Category Archives: green woodworking

Long Handled Adze

Although I rarely use it, I do have a hollowing adze meant to be swung with two hands. For large bowls, it can help to hog out material a little faster. It was looking lonely, so I pulled it off … Continue reading

Posted in adze, green woodworking, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Esherick Exhibition

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

Shop Stool at 25

Peter Galbert, clearly, did not make this stool. Peter’s stool designs are graceful and thoughtfully considered. Someday, I’d love to make one. Regardless, this old perch will always have a place in the shop. I normally don’t give my stool … Continue reading

Posted in carving, chairs, green woodworking, Persons, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Drying for Carving Versus Turning

People, especially turners, are often surprised to hear that a bowl can be dry and ready for finish carving in as little as a couple weeks after carving it from green wood. I don’t know much about turning, but from … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, drying, green woodworking, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Phil’s Julfågel

Last Christmas, Phil Teeter sent me some cheer in the form of these delightful carvings. Phil explained that they are Julfågel (Swedish for Christmas Bird), “very rare and shy — they appear at Christmas and bring good fortune.” Phil has … Continue reading

Posted in carving, green woodworking, paint, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Moon Spoons?

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Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, historical reference, holding, spoons, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

When Life Hands You Hickory

Along with some walnut logs I was collecting a couple weeks ago, there was a bonus hickory log. When I split it, it was clear and straight. The new edition of Make a Chair From a Tree by Jennie Alexander … Continue reading

Posted in chairs, green woodworking, holding, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Make a Chair from a Tree: Third Edition

This chair not only serves to hold my can comfortably eighteen inches above the ground, it is a constant reminder of an exciting journey with wood. When I made the chair, nearly twenty years ago, I couldn’t seem to get … Continue reading

Posted in books, chairs, green woodworking, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Another Bowl Beginning

Why does this never get old? As I was roughing out this big cherry bowl, I thought about how I’ve gone through this process so many times over the years, and yet it remains completely engaging, even thrilling. I suppose … Continue reading

Posted in adze, cherry, green woodworking, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Follow the Bent

I was not anchored to a house or farm, but could follow the bent of my genius, which is a very crooked one, every moment. Henry David Thoreau, Walden I can’t seem to locate my genius, but I have been … Continue reading

Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, quotes and excerpts, spoons, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments