Talking to a woodworker friend made me see my own work differently

I was having a beer with my friend Mark, who does custom furniture. He was looking at a simple steel bracket I made and said, 'You know, I spend days getting a table leg to feel right in the hand, but you just make the thing that holds the table together.' It wasn't a dig, but it stuck with me. I realized I often think of my work as just functional parts, the hidden bones of a project. He sees his work as something people touch and see every day. It made me think about the few times I've made a fireplace tool or a door handle, where the feel matters just as much as the strength. Now I'm wondering if I should try more projects where the user's hand is part of the design. Do you ever think about that touch aspect in your forging?

2 comments

2 Comments

bell.taylor1mo ago

Oh, so we're just the skeleton crew of the craft world? Cool, cool.

nora5351mo ago

That's a really good point your friend made. It's easy to get stuck just making the strong, hidden parts. I do a lot of repair work, and most of it never gets seen. But when someone asks for a coat hook or a fire poker, it's different. You have to think about the curve of the hand, the weight. It's a nice change. Makes the work feel more complete, you know?