The (Superficial) Namedropping Game - You're Such a Poser!

Namedropping is a common practice in many different fields.  There is no doubt that it can benefit the products sales, designers pocket and ultimately the bottom line. When it comes to a small business however, I personally feel it makes that brand or that company look very desperate for recognition for something that may not be there. Making you look better than you are, sort of.

Name-dropping is defined as –

The studied but seemingly casual mention

 of prominent persons as associates done to impress others - Merriam Webster

Me for example - I do not boast, brag or namedrop.  Regardless of just how "big" the person is. Trust me, living and working the Los Angeles area, I have made beds for small time and big time actors, musicians, comedians, designers and directors all the way up to the "oober goober" award winning celebrities.  I have met each and every one of them. I have been in their homes.  I have made beds for their kids.  I have let their kids help build the bed when we deliver it.  (The kids really like pulling the trigger on the drill). These customers invited me into their homes and guess what, they like to live a normal life and honestly, they REALLY are down to earth.   Ironically - I just tooted my own horn in this paragraph, didn't I. Oops, my bad.

Poser is explained as - 

is one who poses or habitually pretends to be something they are not. 

Maybe it is my own personal code that I have, I am not sure.  Maybe it is because I was raised by a "celebrity of sorts" and understood real fast, those friends that wanted to be my friend for notoriety and those that were real friends.  Trust me, when you are 13 and think you are all that, your world comes crashing down when you realize the only reason you were invited to a party was to please your parents.  This does no do good for the confidence or for your soul at all.   But after salvaging what self respect that I had - I learned and vowed that I wouldn't do the same thing to others - no matter my gain from it.  It's using people. It is wrong and I personally feel it makes you look, simply put, like a pompous ass.

My little don't namedrop policy - has actually gained me more business.  Seriously, I would rather have a customer come to me because I was recommended to them (within their own little circle) than have someone come to me to be able to purchase exactly what so and so has in their bedroom - that's just creepy.  All my customers, when I first talk to them are treated the same - I have no idea who this person is.  Sometimes the emails don't even ring a bell - but when I meet them, each and every customer (oober goober or your local janitor) gets the same handshake and same "it's a pleasure to meet you, where are we bringing your bed?".  It is an unspoken code between my customers and myself - I don't know who they are (and sometimes I do) and they know I won't say anything at all to other people or tag them in on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with pics of the beds. That's just rude and presumptuous - if they want to tag me in to their own tweets and posts, though - I welcome that.  But I will never ask for, or expect it.

What I find entertaining - is that some of my pictures on my website are from the "celebrities" houses.  Like Andy Kaufman, sometimes I am the only one in on a joke.  But hey - I laugh.  Yes that was a namedropping line, but since the late great Mr. Kaufman is supposedly dead, and i was referencing his comedic philosophy - it in no way enhances my beds.  No, I have not met him or sold anything to him.  He is supposedly dead.  That would be creepy if I had and even if I did, I wouldn't tell.

I will say this though - If I ever meet James Hetfield from Metallica or Brian Urlacher, I don't think I would be calm and composed.  All bets are off.  I really think i would revert back to my teen age years and be freakishly excited and scary looking - like my daughter is with her band fav's. (That is a whole other blog post in the making and waiting to be written, "dealing with a teenage girl and her stalking tendencies"). I wouldn't mean to cause them harm, but my big bear hug may be misinterpreted as a tackle.  Urlacher would be ok with that I think, I hope.

What is good for my night stand is good for my heels! - Wait, what?

Making my Paste-wax

The finish you have on your wood furniture is important.  If it wasn't important there wouldn't be codes, protocols and such that all manufacturers have to abide by. With all this being said, many companies go for the quick "good" look over the withstanding time "good" look.

Polyurethane is a favorite among wood workers.  It seals, protects and has a nice sheen.  But it stinks - you need scuba gear to slap it on.  Polycrylic, the water-based version of Polyurethane it is the same thing only it's water-based and easier to clean up if you spill it.  But it still stinks and that stuff stings my eyes when I use it.  But in all fairness - it does put a nice hard-shell protective coat over the wood.  If you can stomach it, I do recommend any of the poly's for your Kitchen table only.  Why?  Because that conference table, judges desk, home-work center, flat top vet office, makeshift butcher block, family epi-center and grocery inventory collection bin is the one piece of furniture in your house that is used more than your toilet.  Think about that.  How many times a day do you wipe your kitchen table down and clean it, scrubbing it if you have little kids.  Yes you want something that can withstand that amount of torture on a daily basis - even then, over time it will have to be stripped and re-coated before the wood is ruined.

