Where do you get ideas for new projects?

[Mike Allen1010]

For many years it was easy to decide what projects to build as it was driven by necessity. Furniture we needed with a growing family that couldn’t afford to buy.

Now as empty-nesters, we have more furniture than we need and I’ve already built lots of furniture for our two boys.

These days most of what I build our gifts. I’m interested in where my fellow creatures getting ideas/inspiration for new projects?

I was just looking through “500 cabinets - showcase of design and craftsmanship“, also “great designs from Fine and Woodworking furniture“ – I’m guessing they’re probably multiple versions of this. Some great ideas and beautifully inspiring projects.

Love to hear other ideas about how my fellow Creekers get inspiration in these days of isolation for new projects?

Thanks in advance for sharing!

Cheers, Mike

[Jim Koepke]

"Find a need and fill it" -Thomas Edison (my boyhood hero)

On my to build in the future list is a dowel turner. The inspiration for this has come from many sources. Here is one > http://timmanneychairmaker.blogspot.com/2013/09/frankenstanley.html

Cutting dowels for use in projects goes back a ways. One tool made for making 3/8" dowels works okay. It is a block of wood with an old plane blade bolted over a hole drilled through the block.

Making mallets is fun. Cut pyramids on one face so it works as a meat tenderizer:

430788

The flat side is good for breaking up ice or bags of hashbrown potatoes.

jtk

[James Pallas]

I usually get my ideas from need. I need a piece to fit a certain size or an item that is not readily available or a bench or shop fixture or appliance to use in woodworking that I can’t justify the cost.

[ken hatch]

For many years it was easy to decide what projects to build as it was driven by necessity. Furniture we needed with a growing family that couldn’t afford to buy.

Now as empty-nesters, we have more furniture than we need and I’ve already built lots of furniture for our two boys.

These days most of what I build our gifts. I’m interested in where my fellow creatures getting ideas/inspiration for new projects?

I was just looking through “500 cabinets - showcase of design and craftsmanship“, also “great designs from Fine and Woodworking furniture“ – I’m guessing they’re probably multiple versions of this. Some great ideas and beautifully inspiring projects.

Love to hear other ideas about how my fellow Creekers get inspiration in these days of isolation for new projects?

Thanks in advance for sharing!

Cheers, Mike

Mike,

Not much need to build here in Casa Chaos or for the kids either, although the new kitchen table has MsBubba's blessing. Anymore I just build what I like to build, chairs, stools and workbenches. Although workbenches are becoming a problem, I've got to move at least one out before I can build another.

ken

[steven c newman]

Single Brain Cell Sketch Up. Has a Large file of plans....I just have to sift through until I find something I want to build again...

[Mike Allen1010]

"Find a need and fill it" -Thomas Edison (my boyhood hero)

On my to build in the future list is a dowel turner. The inspiration for this has come from many sources. Here is one > http://timmanneychairmaker.blogspot.com/2013/09/frankenstanley.html

Cutting dowels for use in projects goes back a ways. One tool made for making 3/8" dowels works okay. It is a block of wood with an old plane blade bolted over a hole drilled through the block.

Making mallets is fun. Cut pyramids on one face so it works as a meat tenderizer:

430788

The flat side is good for breaking up ice or bags of hashbrown potatoes.

jtk

Thanks JK - good idea fun and practical��

[Mike Allen1010]

Mike,

Not much need to build here in Casa Chaos or for the kids either, although the new kitchen table has MsBubba's blessing. Anymore I just build what I like to build, chairs, stools and workbenches. Although workbenches are becoming a problem, I've got to move at least one out before I can build another.

ken

Ken ,got to believe anyone with even the slightest interest in woodworking would be THRILLED to have one of your ever growing collection of benches. Hope you find a good home for one and free up some shop space!

Cheers, Mike

[Phil Mueller]

When thinking about what to build next and frankly no room for more furniture as well, I tend to go to smaller projects. I have a few paintings that need frames, I carved a few kitchen spoons, and I’m currently making a few tissue box covers. Recently made a bunch of charcuterie boards from a pile of cutoffs that I gave to friends. Not exactly inspiration stuff, but keeps me in the shop.

I do have one table on hold until I can get to a lumber yard, but that one is being built because I just wanted to build it and it involves things I haven’t done before. It may just sit in the basement when done, or rotate out with some other table for awhile.

My attention may start to go outdoors with a garden bench, or bonsai display table, or even a fancy dovetailed bird house.

