blog: The End Grain

  1. 11:08 14th May 2013

    Tags: Arbor Day Winnipeg 2013

    Arbor Day 2013

    Another day has past and Arbor Day 2013 is upon us! This years arbor Day festivities will be hosted by the Trees Winnipeg (Coalition to Save the Elms) and  Assiniboine Park at The Children’s Nature Playground with all the usual fun activities for kids and adults a like. 

    The celebration is Saturday May 25th starting at 10am. For more info visit the Assiniboine Park Website.

    Take the day to enjoy our beautiful trees!

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

    Tags: Arbor Day 2013, Trees Winnipeg (Coalition to Save the Elms)

     

  2. 13:29 1st May 2013

    Tags: Custom Wood Tables

    A Table with a Beautiful Story…

    Earlier this year we were contacted by a local home owner named Cheryl about a reclaimed tree she had taken down from her property.

    This specific tree had some deep sentimental value which she wanted to turn into a timeless keep sake for her family. Wood Anchor receives quite a few of these type of requests but many factors come into play when considering whether or not a reclaimed tree can be used for home furnishings.

    Cheryl stopped by with a few of the cedar pieces which looked fairly small. Her idea was to build a round table top for a copper bowl with wrought iron leg stand she had. With all details considered we did end up building her a beautiful table top! She emailed me the following letter which better describes her experience with us. Read on below!

    Hi Ray

    I just wanted to thank you so much for taking on my job of making a tabletop out of a lovely big cedar that I had cut down in front of my dad’s home in River Heights.

    When my dad passed away in November and I inherited his nice little home, I knew that one of the cedars in front would have to go so you could actually see the house when I went to sell it. My sister, who just lives 4 houses away, but who also formerly lived in that house, was pretty upset with me for doing that. I told her I would try to salvage some of the wood and have it made into something, possibly a table, so that the tree would still “live on”.

    Luckily I remembered about Wood Anchor after seeing them at the Home Show a few years back. I was impressed with their work re-using the elm trees that are regularly cut down in Winnipeg. Since I love re-using and re-purposing things myself, I thought they might be able to help me out with my project. I know that you were a little skeptical at first Ray, as this wasn’t the kind of work Wood Anchor did regularly, but I am so glad that you pursued it with your masterful carpenter Stephen and decided to take on my project of the heart.

    I now have the most gorgeous coffee table for my cottage (I was able to re-use a great copper/rot iron base I had sitting around) and I can always share the story of how it came to be. Most importantly though, is that my sister is really pleased that a beautiful tree was made into something we can cherish for generations and I am pretty sure my dad would be happy also!

    Thanks so much to you and Stephen and the great team at Wood Anchor for giving a lovely tree a second life and keeping peace in our family!

    We were elated it all worked out for Cheryl! Sometimes you never know how the wood is going to turn out even after you’ve cut into it. The beauty is all in the wood!

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

    Tags: Custom Cedar Table, Custom Wood Tables

     

  3. 14:26 30th Apr 2013

    Tags: Reclaimed ElmTapas

    Cheque Please…

    Wood Anchor has been known for building out really diverse projects over the years. Big or small if its appealing we may just take a stab at it. These cheque presenters (albeit) not painstakingly difficult to build was a cool little project that turned out elegantly! 

    Built with reclaimed Elm for Segovia Tapas Bar, wanted something different, more unique than your standard clipboard. The result was well received. Clean and simple.

    Now I have a craving for Tapas…

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

    Tags: Segovia Tapas Bar, Reclaimed Elm, 

     

  4. 15:19 22nd Apr 2013

    Notes: 1346

    Reblogged from nstratton

    Tags: Live Edge

    image: Download

    Exquisite! nstratton: this needs to be my kitchen Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

    Exquisite!

    nstratton:

    this needs to be my kitchen

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

     

  5. 15:06

    Notes: 3

    Tags: Commerce Design WinnipegReclaimed ElmBlair Hegalson

    Winnipeg Commerce Design Awards

    Local designer Blair Helagson (Guppy Design) was commissioned to put his wood working skills to use in designing and hand building these tron like wood discs to be handed out to the winners of the 2012 Winnipeg Commerce Design Awards. 

    He turned to Wood Anchor when sourcing out a unique local wood species that would add to the prestige of his design. Blair really wanted to choose a species that he felt was symbolic of Winnipeg. That species was Elm of course. 

    If you have not heard of the Commerce Design Winnipeg competition have a look below and check out their website. There are some great winners!

