About Richard Bissell

Richard Bissell has been designing and building solid hardwood Shaker, Mission & custom furniture in Putney, Vermont since 1982.

Handmade 9 drawer cherry dresser

  I just completed this custom designed and  9 drawer handmade cherry dresser.  This solid cherry dresser features post and panel construction, mortise and tenon joints pinned with walnut pegs, hand-fitted dovetailed drawers with solid white ash drawers sides, back and … Continue reading

Shaker Furniture built with solar power

We recently (December 2012) installed a photo-voltaic power system that will generate enough electricity to completely power my custom furniture making shop.  The 10 kw system consists of two AllSun Trackers made by AllEarth Renewables of Williston, Vermont and 40 PV solar … Continue reading

Dealing with my frustration with the climate change debate

Frighten and frustrated by all you’ve read about what’s going on with the climate and all the arguments going back and forth about it?  I sure am.  I’ve read many books on the science of what’s going on as well … Continue reading

Pencil post night table

I design this cherry pencil post night table at the request of a customer who wanted cherry night tables with legs like the posts of the cherry pencil post bed she purchased from me.  The table would have been simple … Continue reading

Free Shipping

These days it seems almost all online businesses are offering “Free Shipping!”.  I don’t know about you but every time I’ve shipped or mailed something it hasn’t been free. Even mailing a letter costs 44 cents and that’s going up … Continue reading

Shaker bookcase – solid cherry with dovetailed case

This solid cherry Shaker bookcase was built to order for a customer but just as I was getting ready to ship it I discovered that the customer had requested it be 14″ deep.  This one is 12″ deep (the standard … Continue reading

Vermont Cherry Furniture

I spend a fair amount of time searching for nice cherry lumber to use in my furniture.  I also like to use local lumber whenever possible.  This week I spent most of 1 day milling milling some cherry logs from … Continue reading

Shaker Furniture Design

I was recently flipping through a book on Shaker Furniture that I’ve had for many years when I came across a letter written to me by my father. The letter was dated March 19, 1982 and marked a page in … Continue reading

Fixing dents and dings in solid wood furniture

I’ve been working on my wife’s Christmas (2009) present lately trying to get it finished before I have to start on her 2010 present.  There are bits and pieces of it lying around the shop and I work on it … Continue reading