When creating the Trail's End Rocker, I tried different ideas, techniques, and materials, hoping to arrive at something unique, pleasing, and useful. I believe I have accomplished this with the Trail's End, and I hope this piece will bring my customers pleasure, as it has me.
To my mind, form must follow from the intended function of a piece. I always try to design and build to ensure integrity, good craftsmanship, utility, durability, harmony, and beauty. The challenge to keep all of these elements intact is always interesting, often time consuming, but instructive and satisfying in the end.
As to construction, I still follow advice I received from an older co-worker when I began working for a living: "nail where you can and screw where you must." Although I don't use any nails in the Trail's End, this advice has guided me to use the best methods possible, and my joinery incorporates mortise and tenon, slip joints, dovetails where needed, fine adhesives, and so on. I carefully consider, shape, and connect each part to the whole, using the strongest, most aesthetic, and most appropriate means possible.
My process results in fine furniture that will last and serve owners at least for their lifetime and, I expect, generations beyond. My work is, hopefully, beautiful and pleasing. Instead of taking shortcuts, I often spend unpredicted time pursuing this goal, but I find this effort worthwhile in the end, for my own satisfaction with each piece is primary to why I do the work.
I am fortunate to be able to do my work in my studio at the home Debby and I have built that overlooks our horse pastures and the Pike National Forest. My inspiration is never far from my workbench.
-Skip Odell
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