25 Wood Selections

Our new pages are up!
They have some great pictures of the 25 different types of wood that we use
along with some furniture pieces that were created from them.
Check it out...

http://www.delnero.com/custom-made/wood-furniture.html

The Wealth of Wood - Part Two

One thing that we have noticed over the years displaying at shows is that people generally love to touch and feel wood. We'll see browsers come and run their hands along our furniture. Many have no idea that they're doing it, others are very keenly aware. The beauty of the wood just speaks to us.

Michael has often been inspired by the words of Michelangelo...

"Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."

For us here at Delnero Furniture, the wood is the medium, and the sculptor is the craftsman.

In this article, see the progression of table legs being handturned. The legs are made of heirloom grade quilted maple, and the finished project is a computer table.

Mike has often told me that it is very rewarding to be able to do for a living what he loves, and he surely is an artist. We have customers that have told us that we are building the antiques of tomorrow.

In our opinion, the wealth is already in the wood, it is our job to continue to reveal that beauty.

Watch for our new wood pages on our website, showing characteristics and completed projects for each.

The Wealth of Wood - Part One

Left: a line of maple trees that we planted in Southampton, before we moved. Top: a sampling of our reclaimed Chestnut

The Wealth of Wood as a title comes from a linen wall hanging that is in our showroom. This was something that my mother in law had hanging on one of her hall doors back in Southampton. Michael and I have always loved wood and trees, and at one point she gave it to us. The wallhanging shows samplings of different trees and wood with practical applications.
Our desire as a furniture company extends this appreciation of trees, capturing the natural beauty of the tree into an heirloom piece of furniture that is destined to then live on into the next generations.

There is almost nothing as naturally inspirational as a tree. It has sparked many a poem, deep thought and parallel. I'm sure you can remember a few yourselves...


I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914

We can learn a lot from trees: they're always grounded but never stop reaching heavenward. ~Everett Mámor

and this one that I just found...
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
Abraham Lincoln

My husband and I love studying trees. One such time was when we went to Gettysburg last summer and were awed by the trees displayed at the National Cemetery. We found out that some were what is called Witness Trees, that is they were there during the battle. Others were given by different states through the years. They are clearly marked, and we heartily recommend an outing there.

Carrying on with this sentiment in our business is the reclaimed wood furniture line that we introduced not so long ago. Some of the wood is from barns that were built during the Civil War. That gives me a great sense of appreciation followed by duty. It is our goal to "treat it well."

That in itself is wealth...something of real value, a treasure.

Two Events - One Weekend

Delnero Furniture will be displaying at two separate events September 12 and 13.

The Harvest Festival in Cooperstown
We will be under a tent on the Farmer's Museum Grounds displaying our furniture.
www.farmersmuseum.org/programs/fall/harvest_festival_2

Fort Klock Craft Fair
Bobby will be demonstrating his woodturning abilities. We will be bringing some small items.
http://fortklock.org/2009.html

We hope to meet you there!

Figured Woods

We were talking this past Sunday about the Shaker's use of figured woods. The beauty of the furniture is in part due to the beauty of the wood. The Shakers believed that because God ultimately made the wood, building a piece of furniture with that wood would give credit to Him. This, along with an attitude of "putting our hands to work and hearts to God" created masterpieces that are highly sought.

I thought I would take a minute to write about our introduction to figured hardwoods. There was a dresser made using tiger maple furniture in a Shaker book that we received as a gift from my sister, Sheila for Christmas. This piece just spoke to us. Back then, we had been building Shaker furniture, before it was as popular as it is today, but were limiting ourselves to hardwoods and pine.
I can remember the excitement that we all felt when Mike and John were making that first dresser using details from that picture...the wood itself, the staining and of course the craftsmanship involved in working with figured hardwoods all presented their own list of questions. I know I took many trips out to the woodshop to watch the progress. The above picture is that dresser.

That was the early nineties. Today we offer a full line of furniture using figured woods...Tiger Maple, Birdseye Maple, Curly or Flaming Cherry to name a few. We grade our woods destined for furniture in this way...low figure, heavy figure, heirloom quality and artistic, which has imperfections along with figure. We invite you to browse through our website and imagine the possibilities!

Reconstruction

My kitchen on Fiery Hill Road - completed!

My lovely kitchen during reconstruction!

From http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761556642/Reconstruction_(U_S_history).html
"Reconstruction (U.S. history), the process of rebuilding that followed the American Civil War (1861-1865). Since the United States had never before experienced civil war, the end of hostilities left Americans to grapple with a set of pressing questions over what to do with the South after the defeat of the Confederacy and the overthrow of slavery."

It is commonly noted that remodeling and reconstruction is difficult. Our architect friend, Chris Broda, told us that she was often reminded that her "reconstruction" project was easier because it was voluntary. When we compare our projects to our nation's history, both past and present, this reminder is especially true. As for the results, well, let's just say that this is what makes it all worth the effort. I guess we need to look at more things that way....

Spring Greening Festival

This Saturday we will be exhibiting at the Spring Greening Festival at the Gelston Castle Estate in nearby Jordanville. The Chateau Safflyn is "The ultimate Green facility & resort for truly special occasions." The festival is an annual event to raise awareness towards the environment. Our new line of green furniture, being built of reclaimed wood, fits right in with this theme.

Up to a few days ago, I didn't know anything about the estate,
even though it is only less than 15 miles away.

When we lived in Massachusetts, we were privileged to once attend a musical program in nearby Chesterfield. It was a first class operation, and one thing that remained with me was the introduction given about how someone traveled around the world to find a certain gem, and long story short discovered something in his own back yard. This was the inspiration for that music facility, that being, to create or find something of special value
in your own hometown.

Since we moved here in 2002 we have found many special places.
It is wonderful to find such treasures in the
Mohawk Valley region of New York State.

The link for the Gelston Castle Estate:
http://www.chateausafflyn.com/index.html

Check out our website and the green line gallery!
http://www.delnerofurniture.com/reclaimed-wood-furniture/