Category Archives: trees

Dark Horse

I carved this ale bowl from some more of the red alder I mentioned in my last post.  Then I tried something new for me: I painted (ebonized I suppose) the outside  with waterproof black India ink.  I like how … Continue reading

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, green woodworking, paint, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

This may not Work

The title of this post may have crossed the mind of John Damian in 1507 as he was about to jump from the walls of Scotland’s Sterling Castle fitted with wings made of chicken feathers.  I’m thinking the same thing … Continue reading

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, carving, tools, trees, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Aspen/Poplar/Popple Ale Bowl

I’m settling back in after teaching a bowl carving class (not ale bowls) in the Plymouth, Mass. area with Plymouth CRAFT.  More about that great experience in another post before long. Meanwhile, one of the tasks on my list today is … Continue reading

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, paint, patterns, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Ale Hen

In one of my conversations with Beth Moen at Greenwood Fest, we talked about the use of aspen as a traditional wood for bowl carving.  Beth said that she liked Aspen because, although it is a relatively soft hardwood, the … Continue reading

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, historical reference, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged | 9 Comments

Bowl for Beginners and Beyond

I had been thinking about an ideal bowl design for the Plymouth CRAFT class, now only a month away.  This sample bowl is the result of those thoughts.  In addition to providing challenges for development of various skills, I wanted … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, classes, drying, finding wood, layout, patterns, proportions, teaching, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Birding

While on a morning walk today, I spied a bird in this big branch crook.  The whole upper section of the branch above the crook had already died, so it was a good choice to collect. Smaller crooks will usually … Continue reading

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, carving, finding wood, green woodworking, nature, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Spring has Sprung

Last weekend, we had snow and lows in the teens — Winter’s last gasp, I think.  Today’s warm sun put me in the mood to snap these shots of some of the bird bowls I’ve been roughing out in preparation for … Continue reading

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, nature, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged | 8 Comments

Every Goose a Swan

WHEN all the world is young, lad, And all the trees are green; And every goose a swan, lad, And every lass a queen; — Charles Kingsley, Young and Old Charles Kingsley’s simple wonderful lines of youthful optimism were running through my … Continue reading

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, cherry, finding wood, green woodworking, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

More Spoons

Before I return to bowls, I wanted to post these six spoons I’ve finished.  Again, most of these are black cherry (Prunus serotina), but a couple are border privet (Ligustrum obstusifolium).   There are areas on my walks that are … Continue reading

Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, spoons, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

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

Posted in quotes and excerpts, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments