So I'm thinking of taking a trip up to northern california and southern oregon to check out the woodworking scene up there. living in arizona has it's advantages, but trees aren't one of them....
I guess I'm looking for people and things of interest up there, as well as impressions and opinions in general. I'm sure the cost of living will be a bit higher- the equity I have in my home is gonna look pretty puny in that market. work is probably more competitive too....
Might try around Willamina, Oregon.
By all means visit the College of the Redwoods in Ft. Bragg, California. On the coast just below Eureka.
James Krenov taught there and started their Furniture-Making schoo. Be sure to see Krenov's gallery and showroom in the town.
Gary Curtis (moving to Trinity County, Calif, soon)
By all means visit the College of the Redwoods in Ft. Bragg, California. On the coast just below Eureka.
James Krenov taught there and started their Furniture-Making schoo. Be sure to see Krenov's gallery and showroom in the town.
Gary Curtis (moving to Trinity County, Calif, soon)
You oughta stop in on C-less in Grass Pants - maybe he can show you that ghost saw opus he's been hardly working on for years.
Wood's on the sides of the valley, with predominance of softwood, even on the coast. In Arizona and California birch is an exotic, so that shouldn't be a shock to a man from there. Both that and the cost of living were a tremendous shock to me. The nectarine that grows in an orchard in Yuba City sells for more there than in Michigan. Groceries were about three times as expensive in meat, twice in most other items.
Housing is variable. Where there are jobs or socialism (Bay Area) , they're very high, a bit of distance brings them back to your level, I should think. Problem in jobs is as always, if you're educated or experienced, they're leery of hiring you in most places. They want entry level people, or are interested in paying only entry level salaries and cannot understand why anyone who ever earned more money would work for less to be someplace else. If you're in the trades, you'll have to fight the nepotism.
What, and have it lose its mystique? Not on your life, Owie! ;)
----------------------------------------- Jack Kevorkian for Congressional physician!
I've lived and traveled most of that area... email me if I can help...
mac
Please remove splinters before emailing
Mendecino,CA - College of the Redwoods and vicinity. Fair number of pro furniture makers there - Krenov's stomping grounds. Google "College of the Redwoods" and check their links (I lost all my bookmarks or I'd provide URLs).
David J.Marks is based in Petaluma CA and there are other furniture makers in that area.
Bezerkeley (Berkeley) and Oakland, on the east side of the SF Bay has several lumber places - I think EcoTimber is still around, Hida Tools (japanese woodworking tools) and Gary Knox Bennett lives there.
Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz mountains have a fair number of woodworkers - Scottts Valley is a place to check out. Skip the redwood slabs and stump "art pieces".
If you like Clara Walnut,
If you want to live in the urbanized area of the SF Bay Area realize that a "fixer upper", 1100 sf ,50-60 year old place on a 5-7000 sf lot at ONLY a half a million is considered a good buy. Go out 60-75 , miles and the price drops into the quarter million dollar range.
Check the online versions of The San Francisco Chronicle and The San Jose Mercury News.
charlie b
(there are only two or three places on earth that have the climate of the SF Bay Area)
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