast family. Should have been in the mail by now. I'm not thinking about that! I've decided this year not to fret over anything. There is too much pressure right now. How can a person be merry? I'm working on that.

There is one thing other then gifts I put effort into this time of the year. Decorating. Along with not fretting I've decided to keep it simple. And also to ban red. My sister-in-law says my decorations resemble the movie "Frozen". Hmmm. 

I can't help that I love navy blue. This love affair with blue started when we built the "Blue House" in downtown White Bear Lake. http://www.applewoodremodelers.com/the-blue-house/ That first year I declared "I'm embracing blue"! and have loved it ever since.

This year I bought some beautiful stripped ribbon in navy and white which matches my porch pillows. I thought I was finished decorating but I kept messing around with my front porch. Just hasn't felt right. Till today.

I decided to drive through our old neighborhood where we used to live in the "Blue House." I just love the eclectic cozy homes there. I always admire one home. The homeowner does a lovely job with her decor. Christmas is no exception. It's cozy and artistic and welcoming. She always has a wicker chair by her front door with greenery and candles nestled around.

That's it! I knew just how I was going to finish my front porch! I had "trash picked" an old wicker chair which has been sitting out in the shop. It needs a new seat. It looks like it's from the 1930's. I had planned to paint it navy. 

Well it's now sitting by my front door. Nestled in with candles and a basket of greenery and one of my navy and white porch pillows. Brilliant. I am so happy. I can't help myself. It just gives me a thrill to create a pleasing display. For me.

Oh and that trash picked wicker chair?? It's red. I guess I can break my own rules!

 

a visit to the site.

by the Artist

I stopped at the Bridge St exterior reno today. I had mentioned that I might stop to the Carpenter and he always then looks forward to my visit. It is a miserable rainy snowy sleety day. I felt bad seeing the crew working under such wet conditions. They couldn't wear gloves because they would just get wet right away. Adam kept blowing on his hands to warm up. 

The only reason they were able to work is because they were on the front walk way under a roof. But their table saws had to sit out in the elements covered up with tarps between cuts. I know the Carpenter felt bad but it had to be with a number of lost days to due to rain this month. Plus they are on the home stretch of the project. So bags on!

When I walked up to greet the newest crew member I said... "it's days like this that no one would want your job... but it's on beautiful days that everyone wants your job". Jason gave me a big smile and said he didn't mind the weather... was just happy for the work!

I asked Adam what he prefers to work in.. rain or snow. He said hands down.. snow. Because unless it's a wet heavy snow... rain is wetter then snow! crazy.

As long as I was there I walked around and shot some pics. As I pulled away I wished I had thought to bring some warm coffee or cocoa. All in a days work for our crew!

 

Boughs and bows.

by the Artist

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Our cabinet shop was taken over this past weekend. The Carpenter graciously gave up the shop for our sister-in-law's "Holiday Greens Party". From Friday night to Sunday night groups of women came to create sweet holiday greens arrangements. Fresh spruce and white pine and all sorts of specialty greens were supplied, as well as festive picks of berries, swirly sticks and yards of glittery ribbon. The women brought their favorite containers and baskets.

Arrangements were made from tiny vases to large outside urns. It was fun to see how much joy the women got out of having an opportunity to be creative in the mysterious area of floral design.

Leading up to this event we spent hours cleaning the shop. Sweeping and wiping and vacuuming tons of saw dust. Shelves that had not been cleaned in 17 years were cleaned. We polished and shined and strung up Christmas lights. (even the deer antlers hung high on the wall got in the spirit) Afterwards, when I walked into the shop it was the first time it smelled clean. ever. I want to keep it that way. An unrealistic goal?

With our new employee newly onboard... I decided with the freshly cleaned shop it would be a great time to establish some shop rules. Now that I share the space for my painted furniture venture... "A Painted Apple"... I need it to be as clean as possible. So some clean rules will come in handy. yep.

The Carpenter ended up not only contributing his space but helping with the party. He cut tons of spruce and white pine, lugged water jugs (no water in the shop) and helped women carry their arrangements. He was a super help. The first night I noticed he had sat down and was enjoying watching all the action. He was amazed at the event and how much work was done to create it and how much the women were enjoying it. He ended up helping the whole weekend!

