Author: Tamara Wenderlich

Posted on by

Valentine’s Day Dinner

We’ve never been huge fans of eating out on Valentine’s Day, it always seemed too frazzled and over-priced. We prefer a relaxed dinner at home that we can cook together with no worries about who is the designated driver. Neal is a huge fan of the French cooking phrase ‘mis en place’ which means having all your ingredients ready (washed, chopped, measured) and all the necessary tools and spices on hand. With all the ingredients and tools assembled, cooking is very relaxing.

Mis en place featuring Neal’s salt and pepper cellar and cutting board. Tammy’s roadrunner dishtowel, Spicy Me Foods spice blends and a wood prep bowl by Courtney Gale of Oakenwell.

Good kitchen tools make the job more fun and tactile – like a salt and pepper cellar you can dip into to pinch salt or sprinkle pepper or a nice cutting board or a soft dishtowel with a fun design. We also stock our kitchen with items from our guest artists. Two of our favorites: spice blends from Spicy Me Foods (Silver City, NM, @spicymefoods) and the perfect wood mis en place bowl from Albuquerque wood turner Courtney Gale (@oakenwell). I’m currently obsessed with the ‘Taco AF’ blend and putting it on EVERYTHING. You can find all of these items in our retail store.

I like ending a special meal with desert – the more chocolate the better. Chocolate lava cakes are a favorite because it’s easy to modify the recipe for 2. If you keep a little chocolate in your cupboard, you probably have everything you need to pull off this quick desert. If you are looking for a recipe, I’ve been obsessed with the blog ‘Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking’ (website: www.biggerbolderbaking.com). I like that she just gets right down to the business of baking, I don’t have to scroll through 47 pages of childhood reminiscing before I get to the recipe.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone, and bon apetite!

Posted on by

Holding it Together

Furniture Joinery: Strength Meets Beauty

Joinery is what holds furniture together, allowing a collection of parts to become a cohesive and functional whole. When designing furniture, designing the joinery is an important piece of the overall design. In the best designs, joints are strong, flexible (wood expands and contracts with temperature and humidity) and also beautiful. While there is no shortage of affordable, strong fasteners and glues in our modern industrial age, some of the most beautiful and intricate joinery methods have been stood the test of time for hundreds of years and require high level of woodworking skill.  Let’s show you some examples:

Neal used angled miter joints to hold together the walls of his treasure boxes (top left).  Miters are also commonly used in picture frames but they are notoriously weak.  The darker splines, in three rows across the miter, add strength and beauty.

The shelves on the triangle end table (top middle) are joined to the legs using dadoes and half lap joints reinforced with screws for strength.  If you zoom in, you will see wood plugs on the legs that cover the screws and provide a decorative element.  The shelves on the kitchen shelf (top right) are also joined to the frame with dadoes and half laps reinforced with screws.  In addition, Neal uses a French cleat to mount the shelf which distributes the weight of the shelf for securing it to the wall.

Sometimes Neal likes to have a little fun with the joints.  The top of the hall table (bottom left) appears to float above the legs.  In fact, it is solidly joined to a cross member in the middle which is hidden from view.  The cathedral legs on the square end table are striking but also stablize the table legs and add strength to the design.

Chairs and beds suffer continuous forces from use and being moved around.  Neal used mortise and tenon joints are used throughout the frames of his conversation chair (bottom middle) and Craftsman bed frame (bottom right) for strength to resist these forces.  A mortise and tenon joint can also handle the expansion and contraction of the frame due to seasonal temperature or humidity changes – as does the tongue and groove joint used in the cabinet-like panels at the end of the bed.  Knowing where the wood will move and allowing for that is key.

Fine furniture is beautiful and joints often appear as decorative elements.  However, these furniture pieces are also meant to be heirlooms passed down through generations.  In that regard, the joinery is a critical design feature to ensure longterm durability.

 

Posted on by

Random Patterns

Random Pattern Cutting Boards

Using a Well-Defined Process for a One-of-a-Kind Result

Neal and I both have a background in computer science.   There is a story arc from there to here: form and function.  Computer programs essentially organize data.  A lot of thoughtful design goes into a good program to make sure that it not only does the job efficiently and accurately, but that the human interfaces (data entry or presentation) are appealing to the user.  A computer program is generally a collection of algorithms (a precise rule set) and human interfaces.  One algorithm that always fascinated me was the random number generator.  The idea that you have a precise rule set to generate a random result is a bit of a paradox.