While different from your situation, my son is having his first house built (although, that too is on hold for the moment), but may have a good number of projects hit the list come later this fall.

[Oskar Sedell]

Inspiration is usally not the problem. Time is. And this is regardless of the pandemic.

At times the inspiration is need. I need a machinist chest-type cabinet for the shop. With many shallow drawers for small stuff, parts, flat tools etc. I really dont like deep drawers or cabinets. "one tool deep" is for me the optimum. This is on the short list.

Sometime the need is forced. I like making planes, so I thought of a project with sliding dovetails, so that I could start with making a dovetail plane. Same thing will happen for moulding planes. Start with something for the house with moldings, then make the planes, then the project.

Instagram is a big source of inspiration. For greenwood projects, toolmaking, finishing etc. That ways I was turned into restoring a drawknife, making staked furniture and will at least lead to a shave horse (which I dont have room for...)

Sometime its more the technique than the project. I very much like to hew a log into a board. It does not really matter if the boards/timber is then used for a bench, a compost bin or something else since learning hewing is the main attraction.

As of now, shop time is very limited so I have turned to greenwood carving, which is silent, and can be made anywhere. Not because we need more spoons or ladles, but because it is nice to carve wood and striving for ever better shaped objects.

[Prashun Patel]

I hear you. Pinterest is great for inspiration.

[Derek Cohen]

Well, after nephews and nieces, I have my son getting married in February next year. He wants a dining room table and chairs. However, he may be trumped by my wife, his mother, who is requesting that I complete repairs around the house.

If it were not for them, I'd be building for friends. Or replacing pieces at home - one can always improve. I also have this fantasy that, once day when I retire (5 years?), I shall begin building furniture to sell from some of the galleries around and in Perth. Well, I said it was a fantasy :rolleyes:

Where does inspiration come from? First decide on the piece type to build. Then design it the way you like ... how would you change/improve that piece? ... start sketching.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Matthews]

https://billfitzmaurice.info/forum/

Remember - you asked.

[David Eisenhauer]

As I consider myself a technician rather than an artist, my inspiration mostly comes from magazine/internet photos of something that I or my immediate family could use in one of our houses. I do like to think that I do pick out the more interesting design features to copy/use or mix/match with with other design features, but beauty is in the eye (and mind) of the beholder.

[Mike Allen1010]

Well, after nephews and nieces, I have my son getting married in February next year. He wants a dining room table and chairs. However, he may be trumped by my wife, his mother, who is requesting that I complete repairs around the house.

If it were not for them, I'd be building for friends. Or replacing pieces at home - one can always improve. I also have this fantasy that, once day when I retire (5 years?), I shall begin building furniture to sell from some of the galleries around and in Perth. Well, I said it was a fantasy :rolleyes:

Where does inspiration come from? First decide on the piece type to build. Then design it the way you like ... how would you change/improve that piece? ... start sketching.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek, you're far too modest – I can only imagine the galleries in Perth would be thrilled to offer your furniture. If you have any doubts, let me know and I'm happy to act as your agent!:)

On this topic, wonder if any of our fellow Creekers have any advice or suggestions about trying to sell their furniture through galleries? I'm a pretty blue-collar guy and am not really sure what a "furniture gallery" would be but very much appreciate any feedback from more experienced Neanderthals.

Cheers, Mike

[Joe A Faulkner]

I find most of my inspiration here. When I first stumbled upon the creek, I was in the midst of building my shop. For 20 years I had averaged maybe one project every year or so working with a table saw, a router table and a hand drill. Then I found this “Neanderthal Haven” and was intrigued by this idea of using hand tools. Tool storage threads, workbench builds, discussions by Dave Weaver on setting up hand planes, project builds by Brian Holcomb, Prashawn Patel, Sean Hughto, Mike Allen and others, technique tips by Derek all combine to provide inspiration. I recall warnings about the slippery slope. I did not heed those warnings. My shop now has woodies, iron planes, chisels, braces, spoke shaves. Handsaws, dividers, marking knives, a draw knife, a workbench, and a plane till, shooting board. Lee Valley, Tools for working wood and Lie Nielsen have some of my money. I have almost always drawn up my own plans - usually stealing dimensions from pieces I see out and about. Modern day phones are a marvel - see a piece you like, snap a photo - one more project on the someday list. Magazines and books offer inspiration as well, but nothing inspires me quite as much as the projects and posts I’ve seen here. From the guitar, drum and boat builders, to the do-it-yourself tool makers, to the moderators, to the fine furniture builders, I find tremendous inspiration here. Sometimes the level of craftsmanship blows me away. The best of it represents a level of competency that I doubt I will ever reach, but I find it inspiring to see the pieces this community creates and I am inspired by the sharing of knowledge, mistakes, tools, insights and information. The people here and their contributions are often a source of inspiration.

