Plants, Beer, and Comiccon

With the warmer weather finally here, we just want to be outside! But since we can't be at Clocktower enjoying Wil Wheaton's new beer, we'll settle for adding a little 'greenery' to our store. We now carry air plants!

What is an air plant? 
Well if you don't have a green thumb, these plants are ideal. They require basically no maintenance as they are airborne plants. As "Better Homes and Gardens" say, they 'thrive on neglect'!

Just spritz some water on them occasionally and they will survive. (Are you now humming "I Will Survive"? I am... great...)

For more information on how to grow them, click here to read a great article on the BH&G website.

Cathy had some fun displaying some various types of air plants in a unique Maple Burl we have on display. Next time you're in the shop, come take a look!

And here are a few pics of some *cringe* fake plants for inspiration on how to combine wood & greenery.

While you're at Comiccon this weekend, don't forget to stop by one of our customers booths, Ben from Elkasha Arts. He designs incredible Intarsia work in a variety of your favourite characters!
Give him a 'like here at www.facebook.com/Elkashaarts

Our new showroom, from start to finish!

The last few months have been quite the journey for us at KJP! It started with an idea, then a couple dozen sketches, and then the talented Derek from Within The Grain brought our visions to life! We could not be happier with the final outcome and highly recommend Derek for all your building needs. He is fantastic at renovations of any type. He can even create decorative wood turnings & carvings to display in your home. 

Drop by the store and see the new showroom in person! And feel free to share... you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kjpselecthardwoods

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kjpselecthardwoods/

Here are pics from start to finish. (Please excuse the iPhone photos) 

Looking back, it's hard to believe there wasn't always a hole there!

And voila, we are excited to say "IT'S DONE!"

In our new showroom, you will find hundreds of live edge slabs, serving trays, and live edge boards. We also have a section at the back dedicated to barn board, rustic timbers etc.

You can pick your board, select your legs (we have wood and hairpin available), choose your finish, and wood glue. A one-stop-shop for creating beautiful, custom furniture! 

Unique pieces ideal for using hairpin legs

We've recently starting carrying an assortment of brushed steel hairpin legs. We love them! They are absolutely perfect for a DIY solution for table legs. You've probably seen the look in magazines, and possibly even in person... but here is an example of a Birch Burl with 14" hairpin legs attached. We have this table displayed in-store, so make sure to take a peek on your next visit... it's the perfect combination of rustic/modern decor.

The hairpin legs are sold individually, and in pairs. 14", 20", 28", and 30" are currently available.

I took a browse around the store (mostly because I was cold and trying to warm up!) and grabbed photos of some unique pieces. These are just my current favourites... 

From Afzelia Burl to Live Edge Ziricote, there are hundreds of tabletops to select from. Our stock rotates daily and we get new shipments all the time. Tabletops vary in size and species, so we always recommend a visit to our store to the see the wood in person. 

Dreaming of a table, but overwhelmed by the concept of milling it to size? Or do you lack the space to make the project at home? No problem... exciting news coming very soon! Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for the launch of something really fantastic :-) 

For now, drool away at these gorgeous slabs....

Stay warm!

The 'K' in KJP

Wood ideal for glow in the dark tables

The concept of 'glow in the dark' is not just for kids toys anymore! One of the latest trends in the world of woodworking, is adding resin & powder giving the wood a glow in the dark effect. We think it's pretty cool so I took a browse around our store with my iPhone and snapped a few pics of boards I think would work really well!

For more information on how to achieve this look, here are some helpful links:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Glow-table/?ALLSTEPSHere

http://inhabitat.com/how-to-make-a-stunning-wooden-table-with-glow-in-the-dark-resin-infill/

Wood Identification Contest

A few weeks ago, we were fortunate to attend and exhibit at the Woodworks Conference held in Perth. It was a fantastic weekend. So much knowledge and enthusiasm all under the same roof! 

We thought it would be fun to have a 'Wood Identification' contest. We poked around our store searching for really interesting woods that would make you really think! We'd like to thank everyone who took the time to play our little game. A big congratulations goes to Andrew Strome, who is the winner and received a $250 gift certificate to our store. 

Thought we'd post the answers just for fun....

#1 - Black Limba

#2 - Willow Burl

#3 - Apple

#4 - East Indian Rosewood

#5 - Katalox

#6 - Red Zebrawood

#7 - Buckeye Burl

#8 - Verawood

#9 - Amboyna Burl

#10 - Spalted Maple