SALVAGING

The pear tree in the back yard went down 

Sunday evening during a wind/rain storm!  

What makes this extra sad is that it would've been a bumper crop  come September!  The tree was loaded with fruit!

Unfortunately, the fruit is too immature to ripen even, if we picked it now to try and save some.  We will leave the tree down for a while for the deer and other critters to eat on !

But all is not lost, though! I already have a few choice spots on the trunk picked out so my brother can bring some chunks home for me on his next drive up and back! lol

 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY----FULL CIRCLE!

My niece had given me several pieces of Birch from her yard when I was in NY back in April but since they were a bit too heavy and numerous to put in my suitcase for my flight home, my brother brought them to me after his visit to NY since he drives!  So anyway, I finally got the wood and put it right on the lathe to make something for my niece to say thank you for the wood!  

I made a vase that is emerging from the log;  I was able to save the bark and put on a finish to preserve it.  This vase stands about 11" tall.

The other side stands a bit off-center which is just what I tried to make happen and this time, I was successful!  I can't wait to give it to my niece!  She is a DIY kinda gal like me

 and loves all things wood, too.

It's fun to think the wood has traveled the whole east coast and it is now back to its 'birth' place!

It was so nice to spot a butterfly that I see 1100 miles south of here, too!  The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail spent many long minutes among the lovely smelling phlox!

These are the 8' tall Heliopsis my Dad planted so many years ago and the patch that I took my root from to plant in my yard!  

The rain storm over the weekend knocked down some of the outer stalks so I snapped of

 the ends to bring inside for a bouquet to enjoy!  

While it was nice to be able to walk outside and sit on the patio for a while, it was also nice to come back inside to A/C and crochet/knit in comfort!

 

SHADES OF BROWN

It's been a long time since I have had a gopher tortoise in the yard!  His shell is about 11" long so you have an idea of his size which means he is a fully mature female (10-15 years old!) .

The latest skein of yarn off the spinning wheel is at 200 yards and is the closest to the olive color I was aiming to achieve!

And the latest vase off the lathe--it is made from a small chunk of Black Walnut. It is about 9" tall and 3" wide at the base.  I used beeswax for the finish and it feels delicious in your hands!  Since the temperatures are still around the 100+F mark, I am very grateful for the window A/C unit Bill installed right over where I work or I wouldn't be able to work in the garage at all!

 

HALF A LOG BOWL

I used half of the log to make this bowl. 

 It is the Bradford Pear wood that my grandson brought to me.

It was reputed to be a great wood to work with 

and it didn't disappoint!

I have the bowl sanded and the first layer of sanding sealer on. First thing today, I will give it a good sanding and another coat.  Then I have to head about an hour away to a doctor's appointment-not so much fun!  But I invited a friend to come along and we will go to lunch together and do a bit of Hobby Lobby shopping to sweeten the deal!

START OFF THE WEEK

I headed out yesterday morning to cut some more pieces of wood to play with on the lathe.  I want to make some fancy ornaments!  Practice will be the key!  On the left are several pieces of Cypress, the center pieces are of Live Oak and the two on the right are from a downed Poplar tree. It was 52F which is chilly for us but the wind was very brisk 

so I had on a sweatshirt--not something I often wear!

Back at the house I finished quilting this on the frame and then picked out some fabric for binding. 

 I will apply it this morning, I hope!

I did play with some more of the shadow blocks-

-only two more rows to go!

 

IN ACTION!

The morning went fine after the mammogram; 

 what a barbaric test anyway! 

 Well, when I got home, I couldn't wait to get out and play....it was a lot of work and I am sore this morning but it was worth it! 

 I got so much wood sorted and cut into manageable chunks

 in just a few hours!  

See, all labeled and sized to grab and put right on the lathe whenever I want to now!  I am going to cut a bit more this morning and finish sorting through the pile and then I will move into the studio and get creative with fabric for a change!  

 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

Bill helped me split a piece of Magnolia for a small bowl.

I drilled a hole to hold it the worm screw and set to work.

In no time, I had a beautifully shaped bowl and could see some spalting in the wood; always a bonus.

Soon enough, it was sanded and shellac was added.

When it was dry, I turned it around in the chuck and began to hollow it out.

I decided to leave the top edge uneven as the wood was shaped, called a live edge; I merely softened the edges with some sanding.

The shellac will be dry and ready for its debut in about an hour. 

 I need to sand it and add one last coat. 

 I will do that this morning because I ran out of time yesterday!

 

FINISHING UP LOOSE ENDS

I don't think I posted the final pics of the black walnut bowl!

  It is 4" wide and 5" high.

The chipped out bit became a 'design feature' 

once it is sanded out and smooth!  I'm glad I didn't give up on it!

The Christmas quilt is now washed and dried

 and put away until December!

I am very glad to say all of my hand stitching survived beautifully!

I decided this quilt needed a bit of enlarging with borders; 

 they are just right what it needed!  I will stitch them on

 when I get home from a bit of a trip-

I'm heading north to visit my parents

 and to share my Mom's 90th birthday party!

 

WOOD AND FLOWERS

This little bowl (4" wide and 3" high) is almost finished, I will be removing the tenon on the bottom and sign it first.

I do love the beautiful grain and deep color of this wood;  it is from a little chunk from a tree my sister cut down at her home in NY and I rescued it from the firewood stack!  

This is going to her for a thank you!

And the 'odd' flying saucer bowl I made last week has had a bit of work done on it;  I cut off the flange 

and  I like the way it looks a lot better.

A bit chipped off the side where there was a knot and I just smoothed off the dip and like what it adds to the look! 

I took a little tour after filling the bird feeders and enjoyed the flowers--your hibiscus,

blackberry lilies,

Passion fruit vines,

and even a fruit from the vine, 

Crinem, 

and one of the many pagoda plants!!!!

 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

I have been working on the finish on the outside of the the brown birch bowl-lots of sanding and Shellac, repeat!

But yesterday, I moved on to the the inside of the piece 

and made a bowl!  

I love to see the pile of shavings as I remove the wood to make it just so!

The putty has hardened and made a good repair in the crack (which was a chain saw stutter!

Today, I have to turn the bowl around and take off the tenon, 

sign it and take its glamour shots!

 And look what I have in the window over the lathe where I work!!!  An A/C unit! It's not enough to cool the whole garage to 74* but it sure will take the humidity and heat down and every little bit will be much appreciated!  

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

The Brown Birch branch has become a live edge bowl.  

The evidence of the many branches in this crotch piece makes some very interesting grain lines!

The papery bark sanded down to a lovely brown bark

 which is very attractive..

The bowl is 6" wide and 4 1/2" high. 

 I have the next project all picked out already!