ANTIQUE EMPIRE CHEST RENEWED

 This 200 year old empire chest has been renewed and reinvented.  While many of the veneer chips have been repaired, missing veneer been replaced.  Many of the chips were left alone as it is part of the history of the piece.  The top was cleaned; but years of use and marks remain visible.  A front foot had to be rebuilt, drawers had to be rebuilt and then the fun part began.  Two matching marquetry panels were inlaid on either side of the chest.  The pattern of the Indian is adapted from a 1795 painting by JLG Ferris.  An updated mirror framed was designed with a stained glass mirror.  The piece was finished with old fashioned shellac to give it the aged look that it deserves.  Forged drawer pulls were added to the top drawers with hammered copper back plates and finally quilted drawer liners were added.

                                                      The raw canvas, the beginning.

BUD INLET

Adapted from a photo taken by an unknown Daily Olympian photographer in the 1960's this panel was created for a cabinet door.

GIG HARBOR

This marquetry panel was adapted from the photography of Steve Blood.  It is a simple panel intended to let the wood do the work.

EMPIRE CHEST DETAIL

One of the marquetry end panels on a 200 year old mohogany empire chest that is being refined.  The other side panel matches this side.  There are more surprises to come.

THE MEXICAN

OLD RANCHER REVISITED

         A work in progress.  The quick sketch is the general plan for the finished piece.                                      

WAGON WHEEL CHANDELIER SHOP DRAWING

contact us at 716-941-0322 or mail us,                        We have had numerous inquiries about wagon chandeliers lately so I thought maybe I could answer some questions.  This is an elevation of the wagon wheel chandelier posted previously on this blog.  Everything on this particular fixture was custom designed and fabricated making it a truly unique chandelier.
Not all lights have to be this complicated.  We can design a fixture using standard or antique wagon wheels and off the rack parts to create a rustic fixture that's just right for your project. 
Discounts to the trade.
copyright Penrose 2006

NEW MOOSE THEMED BURL LAMP

The moose may be familiar to those who follow my work but the lamp design is new.  The Wyoming pine burl sits on an unusual inlaid maple base.  The Shade is fret cut cherry plywood with a cherry frame backed by mica.  The fixture supports a three way light bulb with a switch in the base.

BATH SCONCE

The customers wanted something that didn't look like any bath sconce they had ever seen before. I hope they got what they wanted.

BREAKFAST LIGHT

Lights to cook by, lights to eat by, copper steel and mica.

BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY

This is an older fixture made soon after the SNOW LODGE was completed. It stands almost 6 feet high and makes a solid statement in the sports craft store where it hangs in the entry way.

copyright 2001 STEVE BLOOD

MONTANA SPRING

This the view off the TOM MINER CREEK ROAD on the way to the GRIZZLY CREEK RANCH where the wagon wheel chandeliers reside. A skiff of snow here turned into feet as we climbed the mountain.

HOME FOR A WAGON WHEEL

This is the barn that the wagon wheel chandeliers reside, the building is incredible on the inside.

MEMORIES OF SAIGON

Those who know me know that I have a passion for the arts, photography is one of those passions. When I was in Vietnam in the 60's I was stationed in Saigon. I had a rare opportunity to see and be a part of a Vietnam that most Americans in country were excluded from and had no idea that it even existed. When I had time off I often ventured into the city to shoot photos of the architecture and of the people. I have hundreds of photos and slides that have been sitting on the shelve for years. Mary Lynn and I have decided that it's time to share those images with those who were there and those who are too young to remember. These photos are not about the war but about an exotic city and her culture. To this end we are editing the photos into a coffee table book and hope to find a publisher soon. (photo has not been repaired yet)

copyright 1965 STEVE BLOOD This photo may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of STEVE BLOOD

OLD FAITHFUL INN ROOM LAMPS

These lamps were designed and built for the guest rooms in 'THE OLD HOUSE" in the OLD FAITHFUL INN in YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. They are made of acid etched steel and mica.
copyright STEVE BLOOD 2005

SNOW LODGE TABLE LAMP

Lobby lamp for the SNOW LODGE in YELLOWSTONE PARK. The fixture is of hand cut copper, mica hardwoods and exotic veneers.
copyright 1999 STEVE BLOOD

