Friday, December 28, 2018

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Black walnut

As most of you will remember, a few months ago we had quite a few trees felled in order to reclaim our once spectacular view. We thought of it as our anniversary/Christmas gift to ourselves.



Writing the check was a little painful but this was our view last December and this below was taken yesterday.


Lots of fog all day but a view, nonetheless.


All those trees ended up in a giant's pick up sticks snarl. (Having the tree guys deal with the fallen trees would have upped the price to out of our reach.)



So John and Justin set in on reducing the tangle to manageable bits -- an ongoing process.


Poplar and black walnut

Lots of firewood -- too green for use now but just wait till next year! The above is only a start -- as I said, it's an ongoing process.
Black walnut

And when the weather was too wet to work outside, John took some of the green wood to his shop, started his lathe, and began turning.

Black walnut
And turning . . .

Black walnut

And turning.

Hickory

Christmas gifts for friends and family . . .

Black walnut

And some put by for future occasions . . .

Hickory

The hickory pieces combine sapwood that looks (to me) like ivory with calligraphic squiggles and a rich reddish brown heartwood.

Black walnut
The black walnut heartwood is deep dark while the sapwood is almost white.  

Black walnut
Some of the black walnut pieces are all dark . . .
Black walnut 
Some have odd bits of the lighter wood . . . and some have quite a bit.
Black walnut 

Every piece reveals something new. I love the fact that any one of these might have been firewood.  And that John loves making them . . .

Hickory



12 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

Those pieces are quite wonderful.

Susan said...

Beauty........from Nature's artist to John the artist

Barbara Rogers said...

These are so beautiful! I'm glad to see that your trees will be around as treasures for so many to enjoy!

Sandra Parshall said...

Gorgeous work! Oh, to have John’s skill!

NCmountainwoman said...

I love the wooden bowls. We have several and my favorites are the ones made from burls. John is quite talented. The bowls are lovely.

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Wonderful to reclaim your view, and the bowls are so very beautiful! Each unique. So glad they were not firewood!

L. D. said...

The bowls are so well created. I can’t believe how many there are. Each one is a work of art made by a true artist.

GPearson said...

WOW! Those are beautiful! I would be interested in buying one like the raw edge one if he wants to sell! 😊

Vicki Lane said...

Gayle -- those are already given away or sold but he will be making more. It takes about two month from start to finish dur=e to a slow drying time. I'll post pics when he has some ready to sell. Thanks!

KarenB said...

Those are gorgeous! I'd love to purchase a bowl if John is willing to sell one.

Vicki Lane said...

Karen -- See my comment above!

Jime said...

Wonderful turnings