Smooth as Glass Furniture

A bit more about Rex White, Custom Furniture Designer and Craftsman:

Rex has always been interested in how things work, how things are constructed and the details that create quality craftsmanship. He has become best known in his furniture for his attention to detail and his “smooth as glass” finishes. Utilizing primarily hardwoods and the finest joinery techniques, Rex creates antique reproductions as well as contemporary works to suit his customers’ home décor and tastes. He has had his work published in Fine Woodworking, Design Book Three http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/, Metropolitan Home http://www.methomecollection.com/, Texas Highways http://www.texashighways.com/, Woodcraft Magazine http://www.woodcraftmagazine.com/ and Woodworker West http://www.woodwest.com/. He has been featured in furniture exhibitions at The Art Center in Waco, TX http://www.artcenterwaco.org/, Hamdy Fine Arts Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX, Gremillion & Co. Fine Art in both Austin and Houston, TX http://www.gremillion.com/, and currently at Artisans in Fredericksburg, TX http://www.artisansatrockyhill.com/. He has received numerous honors and awards at furniture shows including the “West Marin Woodworkers Show” in Point Reyes, CA, the “Central Texas Biennial Craft Competition” in Waco, TX, multiple years at the “Winedale Spring Festival Craft Show” in Round Top, TX, and multiple years at the “Texas Furniture Maker Show” in Kerrville, TX http://www.kacckerrville.com/texasfurnitureshow.html.

Weddings - Breathtaking!

This past Saturday we attended the wedding of my nephew, Joseph Dolby to his sweetheart, Alisa Lim in Los Altos, CA. There is something wonderful about weddings when there is that certain sparkle in the faces of those to be married and smiles of pride and tears of joy on the faces of the families and friends who share in the blessed celebration of their union. It is a time to reflect upon the past and have hope in a bright future. There are moments that take our breath away - seeing the beautiful bride, the delight of the groom, the pride of the parents, the excitement of the friends and family. This poem was written at another very special wedding, but I share it in celebration of all wedding days and with joy in my heart for Joe and Alisa!

Breathtaking

Breathtaking, breath giving
Life taken, life given
A day of beauty, of new love risen.

A man and woman, two to one
Radiant, triumphant, the day has come
When love hands to love and nothing is lost
Expanded, included, the sign of the cross.

The face of an angel as joy fills the space
Thanksgiving, God’s glory, mercy and grace.
Hearts swelled with pride, days of patience and pain
Have been rewarded by beauty and love once again.

But the beauty is grander and not grasped by sight
And love beyond words, beyond stars, beyond light
Hearts do the talking when mere words fall shy
Heaven known in the moment, spirits soaring, souls cry.

Too much loving, too much giving, unworthy, unjust
Too much goodness, too much kindness, acceptance, trust
Such are the gifts showered down from above
On this day of pure beauty, life and true love.

Breathtaking.

Father's Day Remembrance

Father's Day is Sunday. This is a significant day and a time to honor, celebrate and recognize the important role of our Fathers in our lives. Because Rex is not a Dad, his Dad died many years ago, and my Dad passed away four years ago, it is not a day when Rex and I will do much out of the ordinary. But I do pause, reflect and remember my wonderful Dad, George Magee Cunningham and the strong, positive influence he had on my life. I wrote the following poem shortly before he died. I love you Daddy. I miss you.

A Life Well Lived…beyond goodbye

A life well lived
So full of life, this man, this gift
A story to tell, a life to lift
A twinkle in his eye, a whimsy in his voice
A goodness, a greatness, he lived this life by choice.

A life well loved
So full of love, this man, for his wife
For his daughters, his friends, all touched by his life
Generosity of spirit, of his time, of his heart
A sensitivity, an admiration for achievement and art.

A life well laughed
So full of laughter, this man, full of joy
He delighted in jokes and pranks since a boy
He could tease, he could chuckle, he could tell a great story
He could warm your heart, and give God the glory.

A life well played
So full of play, this man, a zest for living
A fan of sport, endeavor and best-effort giving
Do your best, try your hardest, but enjoy the game
Share the moment, enjoy your teammates, that prize claim.

