Furnished content.
(from Lumberjocks.com)
I really wanted to participate in this year's Beer Swap since I sat out last year. Unfortunately, I've been without a shop for 6 months while we are in an apartment waiting for a new house to be built. That meant I needed to finish my swap project in February, before I packed up the shop.I had a lot of exotic wood left from making the various mosaics over the last year and I have been wanting to make some smaller versions, so coasters were the perfect solution. I could make several different prairie style mosaics, use up my remaining exotic wood stash, and get it done before I put everything in storage.The build was similar to other mosaics I've made, a lot of looking at prairie style stained glass and Frank Lloyd Wright inspired stained glass on the internet, followed by detailed CAD plans, and ultimately designs that aren't even close to what I originally envisioned.I did manage to get everything finished two days before the movers arrived.
That meant most of 6 agonizing months waiting for the ship date. I sent my progress picture in a month before the swap even started. I've been told I hold the dubious record for the earliest swap project completion.
In the end, having the project ready to ship at a minute's notice worked out as Anthm27 (Anthony) joined the swap even though he lives in Hong Kong. He was able to give HokieKen a couple of days notice that he would be in Chicago on business. Since I live in IA, 2 day shipping to Chicago was the perfect solution. The box with his swap swag arrived one day before he did.Hopefully, one of these times when Anthony is in Chicago on business I can meet up with him and we can tour FLW's Oak Park Studio and have a couple Midwestern beers.