Category Archives: Uncategorized

Making Things from Trees

  Not long ago, this book arrived in the mail, an unexpected and thoughtful gift from a friend.  In it, Robert Penn writes of his experience of felling one ash tree in Herefordshire and having as many things made from … Continue reading

Posted in books, finding wood, green woodworking, nature, quotes and excerpts, trees, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged | 1 Comment

Getting Started

For those interested in starting to carve bowls and spoons from green wood, the unfamiliarity and variety of the tools can be a little intimidating and confusing, especially when they see the large kits built up over many years by … Continue reading

Posted in adze, axe, carving, green woodworking, tools, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Surely You Can’t be Serious?

That’s what I was thinking when Fine Woodworking Magazine’s Jon Binzen contacted me about the Back Cover for the March/April edition.  Turns out, he was serious and payed a visit to my workshop.  To call this an unbelievable honor would be … Continue reading

Posted in classes, publications, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged | 23 Comments

“Fish Say…” Shrink Pot

As I was shaving down the walls of this cherry shrink pot, I couldn’t help but notice a few small tight pin knots, mostly because the swirling grain direction around them was causing me fits.  Then I thought they might … Continue reading

Posted in cherry, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, shrink box, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Winter Window

I like working in front of this window.  The directional light creates shadows that honestly reveal form and surface.  I have a small high bench there, too high for heavy work, but perfect for finer bits like cleaning up the … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, carving, events, holding, nature, patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Tradition and Jane Mickelborough

We dwell with satisfaction upon the poet’s difference from his predecessors….Whereas if we approach a poet without this prejudice we shall often find that not only the best, but the most individual parts of his work may be those in … Continue reading

Posted in classes, historical reference, quotes and excerpts, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

The Ongoing Journey of Drew and Louise Langsner

There was a time when I didn’t know an adze from a hoe in the ground, then I found Drew Langsner.  Here was a guy who could make anything from a tree, and explain the process in writing so that even … Continue reading

Posted in books, green woodworking, historical reference, quotes and excerpts, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Rainbow Dolphin and Whale Shark

There is nothing that reminds me of the magic of creating more than having a kid or two in the shop, as with my niece and nephew this weekend.  They encourage fast and uninhibited work full of wild imagination.  No … Continue reading

Posted in carving, paint, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged | 5 Comments

Hot Oil Treatment

If you’ve seen my noggin, you know this post won’t be about hair care.  Over the weekend, I finished the dry-stage carving of an ale bowl I had roughed out a couple months ago.  I thought it might be a … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 16 Comments

Not All Those Who Wander…

All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. — J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring “Let’s see … Continue reading

Posted in cherry, holding, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments