Monday, March 16, 2009

Tables and boxes

Hello, hello, it's good to be back! I had a great time in California visiting my family, but came back to a loooong class I needed to maintain my professional license, and then we had to get ready for some work that's being done on our house. I hardly got to any blogs, but am starting to catch up.

Look at this wonderful woodwork!
Years ago my dad made a set of small folding tables (like TV tables) with a tumbling block pattern. They are absolutely gorgeous! I photographed them while visiting my mother. If you look carefully, you'll see that the wood grains go three different ways -- one each for the top and two sides of the block -- to give it a 3D look.
This photo is a little truer in color than the top one (the finish just glows in real life), and it also shows what I find a fascinating feature of my dad's piecing. The grains are consistent, but the shades of wood vary randomly, so a top or a side might be darker or lighter. This makes the tumbling blocks fade into 6-pointed stars in some places. In a book I once saw a quilt titled "Tumbling Blocks with Emerging Stars," and that's just what this is. What a great look! You may have to let your eyes relax a little to see the effect in the photo, but I think it does come across in the lower one if you give it a chance.
This, alas, is most definitely not a great look. We had to clear out a good part of the downstairs for the work that's being done on the house, and the remaining part is all junked up with the stuff. Of course, we had four big bookcases in the two rooms where most of the work is being done... Guess I should view this as an opportunity to clean things out!

Good to be back, hope you all are doing well.

15 comments:

Tonya Ricucci said...

your dad made some beautiful tables. Im having a hard time seeing the stars - maybe I need to stop looking. eeek, opportunities to clean can never be good....

Cathi said...

I can definitely see the stars. Those tables are an absolute treasure!!

Clare said...

Can't see the stars either. Just the 3-D boxes, but they are lovely tables.

Moving furniture - yuk!

Libby said...

Wow that is impressive woodwork! The pattern is really interesting with the stars popping out here and there. Good luck sorting books :)

Rosalyn Manesse said...

Lovely woodwork. So fascinating to see.

Norma said...

Those tables are a treasure, lots of patience shown there. Alas, I can't see the stars either but will take your word for it.

If I have to be surrounded by clutter, it would ok if it was books! What are you doing to your house?

meggie said...

What a treasure those tables are!

Browndirtcottage said...

Oh Wow...the wood design is fascinating....but, no stars for me either..???
And as far as the house goes...I would like to have my carpets professionally cleaned....but like you...what a chore...where to put everything while they do it!!..??

charengiwooman said...

When a Girl's Festival ends, a cherry-blossom front rises from west in flower viewing time(お花見), and Tokyo put on is time at the end of March.

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laura west kong said...

That is wonderful! I've always loved that pattern, in whatever medium its made in. =(^_^)=

Feeling Simply Quilty said...

Yep, that's a quilt somewhere in there.

I've got pictures from Paducah on my blog.

Feeling Simply Quilty said...

Yep, that's a quilt somewhere in there.

I've got pictures from Paducah on my blog.

Feeling Simply Quilty said...

Yep, that's a quilt somewhere in there.

I've got pictures from Paducah on my blog.

Feeling Simply Quilty said...

Yep, that's a quilt somewhere in there.

I've got pictures from Paducah on my blog.

Clare Wassermann said...

You have a super blog - thank you