A life well given
So full of giving, this man, to all around him
To work, to community, for scout’s honor or to swim
Selfless gifts, humble sharing, he lifted others high
Such a blessing to have known him, to have loved him…beyond goodbye.

Sweet Dreams

The Dream that Won’t Let Me Go

The dream
Its promise
Its beauty
The serenity in motion
The brightness and glory
The purity of love and
Devotion
The flight of the dove
The wings of a prayer
The sound of his voice
The wind in his hair
The butterfly kiss
The night’s sky aglow
All that I want and
All that I know

The dream that won’t let me go.

Younger

Some days I feel very old. But most days, thankfully, I feel healthy, active, alert and thriving...until I look in the mirror! The mirror, if I believe the reflection, tells me a different story - one about the effects of sun, gravity, time and travail. My skin no longer reveals the soft smoothness and elasticity of youth. Instead, it is more of a road map with the bumps, rough spots and scars that tell the story of my life's journey. I remember, as a child, holding my mother's hand and examining its pores, veins, freckles and sun spots. As I look at my hands, I am reminded of my mother's. This is not a bad thing. There is wisdom, encouragement, soothing, and love in these hands, in the stories of this life, in the landscape of this soul. So, I can look at my reflection and smile. In that smile and in the sparkle of my eyes, the active, alert and thriving inner me shines out. Yes, the outer shell is covered with the barnacles (as my mom calls them) of my experiences in the sea of this life, but I am deeper, wiser, and more understanding for these experiences.

Younger

Objects in the mirror are
younger than they appear.
The reflection is a bit distorted
a bit dimmed and blurred.
No, it is not a true reflection of
the image, the beauty, the memory,
The heart, the soul, the spirit.
What was once there is still there.
But don’t look too close
at the flaws and blemishes.
They are merely the road map
to the inner adventure.
To the life that was, that is and is yet to be.

Look to the story beyond the reflection
To the wisdom and truth beyond the mirror.

The Desk

A Desk can be a very personal thing. No two people will organize their desk space the same way. The X-brace Desk, below is beautiful in form and in function. The client who purchased this desk has it in a beautiful study as the central, focal point of the room. He has one stack of books on the desk, but otherwise the desktop space is clear to reveal the detailed in-lay and fine finish. Behind his chair is a wall of bookshelves upon which he keeps books, magazines, computer and other necessary items within easy reach. The Desk below is a "Warehouse" or "Stand-Up" Desk. No chair is needed, for this desk is designed to be used standing up. This style is particularly good for the person who does not desire a "desk job" - someone who is active and makes short stops at the desk to write a note, file something or sketch a quick drawing.

This Desk is called a "Ladies Writing Desk" and has simple, clean lines with leather inserts for a softer writing surface.

Most people buy a desk and figure out how to make it work for them. A custom-made desk can be created to your own specifications. The number of drawers, the type of surface, the size, the height can all be determined to meet the client's personal needs, desires and taste. Contact Rex to commission your personal space - your Desk.

Sitting on the Edge

We are in graduation season! This is a time of changes, transitions and new beginnings. Such times are filled with tears as we say good-bye to things past yet also with joy and anticipation as we look to the hope and possibilities before us. We all face transitions throughout our lives. They may initially fill us with fear and anxiety or caution and hesitation. But if we look beyond ourselves and take the risk, we may just find the peace and fulfillment we seek.

SITTING ON THE EDGE

Sitting on the edge of life
I peer in
It looks deep
In fact, so deep I cannot see the bottom
If I slip, I could fall endlessly
But if I stay here, will I miss something
In the illusion of safety?

Sitting on the edge of life
I wonder
Others have been here before me
I have seen their footprints
But here I am in my own shoes
I can learn from others
But I must create my own path.

Sitting on the edge of life
I dive in
Why not?
What do I have to lose
But the illusion of control and safety?
And I find the water warm and welcoming
Soft and silky against my skin
And the depths are stunning
In their beauty and mystery.

Come on in! The water’s fine!