Dr. Mike Epworth has spent decades researching and building Jimmy Possum chairs. These enchanting Australian folk chairs, which originated in Tasmania’s Meander Valley in the 19th century, are attributed to Jimmy Possum, a person who remains an enigma, a mystery. While each Jimmy Possum chair is unique, built from salvaged wood, they all have the…
Read moreHappy New Year! The following is excerpted from “Honest Labour: The Charles H. Hayward Years” – a collection of essays from The Woodworker magazine while Charles H. Hayward was editor (1936-1966). Please excuse the male-centric language. We are all products of our time, and this essay, written in 1955, was no exception. —now that we…
Read moreThe following is excerpted from “Honest Labour: The Charles H. Hayward Years” – a collection of essays from The Woodworker magazine while Charles H. Hayward was editor (1936-1966). Please excuse the choices of pronouns. We are all products of our time, and Charles Hayward (born in 1898) was no exception. Every time we re-read one…
Read moreEditor’s note: Our Mind Upon Mind series is a nod to a 1937 Chips from the Chisel column (also featured in “Honest Labour: The Charles H. Hayward Years”), in which Hayward wrote, “The influence of mind upon mind is extraordinary.” The idea being there’s often room for improvement. To that end, we’ve asked you what else you have…
Read moreMary “Molly” Gregory was a talented and determined woodworker who used her skills widely, from constructing farm structures, and renovating and building homes, to designing and building custom furniture that would eventually be displayed in museums. She’s perhaps best known for her time at Black Mountain College, a liberal arts college founded by John Rice…
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