Category Archives: Lettering

Leaves of Grass Shrink Book Box

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Dave Fisher

You might recognize this book box from my most recent post. When I started roughing this book form from a green log, I had no final design in mind at all. But that wonderful “blemish” that was revealed on the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, carving, figure, green woodworking, Lettering, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Wishes for the New Year

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Last week, as I anticipated another road trip for us all together around our star, I carved this ornament. Here’s my sketch of the design in my notebook. I cut a circle out of a thin (3/8″) basswood board, painted … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, paint, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Revisiting the QRS-Tree-UV Design

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Three years ago, I drew up the design for these “QRS-Tree-UV” alphabet boards. I wrote about my design process in this post back then. I’ve had some fun revisiting the design and carving these three new boards. There they sit … Continue reading →

Posted in design, Lettering, patterns, plans, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Strange and Unusual Shrink Pot

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Dave Fisher

In the 1988 movie Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder, as Lydia, professes her strangeness with quiet self-assurance: “I myself am strange and unusual.” About a year ago I was asked to incorporate that line into a piece, and the idea developed in … Continue reading →

Posted in design, Lettering, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 17 Comments

Moby Dick Book Box

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Dave Fisher

There’s a long tradition of making boxes and other items in the form of books. I’ve made a few now, each in a different way. In an old post I showed one joined from several pieces and another example made … Continue reading →

Posted in books, historical reference, Lettering, paint, patterns, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Cracked Pot

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Dave Fisher

I roughed out this cherry shrink pot with split sides a few years ago. It cracked a couple days into drying, leaving a 1/2″ wide gap. It’s a rare occurrence, but sometimes you get lucky. My first inclination was to … Continue reading →

Posted in cherry, Lettering, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Two Duck Signs

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Dave Fisher

I had an unusual request recently to make a pair of signs, one for each side of a doorway between rooms in an old house. Apparently, the low height of the doorway has claimed the forehead of many a guest. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, holding, Lettering, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

“A Crust — a Crumb” Walnut Bowl

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Dave Fisher

It’s been a week since I’ve returned from teaching an October class at Peter Galbert Workshops. I carved this walnut bowl in July and took it along as an example for the students. I’ve decided to offer it for sale … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, Lettering, teaching, trees, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Wandering Cherry Bowl

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Dave Fisher

This is the third time I’ve carved these words from J.R.R. Tolkien on a bowl, but it has been several years. Each bowl has been different, and so has the lettering. I think working with green wood straight from the … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, cherry, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Angel’s Head Gravestone

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Anybody that wants to get somewhere quickly doesn’t want to ride with me. One of the annoying things I do is pull the car over every half-hour or so to take a 10 minute stroll. This is difficult to do … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, Lettering, Persons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments