WoodGlow Lighting, New London, NH (2026)

07/17/2024

Watch for fake friend requests from Kathy Lowe

Some hacker set up a duplicate account for Kathy, and has sent out friend requests, maybe to everyone on her "real" friends list. But this fake account is just that, the whole account is just empty, yet it has fooled a few people into friending Pretend Kathy.

Bottom line: pay attention to any friend request from Pretend Kathy. We love the real Kathy, not the creepy pretend version.

01/01/2024

2023 WAS A WILD RIDE!
We spent the last 12 months completely reinventing our lives, it was exciting, exhausting, creative non-stop and amazing. Here is the abbreviated telling of the story of last year.

Starting with the biggest news ~ on December 28 2022 (my 70th birthday) excavation began for the foundation of our new home on the shores of Little Lake Sunapee. One year later, we are living in that home. There is still painting to be completed in many rooms, so we are kind of half-in and half-camping out. We had the good fortune of employing Old Hampshire Designs to build our dream house, every single person who worked on this construction has been highly skilled, tuned in to our quirky ideas, easy to communicate with, and just great to be around. As things wind down on the construction front, we are missing seeing our teams of workers on an everyday basis.

NOTE: our new mailing address is:
1965 Little Sunapee Road, New London NH 03257

It is a remarkable experience to empty out a home of 43 years at 26 Otterville Road, we had accumulated vast quantities of “stuff.” Good stuff, stupid stuff, family archive stuff, stuff we kept and stuff we found new homes for and stuff that filled up about 50 cubic yards of dumpsters. And it took an army of volunteer friends to push us over the finish line, all of this would not have been possible without their help. Now we try to unpack 5-10 boxes each day, and figure out brand new ways to organize all of our possessions in the new spaces. Our aging brains and bodies were challenged to the max, and that is a good thing….. and we are so glad the pressure/panic/rush is over.

December 31, 2022 was also the official date of my retirement from woodturning and wood lampshades. It took me until April to finish making the commissioned pieces that had been arranged before that official date, and the last big chandeliers were installed in October, so the final ending of my career took a while to achieve, but I am there now. No more woodworking as a business! It was a truly fulfilling occupation for me for 43 years, and it brings me joy to know that many thousands of my creations enhance the lives and homes of all of my enthusiastic clients. 2200 lampshades…… probably 4000 pencil cups, and many hundreds of hand mirrors, clocks, jewelry boxes, lazy susans, bottle stoppers, tea lights, glass top tables, and countless other creations. Now I am in a new workshop that is about 1/4 the size of my old one, and I will continue to make things for our new home and for fun. The cabinet door and drawer handles in the new home were turned on my lathe.

The Lowe-Bloch family expanded this year with the birth of Tom and Ali’s second child Owen. And our first grandson Peter is three now and so energetic and creative and fun to be around. Being grandparents is just plain grand

With all of the other things going on in 2023, there was less time to be out in nature ~ less kayaking, less mushroom hunting, and a LOT less time flying my drone and making nature movies to share with everyone. The good news on those fronts is that we expect 2024 to be VERY different from 2023. No more woodworking business and no more home building preoccupations. Now we are set up for a much more relaxing lifestyle, a home that can sustain and support us in our last years and decades in this life.

There is so much to be thankful for in our lives, and that includes YOU, our friends and relatives and acquaintances and clients. All of you made it possible to reinvent our lives, and we are forever grateful.

11/17/2023

THE GUILD OF NH WOODWORKERS ANGELS - THANKS!

A week ago, a crew of 15 energetic and generous volunteers from the Guild swooped in and moved the equipment and lumber from my old workshop to my new setup in the new home that we move into a month from now. I am including the letter of gratitude that I sent to the Guild, it is long and detailed...... but I can summarize things to say " WOW, a community performed a miracle that I will never forget." Now.... here is that letter....
****************************
I am struggling to find words that can express my gratitude, relief, and happiness that resulted from the incredibly generous and enthusiastic assistance your team provided on Friday. When we decided to build a new home and workshop, I really had almost no idea of how I would transport the equipment and wood. I more-or-less blocked out the intimidating feelings and thoughts about how it would happen, I suppose I was just trusting the universe to supply the solution. It wasn’t until that week-long run-up to last Friday that it sunk in about what a monumental task it was, and how nearly-impossible it would have been for me to figure it out on my own. Many of those machines are massively heavy and awkward, and the amount of wood I am choosing to keep would have been backbreaking for me to move myself. It doesn’t take much to throw my back out of whack, that is the fundamental reason I have retired from the lampshade business. Your crew was full of energy, strength, and ingenuity. 15 volunteers made short work of a situtation that otherwise would have been nearly impossible.