So it looks like the cabinet shop will now be wearing multiple hats- cabinet shop, floral workshop and painted furniture workshop. Not bad use of a relatively small space!

If you would like to be a part of this event for next year... just contact me through this website and we will put you on the email list to receive the invitation.

Now on to the shop rules... 

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The beginning of a new era (actually continuing the journey)

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by the Carpenter

Yeah, you know the journey I’m talking about. The journey I have written about so many times. Yep, the one I have said it's time to pull back and let the employees carry more of the load.

We have been fortunate to have finally hired again, what’s the saying?  Fourth ones the charm?? Or something like that. 

We have great hope that Jason is the fit we have been looking for. He seems compatible with Adam. He comes with experience yet not arrogance, and he is very eager to learn. A cool aspect of him is he is from Hayward Wisconsin, and as you know Hayward is a very favorite area of ours. He does come with one serious flaw however… he is not a coffee drinker!!! I told him he has two weeks to convert or it’s down the road! ;) Hey, I have converted five of my ten Minnesota nieces and nephews, there is a chance! Hahahaha.

Onto projects of the day..

Keep following us and hopefully we will be talking about a really cool job we are currently pricing. It started almost a year ago. The customers went through a real transformation in the process of talking to a couple of contractors, trying to decide on design, and trying to stay on a budget that worked with them. It got very overwhelming and it was put on hold for the summer.

They re-grouped and re-focused and we are one of the contractors they have called back to table. Needless to say I feel very fortunate to have the possibility to be involved again. It is an exciting prospect. One of those that I have always said I love. A project that takes a creative mind, and has the potential challenge of tackling a few unknowns (but what job doesn’t have those). When it is completed (no matter who does it) the build process will totally transform their home into a place they will be able to live in and love for a very long time. 

As Thanksgiving has passed already, I want to thank each and every one of our customers that we have had in 2015, and also those that gave us a chance to win them as a customer. It is very important that everyone knows it does not go un-noticed. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

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Bing and our first white!

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by the Artist

The Carpenter spent Thanksgiving under the weather. That's how he's rolled these past few years. Go Go Go. Stop! Well today the weather is over us! We had our first snowfall overnight and it has stopped work for today. (here we go!) We thought we could beat the white and get the Bridge St job site picked up this AM before things got buried. We lost the race. Now that means that if temps don't warm up before completion of the project.. we will have to go back and do clean-up as soon as the snow melts. 

We brought on a new crew member last week! We are excited to have Jason on board. We've waited a very long time to find him. We hope he enjoys working with our crew and Applewood. The Carpenter is excited to be able to put down his tools and concentrate more on project management. Maybe now he can Go Go Go. Relax!  

It is supposed to start snowing again today. Usually when they forecast that.. it doesn't happen. I'm hoping for that as we need to shovel out Applewood headquarters.

With our first snow it seemed just the right time to decorate the website home page for Christmas today. I added music for the first time! Of course it would be Bing singing "I'll be home for Christmas".

 

Around the table.

the Artist

A recent quiet Friday eve the Carpenter and I stopped to visit the Carpenter's parents at their home. We sat down at their table and enjoyed a cup of coffee and some treats. It was just the four of us. We ended up sitting there for over two hours chatting about a number of things. Reminiscing about the past, laughing about silly things and sharing our life happenings.

I realized that for 38 years I had sat at that very same table many times, more times then I can count. From the time I was a young girl dating their son, and then a very shy young bride. I lived so far (and still do) from my family and the Carpenter's family became my family. 

So much has happened since those days, so much has been shared, so much life lived. So much laughter and love. It is a comforting place to be. I can sit down and forget about the worries of life for that short time. 

The people sitting around that table have changed. We've all gotten older, the kids have grown up, and now are marrying and will bring new life to the table.

And for most of those 38 years a cell phone was not seen. We looked each other in the eye. We were and are present with each other. The Carpenter and I are hosting Christmas this year at our home. I'm tempted to put a cell phone basket by the door (which will make me not a very popular Auntie), so that everyone can be present with loved ones for just a few hours. After all… nothing stays the same. We only have this moment for sure. So we should make the most of it right? Be present. Be interested. Appreciate. Love. 

So tomorrow when you gather around a table for Thanksgiving.. wherever you are… look around you and take it all in. Be present. And be thankful for the home you have been invited to and the table you will share.