Ripped from Getty / Images of babies chewing on cribs Bing Search. 

Now on to other wooden pieces of furniture in your home.  Your bed, end tables, coffee table, nightstands, dressers etc.  Do they receive the same amount of abuse as your kitchen table?  I didn't think so - so why put a known cancer causing chemical on them to protect them.   Granted once all things bad are dry (except lead paint, lead is bad), they are no longer harmful hence the reason why the government has strict protocols on finishes for cribs and toddler beds - those little booger factories, tend to chew on everything.  Yes even the cutest little 15 month old will try and gnaw their way out of the crib.  They are like hamsters - chew, run, chew, eat, sleep.

But the cute little hamsters are not the reason why I use a non-toxic home made wax on my furniture.  I use it for three main reasons -

1. Using it saves my lungs while applying it (on this note it does not stink, so there is no "gassing" out for my customers - it is made of natural ingredients)  
2. Saves the planet just a little - as I am throwing away my wash clothes that have the paste wax on it  (back to the natural ingredients) 
3. It is hypo-allergenic and really does feel just as good if not better than the commercial brands that are riddled with chemicals.   (hypo-allergenic because I can make it out of any oils) 

Cooled down and hardened 

The paste wax I use, is made of your standard cooking oils in different variations, blends and measurements and beeswax.  That's it.  Nothing else.  The process that I use, the oil and wax dries completely and seals in the wood.  The oils are penetrated into the wood, the wax protects the wood and the feel of it - is well, heavenly.  Smooth, buttery, not greasy, shinny (or not so shinny depending on your elbow grease) - I love my paste wax.   I use my paste wax on my heels, my elbows, my lips and my hands - and it works wonders there too.  I  have not and will not cook with it, because frankly the idea of a waxy meal is not my thing.  But I bet it would coat some pretty gnarly food for a Halloween display.

Queen Hugger with my paste wax
for a natural finish. 

Sexy Heels

My paste-wax does withstand the occasional scrubbing, cleaning and spill.  It is even good for those pesky cold sweaty soda can's left on the wood now and then. Like all wood furniture, it has to be cared for - mild soap and water works the best and stay away from other chemicals that add a wax to the cleaning power.  I always recommend diluted Murphy's Oil soap or just a 1:10 ration of baby shampoo or wash and water - damp your rag and wipe down. The best thing about my paste-wax, it's non-toxic, Eco-Friendly, Green, and better for everyone; my customers, their kids and pets, the planet and myself.

paste wax, woodworking, wood finish, stain, pledge, murphys oil soap, how to clean wood, polyurethane, polycrylic, chemicals, green, eco-friendly, non toxic, kids furniture, all natural, concerned moms, allergies, gassing, staining wood, wood sealers, 

I just had to copy and paste this for all of us Mom's - Amazing how +Lisa-Jo Baker can put into words the power of a mom.  From working hard to being gentle and caring to being that "Supermom" we all have in us.  This blog post speaks to me, even though my kids are teenagers.  Not only do I remember holding little hands - I now help and guide my daughters to be the best of who they are.   Enjoy reading and have a tissue or two near by. 

16 JAN 2014

A love letter: To all the tired mamas everywhere

in CHEERING FOR YOU, MOTHERHOOD, ORDINARY GLORY

Here’s the thing, I love you.

I do.

I love how you don’t even have to open your eyes to roll over in bed and open the blanket to that kid who has bad dreams.

I love how you worry about Kindergarten homework and teach yourself calculus all over again to keep up with your teen. I love how you swing babies up onto hips and prop them on check out counters or grocery carts or changing tables in desperately-too-small bathroom stalls.

I love how you balance your bags and that car seat carrier, the extra bottle, someone’s baseball helmet, the picnic blanket and still remember to pack the one lovie no one can live without.

