Sunday, May 2, 2010

Introducing Grand Prairie Woodworks

One of a Kind Cutting Board



Tim Pursell's Grand Prairie Woodworks on Artfire is full of handmade furniture and home accessories from kitchen spatulas and cutting boards to complete bedroom and dining room furniture.

What got you interested in your craft?
 Mostly need, combined with the common problem I call “lack o’ loot” (I was broke) coupled with a general dissatisfaction with the quality of commercially available wood products.  Basically, I am too cheap to spend my hard earned dollars on something I know will not live up to my expectations.
 
What inspires you to create?

Inspiration is everywhere. Any item in or around the home can lead me to create something both useful and beautiful. I have spent years collecting a library of literature about the Arts and Crafts movement popular 100 years ago. I use these reference sources to pull together various elements of the A&C style into a piece that is functional, pleasing to the eye and will last for years.

What got you interested in your craft?
Mostly need, combined with the common problem I call “lack o’ loot” (I was broke) coupled with a general dissatisfaction with the quality of commercially available wood products.  Basically, I am too cheap to spend my hard earned dollars on something I know will not live up to my expectations.


Of everything you have created which is your favorite?
That’s a tough question, kind of like asking which child is my favorite. This piece is my favorite because it was the first large piece of really fine furniture I designed and built.

 Why is your craft special to you?

Much of the original Arts and Craft style furnishing were heavy and clunky looking. I try to bring the elements of the style into a lighter, more modern form without sacrificing the basic tenets of beauty, function and most importantly, quality. I fully expect my furnishings to be around for years to come and still be as solid and stylish as the day they came out of my shop
 
What is the best advice can you give to someone starting a craft?

Buy the best quality tools you can afford, you’ll never be disappointed.

What is something you want people to know about you?

I’m a perfectionist, to a fault. I spend way too much time making sure everything is just right. I put as much care into sanding a $10 spatula as I did making a $5,000 buffet.

How do you decide what to make?
My larger pieces are done on commission, so the customer decides what I will make. The smaller items in my shop are added as I can expand my product line and experiment with new technique
 Where to find Tim online
http://www.artfire.com/users/GrandPrairieWoodworks
http://www.grandprairiewoodworks.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tpursell

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love Tim's work!! Great post ♥

Unknown said...

I love the idea of looking to the past for inspiration. Tim has a lot of great looking products!

About Me said...

Amazing woodworking!