Everlasting Woods, Custom Artistic Furniture, Connecticut
Ted and Cyndi DeMers live with their two dogs on a beautiful piece of property in rural Northeast Connecticut. Ted manages his woodlot carefully, with eye towards maintaining a diverse mix of hardwoods and with particular attention to the long term health and sustainability of the land. Well cared for stands of Ash, Beech, Elm, Bass, Butternut and Chestnut trees complement the more common Sugar Maples and Red Oak common to this region. In addition to harvesting hardwoods for Ted’s one-of-a -kind pieces, Ted and Cyndi have developed an eye for the unusual effects of intertwined wood and vine.
While Oriental Bittersweet, an invasive vine, is an unwelcome addition to any woodlot, it forms the foundation for some of Ted’s most interesting and artistic pieces.
Once a tree has been harvested, Ted takes the timber to his nephew’s saw mill and personally supervises each cut to ensure that no wood is wasted and that the best grain is exposed. “Every piece that comes off the log is a future project” he says. Indeed, during our visit Ted pointed out a stack of Butternut that he has already drawn up plans to use – even though the project can’t be started for several years yet. After the boards are sawn they go into a shed for air drying along with any whole logs or branches that have been captured by the vine. This process can take up to to five years. Each piece is dated and Ted knows exactly what he has drying and the length of time left for each board.
He notes that in the Northeast wood can be successfully air dried to a moisture content level of 14 – 15%, but to bring it down further — ideally to 10% or less — requires finishing in a solar shed sometimes supplemented with heat from a wood stove.
None of the wood that Ted uses in his furniture has been dried in a commercial kiln. He believes a natural process over time results in a stronger piece and is more environmentally responsible. After the wood is housed in the drying shed, Cyndi begins her patient work in the shop– debarking the vines by hand to reveal the beautiful figures beneath. She uses her time in the shop to help Ted think about the possible forms each piece can take, and together they bring a vision for their unique one-of-a-kind furniture creations. They strive to use the same tree for the entire piece, book-matching doors, for example, or legs taken from a single piece that are remarkable for their natural symmetry. All surfaces are hand planed in order to reveal the best figures and give a tight crisp appearance.
When asked how he fell in love with wood, Ted says he had a great mentor when he was a young man just starting out- a furniture maker. After 30 years Ted says, “the tree tells me what to do…. it is amazing what is in the woods…”
You can see more of Ted’s work by visiting his web site at Everlasting Woods and follow the links to e-mail or phone them directly. Ted and Cyndi welcome you to visit the workshop and discuss your special project.
Everlasting Wood profile created by Elizabeth Conrad, Co Founder, Common Good Market.
Please direct any comments or suggestions to econrad@commongoodmarket.com
