BEHIND THE SCENES // Yoav Liberman Gives American Woodworker An Up Close Look At His 3rd Ward Class

Intro To Woodworking earned the top spot in your Top 15 Classes of 2011, and if you're not one of the lucky people who got to enroll last year, you're probably curious about what goes on in the year's most popular class.

Well clearly you're not the only one: American Woodworker (which is to woodworking as Rolling Stone is to pop culture or Sports Illustrated is to pro sports) recently asked 3rd Ward teacher and world-renowned woodworker Yoav Liberman to provide a behind-the-scenes account of the class for the magazine's blog.

Lieberman did just that in a series of six blog posts, describing in detail how his students crafted their own "Shaker-esque step stools," from the initial concept and individual designs to the cuts, grooves and dados and final assembly.

If you have experience in woodworking, you'll likely pick up some tips and insights from the posts. If you're a newbie thinking about giving it a try, the descriptions will give you an in-depth idea of what the class is like. So put on your figurative safety goggles and step into the virtual woodworking shop with Liberman:

Part 1: Shaker step stool: a project for the new comers into woodworking

Part 2: Measure, cut, glue

Part 3: Grooves and Dados

Part 4: Design

Part 5: Dry-assembly and glue up

Part 6: Completed pieces + screws and plugs

-- John Ruscher

NEW MEMBER PROFILE // Photographer Jonavennci Divad Follows his "Artistic Eye"

Many who've studied to become professional photographers may recognize a common sentiment amongst college advisers: Being a graphic designer is a safer, more lucrative career path than becoming a photographer.

New 3rd Ward member Jonavennci Divad began as the former. Though while on a design job, he experienced a shift: "I was motivated to purchase a DSLR camera to photograph my clients for their custom MySpace page designs," he tells us. "After recieving a great amount of commentary from clients on my photography it became an eye opener for me that I had an artistic eye for creating art through photographs. It wasn't till a year later that I knew I wanted to pursue photography as my career."

In what may be a college adviser-approved route, Divad has merged his newfound eye with his original design education and is now a "self-taught retoucher" with a sizable celebrity portfolio.

Fabolous for Rich YungIn recent years, Divad has shot hip-hop artists (Fabolous), major athletes (L.A. Laker Matt Barnes and Giant Devin Thomas) and reality stars (Gloria and Laura Govan of Basketball Wives ). In addition to beauty shots for Ford models and editorials for Essence, he's learned how to play nice with the occasional celebrity ego: "Some like to play the name-dropping game in defense of an opinion on how the styling, the make up, or even the hair looks. But this is nothing that anyone should let affect their workflow."

A Divad beauty shotAnd forever intent on not letting anyone interrupt that workflow, Divad's keeping his sights aimed high. "My dream assignment would be to shoot a campaign posted on a billboard in Times Square," he says. "I would also love to shoot for Cover Girl; I just love the way their campaigns bring out the beauty in celebrities."

Keep an eye out for this hardworking Brooklynite.

--Layla Schlack

YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: James Russell Miller

Self-control is self-mastery. It is kingship over all life. At the center of your being sits yourself. Your seat ought to be a throne. If you are not in control, if there are any forces in your nature that are unruly, that do not acknowledge your sway, you are not the king you should be. Part of your kingdom is in insurrection. The strength of your life is divided. The strong man is he whose whole being is subject to him.

COUNTDOWN // Your Top 15 Classes of 2011 (And a guide to 2012's)

 

As we said goodbye to 2011 back in December we presented you with your Top 15 Favorite Blog Posts of the year. Now we're taking another look back (and forward, since there are lots of good New Year's resolution ideas below)--this time at your favorite 3rd Ward classes.

Presented here are the 15 classes that you loved the most in 2011-- the ones which taught you how to craft your own end table, wield a plasma torch, build circuits, code your own website in valid HTML/CSS and countless other amazing skills. We can't wait to bring you these classes again this year, along with many more that could very well become your favorites of 2012.