Along with gratitude, I am also feeling a sense of pride in the Guild. My participation in Guild activities has diminished over the recent years, but along with a dozen other people (like Jon), I was there at the beginning. It would have been inconceivable to me to envision what the Guild has become…. the huge membership, the wide ranging and substantial programming, the communications systems, the support for advancing the skills of so many woodworkers from rank beginners to internationally renowned masters. And a true community has been created, evidenced on Friday by the camaraderie and positive attitude of every one participating on Friday.

I am thrilled that so much of the wood and small tools have foud new homes where good things will continue to happen. And I am happy to report that Jack Grube has offered to inventory what is left and offer it all to the wood shop teachers organization that he started. That is great news. I doubt he will find a new home for the radial arm saw and the balloon/disk sander, so if anyone has a desire to own these items, they are still available. The cyclone dust collector may be available too, I will see what Jack thinks.

On a more personal note, this whole thing of leaving my old workshop is emotionally complicated. I had an orginal workshop in the office-end of our home (the Granite State Woodturners began at a meeting in that space), but I have worked and played in the workshop we emptied out for around 35 years. A career was housed in that space, a career that supported my family and satisfied my desire to create beautiful and functional objects that would brighten the lives and homes of so many people. Every square foot of that room holds memories. After everyone left on Friday and after I had tinkered a bit in the new shop, I stood still in the old shop, looking around and feeling the vibrating energy in the space. It brought me to tears. Not really sad tears, just poignant recollections and the overflowing of gratitude for the career, the comraderie, and the goodness that life has enveloped me in. And I was very much feeling the gratitude for what had happened with the GNHW crew that day. It was a miracle performed by 15 angels. I seriously mean that…. all of you did something so very good, so generous and perfect. I will NEVER forget that day (unless dimentia intervenes, LOL).

Saturday morning I spend time making the first new thing in my new workshop. One of the disks of Camphor Burl has become a matched pair of door handles for the Douglas Fir closet doors just inside the front door of our new home. it felt so good to create in the new space. And I am going to have to figure out where to store stuff and build some muscle memory around where to reach for things. 35 years of habits will be reinterpreted. It won’t be easy to live in a workshop space that is 1/3 of the old workshop, but it is all fine. I really don’t know what or how much I will make, but something interesting will happen.

Life is good, you and your crew are good people. I hope you are all proud of your efforts and our community.

My best wishes to each and every one of the team of angels,
Peter

01/02/2023

POST-RETIREMENT POST #1
*** What is available in my showroom ****

6 weeks ago I formally (and somewhat loudly) announced that I was retiring from woodturning as a business on January 1. It has been a month and a half of amazing, exhausting, creative and fulfilling wonderfulness, the response to the impending end of my WoodGlow lampshade availability has been so far beyond what I could have imagined. My mind and heart are swirling with all sorts of thoughts and emotions about completing this endeavor that has defined so much of my life for the last 40+ years. In the next days and weeks, I may share some of those random conversations I have been having with myself about what this all means to me…, perhaps more than YOU will want to read, so perhaps more important for me to be cogitating about.

For starters, it might be useful for you to see what lamps I still have in my showroom right now. I have sold so many in these busy 6 weeks, but I also have been making new lamps, so the selection is still really wonderful. As these lamps depart for their new homes, I will try to keep these web galleries updated with the changes. There will be no more new lamps added.

AVAILABLE TABLE LAMPS
https://woodglow.smugmug.com/WoodGlow/Available-Table-Lamps/
**** In many cases, lamps and base combinations can be switched around
**** Hopefully you can read the little price thing at the bottom of each table lamp
**** Hovering over the thumbnail images will get a little info text thing to appear that tells you about the shade diameter and the type of wood in the base
**** The three 11” shades that are depicted without bases are the last three shades I made before the new year. They come from one single log, and they represent the three most common shape-families I have worked with over the years – Mushroom, Bell, and Conical profiles – and for me they were a fun way to finish up.

