Category Archives: quotes and excerpts

My New Old Arkansas Stone

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Dave Fisher

A whetstone is no carving instrument, And yet it maketh sharp the carving tool; And if you see my efforts wrongly spent, Eschew that course and learn out of my school; For thus the wise may profit by the fool, … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Thanksgiving Time

Posted on November 24, 2022 by Dave Fisher

One thing about late Autumn, it displays the stubborn simplicities of the earth. Man may contrive himself into all kinds of human complications, but this earth which bore him and will be his home until the end of his days … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Duckling Revisited

Posted on September 26, 2022 by Dave Fisher

The ducklings liked the new island so much that they decided to live there. All day long they follow the swan boats and eat peanuts. Robert McCloskey, Make Way for Ducklings (1941) As I finished this latest little duck bowl, … Continue reading →

Posted in ale bowls, bird bowls, cherry, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Merging Shrink Pots

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Dave Fisher

The five-year-old said he loves his dad’s hugs and fly fishing together, so I came up with this pair of merging shrink pots carved with a line from Norman Maclean’s novella A River Runs Through It. The larger pot is … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, quotes and excerpts, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Tulip Tree Flowers

Posted on June 18, 2022 by Dave Fisher

Hardly too much attention can be bestowed on flowers…Flowers were made to be seen, not overlooked. Henry David Thoreau, Journal, 15 June 1852 My son, Noah, and I got out to the river together for a couple hours of trout … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 13 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

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

Shop Stool at 25

Posted on April 24, 2022 by Dave Fisher

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

Perico the Bowlmaker

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Dave Fisher

I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. How could I know? I could die right now, or maybe I’ll die tomorrow. When will it be? In the meantime, I’ll keep making bowls for as long as I can. … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, axe, bowls, historical reference, Persons, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized, video | Tagged | 4 Comments

Explorations in the Deep Snow

Posted on February 7, 2022 by Dave Fisher

A lot of snow has fallen around here over the past couple weeks, and, after doing the necessary digging out, we’ve been enjoying it. Noah and Chip made a dog igloo in the back yard. Chip loves the snow, but … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 13 Comments