Mira Nakashima Yarnall walks through the dark storage shed and past a massive wood piece with a small yellow chalk markings in the comer. She pauses for a moment and says softly," Dad wrote that. It means peace."

Mrs. Yarnall continues the Nakashima tradition of woodworking and architecture in the Solebury Township studio compound after her father, George Nakashima died in June. A spry woman, educated at Harvard and Waseda University in Japan, she is now solely responsible for the Nakashima designs. "She's the only person who has replaced my grandfather in any way," her son. Satoru Amagasu explains.

Mrs. Yarnall remembers only one occasion when she felt pressured to follow in her father's footsteps, ~ln ninth grade, I had to write lan essay about what I wanted to be when I grew up. My mother said, 'you will be an interior designer" and practically wrote the essay for me. I think it's the only 'A' in English I ever got."

Before she left for college, Mrs. Yamall did some work with her father but she said they were only "little pieces'" She said she did not develop a real appreciation for his work until she was away at school.

George Nakashima's influence can be felt throughout the Japanese-style studio compound, from his personally designed dwellings and workshops to chalk markings on wood pieces indicating their design.

"Dad built his buildings like he did his woodwork; he had to be on top of it every day," Mrs. Yamell remembered.

Mrs. Yamell is also working to continue the work her father started with the Altar for Peace project.

The project began when he rescued two 50-foot-square pieces of wood from a Philadelphia lumber yard which would have been cut up and used for knifehandles, one of which now can be found in the woodshed with the yellow chalk markings.

Mr. Nakashima was not sure what he was going to do with the wood until he was under anesthesia for an operation. While sleeping, he dreamt that the wood should be used for a Peace Altar. The first altar crafted now sits in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York where weekly ecumenical peace masses are served.

Mrs. Yarnall said they are currently in the process of negotiating" to making another peace altar to send to the Soviet Union. The Nakashima tradition continues not only with Mrs. Yarnall but also with her husband and her children. They can be found throughout the studio compound making wood pieces, finishing furniture or helping to manage the business.

Creating a Nakashima piece of furniture takes years, from the purchase of the lumber to Crafting and finishing it, "We would prefer to get a job done well than to get it done on time," Mr. Amagasu said.

Mr. Nakashima gained international renown for his craft which emphasized the natural beauty of trees. The Nakashima designs emphasize the natural form of the tree, often highlighting the differences in each piece of wood. "Grandpa was always a curious person, throughout his whole life. He always wanted to learn more, understand more and see more," Mr. Amagasu said.

When Mr. Nakashima first began his craft, "We didn't have a lot of money, so we used wood that nobody else wanted," Mrs. Yarnall said. To support the wood in weak areas Mr. Nakashima began puttmghis trademark butterfly in the furniture. Mr. Amagasu said customers will now buy a piece of furniture with a butterfly in it over a piece that does not.

Mr. Nakashima and his family moved to Solebury Township in 1943 after their release from an internment camp for Japanese-Americans in Idaho during World War II.

A table made from wood Mr. Nakashima brought from the camp sits in the Nakashima gallery. Pointing to the table, Mrs. Yarnall said, "When we left the camp, people could only take what they could carry. When we left, my dad brought that wood and my morn brought me."

As Mr. Nakashima's popularity grew, buyers of his furniture began to request that he sign his pieces. He first signed the furniture using india ink only when requested to do so. Eventually he signed all the furniture and used a Mark-a-lot permanent marker.

Now Mrs. Yarnall signs the furniture, signing only the name Nakashima, but still using the permanent marker. [note: She now signs all designs modified from the original as Mira Nakashima.]