Last summer, we took an architecture practicum at the UW together. In our goal to appease our curiosity in design and build, we wound up spending up to 20 hours a day in the studio drafting, building models and rendering elevations. Three months and 8 credits later, we realized the commitment necessary to pursue a masters in architecture, and walked away with a new respect for the lifestyle and a sound association with balsa wood.
Amidst the chaos of 4am to-the-wire-listening-to-UB40-while-gluing-cardboard-and-balsa-wood-for-a-presentation-to-volunteer-grad-students-and-local-architects (eeeeeeeeeee!!) we couldn't shake the OCD high of scoring fine lines with an exact-o-knife and a straight edge. In effect, the mark of a hands-on business was born:
1. We pick out only the finest materials (sheets of balsa wood) at our local Utrecht Art Supply
2. Pick up our breve mezzo americano's at Bauhaus across the street
3. Out of heavy concentration and high metabolism, Phil takes his shirt off and plants himself at our island counter
4. On the gridded cutting mat, each sheet of wood is carefully measured and marked for precision cutting
5. All thirteen 2"x 1.75" cards are laid out and hand-stamped against the grain to prevent ink blots, though sometimes we don't mind their artistic effect
6. We inspect them for readability and fraying edges as they dry
7. I tell Phil to put his shirt back on and we walk to Top Pot Doughnuts down the street for a job well done
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