what inspires you when you need a new project?

[Bill Carey]

I was looking for a new project so went out to the pile (as my patient wife refers to it) and brought some boards in, checked for nails, sanded the off with 60 grit, and ran them thru the planer. Some hickory, some oak, some ash and a couple of pieces of pink and yellow mystery wood. Nothing moved me. I have a box in mind, but the wood didn't fit. Same thing with a lamp I want to make.

So what inspires you? How do you decide on the next project? Do you take request from family and friends? Look thru all those magazines we never throw out? Do some serious googling? Or do you have a long list you're working your way thru? I gotta find something or I'll wind up making more jigs - and I'm running out of room.

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[Bill McNiel]

Most frequently it is the client's request.

Every now and then it is a "need" for our home.

And then there are the projects that have been simmering in my brain for years and I finally am at peace with how I really want it to look and/or function.

[Bill Carey]

Ya, I thought of you pros after I posted. Most of the time you don't have that problem. What pays is what gets done. The starving artist thing is over rated IMHO.

[Ralph Okonieski]

As a hobbyist, my projects are requests from family members. I only make for family. One of these days I may be able to make something for myself 🤔

[Steve Demuth]

Working with a new technique or material.

[Simon MacGowen]

Mostly a new project is something more challenging than the previous one. Occasionally, it is a family request, but not too many. After all these years, pretty much anything that is a household need has been built!

With three to four exceptions that were made in the very early years, I have never done anything based on what I see on TV or a magazine.

"Or do you have a long list you're working your way thru?

Only a mental list, as there isn't enough time to be serious about developing a physical list. Lumber can be costly, damping the desire to start certain builds even though they have been on the "list."

Simon

[johnny means]

The mortgage.

[Yonak Hawkins]

Jeez .. this is a problem I will never have. I have a backlog of projects that is so long I can never die. Every time I turn around I see another one.

[John K Jordan]

Yikes! My shop time is primarily spent on woodturning and I keep a cloud of project ideas in my head all the time.

The wall clock inspires me. I look at it and if there is time available in the day I walk down the hill to the shop and start on a new project. Fortunately woodturning projects can often be completed much quicker than flatwood projects.

Unfortunately, even then the clock does not often cooperate. Most of the time it reminds me of other projects like trimming, feeding, grooming, digging, planting, fertilizing...

[Randy Viellenave]

The current issue of Woodsmith has a pretty cool lamp. I intend to make a couple when I get time (in other words, maybe never). I get inspired by the magazines, but more from things I see on this forum. of course the time is spent doing things that "need" to be done, but maybe someday that will change. Meanwhile, you could just send me all of your jigs, then you could make them again without running out of space :D

[Keith Weber]

I'm like Yonak -- I'm backed up for years, and I keep coming up with ideas of things that I want to build that gets added to the list, waiting for enough time to finally build them. I can't remember a time when I was looking for a project to do.

[Steve Demuth]

Jeez .. this is a problem I will never have. I have a backlog of projects that is so long I can never die. Every time I turn around I see another one.

Exactly. I'll be dead before I have the opportunity to learn and master all the things that interest me in woodworking, and in reality I am most inspired by projects that combine woodworking, glass and metal.

[Prashun Patel]

Bill, I feel your pain as a hobbyist. If I just built things my friends and family wanted, I'd be making a ton of cutting boards custom crap that they can't find anywhere for as cheap as they want to pay.

If I want inspiration, I've turned to Instagram. Find a couple woodworkers/furniture makers that you appreciate. For me two great ones are Mike Pekovitch and Tim Coleman. What I love about Instagram is there's not a lot of words and posturing to go through. You don't have to hear people's opinions or why their method is better or worse than yours. It's easy to just look at the pix. It's a nice rabbit hole that will lead you to other makers and methods.

And I'll give a plug for Hank Gilpin. I just love everything about his design and style. I've gone back to his website probably a million times for inspiration.

There are a couple people on this forum that I follow too. They have great online presences.

I'm not plugging any one per se, but my point is, find an artist or craftsman that you admire, and just follow them on line. You'll find the vast majority are highly accessible. Directly connecting to these people to ask questions and share and receive is in fact a tremendous source of inspiration for me.

[Mike Ontko]

I'm in the same boat (speaking of project ideas) as some of the others here--a hobbyist with more requests and ideas than I'll ever have time (or money) to pursue. What started me out as a serious hobbyist was the desire to make nice pieces of furniture for myself and my family members. I wasn't too far into that before requests and opportunities to do projects for others came up. So, if I'm not being forwarded a description of this or a picture of that, I find myself spending a lot of time either looking through books, magazines, web sites, etc, (Pinterest or Google are great places to thumb for ideas), or just sketching out ideas using the old-fashioned method of pencil and pad.

My biggest frustration is that I tend to look for and find interest in designs that are mostly beyond my current capabilities. I either don't possess the right equipment or the experience and skill to tackle some of the work that I like. But therein lies the challenge, and part of the reason I'm into this venture (or possibly the main reason that anyone pursues a hobby)--for the learning.

[Brandon Speaks]

I tend to think up project ideas much faster than I finish them so its not usually a problem. Between that and my wife throwing in requests I have enough to keep busy. Prioritizing what do do next is trickier.

[Ron Citerone]

Presently, I make things for my kids who are just starting out on their own. My house is pretty full right now for any new furniture.