The same principle is behind Neal’s random-pattern cutting boards.  He has a precise process for creating the boards:  he starts with clean, straight stock and cuts that into strips of varying width.  The strips are glued together then cut cross-ways to create strips of varying woods.  These strips are planed to straight then glued together again in the opposite direction.  The process is repeated: glue, cut, plane, glue, cut, plane as many times as necessary until you like result.  Then, the board is cut to size, sanded and finished with a blend of beeswax and food grade mineral oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like the random number generating algorithm, a simple, precise rule set builds a one-of-a-kind product.  And, like a good computer program, the result is a beautiful as it is functional. They are one of my favorite kitchen tools.   I use one every morning to deliver chopped greens to my pampered house chicken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to point out that the dancing unicorn princess visiting Neal’s workshop was being supervised off camera.    No dancing unicorn princesses were harmed in the making of these cutting boards.

Posted on by

Organized Chaos

Organized Chaos: An Introduction to How I Work

My art, like my life, is a balance between organization and chaos.  

Initially, I struggled with perfectionism and that got in the way at my early attempts to make art.  I started playing around with mono printing on a gelatin plate as a way to loosen up.  After a typical mono printing session, I would end up with a large stack of junk but a small stack of really interesting prints that were a total surprise.  I got hooked on those surprises but I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with the pretty papers.  

In the meantime, I was also teaching myself to create patterns using graphic design software.  I loved the control of creating repeatable shapes and scaling, rotating and duplicating them.  But, in the end, I thought the final results were stiff, flat and uninteresting.  Then, one day I realized I could combine the two methods and fill the digital shapes with scanned images of the chaotic artwork – and, thus, my style was born. 

So, this is what I do:  I have printing days in the studio (sometimes with a friend).  At the end of the day, I look for the papers that have that joyful expression of color and texture that I crave.  I set those aside for another day when I work on the computer to turn those prints into endlessly repeating patterns.  (That is a big, non-trivial task, the details are tedious.  One of these days, I will publish a comprehensive how-to.)  Other days, I sketch critters and plants.  I’ve loosened up over the years – I know it’s not the final product so I just sketch.  I use these sketches (or sometimes photographs) as references to create digital drawings that are comprised of different shapes.   Finally, I fill each shape with the digital patterns I created from the paper prints.  Working digitally, I can rotate and scale the pattern within the shape so that it looks like it was just meant to be.

I know – that’s a lot of steps.  Each step has a purpose in combining simple, controlled shapes with rough sketches and unpredictable prints to create art that is my organized chaos.  For me, though, the final designs are really just the middle of the journey resulting in some pretty stuff that lives in my computer.  In order to share it with the world, I need to build it into something.  This is where my love of textiles comes into play.  I upload the designs to a textile printing partner where I can choose to print the designs on about 20 kinds of fabric (and wallpaper!), then sew the fabric into final products.  I also print the designs on archival paper for wall art and cards.

 

Posted on by

Supporting our Guest Artists

We carry a few guest artists in our retail store that help us tell the story of handmade.  We have curated a group of folks who create high quality products and are dedicated to their craft.  Let us introduce you, any of these makers would love to help you with your holiday gift needs:

 Maranatha Soaps, Albuquerque, NM

I love decorating my bathroom with some wonderful smelling handmade soaps.  Albuquerque soap maker Lyn Bachicha creates the perfect line of soaps for our shop with their amazing scents and luscious colors.  Her Hawaiian heritage and strong spirituality influence her product development.  We carry an assortment of soaps and body scrubs as well as brightly scented room sprays and lip balms.   Personally, I’m a huge fan of the scrubs – not only for their color and scent but their creamy yet scrubby texture. They perfect antidote for desert skin.  If you want to learn more about Lyn and explore more of her soap line, visit her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/maranathasoap/

Karen Dorweiller, Ceramic Artist, Rio Rancho, NM

I met ceramic artist Karen Dorweiller at a local artisan market and immediately recognized a fellow animal lover.  We carry an assortment of her ring dishes and animal figurines in the shop.  Texture and whimsical, expressive animals are strong themes in our shop and I love how Karen’s work expresses those themes in ceramics rather than textiles.  To learn more about Karen’s work, including insight into her studio process as well as seeing a full range of products in her online store, please visit her website: songandbranch.com.

Dan Feibig, Potter, Corrales, NM

Master potter Dan Feibig is inspired by Asian, Native American and Greek pottery but has worked for over 25 years to develop his own style.  Dan’s years of experience affords him some control over the finished product.  However, he also revels in the element of surprise that the wood firing brings to the process, reflecting the forces of nature.  I love the heft of his pottery – and the earthy texture.   Dan doesn’t have an online store but you can DM him through his instagram account: @dan.feibig.  

Mary Gonzales, Ceramic Artist, Albuquerque, NM

Ceramic artist Mary Alice Gonzales is a master of the glaze.  Her mugs, bowls and vases ooze with color inside and out – with one color dripping into the next.  Mary adds texture to her work by exploring both the magic of nature and the fantastical with leaf-based dishes and mugs, leather-look steins and her signature ‘dragon scale’ details.   Mary has items for sale on https://maryalicegonzales.square.site.   

