Responsible Wood Harvesting

Comb made from Wenge

Today I had a potential customer e-mail me about this comb.

"Can you tell me a little more about the wood used to make this comb? I'd like to know where in the world it comes from, and whether it was harvested sustainably."

No one has ever asked me that question but I'm glad she did because it's a subject I care a lot about! This is an indicator that I haven't been clear enough either on the website or Etsy about my stance and more importantly my policies with Ferrochie.

The comb in question is made from Wenge which is Native to the forests of Zaire, Cameroon, Gabon, southern Tanzania, Mozambique and the Congo. My supplier for this wood is West Penn Hardwoods which works only with vendors who have a FSC certification for responsible harvesting. What's FSC you ask? We will come back to West Penn in a minute . . .

FSC Mark

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC certification provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value. To learn more about them visit:

http://www.fsc.org/

All of my wood whether exotics like this one, white pine, douglas fir, poplar, or oak bear the FSC certification stamp. It's the only way that a small guy like me can have the piece of mind that what I'm buying hasn't been stripped. One exception is my purchases of antique or reclaimed lumber where the original origins cannot be determined. So for West Penn and other suppliers who have committed themselves to being part of a responsible supply chain, I thank you! We need more companies to commit to better practices.

http://www.westpennhardwoods.com/sustainable-production.php

Irresponsible practices leave area's blighted!

Images like this one to the left are heartbreaking. I just can't be a part of it and I'm glad to know that my customers won't stand for it either.

Don't despair though! The movement for better forestry practices is growing year after year. You can see the FSC logo starting to pop up all over. Paper products from advertisements to magazines now bear this certification. I recently took my son to build-a-bear workshop and the Birth Certificate displays the FCS logo indicating paper from responsible sources. You as a consumer can start to look for the logo on the products you buy. Most lumber inside The Home Depot for instance bears the mark. Once you are familiar with the logo it will become an easy thing to do.

One of West Penn's suppliers in Central America. Note the FSC logo.

That's just a snapshot but I hope that clears up where I am with the wood I use. I'll get to work on fixing that online. :)

In the meantime, please email me individually if you have any other questions.

Thanks!

From Russia With Love

I want to thank the Russian bot net that recently bombed my Blog with over 770 hits on November 1st. Although I'd like to think that the Russian people have taken an interest in Ferrochie I really don't think that's the case. It seems very clear to me that this is the work of Boris & Natasha. After all they are wanted for espionage, mayhem, general mischief and other heinous crimes. Hey! News flash! The cold war is over Boris! Even if the Kremlin forgot to deactivate you in 1991, Ferrochie is not harboring a Canadian Moose!

Now my statistics are forever skewed and I'll never have good marketing data. Oh wait, I know most of my customers personally. I guess it's okay. :)

Disclaimer: In the event the Russian people ARE suddenly interested in Ferrochie I have a new shop policy. WE NOW SHIP TO RUSSIA! Inquire for rates.

Для моих русских друзей. Мы любим тебя сюда! :)

Holiday Show Contest - Win This Reindeer

Walker, Texas Reindeer from Jingle Bash 4

Ya know, people who meet Walker say that when he prances they see a certain swagger. Well, in Texas that's called walking!

Walker, Texas Reindeer is the mascot this year for Jingle Bash 4 created by Pamela of Dowdy Studio. His name is the result of a recent EtsyDallas naming contest and the outpouring of love he received inspired me to want to create this hand painted wooden version. Pam gave me her blessing to pursue it and together we have brought him off the page and into the world. He stands an impressive 16" tall and is 9" wide. He would be perfect for your mantle, under your tree or on your wall.

I know you want him because he's to cute to resist! So, like the birdhouse in the spring, we are going to do a contest!

Left: Original Art | Right: Wooden Replica

Reindeer Rules / How To Play:

1. Correctly answer three questions of holiday trivia. Question #1 is at the bottom. Question #2 will appear @ferrochie on Twitter and Question #3 will appear on Ferrochie's Facebook page.

