Ben Jeffares on Philosophy, Craft and Making.

  • Introduction
  • Craft Posts
    • Woodworking
    • Shoemaking
    • Greenwood
    • Chairmaking
    • Tools/implements
    • Glass
    • Spoonmaking
  • Diving
  • Books etc
  • CV

Uncategorized

Misanthropy Uncategorized

Bard summarised my blog.

Okay, so I asked Bard, the Google AI/large language model, to summarise my blog posts, and also reference my LinkedIn profile.  I am suitably amused by the result, and it made a couple of errors, one understandable given the web-site context, one slightly less obvious. The first is my that Read more…

By benjeffares, 2 yearsAugust 23, 2023 ago
Diving Freediving Marine Reserves Photos Uncategorized Underwater Photography

Freediving Poor Knights

Photos from a trip to the Poor Knights Marine reserve with New Zealand freedivers from around the country. As usual, I have tended to get enamoured with light, geology, bodies in space, as well as the organisms. All photos on breath hold.  

By benjeffares, 2 yearsMarch 29, 2023 ago
Craft Greenwood Tools/implements Uncategorized Woodworking

From logs: part three

On treenails, drawknives, and the first experiment with a new tool.

By benjeffares, 6 yearsOctober 11, 2019 ago
Craft Greenwood Tools/implements Uncategorized Woodworking

From logs

Green woodworking part two. As we have cleared around the section, we have taken out some awkward branches, and in one case, a tree; a ribbon wood (I will edit this later with the species). I’ve been using the ribbon wood branches and logs as trials as I learn to Read more…

By benjeffares, 6 yearsOctober 6, 2019 ago
Craft Design etc Shoemaking Uncategorized

Shoe making: Day Five

Today was all about lasting. With some new grips to come to grips with, and some weird interactions with objects, tools, and limbs. And skin.

By benjeffares, 7 yearsJanuary 17, 2018 ago
Craft Design etc Shoemaking Uncategorized

Shoemaking day three: tools

Day three was a continuation of preparing the pieces and components of the shoe, and coming to grips with tools, and for the first time, some machines. Sewing machines mainly. Plus brogueing. To fit together, the pieces of leather need to be cut with allowance for sewing; small extra edges Read more…

By benjeffares, 7 yearsJanuary 13, 2018 ago
Craft Design etc Shoemaking Uncategorized

Shoe making, day one.

So this is all happening because of a chance bit of searching on the basis of finding something old, namely, some boots I had made years ago. These were made by Sue Engels of Something Shoetable, which at the time was based in Upper Cuba street, Wellington. There were various Read more…

By benjeffares, 7 yearsJanuary 10, 2018 ago
Misanthropy Uncategorized

Motivational language.

There are a number of things about motivational language that annoys me. Firstly motivational talk is often meaningless in a practical sense. “Confront your fears” tells me nothing practical. It offers only an emotional imperative. “Do epic shit” is probably the height of nonsensical language that tells me nothing about Read more…

By benjeffares, 8 yearsAugust 24, 2017 ago

Recent Posts

  • My most influential books…
  • From logs, eventually
  • Bard summarised my blog.
  • The Great Chair Adventure: Part 3
  • Freediving Poor Knights
  • Introduction
  • Craft Posts
  • Diving
  • Books etc
  • CV
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