Sunday, December 30, 2012

Forest Fire

 


 
 
Oak hollow form
with double opening
 
Torch finish
 
12 inch diameter
 
9 inches high
 
Double click to enlarge photos for more detail
 
 
 

Custom Made Pizza Cutter

Wood Handle:
African Padauk 
 
Scientific Name:
Pterocarpus soyauxii
 
Distribution:
Central and tropical west Africa
 
Tree Size:
100-130 ft.
 
 
Handle was made extra long to use two hands.
 
Design is for those who have strength problems
with their hands and/or wrists.
 

 
Ruler added to help visualize actual size.

 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas Ornament 2012

double click for detail


Holly hollow form

Pierced and air brushed/painted

Base paint is Wicked Colors Crimson
with a very light top coat of Interference purple
(gives it a subtle glistening quality in sunlight)

The small finial inside is ebony.

Gifted to our daughter in law

H 5”
Dia max 2 ¼”




Tuesday, December 18, 2012

MSWG Holiday Gathering 2012

Double click for more detail


held their annual holiday gathering last weekend.

Good conversation, good food, and great artwork.


* * *


I participated in the "gift swap."
(bring a wrapped turned item /  get a wrapped turned item)

The wrapped gift I chose from the table
was made by Keith Burns.


(shown above on the left)


* * *

Then came the auction to raise funds for the guild.

I bid on and won two pieces --


The ornament was made by our guild president, Skip Wilbur,
and features a Celtic cross made of Purple Heart.

(shown above, center)


The carved vessel was made by Dennis Paullus
using a fabulous piece of maple.

(shown above on the right)



Saturday, December 15, 2012

Persimmon - Post 3 of 3

 
These candle holders (3.5" to 6" in height)
were made by chainsawing the Persimmon logs 
into sections roughly 20" long by
half the original 12" diameter of the log. 
 
 
 
 
Using a bandsaw,
the short sections were rough cut into blanks. 
 
The blanks were prepared for drying
and air dried for four months.  
 
 
 
 
The candle holders each received one coat of gloss urethane resin finish
followed by six coats of wipe-on satin urethane resin finish.
 
 
 
 
Frosted glass votive holders shown here using tea light candles.
 
 

Persimmon - Post 2 of 3


 
 
Persimmon Bowl No. 1
 
8.25" diameter x 4" tall
 


 
 
Persimmon Bowl No. 2
 
9" diameter x 3.5" tall


 
 
Persimmon Bowl No. 3
 
9" diameter x 3.25" tall
Each bowl received one coat of gloss urethane resin finish
followed by five coats of wipe-on satin urethane resin finish.
 

 
 
I also made four unique persimmon bottle stoppers.
 
Finished using a special Walnut oil 
considered the premium oil finish for wood
 and not typically used on bottle stoppers
because of high cost, both in product and time. 
 
Brass thread inserts allow
for removal and washing of
the stainless steel stopper. 
 
(please see next post for additional persimmon pieces)

Persimmon - Post 1 of 3

 
 
July 2012
 
Logs from a recently-cut Persimmon tree that died of old age.
(estimated at just over 100 year old) 
 
These were given to me by a local attorney
as a commission / challenge:
 
"Maybe you can make some candlesticks
or something else functional."
 
(The tree came from his grandparents' farm,
which has now been restored as his family's country house.)
 
The logs were cut with a chainsaw into short sections
roughly 12 inches long and half of the original 12" diameter. 
 
Using a bandsaw, the short sections
were then rough cut into round blanks. 
 
The rough round blanks were
turned on the lathe into bowl blanks.
 
  The turned bowl blanks were treated for bugs,
then prepared for drying.
 
The air drying process took 4 months. 
 
It should be noted that Persimmon is a very challenging wood
to work with because of its tendency to crack during the drying process. 
 
For this reason, bowls made of Persimmon are uncommon. 


 
 
December 2012
 
(see next post for more about these pieces)

 
 
 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

French Rolling Pins

 
 
 
Made from Goncalo Alves
 
20" long
 
Finish - Walnut Oil
 
Thank you Dennis Paullus
for showing me this wonderful design.
 
 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Sold!


Sweet Gum (also known as Black Gum)

Hand-carved flutes



6" height x 15" diameter

Milk paint finish


Sunday, September 30, 2012

Endurance



19.75" tall x 9" diameter

Hand Carved Sweet Gum





(note:  photos will supersize if double-clicked)

* * *


Endurance 

is the ability of an organism to exert itself 

and remain active for a long period of time, 

as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from,

and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue.



Before & After
 
Endurance was made from the center of
 
a Sweet Gum log 24" long and 20" in
 
diameter. 





Monday, July 16, 2012

Singing the Blues


9.5" diameter x 9" high
Southern Magnolia
milk paint finish

I was a cast off.

I'd been sitting on the shelf for years
waiting to be used as test wood. 

I was really ugly.

Look at me now!!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Ready and Waiting


Materials organized for the presentation.

Saturday, July 28th

Mid South Woodturners Guild

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Turn What You Like, Like What You Turn (June 2012)


My Dream Catcher (19.5" diameter)

I recently took a week-long class with
(Smithville, Tennessee)

Some of the students began by working on
woodturning fundamentals
before moving on to embellishing.

I chose to focus on the numerous
surface embellishment techniques
shared by Clay and Jennifer.



I had made my segmented lace wood ring
at home, ahead of time,
and packed it and my dream catcher plan
in with my tools and supplies.

I also took my pendant making jig
with a plan to use the turned disks
to capture and display a variety
of embellishment techniques.




After weaving my dream catcher,
I added my newly-embellished disks.

* * *

There are many variations in the tellings
of dreamcatcher legacy, history, and symbolism.

I invite you to begin your reading here.




Sunday, May 20, 2012

Canyon Walls III


Willow Oak hollow form

Carved rim, red interior

7.5" tall x 8.5" diameter


Detail view.


* * *


Update 

Photo by Lynne Tyler (July 2012)

And here it is on Lynne's desk
in New Hampshire.

Happy Birthday, Lynne!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Canyon Walls II


Willow Oak hollow form

Natural Edge rim

11" tall x 11" diameter

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Canyon Walls I


Willow oak hollow form

Carved rim

7" high x 8" wide

Monday, May 14, 2012

Willow Oak Bowl

Oak (Willow)
Hand Carved Fluted Bowl


7" high x 8" diameter




Saturday, May 12, 2012

Magnolia Series 2012

Magnolia Series


The eight light wood bowls are from
one Magnolia tree left at the side of the road
near where my wife works.

All eight pieces have been gifted.

Friday, May 4, 2012

A Matter of Perspective


A Matter of Perspective
 Materials: Maple burl and hickory
 Technique: Interior pyrography
Size in inches HxWxD*  9” x 9” x 6”

Where we stand influences our cone of vision --
what may be seen, what cannot be seen,
and the degree of detail available. 

Each of us sees and perceives differently
depending on our unique vantage point
at any given moment in time. 

Things are not always what they seem.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Old Growth New Growth

Old Growth New Growth
Materials: Cherry, copper, and resin
Technique: Two hollow forms with frayed finials
Size in inches HxWxD* 20” x 14” x 14
 
 

Our elders provide us with physical and emotional context. 
Our youth provide us with energy, curiosity, and potential. 
The forest is no different.