I love how you see magic in passing fire trucks and roll down the windows so everyone can wave at the train crossing.

I love how planning a first visit from the tooth fairy keeps you up at night and involves scraping glitter off old Christmas ornaments or how by tooth number 45 you still manage to finagle some mystery into the quarter that showed up even if it was two days late.

I love how you can keep up a conversation with a friend while simultaneously entertaining two toddlers. How you can pour pretend tea party tea into tiny porcelain cups while pouring out your heart and plans for next year and that farm house you just moved into. I love that you don’t even notice that Winnie the Pooh is singing in the background because you’re so focused on listening to another mama.

I love how you wear macaroni necklaces with the sparkly earrings your husband gave you on your 15th anniversary.

I love how your cubicle at work is decorated with frames made from popsicle sticks and faces grinning out at you alongside the 5 goals your team has committed to this quarter.

I love how your car plays equal selections of The Wiggles and The Beatles and you all know all the words to both.

I love how you know who likes the red bowl and who likes the blue bowl and I love that you care about that difference.

I love how even when you’re so tired that you’ve forgotten your bangs are clipped backwards with a Dora bobby pin, you still pause in the door way to watch them sleep.

I love that you can tell who snores and who snuffles and who will need water at almost midnight exactly every single night.

I love that you know the names of all the super heroes and what each of their super powers is.

I love that you play princess dress up in your wedding dress and a tiny Tinkerbell wand.

I love that you pause to kiss pint-size princes.

I love that you understand how to score an in-home wrestling match and that you aren’t afraid to climb into the thick of it. I love that you’re undefeated.

I love that you make late night ice cream runs and early morning waffles covered in everything unhealthy under the sun.

I love that you say yes and I love even more the strength you have to say, no.

I love that in the back of your closet you’re still holding onto one or two teeny tiny memories that your waist has of a time before you had kids.

I love that today you’re wearing their high school sweat shirt instead.

I love that you laugh. I hope you know you are always still loved when you cry.

I love that you keep getting up to the same routine every day and somehow manage to make it a different memory by each night.

I love that you fold laundry while forgetting to change the Disney channel.

I love that you research questions like “How to get Desitin off the carpet” or “How bats navigate” or “What to feed a baby bird.”

I love that you wake up at night wondering how you could possibly love them more?

I love that you don’t want them to change and that you celebrate each new milestone they arrive at anyway.

I love that you’ve lost the ability to be embarrassed and have embraced the destiny of the unexpected.

I love that you now live in a house instead of a museum, that you have a rating system for the pain of stepping on Legos and still fight the good fight to get them to put the toilet seat down.

I love that you consider mac ‘n cheese a food group.

I love that you will protect these children even from yourself if you have to.

I love that you are undaunted, immovable and unafraid. Even on the days you are terrified.

I love that you give brave a face. I love that compassion aches out of you. I love that you wear empathy along with the lip gloss she applied. I love that you sing off key because they love your voice and that your body is built for the all out, full out, art of the monkey hug.

I love that when you feel empty and desperate and spent, you still take one more step.

Even if it’s just to hide in the bathroom and wait out the riot of emotions in your head.

I love that you let them lick the beaters and the pot and the pan and every last crumb from the counter.

I love that you remember to dance in the rain.

Maybe not every day.

Maybe not today.

But tomorrow. Yes.

Definitely tomorrow.


Lisa-Jo's blog can be found here;  http://lisajobaker.com/  

The Dawn of the Stain

In my line of business I am forever stained.  Stained shirts, shorts or jeans (depending on how cold it is), shoes, face, hair and hands.  I do have a set of clothes that I wear to the shop on a regular basis and trust me when I say that I look like a bum, I really look like a bum.  This is on a good day.  On a bad day however, depending on the stain that I am using - I look like something from a serial killer movie.  Oh how I love working with the Varathane Cabernet stain.  It's red, it's wine'ish, it's perfect to give everyone the wrong idea.  I'm a wood worker, not a serial killer.  Sprinkle on some wood dust, sawdust and it's the instant and perfect Halloween costume.

