Custom Door Maven

The Honorable Justice Sonia Sotomayor dedicates the The Ralph L Carr Judicial Center in Denver

Anne — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:56:39 +0000

How lucky am I? Very! Thank you very much. I just got to be a part of an incredible historic event in which my Doors and sculptures played a big role. The new Justice Center in Denver was just honored for it’s magnificence and beauty by the amazing Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor. I had the privilege of being there for this 2 day event. And, got to take a photo with Justice Sonia in front of my doors. Swoon! She is the coolest thing around. If any of you get a chance to visit this magnificent building – do it! It truly honors Justice and Glory. I’m proud to be a part of it in any way.

The Grosso Home

Anne — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 23:55:34 +0000

I thought last year was fun. Well, this year is already proving to be exquisite. I’m just finishing up a beautiful Dining Room Table. It’s made of Kauri Wood, from New Zealand, and there is a lot of fun/elegant ebony joinery (butterfly and finger joints) adding to it’s already natural movement. I’ll post a photo when it’s completed. That should be soon. My friend and brilliant blacksmith, David Norrie is creating the bottom for the table. He’s really come up with the prime design to complete this canvas. We should have it in the new home in a couple of weeks. David and I are also doing 2 other tables for these open-minded clients.I’m about to embark on some great Doors to enhance an existing Music Center in the same home. I get to combine my furniture making expertise with my Door making excitement and create a piece that will look like a huge wooden art wall when everything is closed. Great commission! Thank you Greg and Edna. And thank you, Barb Silverman for introducing us. It worked!

Boulder Daily Camera

Anne — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:40:23 +0000

This Boulder Daily Camera article just came out about me. Enjoy.
Read article here.

Many Colorado Doors

Anne — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:52:21 +0000

I installed a beautiful custom door last week in Boulder, Colorado. I love making doors!
AND – the Judicial Doors and Law Library back panels are up in Denver, Colorado! See for yourself.

Yummy Commissions

Anne — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:48:43 +0000

Well, the Judicial Doors and the sculptural back panels for the new Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in Denver are up. Almost, that is. The big 8 1/2 foot Mahogany and bronze doors are installed in the Clerk’s vestibule and the “wooden waterfalls” for the back of the Law Library are there and about to be permanently installed. Nest week! That one is called “Peaceful Resolution”, a perfect name for this sculpture that will calm those who lay their eyes upon it. I love how wood helps to calm the frantic surroundings of today’s world.

This has been the most exciting project for me. Creating for and with Fentress Architects and Mortenson Constuction has been a a joy and has forced me to think outside the box even more than usual. I’ve made it a goal to bring all of my kindergarten skills to this project. “Play well with others” being number one. Whether it’s been the wonderful people that I hired to help me create the doors and panels or Kristine Willie, the project manager for Mortenson, who I’ve worked closely with all along the way, I put my connection with them as a priority. What a difference that has made. I’ve really had fun with them all. I look forward to working with you all again! What a hoot!

The Judicial Center will be open to the public so come on by and enjoy all the fabulous art that they have chosen.

Open Studios Success

Anne — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:59:02 +0000

I get to open my home and studio to the public for the first 2 weekends in October. I always get about 200 excited folks walking through, asking questions, petting wood and ooooooing and ahhhing. I really enjoyed it this year. I met some great new people, giggled with some kids, and got some great new commissions. I just finished the last glue up to a door commission I got during Open Studios. Entrance Door with a smokey window and a beautifully figured wombly. I really like the clients, too. What a bonus that is. Honestly, I usually enjoy my clients. I get to put our connection into the Doors or tables or sculpture. I know it adds to the whole experience for us all.

Annie’s Judicial Doors

Anne — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:00:14 +0000

I am happy to announce that my commission for the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in Denver is completed. I have enjoyed the whole process from the beginning concept to the finishing touches. There was lots to think about during the course of the project. Understatement. To be able to create “liquid wood” from solid Mahogany took my lifetime of woodworking experience. I have 30 years to pull from. Mentors, workshops, daily sawdust making, successes, oopses – they all aided in my quest to create. The Doors and the Sculptural Panels will be installed in a few weeks. The Judicial Center is open to the public, so feel free to go and visit them. You’re welcome to touch them as they touch you.

Opening Doors

Anne — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:16:08 +0000

What an exciting month it’s been. There are two sets of big, gorgeous, Mahogany Doors at the finisher right now. One set is going into the new Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in Denver, Colorado. Mahogany and bronze elegance waiting to enhance everyone’s “court” experience. I’ll let you know when the grand opening is and we can celebrate together. You can get a taste of these doors on this website under Portfolio, then, custom doors, and scroll all the way to the last door on the page. Enjoy.

The other set is for a beautiful residence just north of my home and studio. 8 foot doors with some slivers of rectangular glass to sweeten the architectural entrance. I’ve enjoyed every step in this process from meeting my wonderful clients to creating their dream doors in my shop. I have two part-time assistants who have added even more joy and a handful of giggles to the overall experience.

Right now I’m working on “Peaceful Resolution” - sculptural, wooden waterfall, back panels that will also be installed in the Justice Center (Law Library) in a few months. Great movement, big challenges, exciting roads to new wood art. How lucky am I?

It’s never too late to make a good first impression

Anne — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:17:20 +0000

Scot and I drove Peter’s door to him last week. I think he wins for the worst “before” door. What a differnce a door can make. My new line, “It’s never too late to make a good first impression.”

I’m currently working on a pair of doors for a wonderful family that lives less that 5 miles away. Love the convenience. I’m creating one door at 44″ and the stationary door will be 28″ adding to the sculptural simplicity of the design. The syncopated windows offer a lightness to the composition. The wood has been milled and is ready to cut to length. Then, a symphony of joinery: stainless steel dowels, biscuits, wood dowels, and finally,wood splines for the top and the bottom of the door – never seen when completed, but vital for stability.

In sawdust…

My brother’s door

Anne — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:20:24 +0000

I’m making my brother, Peter, a door for his home in Altadena, CA. Peter did a remarkable thing for me in 2003. I was just told by the city of Boulder that I had to take my new 2 story passive solar shop down. What? I had all the permits, jumped all the right hoops. Apparently, the Federal utility easement that was across the way didn’t show up on the city’s computer and I wasn’t ever supposed to build on that property. Not only did I have to take the shop down, but take the foundation out as well. It was devastating to me. The city has a “immunity clause” so one can’t sue or get any compensation from them. What?! Well, right after it all came down, my brother wrote me a letter with a $5000 dollar check in it and wrote, ” I’m going to want a door someday, but I bet you could use this now.” Wow! What a blessing. And now he’s ready and I get to create a beautiful Mahogany front door for Peter and his wife, Carmen. Ain’t life something!