It’s been a blur since the Kickstarter campaign ended. Here’s what’s been happening:

• I’ve posted supporter acknowledgements from the surveys I’ve received so far. If you haven’t answered your survey yet, please send it in. Also, if you move, please let me know so that I can update your address to get your reward to you!

• I just finished up a portable workbench build based on a design highlighted by Chris Schwarz – the Moravian Workbench. The first and last images show the original.

• Our woodworking club just completed its first ever seminar, hence the need for the aforementioned workbench. Karen Wilson, and Donna Hill, both contemporaries from the Marc Adams School, joined us for the event.

• I’ve ordered, and received more parts for a mini-chevalet I’m building based on Don Williams’ design. This will be helpful when it comes time to cut the marquetry. More on this later…

• Finally, on the topic of the Oeben, I’ve been working on drawings, and dimensioning pictures to create the mechanisms (in between all of these other activities!). Since mid-February, I’ve been talking with David Lindow (David Lindow Clockmaker) about taking on this task.

This project took a major step forward with the commencement of the Kickstarter campaign!

So, what is Kickstarter?

Kickstarter is a crowd-funding platform. What does that mean? Well, rather than get a bank loan, or seek venture capital, crowd-funding pairs makers directly with backers. Individual backers pledge as much as they wish, and are free to interact directly with the maker. Backers can also choose from a variety of rewards posted by the makers. These items are usually part of the process being backed.

How Kickstarter operates.

When creating a project, makers decide on an appropriate budget, and duration. Once launched, backers are free to pledge. However, the project must at least reach the goal within the stated time period, otherwise no one is charged.

Present status?

After just about one week, I’m happy to report that things are proceeding better than I had anticipated! The Oeben Table project is 34% funded. I’ve also been contacted with an offer of material support from a well known woodworking store. But there’s always room for one more backer! If you haven’t already, please go to this page, and support the project. Even if you can’t contribute now, please help by forwarding this link to your friends and family, anyone whom you think might appreciate/be intrigued by/become enamored with it. Then check this site for updates as the project progresses.