Lacey's Yard, Chesham

I'm happy to say that the clocks I delivered to Lacey's Yard in Chesham are on display, along side various bowls made by a wood turner, and lots of other interesting work made by various artists and craftsmen.

Currently they have 5 of my clocks.  They are situated in the 2nd room of the gallery.

They are based in Chesham town centre, down an alley on the main high street, next to Cox the Saddler.  Lacey's Yard's web address is http://www.laceysyard.co.uk/

Please do visit them and support our local galleries, they do a great job.  They have lower priced cards etc. too, so there is always something to chose from!

When I called by today, the wood turner was in - he has some lovely turned bowls, some with interesting coloured decoration on.  They are worth looking at!

Chesham Grown and Made Walnut Wall Clocks - Part 1

7 pieces finally cut - lovely contrasting sap and
heart wood, with some lovely figuring

Part 1: Sourcing and Cutting the Timber


I've been enjoying cutting timber for some wall clocks, sourced from a locally grown (Chesham, in the Chilterns) Walnut tree.  It has a lovely colour & figuring and I particularly like the white sap wood contrasting with the brown heart wood of the tree.

I thought I would share a little how I make the clocks - this will be in a few parts, the first is about getting and cutting the timber, then it 'rests' before I hand plane it.

The tree came down in winds about a mile away from my workshop a few years ago (I'm based in Chesham, in the Chilterns), and I went over and picked it up.  Then, I split the tree into quarters, entirely by hand, using metal wedges etc.  I have an article on my website showing how I did this with a beech tree, see http://articles.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/article_171.php.

It then sat around air drying for about 2 years - the tree was 'green' - that is to say it had just come down and was very wet inside (as all trees are).   Clock makers of the type I am can't use wet timber, it has to dry to about 10% moisture content, which takes time.  Timber is quite often 'kiln dried', meaning it is dried in a kiln - this timber was 100% air dried which took time, but is worth it.

Cutting wood - all by eye as cutting from part of log

So, at last it was dry and ready to use.  Thankfully it hadn't split too much in drying (most timber does at the ends due to differences in evaporation end grain) - some splits very badly resulting in quite a lot of lost timber.

I cut all my timber entirely by hand, using hand saws.  As I am cutting part of a log, and not a nice bit of sawn timber, it is pretty hard to hold and cut it - not least because I have to saw by eye, without cutting lines, which takes some experience and skill to do accurately as the saw is bound to wonder.

I'm cutting a piece with some white sap wood (sap is the outer wood) and brown heart (inner wood) so the clocks will have a nice white / brown contrast in them.  The wood has some lovely figuring in too.

In the photo to the left I've cut 2/3 of the way down on 7 pieces - now I turn the piece of wood over and, again by eye, cut so the saw cuts meet up - and meet straight.  Now that took a lot of practice to get right, as I have no marks to guide me.  See photo on left.

Now I've got 7 nice pieces cut from here, I need to let it rest.  Whilst it is dry, there will be tension in the wood which has been released when I cut it, so it will rest for perhaps a week or so, then I will plane it, by hand using hand planes, then go on to the exciting part of shaping it etc.

When the clocks have a finish on (I will use clear oils and wax) they will look lovely - when I done I will publish photos here and on my site.

I haven't decided on the price yet, but likely to be in the £40 to £70 range each, but that is subject to change.  They will be available to purchase.

If you want to keep following this article and how the clocks go, do follow me on Twitter etc., or signup to my newsletter on the top right of this site.  If you are interested in buying one, do contact me by emailing handmadeclockcases@gmail.com.

Studio 61 (Derbyshire) - new gallery

Very pleased to announce that Studio 61 (Derbyshire) are stocking some of my Spalted Beech clocks. They have lots of other interesting and exciting work by various artists too. Do visit their Facebook page to see them on display, or better still, pop in to the gallery itself!

Facebook Photos and info

The Galleries website address is http://www.karinagoodman.com/

Design a Church Chair Competition!

I was pleased to see that the Church of England have recently launched a competition to design 2 different church chairs.

Their promotional material states:


'The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division headed by Director, Janet Gough, is hosting a competition aimed at inspiring leading designers, design students and manufacturers to engage with the design of church seating that combines good design with comfort, whilst maintaining sympathy with historic interiors.


The competition is a unique opportunity for a designer to contribute to the evolving history of the Church of England which is responsible for 16,000 parish churches. We want to encourage the production of designs that will enhance the buildings they are placed in and that will be celebrated by our own and future generations.'


Whilst I am not sure that I will be able to contribute, it is very interesting, do read http://www.churchcare.co.uk/pdf_view.php?id=272 for more information.

Tall Verticals - new clocks released

Today I'm pleased to announce the release of my new range of 'Tall Vertical' clocks - clocks that are narrow and tall.  They are designed to fulfil 3 objectives:

1. Design of something tall looking
2. Cheaper clocks - some are £15
3. Fit into narrow spaces within galleries

Do visit http://www.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/clocks/tall_verticals/ for more information.

Bucks Open Studios, 2012, in aid of charity

I am pleased to announced that I will be taking part in Bucks Open Studios (2012) this year - my items will be on display at The Claire Foundation (Saunderton, Buckinghamshire).  The dates are Sat 9th Jun 2012 to Sun 24th Jun 2012.