2. Submit your answers in comment form here on our blog.

3. The winner will be drawn from a pool of correct answers.

You have until midnight on Sunday November 6th to submit your answers. The winner will be announced Monday the 7th.

Good Luck!

Question #1 :

What is this reindeer's name?

Three Ways You Can Improve Your Design Today!

Recently, I read a blog post called, "Designing the Ideal Industrial Design Program". It's author Paul Backett, Ziba's Director touched on a variety of points regarding what's lacking in Design education today. I could go on a rant about design education but I'll spare you that and just get to the point. Many of the subjects Paul brought up that need to be addressed for up and coming design graduates also need to be reinforced in the working community. In many aspects of a person's life things you know you should do get shortcut because of a variety of external pressures. With design it's no different. People, including myself, need a refresher from time to time. So here are just a couple things you can do to improve your design practice and have fun doing it.

1. Build something yourself!
In the words of Richard Sennett, "The large issue here is that simulation can be a poor substitute for tactile experience." What is being suggested is that hands-off design disables a certain type of relational understanding. In a design world now dominated by CAD packages, 3D Renderings and offshore manufacturing it's difficult to get hands-on. To experience how a tool reacts to wood, how parts interact with each other or seeing realistic spacial relationships are essential. When it comes to design or artistic endeavors in general the head and hand cannot be separate. So take the time to get out from behind that desk and create something physical. You don't have to be a craftsman or a master welder either! All you need is some foam core, hot glue and a sharp knife. Test your designs in a quarter scale model before committing. I promise it will be fun, rewarding and educational.

"When the head and hand are separate, it is the head that suffers!"

Harvey Card / What If? Card

2. Challenge your own completed design.

Just when you think you are finished ask yourself, "What can I do to make this design even better?". These are not just words pounded into my subconscious by former professors but words I don't personally use enough. Today's pressures in product development can force you to make concessions just for the sake of getting it done but you owe it to yourself to fight those impulses. Take time and ask yourself questions such as, "What if I make it bigger?", "What if I change the color?".

A fun way to do this is with Harvey Cards a.k.a. What If? cards. These cards are a fun and simple way to challenge yourself brought to you by Core77 Industrial Design Website. They have been around for more than a decade and I'm sure used by millions of creatives the world over. Simply cut them out, shuffle them up and pull a card. Try to apply what it says to your concept. Harvey Cards can be downloaded here.

3. Reinvent your design identity.

Chances are whether you are just starting out or have been in the game awhile people have already slotted you creatively. "Oh, Brett is master at metalwork, he's your guy." or "There is no one better at color trending than Angela." and "No, he's a modern designer, he can't do traditional." Real or perceived you have either created for yourself an identity or your peers have done it for you. BREAK IT NOW!! If the identity is real try stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new. If it's perceived, show your peers something they haven't seen from you before. Designers have to evolve and innovate in the same way their products do. Otherwise, they like their creations will be replaced by the newer, shinier model that has more features.

Thank You Charity Supporters!

Rose Mercer spots the
Steampunk Time Machine!

The 1st Annual Etsy Dallas Charity event Sit Down To Stand Up For Kids was a huge success! Many thanks is owed to all of our supporters out there who came to the event last night and made a difference for local children. I also want to thank our incredible Etsy Dallas Charity Squad members who tirelessly worked for months on making this come together. It truly took a team effort to make this night as special as it could be.

The event itself received a spectacular turnout. From the moment we opened the doors there was a steady stream of people and within about 30 minutes time we had a crowd. Conversations surrounding the artists interpretations were soon followed by opening bids. I found it personally rewarding to observe the artists interacting and talking with people about their concepts. It was fantastic to see the passion behind their work on full display.


The bidding war began to pick up pace as the night went on. As we neared the close I could hear concessions being made and deals being struck. In the end, I think everyone (well, almost everyone) got the chair they wanted. It was an auction after all.


I look forward to next year's event. Hope I see you there!