Hit the jump to check out 2011's top classes, and start 2012 off right by signing up for one today.

[#15]

Basic Bicycle Mechanics

What you learned: How to patch an inner tube, how to adjust limit screws on your derailleur, clean and lube a chain and fine tune almost every part of your bicycle.

Click for more information >>>

[#14]

Intro to Circuits & Electronics

What you learned: Ohm's Law, how to use a multimeter, how resistance effects voltage, the classic 555 timer and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 22, February 8

Click for more information >>>

[#13]

Welding Techniques for Sculpture & Furniture

What you learned: The history of metal sculpture, how to use the metal shops many tools, how to order metal, how to bend and cut rod and sheet and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 11, February 12

Click for more information >>>

[#12]

Intro to Digital Photography

What you learned: Keys to composition, the basics of photography and how they apply in the digital world, f-stop and shutter speed, the basics of Photoshop and Lightroom and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 17

Click for more information >>>

[#11]

Night Welding: Intro to the Metal Shop

What you learned: How to use all of the tools in the metal shop (MIG welding, plasma torch, drill press, band saw and more) and feel like more of a bad ass.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 9, January 24, February 2, February 20

Click for more information >>>

[#10]

Intro to Web Design // HTML/CSS

What you learned: How to write valid HTML/CSS, test pages in different browsers, edit images in Photoshop for the web and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 7, January 9 and February 13

Click for more information >>>

[#9]

Intro to Drawing

What you learned: How to close the synapse between the hand and eye, understand the crucial subjects of the human body and interact with the world through drawing.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 16

Click for more information >>>

[#8]

DIY Printmaking

What you learned: EZcuting, Linocutting, Monotyping using plexi, photocopy transfer processes and more.

Click for more information >>>

[#7]

Lost Wax Casting

What you learned: How to cast found objects, wax carving and the fine art of lost wax casting, including sprucing your model, investing it in a flask, burning out the wax and casting it in metal.

Upcoming sessions begin on: February 6, February 16

Click for more information >>>

[#6]

Sewing: Level I

What you learned: How a sewing machine works, how to lay out and cut from a pattern and how to make a unisex bag, zippered pouch or apron.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 7, January 9, January 16, February 1

Click for more information >>>

[#5]

Photoshop Intensive

What you learned: How to perform digital miracles on your photographs, the ins and outs of Photoshop, the difference between raster and vector graphics and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 23, February 5

Click for more information >>>

[#4]

Introduction to Upholstery

What you learned: How to upholster for furniture and sculpture, upholstery methods for both re-upholstering and constructing pieces from scratch, selecting, stretching and tacking fabric and many other valuable tricks of the trade.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 7, January 10, February 2, February 5

Click for more information >>>

[#3]

Screen Printing Intensive

What you learned: How to produce an unlimited number of prints on practically any surface, all of the steps in the screen printing process, from design conception to finished product.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 10, January 13, January 28

Click for more information >>>

[#2]

Intro to Jewelry: Silversmithing

What you learned: How to make cut, file, sand and prepare sheet metal, how to solder with an oxy-acetylene torch, the ints and outs of smithing with hammers and anvils, how to make a simple pendant, ring, belt buckle, cuff bracelet or pair of earrings.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 9, January 22, February 8, February 12, February 20

Click for more information >>>

[#1]

Intro to Woodworking

What you learned: How to use nearly all of the woodworking power and hand tools in the shop and how to construct an end table and a mallet or small book platform.

Click for more information >>>

-- John Ruscher

SCULPTURE SCIENCE // 3D Print In Flight

Thinking of how best to conceptualize yourself a mindblowingly complex flying apparatus this year? Or maybe just on the prowl for something visually stunning to help get your inner-designer in gear? We believe we've found your answer--and it comes in the form of collaborative artists, Heather & Ivan Morison's floating 3D sculpture deemed Little Shining Man.

