IP Celebration

I had the good fortune to be able to zip up to Robert's Creek May 2 for an overnight trip and spend a couple of hours at the tenth anniversary celebration of the Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking.

It was a good omen that the weather was fantastic and the scenery on the ferry trip over, really, can it be beat anywhere in the world??

The ferry was the Queen of Surrey. Cute little ferry for the 45 minute journey.

Flag on the ferry snapping proudly in the breeze.

It was so good to reconnect with Robert and Yvonne. Also ran into a bunch of people from 'before', Bill, Craig and Carol, Jay, Juan, Ian, and others. And met some new folks as well. There is such a wonderful spirit at the school, I find it so re-invigorating to be there.

There were so many fine pieces on display for the celebration, it was a little bit overwhelming to contemplate the time and effort and energy that had gone into them all. I was delighted to see this cabinet made from an unusual type of spalted maple, with a base of kwila.

This picture makes it look a bit top heavy which it was not at all, that is completely the result of my inadequate photography skills. However, note the way the spalting is concentrated at the centre of the cabinet, and decreases towards the outside. Kudos to the maker who is from Oregon and who I chatted with at length but fail to recall his name. Beautifully done!

That cabinet was especially exciting for me since I have 5 quite large slabs of maple with that exact type of spalting in them! They have been hanging around for years looking for the perfect use. I think I may have found it in the inspiration of this cabinet.

I really need to come up with an excuse to go back to school for a few weeks!