The event will be raising money (through commission charged on sales) for The Claire Foundation (http://www.theclarefoundation.org/).  According to their website, 'The Clare Foundation is a charity helping other charities become more commercial and efficient by practising 'Charity Excellence'.'

I haven't worked out exactly what I will take, but it will be a mixture of priced items.  A number of other artists will be displaying their work too, and the venue has Cafe, open weekdays until 1430.

Please note that this isn't my workshop, and I regret that for practical reasons I won't be demonstrating at this event.

The location address is The Clare Foundation, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Buckinghamshire.

Please note that the postcode best to use for SatNav for this is HP14 4HU.

Thame Exhibition, 21st April 2012

I am pleased to announce that on the 21st April 2012 I will be doing the Artists and Makers Fair at Thame Town Hall.  I will have my lower end clocks here, with maybe some of the more expensive ones to show.

2012 Exhibition Dates

These are starting to fill up - I have I think 5 so far up to May, including, I hope the Bucks Open Studios. I will be publishing more about this soon as information is confirmed, do ask if you want to know sooner.

2012 Charities

I am currently working on how I will support my two chosen charities this year through sales of some clocks; full details are not yet available but please do follow me on social media or sign up to my newsletter (links to page showing this on right).

New Website Launched!

Today I have launched my new website http://www.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/.  It has been redesigned to a more modern theme, and has Facebook 'Like' & Twitter integrated into it.

New and current projects have been added, with a diary style entry for how I'm getting along with them, which, when linked to my social networking and blog, will provide more up to date information with how I'm getting on with new work and designs.

New clocks designs have been added - and most importantly - more pricing information has been included, with a filter by price section on the right hand menu.

A new charities section has been added, outlining how I propose to support two charities this year.

The home page contains a slide show of some of my clocks.

Links to my objectives for 2012 are included on the home page.

A few more photos of me are on the site - see http://www.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/photos.php.

Do visit the new site at http://www.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/ to see the new site.

For any feedback about my new site - positive or negative then please feel free to email me on handmadeclockcases@gmail.com.

The Book of Forgotten Crafts

For Christmas I was pleased to receive 'The Book of Forgotten Crafts', written by Paul Felix, Sian Ellis and Tom Quinn.

It is a great book, covering many particular crafts, from the 'obvious' such as pottery, wheelright etc. to Rhubarb Forcer Maker, Bee Skep Maker and many others.

The book in fact covers about 49 different crafts - obviously a book covering so many couldn't cover each craft in minute detail - but as you can't just 'learn' a new craft (even if it looks easy) from just a book, then that isn't a problem.

At the back it also includes contact details of some of the people covered in the book.

I haven't had time to finish reading this book, but would happily recommend it.

Whilst I don't gain anything from Amazon or the sale of this book, in the UK on Amazon the link is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Forgotten-Crafts-Keeping-Traditions/dp/0715338315/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326127416&sr=8-1-spell

New Clock Designs

Today I have started work on 2 sets of new clocks designs.

Firstly, I have started on my Valentines Day Clocks, preparing and cutting the wood for them, ready for them to dry.

Secondly, I have started work on some new designs on my Bauhaus design clocks.

My new website will contain diary style entries for these, which I will be made live soon.

Objectives for 2012

It is important to me that I have objectives for the year - where I am going, where I want to be, so I am taking stock, and working out my objectives for 2012.  These are enclosed below, and are what I hope to do, but some are subject to change!

If you want to know more about any of these, please do email me on handmadeclockcases@gmail.com,  sign up to my monthly newsletter by emailing me, or follow me on Twitter or Facebook.

New Website (completed) I plan to release my new website in early Jan.  This will be a more up to date design, include prices (where possible), and contain more dynamic information, such as up coming projects etc., and be more integrated into Twitter and Facebook. New Clock Designs I aim to create a number of new designs in 2012 - some new Bauhaus inspired designs, as well as a few for Valentines Day. Raise money for Charity I hope to sell some clocks with the money going to charity.  More information to appear on my site / blog / social media / newsletter. New Project - What is Time? I hope to launch a new project of my own this year - What is Time - exploring the meaning of time through clocks.  More information to follow. Family My family (wife and 11 month old son) are important to me, and I would be doing them a dis-service if I did not include them in my objectives. Whilst continuing to work hard at all the above, it is equally important that I spend quality time with both my wife and son, particularly in the evenings and at the weekends. Being a father isn't a optionally take it or leave it job, it is important that I spend the time I need to with James so that he grows into a balanced toddler, child then adult.

New Materials I will be experimenting with brass / copper based body clocks in 2012 - Valentines Day and Bauhaus designs initially.  I will see where this takes me. Bauhaus Watercolours I am interested in the theories behind the Bauhaus movement and am considering working on some watercolour only studies based on their form and colour theories. More Gallery Representation To build up good relationships with new galleries, see if they wish to include some of my clocks, to increase my gallery representation.  To direct customers who may contact me to suitable galleries, if there are ones local to them. Enter Exhibitions & Fayres To continue to enter exhibitions and do a few fayres to further promote my work. Social Media To continue to use Twitter and Facebook, and use it more to promote myself, and guide people towards the galleries I hope to work with this year. Other Outlets To find other advertising outlets where I can promote my work, and, hopefully point them to galleries where I hope to be represented more.