[Ron Citerone]

My biggest frustration is that I tend to look for and find interest in designs that are mostly beyond my current capabilities. I either don't possess the right equipment or the experience and skill to tackle some of the work that I like. But therein lies the challenge, and part of the reason I'm into this venture (or possibly the main reason that anyone pursues a hobby)--for the learning.

Mike, I do the same thing, but what I do now is try to include 1 or 2 new technique on my next project and many that I am comfortable with. Less frustration and cost and I still get to improve my skills.

[Bill Carey]

My biggest frustration is that I tend to look for and find interest in designs that are mostly beyond my current capabilities. I either don't possess the right equipment or the experience and skill to tackle some of the work that I like. But therein lies the challenge, and part of the reason I'm into this venture (or possibly the main reason that anyone pursues a hobby)--for the learning.

Ya, I can relate to that. I do try to interest the LOML in cool projects that require new tools. :cool: That is always an easier sell when it's for something she would like me to make. As for the stretching of the skills, it's something I enjoy about new projects. I've only made the same piece more than once (I've made 6 craftsman style lamps). Everything else has been a one off. But it was fun making that clock, and I made a boat load of mistakes. So maybe a few more clocks are in the near future. I would like to correct those mistakes - some of which were in the planning, some were just not thinking things thru and some were just oops.

The other thing that limits what I make is that I'm a cheap bastard and try to only use the wood my son-in-law brings me. It's always a surprise what I get and I've found that the wood from him is mostly 1 board = 1 project. Which is a natural for boxes, especially since a lot of the wood is so richly figured. So boxes are on the horizon. And I would like to try a "production run" of something, just to experience the efficiency of it all.

And, yes, a cedar strip canoe............

[David Utterback]

I admit, this is getting harder. My house is almost full of pieces yet I continue to read a couple of WW magazines. Most of what I gain from that are methods and not projects. I did jump at a new venture to make two entry doors for my friends new cabin last fall. Currently working on my first set of chairs. Also, make gifts for the extended family who have similar furniture tastes to mine.

As usual, there are several great suggestions above such as seeing photo collections from specific artisans. Although it usually interesting when I look at other's web sites, I do not do that on a regular basis. Time to take it up!

[Mike Ontko]

...what I do now is try to include 1 or 2 new technique on my next project and many that I am comfortable with. Less frustration and cost and I still get to improve my skills.

Exactly! Always use and refine what you know already and then always work at expanding that knowledge and capability. It's a never-ending process.

[Bill Carey]

Thanks for the intro to their work, and you are right, there is inspiration there to be had. Especially Mike Pekovitch. Outstanding. I may have to give that instagram stuff a try.

[Bill Space]

Bill,

I have not reached your level yet. Seems like my inspiration comes from the need to come up with a solution to a problem/need rather than a need to find inspiration.

Hope to reach your point in life sometime, but not too many years left at this end (hope I am wrong there!)

Yes, your thread title caught my attention! :)

Impossible for me to add anything useful...

Bill

[Charlie Jones]

If I lived to be 100 I couldn't get every thing done that I dream up. Not to mention the family. I had a part time woodworking business for awhile. I got a lot more done then but enjoyed it less. Now I just do what I feel like and what I have time for. The big thing is to not worry about it. Oh and I like shop improvements to.

[andrew whicker]

I have a lot of books like (500 tables / 500 chairs / 1000 lamps / etc) that I like to look thru. Instagram can be nice, but looking at my phone or laptop screen is less inspiring for some reason. Honestly, I always have something I want to create! I'm just lucky when someone is willing to pay me beforehand. : )

[andrew whicker]

Even if you don't need the money, this is what makes things fun when you sell: you get to build things you otherwise wouldn't get to. I'm building a huge dining table right now. I'm so stoked to make this. I would never need this until I bought a bigger house or something. Now I don't have to wait.

I also focus on my idea first and my capabilities second. In other words, I have absolutely no problem with sub'ing parts of the project. I made that steel / wood railing for a house that I posted earlier. I didn't do hardly any wood work on that. I had a vision, but I didn't have the tools. Anyway, this 'epiphany' helps me make whatever the hell I want. : )

How about this for inspiration: Try to make a project incorporating some these.. I'm really looking forward to working with LED sheets. Ordered a sample today, woot! Also want to work with 'smart glass'.

LED Sheet:
http://www.evo-lite.com/product-line/lumisheet-led-light-panel/

Smart Glass:
https://www.glass-apps.com/applications/electric-privacy-glass

[Art Mann]

We are moving and I have committed to building a lot of replacement furniture for the junky stuff we inherited or bought when we were poor. The backlog of projects is at least a year.

[Cary Falk]

I don't have the time to be inspired. The list of things that need to be built will last me 2 lifetimes. It is more like a second job than a hobby.

[Andrew Joiner]

Raw materials have always been my main inspiration. I've visualized products made out of uncommon combinations of material since I was a kid.
I made some wood and saddle leather chairs for our house. I had some beautiful leather leftover. I've built all the furniture we need, but I moved the leather around the storage room a few times. I was curious about combining it with figured wood in a tote bag. It happened to coincide with my wife's birthday.
At first she was unsure if she liked it. Then she got lots of compliments and it made us both happy. That's inspired me to do more leather combined with wood.