"The best laid schemes o? mice an? men / Gang aft a-gley." "To A Mouse", Robert Burns.
We often become prisoners of our plans. It is often mistakes that offer us the first glimpse of freedom. The unintended consequence is a two edged sword and we'd best use the one to cut the bonds.
"We need new forms.", The Seagull, Anton Chekhov.
We must have new forms and we will, so long as we pay attention to the creative opportunities that are afforded to us by screw ups.
Most of the really neat stuff I've made came about as a response to some sort of flaw in the initial design, or in the materials themselves.
I wonder how much spalted wood was burned before someone decided to embrace its peculiarities and incorporate it into, and, in fact, feature it, in an object.
I wish I had back all the green pieces of poplar that I've cut away. Now I like to use it and let it show. I only ever got rid of it because someone told me it was wrong to keep it.
How would Nakashima's work look if he'd insisted on flawless wood instead of using his famous butterflies?
Keep making mistakes. They can be your friend.
Regards, Tom Tom Watson - Woodworker Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania