From the Studio

So I was drawing out a design for a custom desk for my old friend (who's nickname is T-money) and he says, "I want it extra fresh Monk. Go Big. Can you do like a T in old english on the side?"

Whether he was joking or not, I probably shouldn't have called his bluff. But when challenge is presented I almost have this instant reaction on most occasions...

"Yeah Sure! Why not?"

It's not that cutting fonts are the hardest thing in the world...

You may soon discover that I have many sideshow interests that inspire my work in peculiar ways. One is my intense fascination with cast off technologies or objects/entities that have been discarded by society. I've been known to photograph old T.V's or furniture laying in the street or rows of old VCR's in a thrift store. I'm basically a Culture Vulture, feeding of what's been left for dead by everyone else. I still see value in the worthless and wonder "What could I make with this?" It makes me start guessing where this consumer coaster is headed.

We can learn...

While we don't have super powers, we have power tools!

Here's a glimpse at my anti-Adobe logo making process for a new leather-bound portfolio I'm working on. I want the end result to look like I stole it from Gandalf the Grey...

Found the metal from and old toilet ring:/

I then added a little muriatic acid to rust...

I don't know about you, but the ideal me is ultra-organized and super-efficient at any given moment. But I can easily fall into that sneaky trap where I'll arrange my desk or workshop for hours without getting anything done.

I recently learned a really quick and cool organization method called 'knolling' from a short documentary on multi-media sculpture Tom Sachs directed by The Selby. Tom describes knolling as "putting like objects together in parallel or perpendicular fashion as a means of organization". Very simple indeed. Here's one of my first 'knolls'...

You ever heard the old saying, "The shoemaker's children have holes in their shoes"?

Well I do what I can to defy that saying. So consider this post my protest and documentation that my better half does get to reap the benefit of being married to a carpenter.

Our daughter's 1st birthday was quickly approaching and we needed some good outdoor entertaining furniture. So instead of renting plastic folding tables and...