Author Archives: Dave Fisher

Aspen/Poplar/Popple Ale Bowl

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Dave Fisher

I’m settling back in after teaching a bowl carving class (not ale bowls) in the Plymouth, Mass. area with Plymouth CRAFT.  More about that great experience in another post before long. Meanwhile, one of the tasks on my list today is … Continue reading →

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, paint, patterns, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

What’s Wrong with this Edge?

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Dave Fisher

Look at the lines of reflection on the beautiful polished surface.  The polish is good.  The fact that the lines of reflection take a bit of a nosedive as they reach the cutting edge is a problem, and a very … Continue reading →

Posted in sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 12 Comments

Ale Hen

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Dave Fisher

In one of my conversations with Beth Moen at Greenwood Fest, we talked about the use of aspen as a traditional wood for bowl carving.  Beth said that she liked Aspen because, although it is a relatively soft hardwood, the … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, historical reference, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged | 9 Comments

Swallows in Wood and in Motion

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Dave Fisher

Last week, I finished these two swallow inspired bowls, one in maple and the other in cherry.  Then I found myself in Lou’s barn, a swallow haven. My friend Lou is a part-time sawyer who knows more about trees than … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, finding wood, nature, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

For Peace Comes Dropping Slow

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Dave Fisher

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow –William Butler Yeats, from The Lake Isle of Inisfree  

Posted in bowls, carving, green woodworking, photography, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Time for a Shave?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Dave Fisher

  A few days ago Chris Schwarz shared a post on the Lost Art Press blog about an old Estonian scorp used for general hollowing tasks.  Check out the post here.  Coincidentally, I had just stumbled upon the existence of … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Behind the Mask

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Dave Fisher

Last week, I found myself in a house with this intriguing wooden mask on display.  It was about 17 inches high, 9 inches wide, and 7 1/2 inches deep.  I know very little about African masks, but to my untrained … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, finding wood, green woodworking, historical reference, holding, sketch, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Bowl for Beginners and Beyond

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Dave Fisher

I had been thinking about an ideal bowl design for the Plymouth CRAFT class, now only a month away.  This sample bowl is the result of those thoughts.  In addition to providing challenges for development of various skills, I wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, classes, drying, finding wood, layout, patterns, proportions, teaching, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Necklace for a Bowl

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Dave Fisher

At least that’s the way I see a design like this — draping like a necklace around the rim.  l like how the facets of the recesses catch the light and shadows in different ways.  I’ve done several versions; one … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, layout, patterns, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | 5 Comments

Back in the Swing

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Dave Fisher

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. — Abraham Lincoln Although this is a widely known quote attributed to Lincoln, he probably never said it. Besides, Lincoln wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, bird bowls, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments