Nature's Gold

A Robert Frost poem comes to mind when I look at this chair. It is Spring again in Maine and I anxiously await those first tiny leaves on the maples behind our house. Such a precious and rare green , made more so by the fact it only lasts a few days. This paint was actually a happy accident. I wanted Ben Moore's "Sunburst" which is a bold and bright yellow. The paint store guy was interrupted by another customer while he was mixing the paint and I think an extra shot of green pigment got mixed in. Not a problem. When I set the finished chair outdoors I loved the color and thought of the Frost poem and that coming first green that would be too soon gone.

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.

Sweet Sixteen

I never really understood what the big deal was with cherry wood. I knew it was expensive; perhaps the most expensive domestic hardwood along with walnut. I also knew it had plenty of snob appeal both with "cabinetmakers" and their "clients". I never really got it. Until now that is. This is my first cherry wood experience and it won't be my last. What a wonderful wood to work and look at and touch. A couple of coats of tung oil and it shimmers. I managed to purchase 300 ft. through Uncle Henry's. A local gentleman was cleaning out his barn and figured he was never going to get around to build anything with it after all. He'd purchased the wood at auction some 15 years prior. A cabinet shop going out of business. 300 board feet should yield 20 or so chairs. Can't wait to get back in the shop and see what magic these boards will yield. This is ADK #16 in my Journey of 100 Adirondack Chairs. Sweet Sixteen. Indeed she is.

Circle of Friends

ADK 10 and 11 were recently joined by ADK 12, 14 and 15 for an afternoon chat on the first day of fall. They are concerned, as we all are, about the failures on wall street and the pending big government bailout. They are not too too worried though, as they have all been smart investors, putting their money in real assets, like paintings, sculpture and fine craft; not silly little pieces of worthless paper. They have some sound advise for us all: Buy Art. It's smart for your wallet and good for your soul.