My Gallery
Much of my work is found in Works for Sale and Sold Works but this is some I wish to highlight
Just a few of my latest projects
Much of the work I do, involves me letting the wood and lathe speak to me about what can be created but sometimes, I start with a project of a problem to solve for someone.
Making the Most of the Wood
One of the challenges of working on a large bowl is thinking about all the wood chips that you are creating that could have been have been a smaller bowl. Last winter I got a bowl saver which would allow you to "save" the wood from becoming wood chips and have been doing some experimenting. The two pieces to the right are from the same birch bowl are the results of a successful experimentation.
Dragon Coasters
In the fall of 2021, my daughter asked for large coasters to put down on her glass top desk to minimize noise. I decided to make a set of four, all from the same piece of cherry. To make them more decorative, I decided to put dragons on them as she likes dragons. I thought about different methods and decided on using a permanent marker after some initial finishing. I scanned Pinterest for some pictures and found these royalty free versions. I traced them on to each coaster and carefully coloured them in. Then a couple of layers of varathane and some buffing.
Retirement Walking Stick
In Spring of 2021 I was approached to make a special walking stick for the retirement of a local ophthalmological surgeon. Dr. Laroche had invented a surgical tool (shaped like a hook) and is an avid walker. So his staff wanted to get him a walking stick that was shaped like his surgical tool. This is the result. Made of maple, the hook top (10") is removable with a second knob piece that can be used in more rugged environments. I used hardware from LeeValley for the screw joint. It also has a Lee Valley brass bottom (which includes a spike tip for the icy months).
Kintsugi-style bowls
In August 2020, I spent some time trying to salvage some bowls that had split when drying or had weak points. I inserted bow shaped joins and then filled with epoxy resin. Some worked and some just did not. It turns out to be a lot harder filling curved pieces than you might think. And then the whole bowl had to be re-turned. It was an interesting exercise and the ones that worked sold well.
Segmented Cremation Urn
In March 2020, my mother died and my father wanted me to make a cremation urn for her. I choose two pieces of wood that had meaning for her - the beloved ash tree at their cottage and the maple tree that damaged their car during Hurricane Doiron. The woods were glued together alternatively and the layers were turned slightly so that the wood formed a spiral pattern.
Reflex Hammer
My Neurologist neighbour asked me to create a wooden reflex hammer (either tip of the "hammer" end is commercially available and needs replacing after whacking so many knees). I worked with him on the design, creating the appropriate weight. The lovely red wood is jarrah, an Australian wood that was once part of my barbecue stand. I have since been commissioned to make additional ones by specialists that have admired his.
Shillelagh
How many in our lifetime have the opportunity to work on a genuine Irish shillelagh. Sometime after it came to Canada with the client's husband's ancestor it was modified to tuck under the truck seat. I was able to source some blackthorn from Europe and return it closer to its original glory.
Paper Planting Pot Jigs
The Miltonvale Park Senior's Program had seen some planting pot jigs online but when they went to order in March, they were unavailable. Working from a picture and a reference to using a tomato paste tin for size I was able to build them a couple over a weekend. Canada Post delivered quickly and they were able to start their transplants.
Flagpole Holders
Miltonvale Park wanted to display their flags during Council meetings but the flag poles were missing holders. After some experimentation, the two maple flagpole holders were off to do the job.
