Registration for January's "Working Wood in the 18th Century" Conference opened recently. The topic this year is bedroom furniture. Some of you may be thinking that you are happy with your water bed, you aren't interested in sleeping on ropes, so you'll pass on this one. Two words for you: Big Mistake. The actual projects are fairly inconsequential for period furniture makers. I just took a look at the brochure; Looks like Kaare will be carving a cabriole leg (for a bed, no less). Smart woodworkers go for the sub-processes. I think beds will be neat to see. There's a lot of interesting issues with bedding and bedroom furniture from this period. Bedchambers were typically public rooms in the 18th c., not the private rooms they are today. But even if you are not thinking of building a bed in the next few years, GO ANYWAY! The fellowship of all the attendees makes this pilgrimage worth it. It's just a great group of folks. Last year, we held the first meeting of the new Leather Apron Club. A small group gathered on Sunday morning between the two sessions to discuss the future of period woodworking, what our needs were, and how we could better help one another. If I am living and breathing, I'd like to do it again next year. You can register on line for the conference here: http://www.history.org/history/institute/institute_about.cfm

There are two sessions. These things and the on-campus hotel rooms fill up fast. I'm going to the first session. The sapfm meeting is traditionally held during the second. If you register for the first, be sure to track me down and say hello! Maybe we can grab a slice together at Sal's (on Richmond Road) or down a pint of Boddington's at the Green Leaf.

If you are on the fence about the subject, but are interested in period woodwork, GO.

Adam