Of course I wear gloves, most of the time.  I buy them by the box and try to keep up on having them stocked.  But there is always that odd day, when I run out of those hand savers.  So I root through my stock pile of weird things and usually find one, slightly used with no holes and I wear that one and lonely glove on my dominant hand.  Which leaves my left hand exposed to all that is gory and gooey and woodsy and pitchy. Seriously though, have you ever had a pitchy board and that pitch gets on your hand?  It works better than superglue.  Everything and I mean everything sticks to it.

So with pitch and stain on my left hand, I go through the day with one hand stained.  I run errands, go on deliveries, grocery store and usually go to the post office looking like this.  I look like something the cat dragged in.  Really, I do.

But how to get it off your hands - Dawn, a nail brush and some elbow grease.  I am the only person I know that has Dawn in the shower.  It only took one time to realize I needed something with a grip on the bottom of the tub, but I can safely say that I now have good reflexes too, now.  Olive oil, works well too - but a good scrubbing never hurt anyone and Dawn is gentle enough that I am not over doing chemicals on my body.  The olive oil tends to stick around for a little longer than I am happy with.  Dawn rinses away clean, which gives me that squeaky clean (I can hear it) as I am drying up.

Happy & Green Puppies, Cucumbers, Neighbors, Bonsai & Keeping Warm.

With having the shop I always have to be creative and inventive to get rid of my excess sawdust, shavings, scraps & culls and my larger unusable pieces.  This is a problem for any wood worker living and working in a major metro area.  I can no longer just make a pile on my 20 acres and have a huge bonfire, like I used to be able to.  Those were the days or nights - many memories made roasting marsh-mellows, hanging out with family and friends and the occasional dancing under the moonlight.  

Living in Orange County now, I can no longer do this to the scale I used to.  Seriously, my wood piles would be huge!  My neighbors here love me because of all the free wood they get to burn in their own fire pits on the weekends.  So in a sense I am now, helping them make memories. 

I catch my clean shavings.  Meaning, when I plane the wood I aim it at a large bin and bag it.  These fresh shavings, smell great, look great, and absorb like nothing else.  Since it's a clean catch, no staples, screws, dust, stained pieces or anything like that - it is safe to give to the local Animal Shelters and horse stables. They welcome my 10-15 large black yard trash bags a month. So I fill my Ford Expedition and off I go.  I love going to OC Animal Care and I always walk around to see the critters and pups.  Did you know they have livestock there?  Many times I've wanted to take home a chicken or two to have fresh eggs, I am not sure my neighbors would like that though - regardless of how many scraps I give them to burn.  

Speaking of scraps, I offer these for free via posting on Craigslist.  Usually it's on a first come, first serve basis.  I do this at least twice a month and I've met some interesting people.  Usually it's people that burn the wood to keep warm, other crafter's who pick through my scraps for specific pieces and people who re-use the wood for specific reasons other than woodworking.  I met a man who grows Bonsai's and uses the wood as bases for his cute little trees, although his aren't so little.  I also have home gardeners that come and ask for wood for posts and garden beds as well as shavings and sawdust for compost.  But most of all it's usually a family whose only supply of heat is a fireplace.  Those few that I am sure of that are in need - I have their numbers to call first.  Believe it or not, none of these families are so greedy that they take everything, all of them have told me they are ok for a few weeks and call me when they are low.  

I have also designed a few items that i can make with culls (scraps) like the blue chair above, along with a some working pieces that fit any decor.  Those will be placed on my Etsy Shop and will also be offered as prizes for my social media campaigns.  Crafty me, I know. 

So in doing all of this, i have solved my trash issue, helped a few people and animals out and most importantly, I am saving the planet just a little.  So the only trash I have coming out of my shop at the moment is your standard trash that any other business would have and it is still no where near the amount of other businesses within my building.  Recycle, Reuse and Re-invent your scraps and shavings.  

Furniture; Chili Peppers vs Wood

Odd title, isn't it?  There is some relation though.  Both peppers and wood are rated on a scale, meaning the higher up on the ratings the more potent.  Obviously the Scoville_scale is for peppers of all kinds, both delicious and those that are used in combat warfare.  Not sure I would ever want to try something rated over a million for the fun of it - it sounds very painful to be honest.  I'll stick with my love of Jalapenos and all the goodies that go well with it.

