In November 2012 Dudebarn1, Jake Gascoyne and I headed to Vancouver, in Dudebarn’s fuel efficient car, to see the #prettysweet screening. What my friends didn’t realise is that we were also going there to work. The 2nd and final round of Folk Custom Skateboards produced Predatory Bird-in-Hand-crafted decks were in need of a love injection. Fate had dictated that I was the only one with the appropriate syringe.
MARQUETRY (mar·que·try)
Noun:
Inlaid work made from small pieces of variously colored wood or other materials.
We needed to check each cut for imperfections that require sanding with some 220 grit.
Some need to be finished by hand. Carefully working through score by score with a craft knife gets the job done.
The positive space of 800 little wooden letters. Very rad.
150 pieces of wooden beak.
200 golden fingers to keep the bird in its place.
The negative space is where it gets really fiddly. You should make sure your fingers are as cold as possible for this job.
Child labour.
Nimble fingers for fiddly finger work.
Piecing the pieces, piece by piece.
Carefully stacking the assembled veneers trying not to shoogle them.
Neighbourly conduct.
“Okay,the alignment is critical at this stage, confidence is key!”
Perhaps the laying on of hands will help.
“Gingerly now. Ma fingers are in here. GINGERLY!!!”
SEND IN THE ELEPHANTS!!! PRESSURE!!! PRESSURE!!!
The last of it’s breed. Available to buy now here —> in The Shop.
If you enjoyed checking this out and you know of some friends out there you think might also enjoy the process or be interested in a deck then please share this post around by tweeting the link, posting as a status, blogging or whatever you like. All help spreading the word around appreciated. If you tag me I’ll do my best to at least say thanks. The short production video showing the original run of decks being constructed can be seen here. Many thanks and best of luck out there.