Norwegian Wood

Our friend (and Melissa's shopmate) Ashley has started a blog about her "woodworker's tour" of Norway. She wants to learn about Nordic woodworking traditions (especially boats and sleds) and possibly incorporate them into her own work.

Ashley makes some pretty neat wood art. The Mammals are her best-known work, but I've liked lots of her pieces when I've seen them at the shop.

Miguel Berrocal, Dead at 73

Any mechanical puzzle collector knows the name Berrocal: His beautiful (if not very difficult) interlocking sculptures sit in all of our dream cabinets, but few of us can afford even one piece. The sculptor passed away at the age of 73 (see this translated obituary).