Dovetail Joinery: Everything You Need to Know

October 22, 2020October 22, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Dovetail joinery technique shown on cherry dresser drawer front

Dovetail joints have long been a symbol in woodworking for high quality craftsmanship. Their appearance on a drawer box usually indicates that the furniture is built to last for many years. And while traditional dovetails are fairly easy to recognize, many people might not know that there are actually many different types of dovetail joinery techniques.

In this article, we’ll explain the four most common types of dovetail joints, and also explain the different between English dovetails and French dovetails.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Vermont Woods Studios Wins Top Eco Score

October 15, 2020October 17, 2020 Peggy Farabaugh

Last updated on October 17th, 2020 at 09:58 am

Wood Furniture Scorecard, Top Score Award

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Lyndon Furniture: Reviews & Testimonials

September 2, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

American Mission Dining Collection by Lyndon Furniture — Our American Mission dining collection by Lyndon Furniture

Lyndon Furniture is one of the most prolific furniture manufacturers in the state of Vermont. Founded by Dave Allard in 1976, Lyndon employs over 100 craftspeople in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Known for their classic designs and quality craftsmanship, Lyndon’s best-selling collections include the Classic Shaker Collection, Brighton Collection, American Mission, Vermont Modern, and Andrews Collection, among others (Note: We have re-named some of Lyndon’s collections to better reflect the designs).

Here’s what some of our customers are saying about the workmanship and quality of furniture coming out of the Lyndon Furniture workshop:

“We are thrilled with style, workmanship and function.” – Drew F, Kentucky
“We love it.” – Charles & Jessica S, Connecticut
“We love the chairs, they are just what we wanted.” – E&J
“The tables are amazing and we will be back!” – Paul B, Ohio

Read more about Lyndon Furniture or shop the entire catalog of Lyndon Furniture online.

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Why is My Furniture Taking So Long? Is It Covid-19?

August 21, 2020September 2, 2020 Peggy Farabaugh

Last updated on September 2nd, 2020 at 04:15 pm

Dining Furniture | Lead Time for Crafting — Yes, the short answer is: Covid-19 has made it’s mark on the furniture industry as well as nearly all industries. But we are working around the clock to minimize that effect on you. Read more below.

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Maple Corner Woodworks: Testimonials & Reviews

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Vermont Shaker Bedroom Set by Maple Corner Woodworks

Maple Corner Woodworks, located in Calais, Vermont, creates some of the finest wood furniture made anywhere in the world. Lead by visionary craftsman Robin Chase, Maple Corner produces some of our most sought after designs. Best-selling collections by Maple Corner Woodworks include the Vermont Shaker collection, American Shaker, Cherry Moon, and Andover Modern.

Here’s what some of our customers are saying about the workmanship and quality of furniture coming out of the Maple Corner Woodworks team:

“I see Robin’s furniture as a reflection of his own demeanor: elegant, refined and genuine. He’s a master at combining authentic Shaker sensibilities with modern, contemporary design.” -Peggy Farabaugh, Founder @ Vermont Woods Studios
“Beautiful and fantastically crafted furniture. The furniture is just a delight to be around.” – Customer from Menlo Park, CA
“[Their furniture] is truly a work of art. This is a gorgeous piece of furniture, impeccably finished and about as high a quality as I’ve ever seen.” – Customer from Alexandria, VA
“We love [their] craftsmanship. Each piece is a work of art.” – Customer from Shaftsbury, VT
“This exceeds anything we ever dreamed of! Every piece is just spectacular.” – Customer from Maryland
“It’s quite simply beautiful, and exactly what I needed. It is so exquisitely crafted- I keep opening and closing the drawer, amazed at how smooth it is, and stroking the grain! It is the first piece of ‘real’ furniture I’ve ever bought for myself. There’ s a palpable difference sitting at a desk made from living wood as opposed to all the fake industrial substances out there.” – Customer from Chicago, IL

Read more about Maple Corner Woodworks or shop the entire catalog online.

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16 Ways to Help #SaveTheMonarchs

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 Marina McCoy

As you might have already heard, our founder Peggy is a big advocate for forest and species conservation. In 2005, after struggling to raise money for her non-profit Kids Saving the Planet, she decided to start a company driven by a mission to save endangered species by conserving their habitats. Lo and behold, the birth of Vermont Woods Studios!

One day, Peggy read about Jose Luis Alvarez and the work he was doing through Forests for Monarchs. After reading about his work, Peggy decided to reach out since they had aligned values in forest conservation and restoring the monarch butterfly. Since Vermont Woods Studios is a mission driven company, Peggy felt a partnership with Jose and Forests For Monarchs (FFM) would amplify the message and work around the importance of conserving the monarchs. Years later, we are still putting in the hard work with Jose and his team to Save The Monarchs.

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George Nakashima: Everything You Need to Know

August 7, 2020August 7, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Modern American Bedroom Furniture Collection inspired by George Nakashima — Our Modern American Collection features natural cherry wood with walnut accents and was inspired by the work of George Nakashima.

George Nakashima (1905-1990) was an architect, designer, and woodworker that was a driving force behind 20th-century furniture innovation. The aesthetic of his furniture can be described as a unique mix of European Modernism with Japanese woodwork. Elements woven through his body of work can also be attributed to the influence of his love of nature, formal education in architecture, and his time spent in India.

Nakashima practiced during the mid-20th century, but his work was a divergence from most of the other designers of that period. Whereas many designers during the time looked to incorporate new materials like metal, plastic, plywood, and glass into their designs, Nakashima preferred to work with solid, natural wood. No doubt his relationship with Antonin Raymond, a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright (the father of “Organic Architecture”), influenced this propensity.

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25 Facts About Climate Change & Deforestation

July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 Riley Farabaugh 1 Comment

This Global Forest Watch interactive map shows tree cover loss since the year 2000. Areas in pink are those suffering the worst rates of deforestation. They are the areas where timber is being illegally harvested and used to make imported furniture.

At Vermont Woods Studios, we certainly have a passion and appreciation for high quality craftsmanship and woodworking, but, the truth is, Peggy founded this business out of a passion for forest conservation.

It was this one astounding statistic that really lit a fire under her in 2005:

Every second, an acre of rainforest is lost forever

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5 of the Most Well Known American Furniture Designers

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Vermont Woods Studios was founded on two core principles- a desire to protect the world’s forests and a reverence for high quality craftsmanship.

Over the years, we’ve added a handful of Vermont craftsmen to our offerings, all of whom design furniture and decor that is beautiful, high quality, and uniquely their own. However, it’s hard to ignore the influence that some of America’s most prolific designers have had on the furniture designs produced today.

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants” -Isaac Newton

Here are some of the most renowned American furniture designers of all time, which continue to inspire craftsman all over the world today:

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Green Team Profile: Brian Doherty

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Brian joined us in early 2020 in our operations department, and he has his hands on sales, customer service, logistics and more. He grew up in Ireland and spent several years in customer service before coming to us. He played a key role in helping to facilitate our transition from the office to working from home when the pandemic hit. His experience with video marketing and YouTube is also helping us to improve our presence on that platform.

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