A long bloom
Mt Fuji

A long bloom

I feel lucky to return to Mount Fuji Wood Culture Society, to study with Tak Yoshino. This trip—my third in a year—also coincides with the arrival of sakura blossoms.
Brian Lam

An experiment about craft, nice things, and fixing up old homes

A long bloom
Mt Fuji

A long bloom

I feel lucky to return to Mount Fuji Wood Culture Society, to study with Tak Yoshino. This trip—my third in a year—also coincides with the arrival of sakura blossoms.
Brian Lam
Odds and Ends (and a 2-Micron Shaving)

Odds and Ends (and a 2-Micron Shaving)

Just a few small projects. And a 2-micron shaving at the Kezurokai planing contest by Andrew Ren.
Brian Lam
Zen and Carpentry -- Finish
zen

Zen and Carpentry -- Finish

Finishing the frame.
Brian Lam
Zen and Japanese Carpentry - Begins
Woodworking

Zen and Japanese Carpentry - Begins

Teachers, priests, monks, and students gathered at the temple on a Sunday afternoon, in the back of a valley.
Brian Lam
Zen and Woodworking: Final Preparations
Craft

Zen and Woodworking: Final Preparations

A flurry of milling, layout, and tool preparation before the class
Brian Lam
Somakosha in the New York Times
zen

Somakosha in the New York Times

I had the opportunity to interview Jon Stollenmeyer of Somakosha about his path becoming a carpenter in Japan for the New York Times about his start at Nakamura Sotoji Komuten and most recently at Somakosha with Kohei Yamamoto. The interview was about 4 hours formally, and about 7 days, informally
Brian Lam
A Dozen Sawhorses
Woodworking

A Dozen Sawhorses

The wood for the frame had showed up. But before I could get to milling it up, I needed to build some sawhorses.
Brian Lam
Japanese Woodworking and Carpentry Classes (This year)
Woodworking

Japanese Woodworking and Carpentry Classes (This year)

Most 2025 class schedules for my favorite woodworking teachers are online.
Brian Lam
Quarter-Ton Dog Step
Woodworking

Quarter-Ton Dog Step

Gathering materials, off island and on; A dog step bench meant to support a quarter ton.
Brian Lam
A Table for Liljestrand House
liljestrand

A Table for Liljestrand House

Replicating a historic table made from framing lumber and nails (but with joinery)
Brian Lam
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