Category Archives: tools

Patience

Posted on November 6, 2020 by

As I was using my adze to rough out some spoons this weekend, I was reminded by a few emails that folks are still having a tough time getting their hands on a good adze. This can be seen as … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 14 Comments

Adze Article

Posted on October 2, 2020 by

Fine Woodworking Magazine gave me a chance to write about adzes and the article is in the current issue, just out, in case you’re interested. I focused on the concepts, as I understand them based on my experience, that allow … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, tools, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

A Burl and a Box

Posted on September 24, 2020 by

I rarely work with burl, but when a piece from a Norway maple came my way , I decided to see what I could make from it. I ended up with this cup (4 1/2″ in diameter and 2 1/4″ … Continue reading →

Posted in burl, layout, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Carving Catalpa

Posted on September 6, 2020 by

When a friend of mine sent me this big chunk of fresh catalpa wood, some memories came to mind. When I was a kid we had a big catalpa tree in the yard and I had fun playing with the … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, finding wood, layout, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Cleave the Wood

Posted on August 3, 2020 by

When a friend asked me to carve this short line from Saying 77 of the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, I spent a lot of time thinking.  There were a lot of decisions to make, from choosing among various translations to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, quotes and excerpts, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

An Egg Today

Posted on July 9, 2020 by

“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 , , | 14 Comments

Little Hens

Posted on June 8, 2020 by

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 , | 16 Comments

Musical Shrink Pot

Posted on May 23, 2020 by

Between juggling this last month of a strange school year and a bout with sciatica, my carving time has been limited lately, but I was able to get a different sort of shrink pot finished before Mother’s Day.  Keeping in … Continue reading →

Posted in shrink box, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Elbow Adze

Posted on April 29, 2020 by

I intended to do this over three years ago — make an elbow adze.  My intentions were so sincere that I purchased the iron from Kestrel Tool.  I even found a branch junction that would work well for the haft … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 20 Comments

Thankful for Birds and Trees

Posted on November 28, 2019 by

  This past summer, we were fortunate to have a pair of wrens make a home in our yard.  We enjoyed watching them flit around and hearing them sing.  It also reminded me of my grandmother who loved her “Jenny … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 15 Comments