Christina’s work is inspired by the clean, straightforward design of the Bauhaus era and early to mid century modern Scandinavia. The clean, straight lines of a table or bench are often juxtaposed with a funky edge, bright color, or a dynamic diagonal detail.
She combines these modern lines with patterns, textures, and colors that are heavily influenced by the rolling hills, hayfields, and weathered farm buildings all around her. A lot of the textures are created on the bandsaw or with carving tools that are painted with multiple layers of milk paint, and sanded and distressed to reveal the textures below, while the layers of paint add visual depth. She also adds texture by combining other materials with wood, such as rope or leather strapping woven into a seat or back.
Seating
Tables
Decor
Commissions
Barstools for Liz
Liz is a terrific metalsmith and client of mine. She already purchased and commissioned me to make her a few pieces, so when she wanted barstools with a back, I designed them for her. It had been on my mind, so her wanting 4 for her cabin gave me the push I needed to get on it! I built a prototype, she sat and tested it out, and we made some minor modifications, and went into production. They are now part of our line. Thanks for that push, Liz - and your patience!
Cabinets for C+K
These two cabinets were made for Cathy and Katie to celebrate their 25th anniversary. The shells of the cabinet are made from walnut wood whereas the lighter wood is apple wood from a tree that Cathy's father salvaged after a flood in SC some 60+ years ago and had it milled. It had been passed down to Cathy and had been sitting and waiting in their shed for just the right project. So we made drawer fronts and the cabinet backs with it to showcase its beauty and act as a vehicle for remembrance.
The other drawer fronts slats that were textured, painted with several layers of milk paint and distressed to bring out those underlying colors.
Console Table for painter John Pompeo
John approached me at one of the shows we do together and asked if I could make him a console table made from cherry wood that was harvested off his property in Pennsylvania. Of course I said yes! Working with wood that has a story and meaning to people is always fun, and I love it when a waste product can be reused for something beautiful and find a new life in someone's home. The top, and all of the legs are made from the wood from his property. I kept the top with its live edge, then added cherry wood from the lumber yard for the drawers and made little black slats for the fronts and sides and I do think it looks great in his home.
Bench for Danielle and Ben
Danielle and Ben generously spent some of their stimulus money in support of local artisans. They had picked out various elements in my work that spoke to them, and I combined them all in this bench for their entryway. It was such a joy to work with them on this special project for their home.
Wheely Benches for Revalation Vineyards
Revalation Vineyards is a small craft Vineyard in the Hebron Valley of Madison VA. As its seating is mostly outdoors, flexibility is key. We designed and built these wheelbarrow inspired benches using wood harvested from their property.
Montpelier - Mere Distinction of Color
In 2017 I had the great honor and privilege to work on the exhibit "Mere Distinction of Color" at former president James Madison's estate Montpelier. We designed benches and stools that were simple, rustic, yet modern all at the same time. The 14 benches and 12 stools were built from white oak that had grown, prospered, and were cut down on the property. While building these benches I often wondered what these trees had seen: had happened under them, in them, and around them. The repetition of these benches and stools became very rhythmic and methodic which gave me a lot of time to think about the people this exhibit is about. Working on these benches was very humbling, as it made me address and question my own white privilege - I am very thankful that I had the time to wrestle with these uncomfortable questions. It is a beautifully done and very relevant exhibit - I highly recommend anyone to go check it out.
Many Thanks to Jennifer Glass for hiring me for this project and to Chris Thomas for taking the incredible photos
Dental Cabinet - Revamp
This was a very fun and special project to work on for my dear friend and fellow artist David Chatt. He gave me the old dental cabinet, which still had some tools and other parts in it, a few of his amazing collections of things, and he gave me free range of design and execution.
Buckeye
Made for my friend Chris Thomas from a tractor set he found in the woods during one of his photo shoots, and reclaimed heart of pine from some salvaged church pews.
Wine Cellar Table
Built for clients that have a vineyard, this table sits in their private wine-room and is made from air dried walnut harvested off their property, and an old red wine barrel they had laying around. the staves of the barrel were repurposed into shelved for bottles.
Jewelry Box
Made out of wormy chestnut from a barn the client salvaged off his uncle’s property in Maryland, this jewelry box was the graduation gift for his daughter, alongside a custom made pendant.
The Beast
An armoire for a guest room in Arlington, VA - since the house has a rather small stairway, this armoire was built in 4 parts - a base, two cases and crown. Made from poplar, painted with a mirror, hanging rod, 4 upholstered drawers and hardware picked out by client.
Collaborations
Swoop Tables with Johannah Willsey
For our joint show at the Crozet Artist Depot, VA, Johannah and I collaborated on a set of tables. Curly maple and mexican smalti glass, each color building on the previous table as they get taller and smaller, from green, to turquoise, to blue.
Stool 33 with Ellie Richards
Ellie Richards and I collaborated on a set of Stools 33 for the Annual Benefit Auction of the Penland School of Craft. I built the stools and Ellie did her color magic.
Shelves with Phoenix Handcraft
For some clients we met during the Artisan Studio Tour, blacksmith Kyle Lucia and I collaborated and made this couple a set of large wall mounted shelves that had 8 shelves per side. Walnut wood and steel - Great combination
HAAND Coffee Sets
One of my favorite collaborations was designing and making a set of trays for the folks at HAAND in North Carolina.
SARAH LOERTSCHER, SEATTLE, WA
The tangram trivet + puzzle set is made of solid brass, copper, and aluminum, and backed with sturdy cork to leave tabletops scratch-free. Assemble all the pieces to create a trivet or coaster, or deconstruct to enjoy one of the world's oldest puzzles. Each set is housed in a handmade box made of sassafras wood with a letterpress printed guide.
Sarah Loertscher rediscovered this game which was one of her favorite things from her elementary school math class which brought on this wonderful collaboration between us and Jenny Wittlinger, who printed the letterpress guide.
Clara Works
Clara Cline is super talented at lettering and illustrating. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work on some ideas with her. The laser engraving was done by Big Secret, also from Richmond, VA.
Stoney Creek Hospitality Project
When I received the samples for the Stoney Creek Hospitality project, the fabric sample especially stood out to me. They screamed - "do a collaboration with Johannah Willsey from Phoenix Handcraft!" so we did, and integrated her beautiful mosaics in a couple of different ways.
