Category Archives: quotes and excerpts

Jolly Good Ale and Old

  William Stevenson was a sixteenth century English clergyman and playwright who also wrote this charming drinking song.  In it, we find reference to ale bowls, both “scour’d” and “lustily troll’d.”  And all wives should take notice of the generosity demonstrated by Tib. … Continue reading

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Curtis Buchanan

I’ve not had the good fortune to meet Curtis Buchanan, but he is an inspiration.  A friend recently drew my attention to a new short film featuring some thoughtful insights from Curtis.  I just had to share it:

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Squirrels Love Bird Bowls

  You can’t be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet. — Hal Borland, Sundial of the Seasons (1964)

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Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly

I recently completed this commission for the congregation of a California church.  They wished to honor their minister’s ten years of leadership with a bowl featuring their church motto, Micah 6:8.  It is a beautiful verse.  I was happy to play a … Continue reading

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April Rain

Let the rain kiss you Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops Let the rain sing you a lullaby — Langston Hughes, from April Rain Song Taken on a wonderfully rainy walk this evening.  

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Chip Carving for Warlike Men and School Girls

It is difficult to conceive the contradictory fact that this apparently simple form of art [chip carving] was once the exponent of a struggling desire for refinement on the part of fierce and warlike men, and that it should, under … Continue reading

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A Moment with Charles Schulz

I am still searching for that wonderful pen line that comes down when you are drawing Linus standing there, and you start with the pen up near the back of his neck, and you bring it down and bring it … Continue reading

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The Enduring Spoon Collection of Norman D. Stevens

To all spoon makers, past or present and known or unknown, throughout the world for providing us with basic utensils that may feed our body but are also often beautiful small sculptures that feed our mind and soul.  You bring … Continue reading

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Proof of the Workmanship of Risk

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and it put me in the mood to do a little early Spring cleaning in the shop.  Scattered around were these reminders of the “workmanship of risk.”  That was, of course, the phrase coined … Continue reading

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Great Wonders

If I say to my neighbor, “Come with me, I have great wonders to show you,” he pricks up his ears and comes forthwith; but when I take him on the hills under the full blaze of the sun, or … Continue reading

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