Category Archives: patterns

Carving American Chestnut 3: Foot Shape

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Dave Fisher

Onto another stage with the chestnut bowl. Although a little bigger and deeper, the design of this bowl has much in common with the cherry bowl on the left. Same general upper outline, narrow side panel, arched top. But the … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, layout, patterns, proportions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Bird Bowl from Straight Grain

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Dave Fisher

Most of the bird bowls I make come from crooks, with the form following the flow of the fibers. In designing and making this bowl, I tried to achieve similar lines and a sense of movement within the constraints of … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, figure, finding wood, layout, patterns, quotes and excerpts, sketch, tools, trees, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Small Side Panel Cherry Bowl

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Dave Fisher

A few days ago I finished this cherry bowl for a local fundraiser. It features a relatively narrow side panel below the edge of the rim that makes an ideal spot for some chip carving. I took a few shots … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, cherry, finding wood, holding, layout, patterns, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Gouge Article and Thumbnail Cuts

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Dave Fisher

In the current issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine, #288 Mar/Apr 2021, is an article in which I suggest seven or eight gouges that form a solid kit for greenwood carving. One of them is a #8 10mm gouge that can … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, patterns, tools, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

With Flutes on the Side

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Dave Fisher

I tried a new fluting pattern by going from foot to rim on the side of this cherry bowl. I sketched some lines on in pencil as a general guide for the carving. Then I worked from the center to … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, patterns, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

An Egg Today

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Dave Fisher

“Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.”  –traditional proverb Each piece of tree comes with it’s own history and quirks.  I look closely and start thinking about possibilities.  Usually this will result in a variation on some design I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, cherry, patterns, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Little Hens

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Dave Fisher

The walnut rooftop chickens I roughed out back in the spring are waiting for me.  Meanwhile, a friend took down a cherry tree in his yard and I used a piece to make a pair of mini versions.  It gave … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, cherry, green woodworking, holding, layout, patterns, sketch, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 17 Comments

More Fun with Shrink Tubes

Posted on May 2, 2020 by Dave Fisher

Sometimes you just have to get an odd idea out of your system.  This one involved shrink pots, or more specifically, shrink tube bottoms.  I’ve written several posts about shrink pots/boxes/tubes with procedures and all that.  Here is a link … Continue reading →

Posted in green woodworking, paint, patterns, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

Axe Sheath of Wood

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Dave Fisher

At last month’s Plymouth CRAFT Spoon Day, I saw Oliver Pratt’s cool wooden axe sheath.  It worked by pinning a wedge in place that secured the sheath.  Oliver had seen the concept somewhere and had created his sheath by chopping … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, green woodworking, layout, Lettering, patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Bright Shrink Pot

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Dave Fisher

Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.” The light flows from their branches. —Mary Oliver, from the poem “When I am Among the Trees” That poetry excerpt may look familiar.  I shared it last … Continue reading →

Posted in paint, patterns, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 16 Comments