Wood however is also on a scale, the Janka_Scale.  Again the higher the score, the harder it is.  It is based on the amount of pressure it takes for a small steel or metal ball to be inserted into the wood.  Pretty scientific, considering shooting a BB gun at wood is never a safe thing (ricochet and all) - so I'll rely on the scale.  It's very interesting to find out which woods are very hard and which woods are very soft.  I bet a few would even surprise you.

The largest misconception is that Pine is soft.  Well technically it is (more on that confusion below).    Most people associate pine as in there is only one pine - that commonly thought of wood is actually called white pine.  White Pine was used as flooring, furniture, paneling and anything else back in the day.  It gained popularity because of it's abundance on the East Coast during the colonial era to modern day.  White pine is pretty much found everywhere in the U.S..  Pretty sure even Florida grows it.  Because it was so widely used in many types of furniture people associate this particular soft pine - as being the only pine available.  Go to your Home Depot or Lowe's and the narrower thinner strips of wood are white wood, aka, white pine.  Put your finger nail on it and press - do you see the indentation?  Horrifying isn't it?  Imagine spending $1,000 on a lovely dining room set from Ashley Furniture and the first time the kids do homework on it - you can see the homework mistakes they make indented into the wood.  Their and they're used in the wrong places are forever ghosted on my table - till i got rid of it.   Therefore - because the market was flooded with white pine, most people automatically think this is the only pine available and used in furniture. 

Maybe you have heard of Soft woods?  Yes pine is considered a soft wood, and trust me the reputation that the white wood has as being actually soft really makes sense as why it's called a soft wood.  I bet you have heard of hard woods?  Oak is a hardwood so is Alder wood.  But do you know the difference between what makes a wood considered hardwood or softwood?  Hardwoods come from trees that have leaves, deciduous - they fall off in autumn, pretty colors and all that glory.  Softwoods come from trees that have needles - both those that fall off and those that stay all winter long - Christmas Trees, majestic trees.

Did you know that some "hardwoods" are actually softer than some "softwoods"?  

Making our solid wood beds, our choice of wood is Fir.  Small simple name from a huge tree that has federal and Eco guidelines and protocols for the lumber industry.  Yes your government is on top of it when it comes to planting, cutting and replanting trees.  Especially when it comes to the most common lumber type in the United States.  Fir is a  +Eco-Friendly  sustainable wood, meaning the lumber industry cuts one section, tills and replants that section with fast growing fir and then moves on to another section a ways away.  Basically every tree that is cut is also replanted.  

Fir is actually a very hard and durable wood compared to some hardwoods.  Look at the Janka Scale. 

It is harder than Alder wood which is currently the favorite wood chosen by the furniture industry.  Most kitchen cabinets are made of Alder wood.  Fir is also harder than Chestnut - which we all know to be a beautiful grained wood and is considered very expensive.  Fir however is not as hard as oak.  Fir is rated a 660 - which considering Maple is at a 700 - um, I'm thinking that's really good since Maple is also a common wood used in furniture. 

Fir however, also has a bad rep for those that are not knowledgeable with in the wood world.  It is commonly used as lumber for construction.  Why not, it's hard, durable, lasts forever and is good against pests and mold.  It's perfect to build your house with - behind those walls of your house are studs made of fir and those studs hold up your roof, which is also made with fir. 

So next time you want to purchase a bunk bed for your kids to sleep on or a bed for yourself, ask what type of solid wood (ply with veneer is a whole other gripe in my +Woodworking Network industry).  Would you rather it be built with the same wood that leaves your kids homework indentations on the surface or something that your house is built with?  Many furniture makers make furniture out of the white pine and white wood because it's cheap, it looks great and can be used in any format.  Those pieces will not last over time - especially on weight and structure bearing beams.  Please be careful when ordering or shopping with your local artisans.  Ask.  Then find out if the structure is made of something else and then faced with white wood - that is a different build all together.  

Here at Backwood Beds we use fir for everything.  That means that I plane down to the sizes that i need.  I don't go and buy a white wood piece because it fits or looks better - I form my fir wood to what I need it to do.  It's hard, sturdy, rigid and very durable.  

So next time you are looking for some salsa or hot sauce - ask yourself just how "hot" is my wood?  (Now that's a funny question, right there!)

Local Crafter's Business Ethics - Not stepping on toes!

My Mondo (designed by me) in a light Tri-Color

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" wrote Charles Caleb Colton back in the 1800's.  Here we are in 2014 and those imitations are being found instantly through social media.  It is not sincere.  It is not flattering and is most sincerely is not a nice thing.  It sucks.  You want to start a trend wearing a certain shade of lipstick or rolling one pant leg up, if you think you started the trend, then yes I understand this little saying. But if you took the time to design a solid wood rustic bed, finalize the details, build it and then launch it on your site to brag to potential clients under the guise of "look what I did".  You give it a fantastic name - the Mondo.  You expect the recognition.  You expect the praise.  You expect the proverbial pat on the back.  You get all of this. You know because of your sales and inquiries of this magnificent bed.  It screams everything that is good in design.  You are so proud of yourself.  Then within a year someone local who is in the same field as you - takes this design and builds it under the label "custom", your world and your sense of designer extraordinaire goes from happy go lucky to I want this person to put her drill through her hand.   

There is not much you can do to them.  Patenting is an expensive way to protect your artistic designs and truth be told is fiscally impossible for a crafter (because in reality we don't make much money).     

A Hamburger is a Hamburger regardless if you buy from McDonalds or Burger King - they are both burgers, right?   So you would think that a bed is a bed, right?  No.  Most local crafter's have a sense of ethics or a code we'll call it.  I am not the only solid wood bed builder in Southern California.  I am not the only designing Mom in Southern California.  I am not the only #momthebuilder in Southern California.  I am not the only female designer woodworker or carpenter in Southern California.  I am not the only platform bed maker in Southern California.  I am however, the only one that designed the Mondo bed.  Apparently now, I am not the only one making it. 

I don't think she got the memo about the ethics or codes. Writing this blog I am wondering if I should mail a copy of it to her, if I could find one.  I, and this is my fault, was under the impression that everyone thought along the same lines like I do. 

Like I mentioned, there are others out there that do the same thing that I do. We advertise the same way (Craigslist - more on the pitfalls of that in another blogpost).  I build solid wood platform beds, they build solid wood platform beds.  What sets us apart - they have their style, I have mine.   I have on at least 3 occasions in the past year being here in Southern California referred my clients to another company because my clients wanted something similar to their box build and did not know the other company even existed.  See my platforms hug the mattress (preventing slippage) and their platforms are the traditional (mattress sits on top of a platform - duh!).  They can easily copy my designs too, but they don't.  I have quite a few different styles of solid wood custom beds, platforms, bunk beds, kids beds, craftsmen & mission, rustic and modern.  I can count on my hand the amount of other companies that do what I do here locally.   None of them have taken any of my designs (down to the seems) and copied them for themselves.  Till now.  

This code is pretty strong within all crafters circles I believe - or at least the ones I know.  Yes you can copy something you've seen online from a box store or pinterest etc.  Half those pictures of furniture and beds are a genius marketing strategy by companies anyway.  Most of them are not hand made or hand crafted - they are CNC cut and put together with directions.  With the proper photographer, even Ikea's beds look great.   

Knowing that I was the one who designed my Mondo, you know that all knowing feeling that you are the one, the special one, the only - yeh it doesn't help the bittersweet taste in my mouth.   Whats worse is there is nothing I can do about it.  I guess i have to sit back and watch her get all the glory on a job well done.   One thing I can count on though - she started up the middle of last year (2013) and I've been doing this since 2010. So I do have experience on my side.  Maybe I should look at it as flattery.  Maybe.  If she credited me with the design or at least my companies name, I would be happy enough.  But she won't because she has her followers convinced these are all her designs, she wouldn't want to let down her followers now, would she?  

What is even more ironic - I don't have too many followers.  Hence the blog - so please start following me,  I beg you.  I don't really network either, maybe I should.  I don't hit the sidewalk telling everyone about my company either and I don't enter contests to gain notoriety, maybe I should do that too.  In fact I don't advertise, except for Craigslist so my marketing costs are zero, zilch, nada, zip, nothing!  But I am busy, I do have a waiting list and the majority of my business is from word of mouth!  That in of itself screams success to me.  Did I mention returning customers?  

My sister was right.  Writing it down did help.  Thanks! 

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