 

 

 

Heidi’s Raspberry Farm, Small Batch Jam, Corrales, NM

Heidi’s Raspberry Farm got its start in my home town of Corrales, NM and has now expanded to an industrial kitchen in Albuquerque.   This small batch jam is bursting with flavor.  The Raspberry Red Chile is one of my favorites and goes particularly well with peanut butter.  Learn more about Heidi’s operation and purchase directly from her at heidisraspberryfarm.com.  

 

Oakenwell, Wood Turned Bowls and Vases, Albuquerque, NM

Courtney Gale purchased a lathe at the beginning of 2020.  Little did she know that, thanks to New Mexico Covid-19 shutdowns,  she would end up with plenty of time to explore her new hobby.  Not only does she create lovely wood bowls and dry vases, she can often describe the provenance of the wood she uses.   You can learn more about Courtney and purchase directly from her at www.oakenwell.com.   

 

 

 

 

 

New Mexico Metal Art, Recycled Metal, Albuquerque, NM

The Perez family creates vibrant and whimsical metal sculptures with recycled and repurposed materials.  Also, they are just super nice people – sharing laughs and sliced watermelon with other vendors during summer craft markets.  Our patio hosts a flock of their metal chickens and we love to gift brown-thumbed friends and family with their bright metal flowers.  You can explore their work and purchase from the family directly at nmmetalart.square.site.

 

 

Julie Kennelly, Artist, Albuquerque, NM

Artist Julie Kennelly is inspired by the gated gardens and adobe architecture of New Mexico.  Her vibrant pallet knife paintings play to my favorite themes of color and texture.  Julie can also be commissioned for pet portraits.  You learn more about Julie and her art on her website:  juliekennelly.com.  

Posted on by

Adventures in Self-Publishing

Covid Life: In Which Tammy Writes Some Books

It all started when my sister wanted to create a book to help her developmentally disabled clients understand the Covid-world.  I provided the illustrations then agreed to tackle learning how to self-publish.  It was a steep learning curve that resulted in a cute little book!  Also, I ended up with some confidence to tackle a couple other projects that have been sitting on my mind for some time.

My first solo project is a collector’s book that provides an illustrated tour of New Mexico alphabetically – “A is for Albuquerque”, “Z is for Zia” and everything in between.  This one was a lot of fun and I really like the way it turned out. 

Next, I wanted to do a more affordable children’s book.  Since some of my favorite artwork features farm critters, so I settled on illustrating a version of “Old MacDonald”.

The most significant thing I learned about self-publishing is that, like printing fabric, it isn’t cheap.  For about a minute, I considered tooling up and learning how to bind my own books.  Handmade, right!  I quickly realized that paper and ink alone would cost me about $2 per page.  That doesn’t leave any room for the bandaids (lots of cutting with a sharp blade), aspirin (lots of delicate glueing) and materials that I would need for the DIY binding.  So,  my current plan is to try to get a couple more books done then approach an actual publisher with the collection.  Fingers crossed!

All three of these books are available for purchase on our website along with my 2021 Calendar.  (In our Shop under Stationary.)   

Posted on by

Form and Function

Form follows function – that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.  – Frank Lloyd Wright

Design Considerations

by Neal Wenderlich

Early in my woodworking days, I was attracted to the design of American Arts and Crafts style furniture: large sturdy tables, chairs that balanced wood details with upholstery.  I started reading books about the movement and learned to embrace the idea of heirloom furniture that is as durable and useful as it is beautiful.

stack of woodworking books
Woodworking and furniture building books we have collected over the years.

The Arts and Crafts movement started in Britain in the late 1800’s by those who had grown weary of the ornate Victorian styles and also the lesser quality of items produced in factories.  The founders of the British movement celebrated traditional craftsmanship and eschewed any factory parts to the point that furnishings became inaccessible to the average person due to labor costs.  The American Arts and Crafts movement sought to improve the idea by balancing some small scale manufacturing with traditional craftsmanship to build and furnish homes for the average American.  People were encouraged to live in harmony with nature and to furnish their homes with fewer high-quality items.  Form and function was their goal – meaning items should be beautiful as well a functional.

Form and function in design of desk boxes
Wall Clock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The idea of thoughtful design in every day items has stuck with me through the years and is a strong influence on my furniture design.  When I begin a project, I first consider how the item will be used.  I list design constraints such as ergonomics (e.g. table height, seat depth, arm rest height), the space allocated for the finished item, and how easy it will be to move or transport.  I also consider how use will stress the wood joinery to decide where the design must be reinforced for durability.  Once the function criteria have been identified, I start sketching to address form.  Sometimes the design is influenced by a client who has a particular style objective.  If it’s up to me, I tend towards clean lines, tapered legs and contrasting wood tones to emphasize design details.

