It was a relaxing beautiful day yesterday. The only thing made was a single coffee scoop from Ryan's walnut. You can see the sapwood that looks like a full moon.












After church I'll be spending the afternoon over in the mountains with my good friend Gary S and his daughter. If all goes well we will make it to the top of Humpback ridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If we don't make it to the top it will still be a gorgeous day.

What a busy night it was at Metro gallery last night. Thanks to all who stopped by to visit and chat. It was such a pleasure to meet and talk to so many nice folks. The question arose a few times about what types and size of wood I'm always looking for. The answer for the most part was anything and any size, but oak. Friends have dropped off logs ready for the fire but caught their eye and felt it would be a shame to go to ashes. The average length for fire wood is 18" to 24" which will be long enough to carve up 14" to 20" long bowls. Even branches 6" in diameter can be carved up into small bowls or spoons. If anyone out there has a chunk of wood they want converted into a bowl or spoon drop me an e-mail.


Here is the walnut with the sapwood perimeter that what was talked about yesterday. The contrast of the rich dark brown heart wood to the creamy light beige band is amazing.






I have to change the password to this blog now. Even though she set it up there only needs to be one side of the story here. There is some truth to what she says. Yes, The head of a carver does consist of sawdust. Yes, she is the queen. Yes, she wants another purse.
Well it looks like I'll be sleeping in the shop for a while(that is if she doesn't sell it first).

Ok it is the QUEEN here.....let me set a few things straight.....I think that the woodcarver might just have tooooo much sawdust up in that brain of his.
About waiting on me hand and foot....he has done the dishes more since I am working now....about that....yes I have gone to work outside the home...but he neglected to say that I never got paid to work at home and not to mention that the starving artist phrase is actually true. Some one needs to bring in the bacon so he can "play" out in his little shop! :) Which if he is going to sell my little doggie, then his little shop is for sale as well!
Sorry to those of you who are here to read about the carver, just having a little fun........maybe I should start my own blog "queen of little doggies and cheap purses!"

Signing off now: wife, queen, lazy lady, traitor, what else has he called me!

The first bowls from the walnut tree on Ryan's mountain property.
Oh boy, this is nice stuff. The center cut slabs are around 12" wide with about 2" of white sap wood. These two(7x7x2) were cut from a 16" long log. The next bowl should be a beauty having a continuous white band around the top perimeter.




This piece is actually a knot from the outer portion of the tree. It was deemed large enough to carve a small bowl from(6x4x1.5). Pieces like this are always a joy to make. The excitement of what the finished product will look like grows with anticipation through the stages of completion.

Just love that cedar! the shop smells great like a fresh sharp #2 pencil. You can't see all the detail involved in the knot. Grain patterns swirling about the center radiating out like a magnetic field. Quite pretty.





Anybody want to buy a $600 chair? No charge for covering with matching fabric and it still needs feet. I have to say it is very comfy. I fell asleep in it for the past 2 nights. Of coarse Roberta has found me sleeping on the floor a few times.

Wow, 2 days to build a chair? What am I thinking.
Roberta found her chair or chaise lounge. It's very palatial and relaxing for her. She's like Queen of the Nile splayed out laying on her side hand feeding her little doggy while I attend her every need. As large as the piece is there isn't any room for her humble servant. So, it's time to make a matching chair. No wood carving here just all straight cuts. Monday morning, figured out what was needed and got materials. After lunch, measured and cut 1/2 plywood (before some precipitation came in getting things colder) and glued/nailed the base with the arm. Yesterday was glue/screw/nail every thing together(interior structural supports) and monkey with setting the springs. It would be nice to have a larger shop to build this thing instead of outside in the carport. Today I'll finish up with feet, set the cushions and cover with batting, then it's up to Roberta to get fabric and cover it. Hoping to be in the shop after lunch and wanting to dive into some walnut but first it will be a cedar platter(16x4x1.5) for Jim.

Finished at least three out of four medium sized hearts from pine. The pine came from scrap pieces left over from a large project done months ago. The wood is actually called sugar pine and grows in northern California, southern Oregon only. It is a soft wood and a pleasure to work. I especially love the aroma that takes me back to my youth carving signs from this stuff.
Come on by Metro Gallery this Friday night the 6th. from 6-11 and visit a spell. First Fridays at Quirk gallery will still be happening so be sure to get your coffee, tie dye, jewelry and bread before going to Metro.