Spring is coming!

In spite of the relentlessly bad economic news, Essence Woodworks and Crimson Asphalt are chugging along, head down against the wind, building cabinets and designing furniture.  I have set my show schedule for 2009 (see the Crimson Asphalt News) and have some interesting projects to highlight from Essence Woodworks.

                                                                                                  Carl Schlerman

Crimson Asphalt News

Show schedule for 2009

Due to a break last summer for  ACL replacement surgery in my knee, and a busy schedule for Essence Woodworks, Crimson Asphalt has been dormant this fall.  I decided not to go to Providence without new designs in October, but I was determined to come back aggressively next year. I am working on designs for a Crimson Asphalt dining room set that I will be highlighting in three shows in 2009.  Stay tuned for a preview!

Baltimore Fine Furnishings & Fine Craft Show
Baltimore, Maryland
May 2 & 3, 2009
France-Merrick Performing Arts Center and Hippodrome

Paradise City Arts Festival
Northampton, Massachusetts
May 23, 24 & 25, 2009
Northampton Fair Grounds

Providence Fine Furnishings & Fine Craft Show
Providence, Rhode Island
October 23, 24 & 25
Rhode Island Convention Center

Essence  Woodworks  News

Essence Woodworks has been busy this fall.  Above is shown a curved front storage closet designed by Ed Hogan of of Designworker.   This fun creation hides each family members coats in a separate two foot section.  Made with maple veneer over bending plywood the doors are mounted on concealed Soss hinges for 180 degree opening that allows the doors to nest into their  neighbors.

This desk was made from scrap material left over from the house construction.  The design challenge was to create a workspace that you could kneel, sit and stand at using the materials from the house.  The materials used were: corrugated stainless steel sheet metal, Trespa resin panels, aluminum flat stock, and dyed Baltic birch plywood.  The laptop is on an articulated arm for full adjustability.



The latest furniture commission for Essence Woodworks was based on a Crimson Asphalt design. This piece is a mild-mannered sideboard with three drawers, that converts into a rather snazzy dining room table big enough to seat six comfortably.  Unseen is the rather elaborate mechanism that extends supports as you shift the sideboard top and unfold it.

A simplified version of this sideboard with a custom top by Stone Soup Concrete was made and sold at auction to benefit Lydia Pepi in her battle with cancer.  Thank you to everyone who bid on this donation.