Hey Nineteen

Steely Dan crafted a number of great songs back in the 70's and 80's. They also produced one of my all time favorite albums in 1977. Aja sounds as fresh today as it did way back then. Great driving music. "Josie", "Deacon Blues", Steve Gadd's drumming on the title track. I expect my Weekender chair to hold it's own smooth vibe 30 years from now. This is #19 in "Faded Denim".
"Aja when all my dime dancing is through ... I run to you."

Signs Of Spring

Spring has finally come to Maine. This means the snow is only up to my knees in places and the mud is up to my hips in others. The big difference is in the temperature. We're actually seeing temps in the 40s. We call that a heat wave. So we're shaking off the winter blues and cranking up the power tools. I'd like to introduce you to "Grace". She's number 18 in my Journey of 100 Chairs. There's solid Maine hardwood beneath that lovely pistachio dress; what I like to call "orphan cherry"- not pretty enough for "cabinetmakers" but structurally strong and rot resistant. I like the design enough to build a couple more.
"Grace" takes me a little longer to build which will need to be reflected in the price. I'm thinking $450-ish retail.

Support The Arts!

I am supporting the new Legacy Theatre Company in Saco, Maine this summer by placing an ad in the playbill for their first show, "Random Acts of Silly". In the interest of full disclosure I should mention that my lovely wife, Christine, is on the Board of Directors. Not only that but she appears in a number of skits. Break a leg Christine!

I had alot of fun playing around with Adobe Photo Shop to make my ad. Quite a remarkable tool. I was able to hammer out this ad in no time flat. No splinters, no mashed fingers and no saw dust to clean up.

Spring Is Almost Here!

As you can see product testing at Dirk Leach Rustic Arts is ongoing. The photo shows one of my "Nor'easter Chairs" still buried under more than a foot of snow and ice. The finish is a high quality Glidden exterior acrylic that has outstanding flexibility. In another month or so I should be able to perform my annual inspection. I expect a little clean up with soap and water and perhaps a touch up here and there (sanding and paint) and she'll look as good as new once again.
My chairs are built to last a lifetime of Maine summers. But they'll get you through the Maine winter as well.