The Taming of the Beast

Brandy and Dave tackle the Beast

WE DID IT!  Our most difficult chair caning project to date.  It only took us one year and 228 hours, but we have tamed the Beast!  Visit the River Arts District blog to see a step by step photo journey of the process.  There are two posts, one for the seat weaving process (100+ hours) and one for the medallion back.  Many thanks to all of our cheerleaders and especially to my Aunt Linda who drove from Norfolk, Va to get me started.  Special thanks to the Bennett’s for their patience and for the opportunity to work on their spectacular chair. 

Join us May 12  12pm-4pm for a Second Saturday Celebration and Champagne Toast to say Bon Voyage to the Beast.  RSVP gochairrepair@gmail.com or call 828-707-4553 so we know how much champagne to bring or just stop by Planet Art in Studio 375…see you soon. 

The seat

The floating medallion back

detail of the medallion

 

Rear view of the medallion back

Want to take a caning class?

1.  What type of caning do you want to learn?  (Caning is an umbrella term for many types of chair weaving: hand caning and machine caning, natural and paper rush weaving, shaker tape, or splint weaving including standard reed and authentic hickory or oak split bark.)  Please see Services page to see different types of caning.

• Length of workshops…Chair caning is not something you learn in an hour and it can be hard on your body!  Classes will be 3-15 hours (depending on the type of weaving you want to learn) with stretch breaks before/during/after, so please plan on spending some time in the chair zone.  Machine caning takes at least 3 hours, paper rush takes about 6 hours for a chair or 3 for a small stool, splint weaving with reed or shaker tape takes about 5 hours for a chair or 3 hours for a small stool, and finally, laced caning takes about 15 hours.  Laced caning is an ordeal to be split up into 4 classes. 
• Prerequisite Classes….Natural rush, danish cord and authentic bark splint weaving are considered upper level workshops that require a prerequisite of a class using similar weaving techniques with a much less expensive material) before signing up. 
• Class fees are to be determined but are expected to be anywhere from $75-$300 depending on the type of weaving.  This includes materials (cane/rush/reed) and instruction time.  If you have a chair or stool already, you must bring it by the studio 2 weeks before your class so I can order material and make sure the chair is structurally sound.
• Tools will be provided for use during workshops only and are available for check out if you need to.  A list of necessary tools will be sent to you prior to the class that you add to your own toolbox at home. 
• What will you be weaving?  Chair or Stool?….If you require me to purchase a chair or stool for you, I’ll be happy to take a trip to the antique store to pick up reasonably priced solid chairs or footstools….and you may purchase them from me at cost.  Otherwise, please check with me about what to look out for when buying a chair to weave on!  If you have your own chair, please bring it to me so I can order the proper material for your class and make sure it has no structural defects.
• Homework will be given for longer classes such as laced cane.  Be prepared to spend time on this type of weaving!
• Individual tutorials for folks who just have questions about their current project will be $40/hour…this is your most economical way to learn!  
• Class sizes will be small, about 3 people or less, due to amount of attention required to weave and the size of my studio. 
• Food and bathrooms:  Bathrooms are clean and on-site.  Bring your own and store it in our refrigerator, or purchase from local River Arts District Restaurants close by.  For longer classes, with advanced notice, we can pool our resources (aka cash money) and I can get a local restaurant to provide lunch to be delivered.  We have a water cooler and glasses. 

THANK YOU!

Me & Dave...and 348 lbs of food!

WOW!  It was a great time at the Holiday Party!  So many people showed up for the tasting with bags and bags of food.  We raised $810 and 348 lbs of food for Manna Foodbank. 

Thanks to Jessica of the Wine Studio of Asheville, and Tara & Ragan of  Colorful Palate Catering.  Dang, that was good food!  Thanks to Robert and Jed for playing music.  Y’all check out Town Mountain New Years Eve at The Grey Eagle!

HOLIDAY HOURS:  We will be out of town on a much needed vacation from December 23-January 2…returning to the studio at Noon on Tues, Jan 3~

Food Drive, Holiday Sale, and Wine Tasting at Studio 375

Tis the season for EVERYONE to fill their bellies with food and their hearts with compassion.  We are hosting a food drive for Manna Food Bank as our 2nd Saturday December event.  If you can’t make it, please check out our Virtual Food Drive http://mannafoodbank.org/drives/studio-375-depot.  Suggested donation is $5 (includes the tasting, snacks, and a raffle ticket to win art by the Stuido 375 artists) or 3 cans of food!