GRIZZLY CREEK WAGON WHEEL CHANDELIER

I have neglected this site for so long that I can't even believe it. Months ago I posted pictures of the start of a wagon wheel chandelier. I was determined that it wouldn't look like anything else on the market. Everything was custom made including the wagon wheels and the glass. When I ordered the wheels I had to convince the wheel wright that what I was ordering was what I wanted. There are three tiers of wheels and glass and everything had to be perfect in order for the fixture to go together. They weigh approximately 500 pounds and by the time they were crated we had barely an inch of space to load them into a semi trailer.
I should add that I made three of these and they all fit in one room. All parts were designed in the studio and fabricated at various places.

copyright 2006 STEVE BLOOD

CROSSING THE YELLOWSTONE

I have neglected the blog for way too long. Fortunately for the studio we have been very busy. I'm a very optimistic person. One of my father's favorite sayings was,"It's an ill wind that doesn't blow some good." There was also a story told in church when I was little that I have not forgotten and enjoy telling to anyone who will listen.

Trying to find out how we react to our surroundings a group of researchers enlisted the help of two very young boys, one an optimist, one a pessimist. The pessimist was placed in a room with all the latest toys, trucks, earth movers, bikes, games anything that a little boy could dream of. He was told to do as he wished, have fun and the would return in a few hours to check on him. The optimist was placed in a room full of horse manure and a pitch fork. He was told that it wasn't much but it was what they had and to make the best of it, they would check back with him in a few hours.

When they returned to the pessimists room they found him sitting in the corner, nothing had been touched. "Why haven't you been playing?

"I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"I might get hurt."

"The toys are all safe."

"Might break something."

"That's OK you could do as you wish, no one will get angry with you."

"I was scared."

They then entered the room with the optimist. Manure was flying everywhere as the boy was still digging through the pile. "What on earth are you doing?"

"All this manure in here, there has got to be a pony somewhere."

I believe that being comfortable and having a sense of joy about our surroundings creates a positive mood and enhances our life. The pictured light came about in a very strange way. I was pushed almost to my limits in designing for the SNOW LODGE in YELLOWSTONE PARK when the architect called me and told me that they needed two very large fixtures for the fast food area of the lodge. Drawing a blank I did a quick sketch of a group of forest animals in a canoe holding lanterns, titled it, "CROSSING THE YELLOWSTONE" and faxed it off to him as a joke. "We want two of them," was his immediate reply. So here you are. The story is, true or not, that they actually designed a higher roof to accommodate the fixtures.

The way we light our rooms helps to create the way we feel.

LUNCH BREAK

Fall in New York is incredible, it has the typical New England appeal and makes the creative juices flow. I will eventually use this figures in some type of project, perhaps on a piece of marquetry or even silhouettes for a hand cut wooden lampshade or both.
copyright STEVE BLOOD 2008

6 FOOT CHANDELIER

I'm way behind on the blog but things have been busy in the studio. This is a shop photo of the chandelier that was designed for a client in JACKSON HOLE. There are two of them, the drawing for this was posted earlier on the blog. Will post a better picture when we get them after they are installed.

THE YELLOWSTONE FIRES

This is a grim reminder of fires that swept through YELLOWSTONE in the late 1980s. Over one third of the park burned in 1988. Some felt that the fires were part of a natural process and were left to burn creating the largest wildfire in park history. Still there is a stark beauty in the washed and sun bleached dead standing timber against the stormy sky. This photo was taken in the north eastern corner of the park. It is a truly awe inspiring section of the park that most visitors seem to miss. It is well worth the time to go there.
copyright Mary Lynn Blood 2006

PINE BURL LAMP WITH HAND CUT SHADE

I've been a little slow adding to the blog lately. Fortunately we've been extremely busy, but I am still finding time to get some more lamps together. This is a candid shot of a one of a kind. The base is riddled with bug paths that were found under the bark. The trick was to keep as many as possible while cleaning the burl. The shade size is more in keeping with the style popular in the 1920s and 30s. Hand cut from oak with bark paper diffuser the patterns go from the Rockies to the Southwest. This lamp or a similar one is available.

copyright Steve Blood 2000

GRIZZLIES IN THE TETONS

Late in the afternoon on a perfect TETON day near OX BOW BEND we stumbled upon a sow and her two nearly grown cubs. What a treat it was to watch as they took their time grazing on the wild flowers and shrubs. More inspiration.

RUSTIC BURL FLOOR LAMP WITH WOOD SHADE

This is a great example of the burl floor lamps. It is topped with a large six sided lamp shade with hand cut wildlife designs. The bear design is an original the other designs are adapted from H.L. WILD designs from the beginning of the twentieth century. This fixture or a similar fixture is available from stock.