MontessoRIE Essentials

I commissioned SEVEN new pieces of furniture for my parent-infant class and, boy, was I nervous! The woodworker I’ve been working with for quite a while is getting on in years and it was time to give him a break from my frequent phone calls. He is a retired head of the Chicago Stock Exchange and has a workshop in his basement in Winnetka. This wasn’t a full time gig – just something fun to do on the side and after retirement (that’s how long we’ve been together). But things were taking longer, getting a little clunkier and frankly his heart wasn’t in it any more. Or maybe it was his eyes. I’ll miss him though!

Anyway, enter new master craftsman. I met this guy in my neighborhood and I was impressed with his work. I asked him to do a weaning table and chair to start but I happened to mention some of the things I wanted “someday” and “down the line.” Well, somehow he talked me into doing it all at once (I still don’t know how) and then I got really freaked out. What if they were all terrible and I hated them? How would I get out of this?

No worries! The pieces he did were fabulous. And I gave him so little direction. Honestly, I sent him some videos and told him to “go to second 57 and look at the stair type thing” or I showed him a PLASTIC version of what I wanted in a catalog. I mean these were no clearly designed architectural rendering. But he exceeded all my expectations and I couldn’t be happier! Here are some pictures although the COOLEST PIECE of all he is making a slight adjustment to and will be here next week.

Weaning Table and Chair with metal plate on bottom of each piece replaces a high chair. $250.00 for the set.

Box with Ramp. $80.00

Stairs with Platform. When turned over, can be used as a rocking boat. $800.00

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