Woodturning - it's what I do

[ashling]

These are some picturesof a bowl I just finished. I haven't turned anything sustantial in at least 7 years. The bowl is made out of sycamore.

oh, and that first picture ... that's me

[TK421]

1. Very nice work! How long have you been doing this?

I ask because I love wooden bowls and this particular design has caught my eye...do you sell them or do this just as a hobby?

[ashling]

3. Yes, I used to have a business

making art and craft turnings and did some architectural turnings on commission for a high end cabinet shop.

I am out of practice, as shown by this bowl, but getting my turning muscles back in shape. :) I will be working to get some stock together to put in some local shops and galleries. Also, when I can I plan to sell some at craft shows and events.

This is going kind of slow due to the fact that I am currently working on my masters in history and government at TWU here in Denton.

What type of stuff do you like? Functional kitchen and or salad bowls, bowls for fruit and arrangements, etc., or art/decorative pieces?

[TK421]

4. Mainly bowls for salad ( not really soup, I prefer ceramic for that )

My older brother has procured some wooden salad bowls but won't tell me where he got them ( sibling rivalry, at it's ugliest ). I really liked your design...I've been looking around for simple, wooden bowls mainly for salad or sides. Mostly, though..I like them for decoration. There is something about wooden utensils and kitchenware that just makes you feel right at home....and it is sure to draw compliments from everyone visiting. Again, a beautiful design...it looks so natural...like a caveman did it! It must be so easy to do that a caveman did it! :D

[ashling]

6. Hmmmm

I haven't been called a Neanderthal in years ... not since I took that court ordered therapy. :rofl:

This particular bowl would work for decoration, candy, fresh fruit, etc. The crisp black lines are caused by spalting - a fungus in the wood that could possibly have some toxicity. For a salad or other bowl to eat out of, I would also finish it differently.

I can also turn spoons, scoops, etc., called treen ware.

[TK421]

10. Mind you, I was making a joke there! ( the Geico commercial, of course )

Decoration would be great for an apartment I MAY be looking at for the following year ( right after this lease runs out with these frigging roommates of mine )....AHEMMM....anyway, good luck with that court-ordered therapy!

But seriously...I've gone to craft fairs and country stores up north from where I'm at, and I've always wanted to have that feel in my home. So to answer your question, decoration would most likely be my motive for wanting to purchase these goods...although, salad bowls like this would be a most welcome addition to my collection of this rotten tupperware crapola......:banghead:

[ashling]

19. I know what you mean

and frankly, it is flattering. Wood bowls are so elemental, so basic.

[MrCoffee]

2. that is really cool...

there's a show about woodturning on PBS that my daughter adores. that's quite the impressive bowl.

[ashling]

5. Cool. How old is your daughter?

If you think she'd be interested in turning, I could suggest some suppliers.

Woodturning is very therapeutic. As a matter of fact one of the reasons that I got involed was due to my chronic depression. It is extremely rewarding to create something like this from a fallen tree or piece of firewood.

You can pick up a new mini-lathe for around $300.

[bluedigger]

7. Nice work, ashling

1. What kind of wood is that?

2. What era/region are you becoming an expert in?

[ashling]

12. The wood is sycamore

I turn mostly local wood unless I can trade for some from elsewhere. I get wood from trees that have come down in storms and that have been destroyed due to development ,,, Right now, for instance I have a 40 foot elm tree that died in the front yard and is now sawed into various lengths in my garage, some Bois'darc out back from a tree that was taken down up the street.

I intend, one day, to make a pole lathe so I can turn at Rennaisance festivals and other historic events.

[bluedigger]

16. Huh...

I was thinking some sort of burled elm, but I never would have guessed Sycamore. I watched the woodwright(?) show on PBS one time where he turned a bowl on a foot-pedal lathe. It looked like fun. I want a wood shop.

[ashling]

20. I love the Woodright Shop

I've got a couple of his books.

The bowl was fairly light in color with variations. I didn't have any of the Danish or other oils I usually use to finish a piece, so I rubbed olive oil (EVOO) into the piece which really brought out the earth tones and then I sprayed semi gloss lacquer on it.

[zabet]

8. Beautiful bowl!!

Are you going to be making any for sale?
I would definitely be interested!
:bounce:

[ashling]

22. I am going to seel some

as I've said in other posts here, right now I am sort of under the gun at school. Besides working on my masters, I am a graduate teaching Assistant.

If you'll email me I'll definitely let you know when I get some to sell.

I also do other items, including pens.

[ruiner4u]

9. Thats pretty cool looking...

I would ask how you do it, but I figure it involved turning it...:)



Very cool

[ashling]

24. Thanks

[SPKrazy]

11. very cool

a woodturner made the urn that my mother's ashes are in

your work is very good

:thumbsup:

[ashling]

13. Thank you

I was thinking about turning one for my parent's ashes, but we scattered them in a National Park in New Mexico where we used to go camping in the Sangre de Cristos.

:hug:

[SPKrazy]

14. i would like to scatter my mom's ashes

in rocky mountain national park near where she lived before she died

:hug:

thanks!

[ashling]

15. Ya'll got me going now

here area few morethings that I have turned. Mostof this was done more than 7 years ago. The pictures are not the best.

mesquite vase


Pueblo type bowl out of redwood burl with turqoise inlay


Potpouri bowl from California Claro Walnut with pewter top


If anyone is interested you can email me. As I said I am kind of tied up right now, but I will work on comission or feel free to ask what I have in stock (which right now is nothing) I will be getting my website back up hopefully soon.

[Redstone]

17. Good stuff. Do you work with Myrtlewood at all? It's hard to find outside of Oregon,

but I understand that it turns like a charm.

Redstone

[ashling]

23. I once got a piece of myrtle wood

at a turning wood meeting, never turned it ... don't know if I still have it. Of course, it is likely to be a different species.

I have turned crepe myrtle. Mostly a very light creamy color with sometimes a few dark streaks. Wonderful for chess pieces.

[Jamastiene]

18. It had always been my dream to land a job working with

wood in some way. Whether it is carpentry or crafts or guitar making. I have always loved to do woodworking as a hobby. Too bad I cannot figure out how to make a living at it.

The bowls are gorgeous. Nice work. :thumbsup:

[ashling]

25. Yeah,

I've tried... depends on what you need. It can get really expensive to turn with all the latest gadgets, or you can go "organic"

[Thirtieschild]

21. You did good - absolutely beautiful

Where do you show? If not, you should. My husband's avocation was woodturning for 10 years - 1986-1996 - and we did shows around the country. Had to use all his vacation to do them, but they were fun. Hint, hint. Husband quit turning when age, retirement and, after we moved, lack of space caught up with him.

[ashling]

26. Thanks

My brother lives in Sante Fe. It is really beautiful out there. When I was a kid we used to camp in the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

I had to let it go for a few years when we moved to Washington State. Due to space restrictions, I had to leave my lathes and stuff stored in Texas. Pity, 'cause there is a lot of beautiful wood up there. But I am definitely familiar with the space problem.

[wildhorses]

27. very nice.

me likey :)

[ashling]

28. Thanky

:hi:

[grasswire]

29. my, my

That stuff is lovely. I salute you!

Last week on Antiques Roadshow I saw an antique Hawaiian poi bowl. It was made from the intersection of three branches, so you could see the beautiful markings of that on three sides of the big round bowl. Amazing. Of course, it was priceless, they said.

My brother works in an exotic wood and woodworker supply shop.