Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bowl Carving Instructional Video Sale

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Four years ago, while we were all still under pandemic restrictions, Elia Bizzari turned lemons into lemonade by asking some of his fellow craftspersons to make a series of live interactive instructional videos with him. I jumped in for bowl … Continue reading →

Posted in classes, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Birch Ummik and Woodworking in Estonia

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Making and using shrink pots for grain and food storage is an ancient practice. In one of the greatest woodworking books, Woodworking in Estonia, Ants Viires, dedicates several pages (89-95) to it. In various regions of Estonia, these containers were … Continue reading →

Posted in books, historical reference, quotes and excerpts, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Cracked Pot

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Dave Fisher

I roughed out this cherry shrink pot with split sides a few years ago. It cracked a couple days into drying, leaving a 1/2″ wide gap. It’s a rare occurrence, but sometimes you get lucky. My first inclination was to … Continue reading →

Posted in cherry, Lettering, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Blue Maple Bowl

Posted on July 29, 2025 by Dave Fisher

It started out as a red maple (Acer rubrum). The top half of the tree snapped off a month ago across the road. I hurried and started carving away on some of it. Maple doesn’t store well for long in … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, paint, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Before I Forget… A Few Things

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Dave Fisher

This post was going to be about using my favorite T-handle auger, the one I use to bore the hole to begin making a shrink pot. With a couple green lengths of tree available, I took a few photos as … Continue reading →

Posted in books, events, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 12 Comments

The New Peter Galbert Workshop

Posted on July 12, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Two weeks ago, a bunch of us were savoring our last day of class together in Pete Galbert’s new workshop facility in Berwick, Maine. Pete’s old workshop was in a 19th century former mill building and it was a great … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Finishing Bird Bowls Just in Time

Posted on June 21, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Thirty years of classroom teaching has taught me the importance of preparation. As I’ve readied for next week’s inaugural bird bowl class at Peter Galbert’s, one of my fun tasks has been getting bird bowl examples finished. There’s a few … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, classes, finding wood, paint, patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Walnut Tray/Bowl with Tree Footnotes

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Dave Fisher

When I finished carving this walnut tray/bowl last week, I had no particular plans for the foot. As I looked at the broad canvas of walnut wood, an idea came to mind for a representation of forest trees rooted along … Continue reading →

Posted in paint, patterns, sketch, trees, Uncategorized, walnut | 15 Comments

Birds, Birds, Birds

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Dave Fisher

What’s the matter with me? I… I got to get birds off my mind. Maybe I’ll take up a hobby. — Sylvester The Cat (Mel Blanc) in Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (1981) My workbench has looked like a … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, design, quotes and excerpts, sketch, tools, Uncategorized, workshop | Tagged | 14 Comments

Streamside Treasure in the Allegheny National Forest

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Over the weekend, a friend and I headed to the Allegheny National Forest, less than a two-hour drive from my home in western Pennsylvania. We hiked up along a small stream, fishing a little along the way. A steady light … Continue reading →

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