The annual class at my shop here in Santa Barbara was quite successful, fun, fast-paced, and productive. Everyone made a couple of pieces, we did a group project, and Randy tackled an intricate ebony table. I have limited this class to 6 people, where we can spread out, and do many different things during the five days.The comments were 'fast paced', 'very informative', 'intense'. One of the students, Michael, blogged about the class on the Sawmillcreek.org woodworking forum. Free to sign up, big following with a lot of content....  here is the link to the blog, with a more in depth day-to-day commentary with pics, if you sign up:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?175490-Marquetry-Course-with-Paul-Schurch&p=1804970&posted=1#post1804970

Here are a few photos of the week.... 

The class on 'Building a Game Table' that was held at MASW a couple of years ago was fading out for me but when this photo was just sent to me by a student, it brought back memories...I am amazed on the diversity of styles and designs. It was pretty funny, since we were suppose to have a set size, shape and task to do a table that would fit into a 2' x 2' x 3' cube, and as you can see, everyone did something completely different!  At least they were all tables.... 

In 2012 I will conducting a seven-day class called 'Cabinets into Furniture' where we will design and make a bow-front cabinet, with Marquetry, shiny hardware, and decorated to the hilt, which is basically a furniture grade cabinet that would be installed into a home. We shall see what happens!

This was the 'Jewelry box with Marquetry' class at William Ng School of Fine Woodwork in Los Angeles, where everyone designed and built an walnut box with a marquetry lid. The different designs everyone generated were quite astounding!  Most had never done marquetry before and just about everyone finished their boxes by the fifth day.

The doggie box won first place (Check out the reflection of the eyes!) I will be doing this class next year, and again, it will be limited to twelve people.

Here is the trailer for a PBS show featuring a piece I did with Tommy on ‘Rough Cut with
Tommy Mac’ it is a ‘Standing Mirror’ episode #207, which aired all over the country on November 12th. (Check your local PBS listings for rebroadcast dates)

 

Thomas J. MacDonald - Episode 07 – Standing Mirror

 

 

Just finished up a 5-day decorative veneering class that I have been teaching at Marc Adams School of Woodworking for 16 years now: class photo of 2011 holding selected projects on the morning of day 5. Everyone had a great time, worked thier tails off and produced work that was  Lavori Favolosi !!!

I also just got some great feedback from a member of the San Diego Fine Woodworking Association, where I recently presented a 2.5 day seminar on "Veneer, Marquetry, and Furniture Design":

 

........Since joining the SDFWA, I have attended 6 of the last 7 Fall Seminars. While each of the past events have been well worth the price of admission, this year's event may be hard to beat! Paul is an excellent communicator and was very well prepared for his audience. What I really enjoyed was the scaled back scope of the project! We actually got to see the project go from design concept to finished product. Some of the previous projects were too much for the allotted period of time and it was disappointing to not see the entire process. I much rather prefer a scaled back project that gets completed! I also enjoyed Sunday afternoon's session during which Paul addressed a number of short marquetry/veneering related topics - edge finishing techniques, chess board, parquetry, etc. Topics were spot on and very informative. 
Thank you for all the hard work and effort that goes into the planning and execution of this annual event. Looking forward to next year's program!

Keep an eye on my upcoming educational workshops and seminars at schurchwoodwork.com/education

I'll be at the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild in early November to teach a new class to explore the fundamentals of veneering and provide a methodical approach to working raw veneer into decoratively veneered marquetry panels using simple tools and techniques. Attendees will learn about basic and advanced veneer handling, cutting and joining techniques and gluing and vacuum pressing. The class will also cover designing with veneers, substrate selection, taping, gluing, pressing of curved and flat work, trouble shooting, and sanding and finishing.

Registration: Online Registration is now open.

Friday, November 4, 7-8 pm: Slide Show: "Marquetry, Traditional to the Contemporary"

Saturday, November 5, 9-4 pm: Seminar

Sunday, November 6, 9-4 pm: Seminar

Location: Dunwoody College of Technology, 818 Dunwoody Blvd., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cost: $65.00 for members

Cost: $85.00 for non-members

Lunch: Box Lunch from D. Brians Deli. Turkey, beef or vegetarian sandwich with fruit, chips and cookie. Available both days for $10.00 per lunch. Purchase online when registering.

Registration: Online Registration is now open.

Busy month! I'll be at the Ng School of Woodworking again in October, teaching "Jewelry Box with Marquetry" for FIVE DAYS!

 

Again, the max class size is just 12 students, so REGISTER NOW.

This class is an instructional hands-on five day workshop that will involve making a 10” x 15” x 4” high-end wooden jewelry box with a veneer marquetry design applied onto the top lid and completing it by the end of the week. I will cover the challenges and considerations of combining solid woodwork with veneer work, and give each student instruction and hands-on experience working with both mediums on this box project. The objective for this class is to understand the process of fine box design and create a beautiful and mechanically sound frame, make a wood marquetry picture using simple hand tools, a scroll saw, and use proven veneer assembly and glue-up techniques to complete the project. There will be a variety of marquetry patterns to choose from, or I will instruct you how to draw one, for use on your box project.

The first day will be dedicated to finalizing the box design, selecting the veneers and hardwoods each student will be using, and begin milling.

The second day will be dedicated to constructing the box, gluing it together, sanding, fitting the components and beginning creating the marquetry lid.