Unreal-looking in the literal sense, Little Shining Man is comprised of 1,700 3D printed connectors, cuben fiber aerospace fabric and carbon fiber rods (their words, not just our astute observation.)

According to the Morisons:

The design of the structure is based around the tetra kites of Alexander Graham Bell, multiplied out into colliding cubes that take their form from the cubic formations of the mineral Pyrite. A double wing module has been duplicated and arranged into a tight cellular structural arrangement that appears as a heavy, un-flyable mass. Utilising lightweight materials and the symmetry of the module and composition, it is able to fly freely and steadily.

Now take 3 minutes and watch an ethereal, completely inspiring document on the sculpture's evolution from fruition to flight:

Of course, if you think you can rival that (and we think you can) take a quick look at our design and sculpture classes and get your ideas off the ground.

YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: Nicolas Chamfort

Contemplation often makes life miserable. We should act more, think less and stop watching ourselves live.

WATCH THIS NOW // How To Fit Four Full-Sized Rooms Into A Small Studio Apartment

New York wouldn't be New York without its bountiful supply of exceptionally small apartments, but we prefer to think of these pocked-sized pads as creative opportunities rather than style crampers.

Your own place probably isn't as "cozy" as this one or this one, but if you're feeling like there might not be enough room for all of those great gifts that you've received this holiday season, this video might give you some ideas for better utilizing your little slice of the Big Apple.

In the clip faircompanies, a cool website devoted to sustainable and simple living, takes a tour of the Manhattan studio of third grade teacher Eric Schneider, who enlisted architects Michael Chen and Kari Anderson of Normal Projects to turn his place into something more than just a 450-square-foot box with a tiny kitchen in the corner. They did just that, packing the features of four full-sized rooms into the space with an ingenious design that overlaps, slides and folds. Behold, the Origami Apartment!

-- John Ruscher

CALLING ALL RESTAURATEURS // We're Accepting Restaurant Proposals for 3rd Ward Philadelphia

Do you know someone who might want to open a restaurant in Philly? If so, send them our way this week.

3rd Ward's new location in the City of Brotherly Love's Northern Liberties/Old Kensington neighborhood, which is scheduled to open this summer, will feature a restaurant, and that fine establishment could be yours. Just imagine: your very own restaurant, with over 2,000 square feet of interior space, 1,000 more for potential outdoor seating, and shared event space. And you'll also have the rare opportunity to open, grow and thrive alongside 3rd Ward's vibrant creative community. Members work up quite an appetite while pursuing their many amazing endeavors, and its usually hard to pry them away from their projects and passions, so there'll surely be plenty of appetites to satiate.

We need letters of intent for all proposals by this Friday, January 6, and final proposals are due on February 3. We're excited to hear about your dream restaurant. Let's build this together.

And, for some additional inspiration, hit the jump to check out behind-the-scenes images of 3rd Ward Philadelphia as it begins to take shape.

The second floor after being sandblasted.

Evaluating the third floor ceiling medallion, a masterpiece and icon-in-the-making, for restoration

Newly excavated elevator pit for brand-new building elevator.

Wall demolition and putting up steel for the shop.

Welding steel beams on top of the shop to create new structural support for green roof.

Welding more steel beams for the shop.

-- John Ruscher

YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: Edward Albee

Sometimes it's necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly.

DRINK-N-DRAW SPOTLIGHT // Model’s Choice Award

Every week at Drink-n-Draw, all eyes go on the model. But now the models will look back at YOU!

For a limited time, the model will pick the best portrait of him or herself at the end of the night. The winner will get a feature on the blog and a Pink Flamingo Lawn Ornament from our Store. The winning portrait could be a painting, drawing, paper cutout, whatever! It’s Model’s Choice.

Our first winner created this lovely and spare watercolor on brown craft paper. We love the sure and expressive strokes. Congratulations to the winner and hope you enjoy your flamingo.

(Want to up your watercolor game? Sign up for our winter Watercolor class here.)