Wow Mark! That's Big!

"That's really big" That's the comment that people walking into my shop burst out with since I began this project. A few months ago a gentleman contacted me about a pipe cabinet he wanted constructed. It was to sit on another piece of furniture ( a sideboard, I believe they call them) that he already had and was using for tobacco storage. He sent some drawings of some ideas that he had, we swapped a few e-mails and here it is! A very custom pipe cabinet. It has a section for churchwardens and other long stem pipes. The bottom row will hold magnum pipes and the two upper rows hold 24 of the more normal sized pipes. It has a section for tobacco storage ( he specified that he stored his tobacco in glass jars of a particular size and this section was made to fit) and the lastly three generous drawers for storing whatever else you might need to keep around. It was a really great project to work on and I am happy to see it finished. Now I have some room in my shop to work on other projects!! -M

Heiner Nonnenbroich is Heading for Chicago!

I mentioned in an earlier Chicago post that German Pipemaker (and friend) Heiner Nonnenbroich will be making his Chicago debut this year. I received an email from Heiner and an appetizer - that is, a small preview of some of the pipes he will be bringing. Mark and I are excited. 37 days and counting! -T

Happy St. Pat's!

There's only two occasions when I drink. When I'm thirsty ...and when I'm not. - Brendan Behan

David Enrique Chicago Pipe

About a month ago, I boldly stated that I was not going to buy anything pipe related until the end of April, at The Chicago Pipe Show. I told Mark, I told my wife and I told myself. One of us wasn't listening. But in reality I can't blame myself. It's definitely David's fault. He deliberately put temptation in my path. He says he's not so evil as to do this, but I am not buying his story (just his pipes). I had told him a couple of months ago, that I thought the next pipe I wanted from him would be a lovat. I told him after I purchased a poker from him that I loved the stain and the blast. And then all of the sudden he posts for sale, on his website, a sandblasted lovat in the same color/stain that I was talking about. Just a coincidence? I don't think so.

So to keep a long story from getting any longer- I have a wonderful, beautiful Enrique lovat that I swear I will not smoke until I get to The Chicago Pipe Show. Look for me happily puffing away on my new pipe in the smoking tent on Thursday evening. -T

p.s. I suppose I should mention that David included an elegant handmade tamper w/ my pipe. Maybe he is a good guy...

p.p.s. This pipe arrived in record time from France! 4 days.

I should note that the above photo was taken from David Enrique's website (as are all the photo's of David's pipes on this blog). That's why they are better than most of the pictures here.

Greens!

OK- This has nothing to do w/ pipe racks, pipes, tobacco or any sort of smoking related info. It's just a photo of a bed of greens that has just sprouted. Here at the Crowder household, we're pretty excited. We've never grown greens before. We always miss the season. By the time I think about planting them, it's time for tomatoes. But not this year! This year we have turnip greens, kale, spinach and chard. Hopefully they will grow to enormous eatable proportions. if they do, I'll post another picture. If not, you'll never hear about them again.

On second thought, I will add a tobacco element to this. After reading Canadian pipe maker Stephen Downie's adventures in tobacco growing, I do have plans to try that out this year. Stephen makes it sound fun. -T

Another Big Thing!

Mark is very competitive. I write a blog about a big project I'm working on and he has to top me. And I guess I have to admit he has ... or is. He is in the middle of making a huge dining table. It's nearly 7 feet long by 3 1/2 feet wide. All I've seen are these photos, but it sure looks good so far. He's told me his plan for the finish and it sounds cool. I'll post photos when it's finished - I'm sure he'll make me. -T

The Next Big Thing

I've got a commission from a good customer. It's not a pipe cabinet this time. I've made a couple of those for him and until he decides to buy more pipes, I guess he's set there. This time I am building a bookcase that will sit on an existing table. So far so good. I'll post a finished photo in a few days ...after it's finished.

Mark is working on a large pipe rack that also sits on an existing furniture piece. I'll post a photo of it as soon as he gets one. -T