AVAILABLE WALL SCONCES
https://woodglow.smugmug.com/Wood.../Available-Wall-Sconces/
**** Sconces normally come in pairs, I am only showing one half of the pair. If you wish to see a photo of the other half, just ask
**** Prices for a pair of sconces are based on the diameter multiplied by $200/inch.

That’s all, folks! I have a fair amount of previously-commissioned work to complete this winter, and I will gradually sell what is in my showroom.
Thank you for all,
Peter

12/18/2022

LOTS OF NEW LAMPSHADES & BASES
With the clock on my retirement date ticking away (only two weeks to go!) I have been working hard to keep up with demand, and yesterday I re-filled my showroom with a new collection of table lamps, plus one gorgeous floor lamp. The pictures in this web gallery have captions that help with dimensions and species of wood, double click on a thumbnail image to see the bigger view and the caption. These are the new shades and bases, added to another 8 or so table lamps, so lots to choose from.

My showroom is open by appointment today through Tuesday, then again on Saturday and after Christmas. If you want to come by, let's schedule a time. Or I can assist you by email: [email protected].

12/05/2022

3 WEEKS TO GO ~ NOT RETIRED YET!
It has been a wild few weeks, so many people want to own my lamps before I stop making them! And I am still going full steam, making as many as I possibly can before January 1.

Over the last few days I started working on a large collection of new shades. Most of these will be table lamps, and a smaller number for floor lamps. I am also working on the bases to go with these.

Because I am replenishing my showroom almost as fast as I am selling the lamps, I still have a great selection, even including floor lamps that are in-process right now. The floor lamp shades have amazing grain patterns, you can see a hint of that in the second picture.

11/23/2022

GRATITUDE FOR THIS AMAZING CAREER
Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday ~ the number of things I am grateful for is almost incomprehensibly amazing! This being my WoodGlow Lighting page, I will focus here on that part of my life.....

It began as a hobby when I was in grad school, something physical and creative and "down to earth" to balance out that mental gymnastics. Sculptural woodworking became a driving passion that quickly evolved into a career. I scratched out a meager living until the translucent wood lampshades became a part of my repertoire 30 years ago.

Words cannot express the depth of my gratitude for all of the people and organizations who made my career possible, beginning with all of YOU ~ all of the people who have appreciated my work and made it a part of your homes and lives. Best of all, in recent years 75+% of my lampshade buyers have made previous purchases before, that says so much about the meaning and importance that my WoodGlow lamps have in their homes.

And the people and organizations who helped me along the way.... so many they can't be listed. The League of NH Craftsmen certainly is at the top of the list. There is no other organization like this, with the superb craft show at Mt. Sunapee, the network of retail galleries, the educational resources, and the community of fellow craftspeople.

Friends and family have always been there for me, applauding my successes, helping take down my craft show booth, providing feedback, and very often becoming WoodGlow lamp owners themselves.

Thanksgiving is every day, every year, Turkey Day each year is the focal point of of a lifetime of being grateful for so much. I hope I have given back enough to balance the scales.

Again, thanks to every one of YOU for being a part of this amazing career, which is in a crescendo mode until the curtain falls at the end of December. I still have a really great selection of lamps here if you feel like exploring the possiblities for warm illumination in your home.

11/15/2022

6 WEEKS UNTIL "REWIREMENT!"
At the end of December I turn 70 years old, and it is time to stop my career as a woodturner. I have been at this for over 40 years as a full-time profession, 30 years making lampshades. There is so much I could say about this decision, and I will share a few of those thoughts of the next few weeks. And I will tell you more about how grateful I am for all of the support and enthusiasm that all of YOU have shown for my life’s work.