Do you have a furniture project in mind?  Please email me to discuss your needs: neal@collectedhands.com.

Posted on by

Setting the Table

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” border_style=”solid” flex_column_spacing=”0px” type=”legacy”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”true” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=”” first=”true”][fusion_text]

Setting the Table

My mom always tried to put on a good show at Thanksgiving when we were kids. “Forks go on the left!”, she would command, “Napkins on the right.” We learned it was easier to pretend that we normally cared about those things. As she brought the food for the table, she would say (for the benefit of our guests), “Remember, pass to the LEFT”, as if that was something we ever did. But, once the food landed, she lost all control as we would all dive, forks first, towards our favorite foods. And she would roll her eyes and declare (again, for the benefit of our guests), “They are so uncivilized.”

Thanksgiving is likely to be a much smaller gathering this year. Always looking for the silver linings, I’m hoping this means more time relaxing at the table and less time in the kitchen cooking for a mob. More elbow space means more opportunity to dress the table with our most vibrant, cheerful textiles and favorite ceramics and wood accessories. We prefer our table not to be too matchy-matchy. Our go-to plates are salad-sized plates from Rainbow Gate in Santa Fe. Everyone has their favorite color (Neal pretends not to, but we all know it’s red.) And everyone chooses their favorite dinner napkin and placemat. In other words, everyone decorates their own space. (Except for Neal, who pretends not to care so we decorate for him.) Our table is an eclectic mix of color, pattern, wood and ceramics. And, of course, good food.

I have admit that I still don’t really care on which side of my plate the fork is placed – as long as it is handy when the stuffing lands.

Need some ideas for adding color and texture to your table? Shop our Kitchen and Dining collection.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Posted on by

What to Do Instead of the Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has been held every year since 1972.  It not only is a HUGE boost to the local economy, but it turns our skyline into a living work of art.  2020 is going to be remembered as “the year we didn’t…”.   However, I’m the kind of person that likes to find the silver lining.  October usually has some of the best weather of the year, perfect for outdoor dining and adventuring.  But, unless we have out-of-town guests, we locals usually wait for Balloon Fiesta crowds to dwindle before we take our turn.  So, this year we have an extra 2 weekends to get out there and explore.

My to-do list is mostly close to home because I really want to try to support some of the local businesses and organizations:

  1. Check out some of my favorite museums.  They suffered more than most of us with the closures.  I’m particularly fond of the Albuquerque Museum and the Nuclear Science Museum.
  2. Take a long river walk with a sketch pad.  Two of my favorite spots: the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Bachechi Open Space.  I also want to check out the Sanchez Farm Open Space in the south valley.
  3. Explore Old Town and the Sawmill area.  I know, I work there.  But, I’m always working and it’s embarrassing that I can’t answer basic questions about the neighborhood.
  4. Make a reservation to walk the zoo.  I really miss the zoo.
  5. Pick a couple of good restaurants with patios and enjoy some outdoor dining before things get iffy again.

I have no doubt we will still see lots of balloons and a few visitors.  Without the crowds, there may be excellent opportunities for the locals to get rides.  You go ahead, I like to keep my feet firmly on the ground.

Posted on by

New Mexico River Otters

North American River Otters in the Rio Grande

A young woman came into our shop recently and, after looking around, said, “I see you have lots of wild animal art.  Do you have any otters?”  I responded that my art was based on  animals were those you were likely to see in New Mexico.  “But, we have them”, she said, “and they are making a comeback!”.   What!?!  It turns out, this young woman works with the otters at the aquarium.  We chatted, I did some research on my own, here is what I learned:

New Mexico was a home for North American river otters, but the native population was wiped out in the 1950’s.  In the early 2000’s, non-profits, tribes and government agencies worked together to reintroduce otters to the upper Rio Grande.  There was some controversy – mostly due to fear that the otters might do further damage to an already at-risk native fish population.  However, it appears that the otters prefer to munch on invasive crawfish and slower non-native fish species.  This may actually be beneficial by freeing up habitat for the trout.

The otters that were relocated to New Mexico came were mostly trapped “nuisance” otters (causing problems for fish farmers) from the Seattle area.  Rather than be euthanized, they got one-way tickets to the upper Rio Grande.  They may have to work a little harder for a meal but what a sweet deal!  The same story goes for our two aquarium otters Chaos and Mayhem – they were Louisiana fish farm pests and are now beloved Albuquerque Aquarium superstars.

So, I added some otters to my menagerie along with the turtle and trout.  I’m working towards a collection I will call “Riverwalk”.

Other members of the “Riverwalk Collection”

You can find this artwork in our online store in stationary, wall art and pillow covers.