Walnut Floating Night Stands

Here's the latest from my shop. I've crafted a couple floating (wall-hanging) nightstands to go with the massive walnut and waterfall bubinga bed I made this past year. 

I rather enjoy the idea of floating furniture, but there is a bit of function here as well. I built under-dressers into my bed design and I wanted to have functional drawers all the way up to the headboard... that would not bash into nightstands. 

I was fortunate to source some fairly wide clear walnut from a local sawyer. 

So I got to work on the hand-cut dovetails. 

This dovetail pattern has become somewhat of a 'signature' of mine. It just pleases my eye every time. 

Using some of the remnant pieces of waterfall bubinga from the headboard seemed like the right touch for the drawer fronts. 

Now the mounting... french cleats! They're a basic gravity holding mechanism. I made these out of white oak scraps. There are matching cleats built into the back of the nightstands, reinforced with glue, dominos, etc. 

The cleats are mounted into stud with big arse Spax lag bolts. Below you can see how it 'hangs." There's even a bolt or two in the night stand cleat so nobody could ever bump the stand upward off its mount. 

Also below you'll note the power cords coming down through a little access hole. There is a power strip back there to consolidate things. 

Once mounted, and all power cords situated, we can close the little access door I created behind the bookshelf. Ain't I clever. 

Here's some finished photos to bring it home. 

It's nice waking up to fine joinery every day. It sure is. 

I'll leave you with this thought, dear ones...

"The reverence that the object maker has for the materials, for the shape, and for the miracle of his skill transcends to God, the Master Craftsman, the Creator of all things, who uses us, our hands, as His tools to make these beautiful things." - Sam Maloof



Dan Westfall

May 2022

Here In The Middle

"So I don't wanna go home now
Stuck here in the middle alone now
Everybody's singing their song now
But I'm still reeling...

I'm not trying to run away from
This beautiful life I've been given
I'm not looking for freedom
Maybe just a little meaning
Here in the middle..."

Make the Best of It

The Lord's timing makes me smile sometimes. This week I'm teaching our youth group about Joseph. Specifically, Genesis 37, where Joseph had some crazy dreams that he would one day be blessed by God and rule over many. His brothers, in a jealous rage, ripped the 'coat of many colors' off his back. Then they tossed him in a cistern and left him for dead. Alas one brother had the idea they could make some money off the deal so they sold him into slavery instead.

Of course, I didn't experience anywhere near the trauma Joseph did as a seventeen-year-old boy but I've always drawn hope from his life. Pondering this, I made some notes and applications that would work in speaking to the youth of our church. I even shared with our pastor about a "Joseph moment" I had the day I left for college. I remember that day vividly. I've told my wife for years how that drive was a major turning point in my life. Wouldn't you know it, the day after I shared that story with pastor, my mother sent a birthday card with a few photos. One of which was this:

Westfall House Rules

Those of us raising kids are attempting this task in a much different environment than we were raised. The technology age has its upsides and....major downsides. Inspired by the book "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters," my wife and I have organized and articulated our approach. I realize these rules might not jive with everyone's convictions, but they're a good starting point for us. If anyone has more wisdom/experience/feedback, we're open ears.

The primary principle I learned from that book is that our protective instincts are there for a reason. Our children might not appreciate the guidelines right now, but eventually they will find comfort in the fact that we are protecting them in love. It's a profound and noble responsibility.

A Man Named Dale

"I never knew the silence could make me so deaf, 

I never knew that I could miss someone I've never met, 

Miss someone I've never met..... yet,"   -Wes King

My father died while my mother was still pregnant with me. When I was a child I pretty much accepted this reality. I've known for as long as I can remember and that's just the facts. Emotions would only stir when I visited his place of rest.

And I Thank Them For Mothering Me When I Needed It

"I have been mothered by a whole tribe of women, some who had children of their own, and some who didn't. I thank God for each of them, and thank them for mothering me when I needed it, and for giving me such a rich variety of images for what it means to be a mother. Mother's Day is about looking through our lives and recognizing the act of mothering everywhere we see it, and more than that, recognizing that when any of us mother - when we listen, nurture, nourish, protect - we're doing sacred work." -Shauna Niequist

I wish I could make gifts from my shop for every occasion, but there's just not enough time. So, I seem to sprinkle gifts around to my loved ones whenever I can. This year I decided to make some trays for two ladies who've had a lasting impact on my life. 

Sue became a part of my life in high school, Pam in college. Both women had a special maternal influence that lasted into adulthood. Although I don't get to spend the time with them I'd like, I always know these two ladies are praying and pulling for me. It means a lot. 

So for Christmas this year I made two matching trays for Pam and Sue. They were made using a plane, a saw, some chisels, and my hands. I selected some of the prettiest cherry and curly maple I've come across. 

Dawson's Live Edge Desk

Here's a rundown of the desk I made for my son this fall. The concept for this project starts with my neighbor and friend Jim stopping by my shop one day. He said he had some walnut slabs in his garage that had come from a tree in his yard. He'd milled it up over a decade ago. Of course, I told Jim he had a buyer if he ever wanted to part with them. A few weeks later he took me up on my offer. 

They were wonderful live edge black walnut boards. None were much longer than 5 ft, but they were plenty wide and clear. I selected two of the slabs below for a desktop. 

They still had the bark on after all these years. I removed it with a drawknife but did my best to leave the sapwood and the natural profile.