In the meantime, please know that opportunities to own my work are going to come to an end very soon ~ these next few weeks are your last chance. I have an excellent selection of table lamps, sconces and single-shade chandeliers. There is only one floor lamp available now, but I hope to make one or two more before I am done. For the steel-sculpture collaborations I create with David Little (Winnepesaukee Forge), there is still this last opportunity to commission a custom-designed piece for your home. As an example, I attached a photo of a wonderful collaborative piece that Dave and I made for Jack and Mary Bronnenberg.

What exactly does it mean for me to stop? Frankly, that is a good question that I am having trouble answering for myself. The most simple phrasing is “I will no longer be making shades to sell.” After December 31, I may be finishing some commissions, and I will make shades for the new home we are about to start building, perhaps an occasional shade for a relative. but it will not longer be a business, I will not be seeking or accepting new commissions. My showroom-by-appointment will remain open until I sell most of what I have on hand.

Between now and the end of the year, I am making as many shades as I can ~ one last, intense (and sentimental) push to the finish line. For example at this moment I have six shades in my workshop that are nearing completion. I am trying to make a couple of new lamps every week.

And yes, it is very strange to contemplate an end to this occupation and passion that has been a large part of how I define myself. More about that in future postings.

I can be reeached at [email protected]
603-526-6152
website: woodshades.com

Thanks for reading and thanks for your interest in my work!
Peter

09/22/2022

ONE LAST SEASON OF TURNING LAMPSHADES!
As you may know, I plan to retire from making and selling translucent wood lampshades at the end of this year when I turn 70. And for the last few years I have not been woodturning during the summer months.

Yesterday and today, I got back in the workshop and have been working on the first shade of the new/last season of making the shades, a story that began 30 years ago. The resulting lampshade is depicted below, still attached to the lathe.

My showroom is nicely stocked with lamps, mainly table lamps, sconces and chandeliers. And it is not too late to commission something made specifically for you.

08/08/2022

TABLE LAMPS AT THE SUNAPEE FAIR!
This will be the last year I show my work at the League of NH Craftsmen's Annual Fair at Mt. Sunapee. I had a booth there for 35 years, and for the last few years have had pieces only in the exhibition tent called Art, Craft and Design (ACD). My very first year being part of this amazing craft show was in 1983 at the predecessor to ACD (it used to be called "Living With Craft").

This year I have two table lamps in the exhibit, and one won the "Best in Woodturning" award, which is a great way to finish out this long run at the Fair!

The Fair runs from this past Saturday until Sunday August 14. Most days I will try to be at the Fair for at least a couple of hours. If you want to meet up and talk about my work, I will try to be there when you want.... let me know.

After 40 years of being part of the League ~ and the League being a big part of who I am ~ I retire officially at the end of this year when I turn 70. Between now and then, I will try to keep a good selection of lamps available, and there is still time to work on commissioned pieces.

11/04/2021

WOOD LAMPSHADES ~ ONE MORE YEAR BEGINS!
For the last four summers, I have taken a few months off from being in my workshop making lampshades. This week I started things up again, and if all goes well I will put in a good 6 month stint of woodturning. In all liklihood this will be my last year of making lamps ~ but nothing about that is exactly certain yet.

Here are some pictures of the first shade of the 2021-22 season. This shade is for a table lamp, approximately 11" diameter.

03/13/2021

2000 SHADES! And still counting...
Yesterday I was working on the lathe making a lovely large table lamp shade, and began to wonder if THIS one was the one that puts me over the milestone number of 2000. I stopped and looked at my list of all shades, then counted the ones that are partially done in my workshop, and yes... the shade from yesterday was the magic number. When it was all done on the lathe, I stood next to my lathe, both hands on the flat "ways" of the machine, and just took it all in. Such a big number, so many thousands of hours standing in that spot, watching the magic happen. It took 29 years to reach this lofty total, which makes for about 70 per year – more recently it has been more like 50 per year.

At 68 years old, I know that I won't be doing this for much longer. The physical stresses on my body are becoming more troublesome. While I am NOT officially announcing a retirement date, I have a general sense that I will stop making shades in about a year or so. Shade #2000 will be the last big round number I pass!

WoodGlow Lighting

07/17/2024

01/01/2024

11/17/2023

01/02/2023

12/18/2022

12/05/2022

11/23/2022

11/15/2022

09/22/2022

08/08/2022

11/04/2021

03/13/2021

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