You might checkout your area for an artist owned co-operative gallery. A friend of mine turns bowls and has a small display at such a venue in Lafayette, IN. Another area craftsman sells one of a kind accent tables, benches etc. Something like that might be a potential outlet for you.

[Ira Matheny]

Wife!
When I am done with a project, she always has another!

[Mike Allen1010]

I find most of my inspiration here. When I first stumbled upon the creek, I was in the midst of building my shop. For 20 years I had averaged maybe one project every year or so working with a table saw, a router table and a hand drill. Then I found this “Neanderthal Haven” and was intrigued by this idea of using hand tools. Tool storage threads, workbench builds, discussions by Dave Weaver on setting up hand planes, project builds by Brian Holcomb, Prashawn Patel, Sean Hughto, and others, technique tips by Derek all combine to provide inspiration. I am inspired by the sharing of knowledge, mistakes, tools, insights and information. The people here and their contributions are often a source of inspiration.



+1 Joe. I couldn't agree more - very well said! I'm incredibly grateful for the wonderful community here in "the Cave by the Creek" that so generously shares ideas, experiences, suggestions, skills and projects. Thanks to everyone who makes the Creek a fun, inspirational and collegial experience!

Thanks to Prashaun, Oskar, David and others who suggested Pinterest and Instagram as good source for project ideas/inspirations. I've certainly heard of both of these, but I am embarrassed to admit have never seen them. Do I just Google and follow along the prompts for "furniture projects", or do I need to sign up etc.? Please add all jokes here about ignorant baby boomers completely disconnected from contemporary social media society.:)

Cheers, Mike

[Prashun Patel]

Mike, Instagram and Pinterest both require logins (free) to access content.

Pinterest is more like a curated version of Google Images. You enter search terms, get a bunch of links and images, and you can file them on different idea "boards" like "stools" or "tables". If others have created similar boards, it links you to them (and vise versa). Each time you log in, it tries to suggest other things that you might want to add to your board. I've found some really fantastic designers this way. Of course, most of it links to stores, but it's pretty accurate, IMHO, and has helped me find some really cool stuff from Italy and Brazil.

Instagram is a little more about following a particular USER. So, you may search for Philip Morley, Mike Pekovich or Peter Galbert, and follow them. It's picture and video-centric, with words serving more as captions than the primary point of the content. In this way, it's a very intimate video diary of your favorite 'makers'. Those makers tend to post far more liberally on Instagram than other outlets. And you can see who your favorite people follow as well. That's how I learned about Bern Chandley...

Then you can copy all of them and get depressed about how you'll never reach their level (present company excepted, of course, Mike)...

Both are obviously available as smart phone apps, and as such are way more seamless to access than SMC.

Pinterest: Look at what I found
Instagram: Look at what I'm doing
SMC: community, interpersonal connection, get and give help.

[Mike Allen1010]

Mike, Instagram and Pinterest both require logins (free) to access content.

Pinterest is more like a curated version of Google Images. You enter search terms, get a bunch of links and images, and you can file them on different idea "boards" like "stools" or "tables". If others have created similar boards, it links you to them (and vise versa). Each time you log in, it tries to suggest other things that you might want to add to your board. I've found some really fantastic designers this way. Of course, most of it links to stores, but it's pretty accurate, IMHO, and has helped me find some really cool stuff from Italy and Brazil.

Instagram is a little more about following a particular USER. So, you may search for Philip Morley, Mike Pekovich or Peter Galbert, and follow them. It's picture and video-centric, with words serving more as captions than the primary point of the content. In this way, it's a very intimate video diary of your favorite 'makers'. Those makers tend to post far more liberally on Instagram than other outlets. And you can see who your favorite people follow as well. That's how I learned about Bern Chandley...

Then you can copy all of them and get depressed about how you'll never reach their level (present company excepted, of course, Mike)...

Both are obviously available as smart phone apps, and as such are way more seamless to access than SMC.

Pinterest: Look at what I found
Instagram: Look at what I'm doing
SMC: community, interpersonal connection, get and give help.

Thanks Prashun- super helpful and articulate explanation! I admire and appreciate your communication skills.

Cheers, Mike