Author Archives: Dave Fisher

Being at Ease

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Dave Fisher

Every once-in-a-while, I get an itch to make another post-and-rung chair.  I really haven’t made too many, but I love the processes:  riving the parts, shaving at the horse, weaving the seat.  My first was fifteen years ago, following my … Continue reading →

Posted in books, green woodworking, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Fine Woodworking

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Dave Fisher

Like a lot of people, I have stacks of old Fine Woodworking Magazines in my house, and I owe a good deal of my woodworking education to them.  My copies, going back to the 90s, bring back a lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, patterns, teaching, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , | 23 Comments

The Return of the Swallows

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Dave Fisher

This little guy was in the pear tree yesterday morning.  I hadn’t made any in awhile, which is a shame because they are a lot of fun to make.  I based the design on the swallow and their graceful curves … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, carving, cherry, patterns, spoons, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Carving like Caron

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Dave Fisher

I often listen to audio books while carving in the shop, and I recently finished Irving Stone’s 1934 book Lust for Life, a biographical novel about the life and work of Vincent van Gogh.  Early on, as learning exercises, Vincent … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, figure, historical reference, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Barn’s Spōn

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Dave Fisher

“In carving fresh, green wood for spoons I hope that the reader will discover trees; I hope they will discover that carving with basic edge tools, the knife and the axe, is a beautiful thing.  This book will suggest that … Continue reading →

Posted in books, green woodworking, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Learning from Fred Astaire

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Dave Fisher

Seeing this ale bowl basking in the sun, my wife asked my daughter what she thought of the new dragon bowl.  Emma replied, “What dragon bowl?”  Wonderful. What Emma noticed were the flowing lines and the form, and only after … Continue reading →

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, cherry, patterns, proportions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Tree Branch Holdfasts

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Dave Fisher

As I’ve mentioned  before, I use holdfasts a lot.  A few weeks ago, I started wondering about the possibility of wooden holdfasts, and I think I will experiment more with making some from two pieces of wood joined with a … Continue reading →

Posted in green woodworking, holding, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged | 16 Comments

It’s the People

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Dave Fisher

Those three words are still resonating in my mind as I settle back into my workshop after returning from Greenwood Fest 2017.  During one of his addresses to the crowd, Peter Follansbee used those words to describe what he values … Continue reading →

Posted in classes, events, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Woodblock Prints

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Dave Fisher

There’s a lot to like about woodblock prints; the centuries-old tradition, the direct nature of the process, the simplicity of the equipment, and the magic of pulling the print from the block.  I decided to give it a try a … Continue reading →

Posted in events, sketch, spoons, tools, Uncategorized, woodblock prints | Tagged | 17 Comments

Your Daily Bowl

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Dave Fisher

I’m a cereal lover and, although I’ve had to switch from Boo-Berry to Shredded Wheat over the years, I still eat cereal every day — from a wooden bowl.  Cereal or not, it makes for quiet eating, and the wood … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, cherry, holding, layout, patterns, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 17 Comments