Three Pillars - and the stool

The project began as an epiphany during a coaching session (that's right... I was the one recieving the coaching - the last of three sessions. Thanks to Julia Kurusheva at Transformations.net.nz).

It appeared that although I had the three pillars required to run a successful business, namely; Entrepreneur, Manager and Technician, (Re: E-Myth by Michael Gerber) what I was lacking when it came to achieving the outcomes I wanted was the essential 'connecting' piece.

Much like a three legged stool without a seat I had what I needed in essence to stand up but nothing to connect the legs. And so was born - a little corny I know - the three legged stool. My three legged stool.

This stool, which continues to symbolise so much for me, is a combination of Oregon and Rimu. The Seat is Oregon saved from a demolished warehouse in Christchurch and the legs are Rimu up-cycled from an old 70's coffee table.

I love the shape and the different textures/grain of the timber.

   

Larch log Stool or Side Table

Lake Ohau Central Otago

At the start of 2016 I accompanied friends Andrew & Michelle Cummins Red Tree  to Ohau in Central Otago to remove a few very large Larch trees from a section overlooking the lake.

It was a beautiful week with a mix over heavy, sweaty and satisfying work culminating in a ton of stacked firewood, a clear section and a few Larch rings for me.

Me taking a dip in Hopkins River
Lake Ohau Tributary

The wood stack

After a couple of days of slogging it out, we took a trip to the local river and although extremely cold - yes in February - we took 'swift' dips.
The scenery is what it is really about however... just stunning.

Ring, legs & rusty
legs bracket things

B&D at work

9 months later and hopefully enough drying time for the Larch ring I start on the stool.

There is a lot of work to get the ring ready. I used a planer, belt sander, orbital sander and in the end a renovator to cut into the bottom of the ring in order to house the legs.

Finished stool.

A little detail.

Rustic Driftwood Stool

Driftwood is such an interesting material to use. Soft, worn, aged, tough.

This stool is a mix of driftwood branches, fence palings, and a block of wood. Not too exciting when its said like that.

Finished with boiled linseed oil.

Lots of grain and sanded to within an inch of its life. Nice to sit on too.