See you and your cans of food at Studio 375! Please, spread the word. Cheers!

December events and good times this fall

Oy vey.  Fall in this town kicks my arse.  It seems like Sept-Jan happens in the blink of an eye….though I can’t complain!  It has been fun and I have fallen in love with Asheville all over again.  First the upcoming events on Planet Art:

Holiday Wine Tasting, Sale, & FOOD DRIVE

for Manna Food Bank at Studio 375

Saturday December 10 4-7pm

Enter the raffle & win art by Studio 375 Artists! Metal morphing jewlery, painting, photography notecards, pottery, Go Local T-shirt, & 2 tickets to a performance at The Magnetic Field.  Items are arranged in gift baskets valued at over $100 each. 

Cans of food = extra tickets!

or purchase for $5, or 5 for $20

375 Depot Street in River Arts District…Asheville, NC 28801  

call Planet Art for details  at 828-707-4553  www.discoverplanetart.com

Chair caning demo

And now, take a look at the fall fun that I am still recovering from.  It all began in September with Heritage Weekend at the Folk Art Center.  Live performances by cloggers, bluegrass musicians, and furry friends…demos by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.  Okay, his name isn’t Jim Mc Guru, it’s Jim McGie, but he is a badass and taught me the proper way to weave with authentic hickory bark….which I’ll get around to sometime or another!

Me and Jim McGuru

The True Nature Country Fair

moved to it’s new location at the Highland Lake Inn in Flat Rock.  Sorry not to have taken photos, but it was a beautiful  location and the Organic Grower’s School does a great job getting unique vendors and demonstrators, as well as musicians, that focus on getting back to basics (though there was nothing basic about the delicious apple streudel tart I got from the Chocolate Lounge…).

Fun with giant scissors

David Simchock had an open house and a ribbon cutting at Studio 375 this fall.  David’s photography is beyond description, but I’ll give it a shot (pun totally intended)….music photography from

David Simchock's gallery talk (please forgive me for posting a not-perfect photo)

 Allison Krauss, Buddy Guy, The Flaming Lips, and more.  Travel images take you on a journey that will make your travel bug bite you where it counts.  Last but not least family, artists, babies, & pets (featuring Jack Dog as his pet supermodel).    He offers classes on digital photography as well as walking photo tours of Asheville.  Check out www.vagabondvistas.com

15 varieties of chili, raffled prizes, delicious beer, &...

A FIRETRUCK PULL!!!

Chili Chowdown 3.0!  Gil Holmes 3rd Annual Chili Cookoff happened at Asheville Pizza and Brewery on Coxe Ave.  This year’s proceeds went to the family of Jeff Bowen, the firefighter who lost his life during the Mission Hospital fire a few months ago.  Gil raised almost $1000!

The Fancy Pants Dance, fundraiser for Arts for Life

Arts for Life

celebrates it’s 10th anniversary this year and had their annual Fancy Pants Dance at the Crowne Plaza.  This amazing organization provides art therapy for kids facing life-threatening illnesses, and does so much more for their families.  You can buy Arts for Life art made by the kids on Planet Art, where 100% of the proceeds goes directly to the program, or donate books, art supplies, office supplies, and more.  Hardly any of the programming costs go to administrative fees.  These girls are crammed into an office in the back of a furniture store….so, unlike other national or international charities, you know exactly where your money is going….to heal families and make sick children smile.  Come on folks, step up!  See how you can help!www.aflnc.org

mmm...food & wine

And last but not least, Dave and I went on a tour with Eating Asheville, a delicious and fun way to spend the afternoon.  These guys take you around downtown for 2 1/2 hours sampling food and wine that is sustainably produced…starting with a champagne toast at our friend Thomas’ Battery Park Book Store & Champagne Bar, stopping off at The French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Zambra’s, just to name a few. 

SEE Y’ALL 2ND SATURDAY OF DECEMBER FOR THE FOOD DRIVE/WINE TASTING/HOLIDAY SALE!!!