Texas Furniture Makers Show - 2009

The Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show in Kerrville, Texas (http://www.kacckerrville.com) has become quite a prestigious event. Many of the top furniture makers in the State enter their finest works for monetary awards, broad exposure and public acclaim. As Rex White's wife, I am proud to announce that Rex won the award for the "Best Traditional Furniture" for his "Stand-up Desk" (above.)

Other top award winners are shown below in the following order: First Place/Best of Show - Credenza by John O'Brien, Second Place Overall - Cocktail Table by Jeff Granberry, Third Place Overall - Vidar's Chairs by Clark Kellogg, Best Contemporary Furniture - Dining Table by Philip Sell, Best Texas Style Furniture - Partner's Desk by Lou Quallenberg, and Best Whimsical/Art Furniture - Tres Art Chairs by Danny Kamerath. Visit the Kerrville Arts and Cultural Center (228 Earl Garrett Street Kerrville, Texas) this month to take a closer look!

Our Inner Story

I work in a business where we assist military officers make a successful transition from a military career into a business career. We guide them through self-introspection exercises to help them recognize their strengths, weaknesses, goals set and reached, patterns, and ways of doing things. We help them determine the best direction for their future. For those who choose business, we connect them with the best developmental opportunities available in Corporate America.

In the economic conditions of this past year, I have spoken with many friends who have also been making transitions in their lives. Some losing jobs and seeking new ones, some retiring from their careers and looking at what they want to be involved with in their retirement years, and others just questioning the best direction for their futures, both professionally and personally. Being in "mid-life" myself, I see many of my contemporaries reaching a time in life when they reflect on what they have accomplished so far in life and questioning whether they should take a new path to reach their true life's dream or purpose. This may be a new path as a career, or it could be a new path spiritually or relationally. We each have an "inner story" and if we listen to that Spirit within, we may more clearly see the path we should take.

An (unfinished) Inner Story…

There is an inner music
That seeks to play its song
It taps a beat into the heart
For it’s melody I long.

There is an inner poem
That seeks to tell its story
Love’s inspiration, nature’s beauty
Life and truth and glory.

There is an inner passion
That burns within the soul
I’m called, I’m pulled, I ache, I yearn
For God to make me whole.

There is an inner painting
That seeks to share its vision
It’s color, shading, brushstroke, image
A clarity, arisen.

There is an inner longing
That pulls upon my heart
Is there more I am to be or do?
Am I to play a different part?

There is an inner Spirit
That dances and uplifts
It lightens, guides and shows the way
To love, life and their gifts.

There is an inner peace
That is there without my striving
Rest and listen to the breathing
It is there, where I am thriving.

There is an inner story
Of adventure, risk, yet hope
It is where my true love waits for me..
……

By Design, Too

How intentional are you about the furniture you live with, live on, live around? Are most of your furniture pieces hand-me-downs from Parents, Grandparents or friends? These could be wonderful, well-made antiques, or they may just be old! What does your furniture say about you, your style, your personality? Do you like the message? Does it say anything at all? And, how does it make you feel? Welcomed? At home? Warm? Or, cold and removed? When you have furniture designed and made just for you, it can add that personal touch or style, tie together the randomness of other pieces, bring comfort or warmth that may have been lacking, or just add a practical functionality that you have needed. Whether it is a Dining Table and set of chairs, a hall table in your home's entry way, or that Bed that you have always dreamed of, the design, style, construction, wood color, finish are all important elements to the desired end result.

When a client contacts Rex about a piece of furniture, the design process starts immediately as Rex formulates a mental vision of the piece and considers its function and construction. He will discuss the style desired, what will fit within a space or fit in with other pieces. He will discuss types and natural colors of wood. The wood and other materials are selected. Will there be accents of brass, stone, leather or glass? These details move the process further along the design path. Photos showing lines, shapes or colors that are pleasing to the client help to shape the initial drawing of the piece. Additional drawings will be produced to refine the details until the drawing represents the desired end product in form and function. A bid can then be produced based upon all of the elements that will be included in the custom piece. Are you ready for Rex to design and build a piece of furniture for you now? Contact him through this site, or through his website, http://www.rexwhitecustomfurniture.com/ !

