SHALLOW & SHALLOWER YELLOWHEART PIECE

Learning a lot on this one. In an effort to make a piece with thinner walls, I ran into problems with breakage along the rim. To fix, I cut down the sides, making the bowl increasingly shallow. (It was that or go for scalloped edges--not!) Got it stabilized before it became a small one-of-a-kind frisbee.

First step: shaping the outside and creating the tenon while piece is on face plate.

AWAITING JAWS

The maple bowl is off the lathe after 7 coats of finishing oil, much steel wool action, and additional burnishing has brought out the grain's variations. Waiting to remove the tenon until the bowl is reinstalled on the lathe with a different, large-jawed chuck.(example of Nova Cole Jaw set pictured below.) Meantime, I've started a piece of Yellowheart while the present chuck's in place. More on that later.

IT S'NO BOWL

I turned out this sculptural hollow form with the most plentiful material around these days. No lathe required--just the ever present shovel. ( Enough already!)

FIFTH COAT BEFORE AND AFTER

In bottom pic, fifth coat of oil has dried; middle and top pictures show the bowl after steel wool application and burnishing.

APPLYING A FINISH

Three stages of finishing: (from bottom up) After first coat of Liberon Finishing Oil has dried; immediately after second coat applied; after second coat begins drying. Steel wool (#0000) used between each coat; number of coats to be determined.

SMALL BEGINNINGS

I made these two pieces at a Miniature Hollow Forms class. Very enjoyable day where I learned many things.

SLOWLY PROGRESSING

Working now on deepening the bowl and fixing mistakes as I make them. One of the best things I've done lately is to attend a class taught by Jennifer Shirley, an accomplished turner who is also an excellent teacher. I learned much about enhancing wood projects with various techniques...such as burning, etching, texturing, painting, carving. It was an inspiring class. See Jennifer's work on her website: www.jennifer-shirley.com. It's really worth seeing.

IT'S BECOMING A BOWL

This is so much fun! It's beginning to actually look like a bowl, and I'm learning a lot--especially about uses and characteristics of various tools.

READY TO GOUGE

A few more passes are needed to bring the bowl into more perfect round. Then the tail stock will be removed and the tool rest repositioned so that gouging can begin.

LEARNING CURVE

The bowl has a new shape. The next step will be to remove the face plate, reverse the bowl, and secure it with the chuck.

TAKING SHAPE

The outside of the bowl is taking shape. The tenon is there to provide a secure "foot" for the chuck to hold while the inside of the bowl is worked.

I've Been Benched!

A new work bench adds needed surface for various tasks as my wood shop area comes together. Many thanks to GK the Speedwagen Wrench for help with assembly and the fancy pic. I be rollin' now!

No Longer Square

Almost finished with this step. There are still a couple of small flat places to be brought into round, but I'll start the shaping of the bottom soon. The grain is beginning to emerge as well.

New Project

This square block of maple will become a bowl. If it goes well, I'll take it to a class in finishing that's scheduled for the end of the month. That's the plan, anyway.

While They Last...

Getting cold and maybe have snow flurries yet this week, so these guys will likely not be looking bright for long. Time goes by, and they've done a good job all summer.

NEW BLOOMS

Another Sunflower variety heard from! Today I noticed several buds and one bloom brightening up September.

AUGUST IN THE GARDEN

The stars of August are the sunflowers. While many of the other plants have struggled through hot weather, they have thrived. I planted these from seeds and am amazed that they have done so well. My other sunflower varieties have not yet bloomed. I don't know if they are just late bloomers or if they have gone into some kind of decline (or are on strike) because their cousins have been so stunning. Whatever, I hope they get over it.

NEWFIES!

Add to the list of my favorite things these wonderful dogs. Went today to the Newfoundland Club Water Test at Eagle Creek Park where several of these magnificent creatures qualified (or attempted) the water rescue certification. We met several wonderful dogs and a couple of nice people. I don't know if I'll ever have what it takes (primarily more time and space) to own one of these marvelous dogs, but I certainly enjoy visiting with them. They have lovely dispositions, enjoy being with their people, and are all-round wonderful companions. They are calm, confident, and some of the sanest beings around.

In fact, I learned today that there are many Newfies who are "therapy dogs". They are taken to hospitals and convalescent centers to visit people with great good effect. Also, some of them go to elementary classrooms where the children practice reading aloud while the dog listens encouragingly. I invited a couple of these great beasts to come along home, but their staunch loyalty forced them to decline--albeit graciously.


Witney to the rescue!






Eight weeks old.

Sue (from Michigan) and Benson

This is Yogi.

SPECIAL FAVORITES

This seemed to be a particularly good year for Delphinium. These are examples of just some of the many varieties available. Maybe some year I'll set aside a whole area just for delphs and leave a space in the middle for seating to enjoy up close. Guess I'll have to dig up more of the yard to make room, but it would be worth it.

TURNING TO THE GARDEN

Some of the reasons for my not practicing woodturning recently are pictured here. Much of our Spring weather was lovely, and the garden was a great place to be. (Does tree trimming count as woodworking?) Because a garden is always in process, the tasks won't end, but soon I'll have mainly maintenance to deal with, as I have only a few things left to plant. I hope to get back to woodturning soon.