Teaching week

Going to Nova Scotia today to teach for the Lee Valley stores. First stop is Halifax then on to Ottawa. Hopefully I can publish some pictures of the event. Stay tuned.

detail of tray

Plates

There was a 48 inch sycamore in the wood dump this week that was begging to be filleted. Sycamore does make a good salad bowl but is very hard to sell. I only use it for plates and platters because if I cut it on the quarter it has a great grain pattern. These will dry for at least 3 months and then they will become their intended purpose. Here are a few pictures.

The French Connection

Last May we had a good friend, Christian Delhon from France visit us. He was demonstrating for the Utah Symposium. He is a huge talent. Afterwords, I took him to Yellowstone National Park to show him some sightseeing. He stole a toilet roll out of an outhouse while we were there. I gave him a very hard time about it being Government property and all. I found that role of paper in my truck this afternoon. I sent him a picture of the used roll. Stating this toilet roll reminds me of you. I hope it translates.

Examples of canisters

These end-grain pieces are one of the more serious challenges I have ever faced as a woodturner. It is a shame they are not more appreciated by collectors. Hollowing these and achieving an interior equal to the exterior will prove anyone's muster. The Red boxelder piece is 16" tall by 8". The Mormon Poplar piece is 12"x 12". The knob assembly is African Blackwood with hand chased threads.

New work

I have been roughing out some very large end-grain spruce to make some canisters. Preferably I would like to be using Fir but it is hard to come by in town. The wood is very similar but lighter color. The tricky part is drying them. There is a large amount of sap on one side that will impede the drying process. The goal is to wax the pieces on the end-grain and I will keep them in a cool 45 degree area for 2 months and them introduce them to my normal drying room at 55 degrees. The largest two are 24"x 13".

Wrapped up the 2010 Anchorage Symposium. This was my third trip up so it was good to see some old friends and make some new ones. One great bonus of the trip is I get to stay with Bill and Susan Bowers. Let's just say Bill and Susan know how to take care of house guest. Gourmet meals and wines I have only read about. Topped the evening off with a 1983 La Tache. This was certainly on of the finest wines I have ever had. It better be since it cost more than my Swarofski binoculars. The folks up here are truly genuine. Good to hang out with you all and hope we meet again soon!