I’m lucky enough that Lake Log Lamps made it into Apartment Therapy’s Design Showcase. AT can explain it better than I can:

We launched Design Showcase, with the intention of giving a bunch of independent designers a really good soapbox from which to pitch their work. For the lucky finalists, we also wanted to give them even more exposure and see if we could help to boost their careers to a whole new level.

This is really an incredible (and generous) opportunity for independent designers. They are going to be posting 30 different designs from August 30 - September 17.

Why not vote for Lake Log Lamps while you’re checking out all of the other great designs. You’ll need to register with the site to vote, so if you’re uncomfortable with that, I understand.

Yesterday’s lathe demo at MAD was incredible, what a place. It was so interesting to meet all the museum staff and visitors. Sorry to all of the people who can’t speak English that I had full conversations with before realizing that you didn’t understand a word I said. In the first two pictures below, you can see Columbus (from “Circle” fame) in the window.

Thanks to everybody who made it out, I had a blast and hope you did too. I also got to use my favorite Simpsons line on the viewers, “I want to see goggles people!”

I am very excited to announce that I will be doing a live lathe demonstration at the MAD Museum, Aug. 19th.

I’ll be in the Open Studios looking down on Columbus Circle (perhaps the greatest view from a lathe in the city). I’ll be making lamps from logs, small pieces of furniture, and some other fun stuff. Come on by if you’re in town.

My wine bottle lamp was selected as a “notable” design for Inhabitat’s Spring Greening design contest. If you like what you see, please vote.

There are a ton of great ideas this year.

I’m very happy with the model citizens show. It turned out great. The opening reception was a lot of fun. I met some great designers. Mika, the organizer, is so nice. I think all the hard work paid off. Last day to check it out.

I’ve been trying to perfect wine bottle cutting, so I could use the glass tube for a lamp shade. Finally got some good results. I turned pieces of a wooden pallet (maple I think) found on 89th St, for the base and cap. The lamp socket comes from a junked floor lamp (also found on 89th St). White wine gives more light, but I’ll probably go red next time for more mood.

So I tried cutting a wine bottle for the first time. Not a lot of success.

I believe it had nothing to do with the technique I saw on Make, but with my scoring. I need some practice, but I stand by the idea of this making a decent lamp shade.

Been working on those oak blanks. Done with the turning and first coat of finish is on, in a couple of days they’ll be wired up.

I’m working on a jig to cut the ends off of wine bottles. I plan on using the tube of the bottle as a glass lamp shade.

The bottle spins on two rolling pins (still usable) while a glass cutter etches the bottle. I was inspired by this wine bottle cutting video (the technique is shown around the 6 min. mark) I saw on Make.

Made some lamp cords over the weekend. I took some black and white wire, chucked it up in a drill, and pulled the trigger. Now I have some Beetle Juice plugs for some new lamps.