Chasing Sunsets

The thoughts and plans for my trip were looping through my brain like a song that keeps repeating itself in my head without any conscious effort. My trip would take me back to people and places of my past. Times for reconnecting, remembering and renewing are anticipated. The visions of faces, places, sounds, smells, smiles, hugs, emotions play themselves out on the movie screen of my mind. The reflection on my past while anticipating the future casts an interesting light on the present. Sometimes "Now" can be overrated. The stark reality of now with its sharp edges, vivid images, brilliant clarity can be overwhelming. The gentle filter of my memory can serve to soften the edges, blur the images and shade the starkness, like airbrushing a photograph or wearing rose-colored glasses. The memory may be sweeter, lovelier and kinder than the reality. Granted, this is not always true. Sometimes the sharp pain of loss or hurt can cloud even the best memories and overshadow the goodness of life experiences. Plans to revisit meaningful people and memorable places, playing out potential conversations, shared emotions, laughter and maybe tears can be more pleasant and enjoyable than the actual events will be. Maybe that is why I like to plan, expect, hope and dream. The fantasies of what could be, might be, hope to be are wonderful little mental vacations my mind takes me on. No doubt too much living in the past or planning for the future can cause us to miss some brilliant moments that are happening NOW. Yet I learn from my past and I have hope for my future. Both give me perspective and appreciation of "Now." Like chasing sunsets across the sky, I can fly back to my homeland and reconnect with my past - but that sun has set and I am only living when I am aware and cognizant of this moment and the next, creating new meaningful memories by being present to each of life's experiences.

The Bridge

Shortly BEFORE the old crossing collapsed.

AFTER - The new Bridge!

The Bridge

It is that way with life, with relationships. The erosion can be so subtle, at first, that it is hardly noticed; or if noticed, just seems to be the natural course of things and dismissed. But when the gap that once was no wider than two could reach across and clasp hands eventually erodes to a chasm deep and wide, it becomes obvious, dangerous, disastrous and impassable. Some stare, gape or shake their heads, but they get used to it. Like having an elephant in the living room, they learn to go around it, ignore it, incorporate it into life's routines. But something happened, something broke, died, changed, was destroyed, re-routed and is dramatically different. Some can't ignore it for they see the pain as an open wound that isn't healing. The normal waters of life's stream gently flowed along their path. When the torrents and floods came of life's temptations, challenges and sorrows, they carved, dug, rolled, roared, upended and destroyed what once was. This could be the end of the story; or, it could be a new beginning. A bridge is built across the chasm. The two sides are reunited. Grasses and flowers begin to sprout with new life. The landscape of the soul is forever changed, yet renewed.

Tapestry

As I plan and prepare for a vacation trip to California in October, I think about all the many family and friends who live there and who I see scattered through the year, or some once a year, some only every few years. Each life that has touched mine has affected me, changed me and deepened me in some way. Each person is a thread that has interwoven with mine at some point, or at many points, along my life's pathway. Likewise I pray that my life has intersected with others in a way that has been a positive influence on them. I often pray, "may my thoughts words and actions make a positive difference in the lives my life touches." We see each stitch and each individual thread. We tend to live life up close. God sees the entire tapestry of our life from a heavenly perspective. Sometimes the stitches aren't very pretty or a thread looks dull by itself, but when seen from God's perspective, when it is all woven together, it is beautiful!

Tapestry

A shred of hope
A stitch in time
Thin threads of life
Of souls entwined.

Events and memories
Families, friends
Lives interwoven
Colors blend.

Time and distance
Beauty, breath
Laughter, sorrow
Birth and death.

The ins and outs
The up and down
A nurse, a mother
And a clown.

Life seems simple
Work and play
Moment by moment
Day to day.

Yet rich and deep
Profound in wonder
The powerful storms
The rolling thunder.

One thread is golden
A dazzling hue
The one life’s love
So pure and true.

Meaning, depth
Perspective, texture
This love’s blessing
To life’s vesture.

Yes, deep, complex
And interwoven
Requiring pain
And grief not chosen.

A twist of fate
To come unraveled
Thin threads of hope
Were barely traveled.

Life’s fabric is woven
So intricately
From heaven’s height
A Holy Tapestry.

After...noon...

Many weekends are filled with activity - visitors, events, projects, travel. But once in a while, a weekend day comes around that allows for true rest and relaxation. Such opportunities I savor with all my senses. Even in the backyard quiet, there is still activity...but of a very different kind! I offer this poem to give you a mind-vacation. It will only take a minute. Allow yourself to feel, sense, hear, see, breathe and savor the moment. Are you ready? Take a deep breath, and read...

AFTER...NOON...

In the softness of the warm afternoon, the gentle
breeze plays my skin tenderly, caressing
hair, blown kisses, tickling and feathering.

In the darkness of the sun hidden, all is dull
and blended, somber; 'til it's once again
brilliance emerges, defining the shadows.

In the air, flying with or against the life-force, a
butterfly darts, a wasp weaves undaunted; but
a leaf floats or soars, carried with power.

In the delight of the chuckling stream, there is no
stillness, ever-moving onward; constant flow
and motion, all in and within changing.

In this life there is no true still point, no true
silence, no true solitude; all is doing, being, all
is active, happening; creating, birthing, dying.

In the softness of the warm afternoon, the gentle
breeze whispers in my ear tenderly, calming
my heart, loving messages to breathe and be.