The third day we complete the marquetry and glue up the panel.

The fourth and fifth day we combine the panel and frame, hinge the lid, dress out the interior and finish the box with oil or lacquer.

Each student should have some basic woodworking knowledge in order to safely complete the project during the week. There is no veneering or marquetry knowledge required for this class, however, I recommend that each student review my book ‘Decorative Veneering’ and watch the accompanying DVD on prior to the class, since it is my experience that the more knowledge you gain prior to class, the exponentially further you will progress. The class size is limited to twelve people and the blueprints, hardware, tools, supplies and other material needed for this class will be provided on the first day, which are included in your material fee. Other useful marquetry tools, supplies and veneer will be available for purchase at the end of this one week seminar.

REGISTER NOW for this exciting course!

I'll be at the Ng School of Woodworking on Oct. 22-23, 2011 to teach "Making Curves in Furniture". This two-day class will be a hands on demonstration dedicated to understanding the process of making curved panels that work. Curves can be used in furniture, both traditional and contemporary styles, modern work to sculpture, and can take veneered furniture projects to a whole new level with the introduction of curves.
There are many questions about proper bending materials, adhesives and veneering techniques that will be covered and practiced during these two days, and should be an very informative two day class for every level of woodworker aspiring to throw a curve into their next project!
- Designing with curves.
- Creating curved clamping cauls and preparing bending plywood.
- Understanding vacuum and laminating technology.
- Gluing up a curved panel with veneer.
- Sanding and finishing of a curved surface.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions about this class at : paul@schurchwoodwork.com and I look forward to working with you soon!

The maximum class size is only 12, so REGISTER TODAY!

Ng School of Woodworking 
1340 N. Dynamics, Unit H 
Anaheim, CA 
(714) 993-4215 
www.wnwoodworks.com

I'll be at the San Diego School School for Creative and Performing Arts to address the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association this weekend, September 16-17-18,  2011. Part of the event is free and open to the public, so I'd like to invite you to join me on Friday evening from 7-9pm when I'll lecture about "Intuitive Design". The San Diego School for Creative & Performing Arts is at 2425 Dusk Drive, San Diego, CA  92139.

Here are some inspirational notes on recognizing and honoring your Intuition:

• Honor and Respect your flashes and don’t label any as silly or coincidental.

      • Brevity and simplicity—Express your ideas from the intuitive mind briefly in a line or two.  Considerable talking or drawing belongs to the logical mind.

      • Symbol, picture, and imagery—the intuitive mind will turn on the images inside your head, or a sensation in the body. Can you the taste how the picture sounds?

      • Suspend assumptions—Use intuitive input as naively as possible without entertaining any preconceived notions. No Judgments.

      • When you are grounded and in the flow, first impressions are usually correct.

      • Faint stirrings—Respect the weakly articulated impressions as strongly as you do the loud raps of intuition.

      • Active-passive—Intuition can come passively, like a “flash out of the blue” or actively when you ask a question and patently wait for a reply.

      • Enhanced receptivity—Letting go of tension or stress helps you relax and receive the pictures, images and symbols sent by the intuitive mind. Practice: Music & Silence, Movement & Relaxation, Meditation & Complete Chaos.

      • Associate—Freely associating to the imagery sent by the intuitive mind will help you unravel the underlying meaning of the symbols.

• Playful moments—Enjoy the intuitive process.  Fun and levity weaken analysis and strengthen the intuitive flow. Combine whacky ideas, see what emerges.

Please join me from 7-9pm on Friday evening in San Diego!

"Bustier de Bois"
A collaborative fashion project by Paul Schürch and Wesly Villaseñor

This project was conceived many years ago around a dinner table with several woodworkers, engineers, artists and creative designers, attempting to envision new ways to express beauty through art, and I, being the craftsman that is addicted to big challenges, said ‘How about high end, fashionable wooden clothing? ‘ When this statement was greeted with surprised silence and interested quizzical looks, I knew that there was something special about this idea. So began our research into the styles and materials that dictate the confusing world of fashion, what looks and feels good, building different prototypes, and learning more about veneer by pushing the limits, yet again. There are few examples of wood being used in fashion since 1929, (see photos), and has been seldom explored in the world of wearable art. 
I proceeded to develop the first of several designs, shaped wood milled brass, and Wesly doing cut and sew, in time for the first runway showing of the Zebrawood ‘Bustier de Bois’ in March 2011.
This outfit is made with Zebrawood veneer fitted with custom hardware made from brass and recycled rosewood. The lining, skirt and laces are made from Silk-Hemp cloth. Shoes and skirt pleats are laminated with Zebrawood veneer, and a turned bead of Zebrawood with brass accents secures the silk/hemp dress lace. The whole dress weighs less than 2.5 lb, including the shoes and hardware. This was well received.
This wearable art piece is surprisingly flexible and comfortable, fits well on a variety of body sizes, and the veneer bends easily for putting the dress on and taking it off. The closure system of brass ‘fairleads’ and silk/hemp lace is engineered for maximum movement of the torso, self-adjusting as the body moves walks or sits. 
I believe this dress is quite unique and may be the beginning of something that may leave its mark in the world of fashion. Wood has a warm feel and appealing familiarity that is foreign to this world of wearable art. To achieve the perfect fit, a wooden dress would best be custom fit the client, but as you can see here, the ‘Sassy Zebra’ seems to fit Sarah, Maya and Jai quite well…......