Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thoreau and the Wooden Tray

Posted on May 11, 2019 by Dave Fisher

Not long ago, a friend referred me to an unabridged entry in Henry David Thoreau’s journal.  Here’s the first paragraph: October 19, 1858: Barrett’s apprentice, it seems, makes trays of black birch and of red maple, in a dark room … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, axe, green woodworking, historical reference, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Fluted Dragon

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Dave Fisher

Here’s the ale bowl from my recent post on orthodontics, now completed.  I carved flutes along the exterior of this one.  The gouge I use for fluting depends upon the effect I want and the curvature of the exterior itself.  … Continue reading →

Posted in ale bowls, cherry, patterns, proportions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Yup’ik Bentwood Bowls

Posted on April 20, 2019 by Dave Fisher

Among the many traditions of bowl carving is the Yup’ik method of bending a separate length of wood that attaches to the hollowed base and serves as a higher rim.  The interaction between material, hands, eyes — and teeth — … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, historical reference, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 17 Comments

Dragon Orthodontics

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Dave Fisher

I roughed out this cherry ale bowl during the green stage months ago, and now I’ve gotten around to refining it in the dry stage, including carving a set of choppers, a point of pride for any dragon. After sketching … Continue reading →

Posted in ale bowls, carving, cherry, patterns, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

A Couple Shrink Pots and Spoons

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Dave Fisher

I made a couple shrink posts from sections of birch with personality that I just couldn’t resist.  The bark seems so alive and dynamic — warts and all.  The bending nature of these pieces added just a bit of extra … Continue reading →

Posted in finding wood, shrink box, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 21 Comments

Let Follansbee be Your Guide

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Dave Fisher

About a decade ago, my mind was blown by the boxes and furniture that Peter Follansbee was talking about on his blog.  There he was splitting up oak logs into boards and joining them together.  Well, how do you not … Continue reading →

Posted in books, carving, green woodworking, historical reference, publications, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Beaver Connections

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Dave Fisher

Since sharing some photos of beaver activity in a blog post a couple weeks ago I’ve made a few more beaver connections.  One goes way back to Aesop. If, like me, you weren’t familiar with that unsettling story, this should … Continue reading →

Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, historical reference, nature, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Spoonfest and Täljfest, Summer 2019

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Dave Fisher

In between other projects, I was able to spend some time roughing some spoons from a bunch of crooks I’ve gathered this winter.  I already mentioned that I’ll be doing some of that at the Plymouth CRAFT’s big Spoon Day … Continue reading →

Posted in classes, events, spoons, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Icy River Walk

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Dave Fisher

I like walking along the river near my house, really more of a creek.  The ebb and flow of the water and the seasons always brings something new to see. As the water level receded last weekend, ice ornaments sparkled … Continue reading →

Posted in classes, events, nature, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Rooftop Bird with 12/12 pitch

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Dave Fisher

It’s been a couple years since I wrote this post about a bowl orientation I call a rooftop bowl.  In it, I discussed working with this type of blank and suggested experimenting with quarter-log splits and other angles.  Of course, … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, finding wood, holding, layout, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments