Whats Crackin?

Time moves fast doesn't it! One moment we are in a grim, shed of a workshop, the next we are in some uber modern, curvy walled, eco workshop. Finally, Fink Furniture has moved and is being set up to optimise furniture manufacture. The past few weeks have involved shifting a huge amount of gear and materials, that were just piled up in the space, now things have changed and you can actully see the floor! Bonus! The machines are yet to wired up but once were making stuff again properly I shall give you a run through of each section.

As for Why Aye Design, Things are moving along nicely. I should be completing a project funded by Yorkshire Forward soon, creating visualisations for 3 variations of a wood burner. Since the design is the main feature of the product, I'm not allowed to display it over the net (or any other public forum for that matter) but once its protected I shall be plastering it sexy profile everywhere, wood burner porn, oo yeah!

I am also working closely with Sarah Staton on two projects, One I have mentioned before, creating visualisations for CASS from Sarahs wonderful designs that will be commissioned (fingers crossed). as well as this, we are sending off some concepts of some gates that will be designed by Sarah, and CAD'ed (not a word but whatever) by me, for a new school that is being built in Sheffield.

So, watch this space, yet again, its a space that is constantly moving! like space itself, oooo deep!

"Where are you?" Smith, Delia

This blog title is direct quote from this pinnacle moment in footballing history



In these past few weeks I have been involved an eclectic array of projects, some being in the workshop, some on CAD, and others being out on site.

Firstly, the site work. Recently i have been involved with the construction of garden decking. One which was the standard 'play joinery' decking, bought from B&Q. Another being made from Larch, for a client who was the founder of 'AVAD Furniture', images of the work in progress can be seen below.




Finally the last bit of 'decking' was completed at the home of Sarah Staton where FinkFurniture installed a patio made of discarded tree trunks with a two tier, locally sourced Beech bench.

These funny little jobs were great experience in an area that I have never touched, and in doing so I met some fascinating people involved in the design/art industry and they have in turn given me more work. I should be posting the jobs on this Blog and my website as soon as I can.

Other than this, I completed an 'Off Cut' project for FinkFurniture. This project was a sustainability and a marketing exercise where we used the discarded 'waste' timber, left over from various projects, to create soap dishes, spatulas and chopping boards (which are all for sale). The products were designed by Finbarr Lucas and made by me. The materials are generally Ash, Beech and Oak and are finished with Linseed Oil.





There is more to come, stay tuned wood fans.

Website + Table = Projects

The website is live, go to www.whyayedesign.com to view it in its glory. It is in beta testing as there are things that are going to change, but its up and running and why aye design has a more substantial web presence. I would like to thank Richard Gwilliam at Slackingpants Web Development for stitching all those pixels together for me, he did a great job and his support is top notch. Cheers Ricardo!

The 'Little Table' is coming along > sticking together of the overall structure should be happening some time this week, so keep an eye on my Flikr page to monitor its progress.

keep on bloggin' (its like truckin' and its just as depressing)

Little Table update.

Ola Blogglings

Work has began on the machining of my 'Little Table' and I have been practising the joints that I shall be using in the construction. As previously mentioned on an earlier Blog post, I am mainly using Bridle joints and the image below shows the first attempt (More can be found on my Flickr page, if you can be bloody bothered to click it!)



Also on a different note, I have been developing a super secret product that I shall be entering into this competition > http://tiny.cc/k5ml4 < Shhhh! Divint tell any one like!

New workshop update

I have just received some more photos of the new workshop as well as a list of public events that will be happening at Manor Oaks, so come on down >>

Sunday 11th July > first open studios for the public
and the people/organisations that have supported our efforts - 11 am to 4
pm. This will co-incide with Flower Trail day so we expect a few residents
from nearby neighbourhoods.

Sunday 8th August > Deer park Day/Friends Day and Green Estate and demonstrations of making skills at the Discovery Centre on site.

Sunday 12th September > National Heritage Open Day. Again, with further skills demonstrations.

Sunday 20th November > Open Studios at Manor Oaks, following the Open
Studios at Yorkshire Artspace on Friday evening and Saturday. An annual event. apparently :)

Little Table

I have decided to make a little table to improve my making skills.

The image shows a three legged-ish table with a glass top. The frame shall be made from locally sourced hardwood with mildly contrasting colours. The outer most joints will be bridle joints and the centre join is a secret until it is completed. nana nana naa naa!

It is all relatively simple but should be a small challenge to get spot on. Any questions?

Moving workshop

Currently the workshop is in a great location, in central Sheffield but Finbarr (the founder of www.finkfurniture.co.uk and the person who I am working for/with) has been accepted into a brand new and amazing community of design/craft/art workshops in Sheffield.

Yorkshire Artspace (www.artspace.org.uk) are creating around 13 brand new purpose built studios at Manor Oaks farm, in partnership with Green Estate (http://artspace.org.uk/studios/manor-oaks) we have the biggest and curviest building on the site, which is good because Fink Furniture creates a lot of curvy furniture...

It will be excellent being situated on a site surrounded by green country side with like minded people who are not only interested in the arts, but also people who care about the environment. The building its self is self sufficient, in the sense that the heating is supplied by ground source heat pumps, water (other than drinking water) is harvested from rain water, there is a living wall supplying heat insulation I guess and there are areas where food will be grown, harvested and sold on site at the cafe and visitors centre.

I hope you will come visit as the site is not only for the businesses but for the community :) aaaww, isn't that nice!