    The CommerceDesignWinnipeg contest rewards Winnipeg merchants for the exceptional quality of the interior and exterior design of their businesses and highlights the talents of Manitoba designers. Every year it will honour merchants who have called upon qualified design professionals to help them design or renovate their business premises.

    First started in Montreal, Commerce Design competitions have now been run in cities across the world including Luxembourg, Marseilles, and New York. Businesses have reported improved visibility in their neighbourhood, an enhanced sense of pride on the part of their employees, and new customers. The designers of the Winnipeg businesses also enjoy greater visibility.​

    ​Contest developed based on an original concept by

    the Ville de Montréal

    Great work Blair!

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

    Tags: CommerceDesignWinnipeg, Reclaimed Elm 

    About info via: CommerceDesignWinnipeg

    Photos credit: Blair Helagson

     

  6. 13:06

    Notes: 81

    Reblogged from gettyimages

    Tags: trees

    Earth Day: To Plant a Tree…

    reportagebygettyimages:

    “The hiring process for tree planters is stringent,” writes Liz Rubincam, who photographed a tree-planting operation near Kamloops, British Columbia, after having worked for a similar outfit herself in the 1990s. She adds:

    In my first year as a crew-boss in Nipigon, Ontario, I remember a particular rookie who seemed destined for greatness. He had completed numerous triathlons and displayed tenacity and drive in the first few days of the season. Part way through the first week, it rained all day in the land. While doing my afternoon rounds of the crew, I was surprised to find him sitting on a log, crying and asking to call his mother. He quit the next day. Time and time again, it’s clear that there is no one recipe for success and survival in a tree-planting camp.

    Today is Earth Day 2013, a good time to revisit Liz’s photo essay on reforestation. See more photos on the Reportage Web site.

    Caption: Tree planters for Folklore Contracting Limited during May of 2009, near Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Efficiency and hard work are key factors to making money as a tree-planter, and breaks during the work day are kept to a minimum. (Photo by Liz Rubincam/Reportage by Getty Images)

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

     

  7. 13:52 3rd Apr 2013

    Notes: 2543

    Reblogged from ironandmercury

    Tags: interiorsArchitectureinterior designreclaimed wood

    image: Download

    Stunning home! ironandmercury: Living Room The Lac Massawippi Residence By Huma Design et Architecture Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse.- Ray

    Stunning home!

    ironandmercury:


    Living Room The Lac Massawippi Residence By Huma Design et Architecture

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse.- Ray

     

  8. 15:51 2nd Apr 2013

    Notes: 610

    Reblogged from justthedesign

    image: Download

    Rustic Beauty… Reading Room/Workspace By Groundswell Design Group Via: justthedesign: Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. Ray

    Rustic Beauty…

    Reading Room/Workspace By Groundswell Design Group

    Via: justthedesign:

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. Ray

     

  9. 15:50 27th Mar 2013

    Notes: 2

    Tags: Wood Furniture & FurnishingsReclaimed Elm Slab TablesElm Wood Slabs

    Our Human Measuring Stick…

    It’s Slab cutting season at Wood Anchor!  Every spring we saw hundreds of giant diseased elms that the city of Winnipeg has had to remove due to Dutch Elm Disease.  These trees are enormous and make beautiful slabs for tables, mantles, etc.  

    We had 6’ 1” tall Stephen, one of the longest running members of the WA team lay face down, palms up on some slabs to showcase their size.  They’ll make for unique and beautiful tables, countertops, and benches one day!

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

    Tags: Wood Furniture & Furnishings, Reclaimed Elm Slab Tables

     

  10. 15:43 18th Mar 2013

    Notes: 1

    Tags: elm tablesreclaimed elm tableslive edge tables

    “Manitoba Table”

    In my humble opinion the latest Elm table (shown in photos) awaiting delivery to someones lucky office is the finest to date! This is a good example of taking the table from slab to completion. The crew named this the “Manitoba Table” for its resemblance to our province! 

    Details below.

    Reclaimed live edge Elm end to end book match table top. Solid dark Walnut butterfly keys as well as solid dark Walnut spline though centre width. Epoxied Elm sawdust mix in checking towards the centre of the table for more flat surface area. 

    1/2” flatbar steel legs construction raw color with clear coat.  2” square tube steel frame painted black

    For more photos visit ELM

    Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

    Tags: Custom Hardwood Tables, Wood Furnishings, Elm Lumber

    Photos Copyright ©     Lala Gnar Gnar Photography 2013, all rights reserved.