Category Archives: finding wood

Riving a Cherry Crook

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Dave Fisher

Some cherry branches with nice crooks fell during some recent windstorms. I snapped a few photos while splitting them into spoon blanks to show how I typically go about it. They can be split with an axe or wedge, but … Continue reading →

Posted in cherry, finding wood, spoons, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Windfalls and Wheelbarrows

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Dave Fisher

High winds blew over a lot of trees in our area in two separate episodes recently. The tall maple in the photo stood strong in round one but was toppled in the second. Fortunately, it missed the shed — just. … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, finding wood, nature, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Bowl from a Plank: Part 2

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Dave Fisher

Back to the “bowl from a plank” that I started in this post a couple weeks ago. After preparing the blank and laying out the hollow and rim, I began to hollow the bowl. Remember, this plank was completely dry. … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, finding wood, Lettering, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Bowl from a Plank

Posted on December 11, 2022 by Dave Fisher

Sourcing, storing, and/or processing green logs can be a challenge for some people based on location and other circumstances. There are ways around it. I’ve written a few posts that feature bowls carved from dry wood, or other creatively-sourced blanks. … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, finding wood, layout, patterns, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Asymmetrical Cherry Crook Bowl

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Dave Fisher

The treetops had been on the ground since the logging crew left the woodlot over a year ago. I climbed over brush and through the jaggerbushes that had sprung to life in the new abundance of sunlight. It was slim … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, cherry, finding wood, layout, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Esherick Exhibition

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Dave Fisher

Over the last several years, I’ve enjoyed a deeper exploration into the work and life of Wharton Esherick. There is much to admire and contemplate. Esherick believed he had been overtrained as a painter and discovered his most creative expression … Continue reading →

Posted in events, finding wood, green woodworking, Lettering, nature, publications, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Summer’s Calling

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Dave Fisher

We just had our first full week of summer-like weather, and it had me outside working and preparing some material for some of the projects I’m looking forward to. Some of them are in that willow basket waiting for the … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, finding wood, layout, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Goose-Inspired Sugar Maple Bowl

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Dave Fisher

What a dull world if we knew all about geese! Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac (1949) Geese still hold plenty of mystery for me. In this part of the world, they are Canada geese. Their abundance makes them easy … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, figure, finding wood, nature, quotes and excerpts, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

Winter Whittled Bird

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Dave Fisher

On a “cold, cold, wet day” this past weekend, I sat warm and dry in the shop by the window and whittled a little bird from a pine branch. Winter birds bring a special joy. It’s magical to be in … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, carving, finding wood, nature, patterns, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

Moon Spoons?

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Dave Fisher

A fellow carver directed me toward this short film documenting the traditional making of spoons from boxwood in Spain. Filmed in 1994, it features a man named Pascual Mairal who had been practicing this craft since he was a child. … Continue reading →

Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, historical reference, holding, spoons, Uncategorized | 12 Comments