Turn on Chicago- Anyone out there going?

I really would like to meet up with some of you during the Chicago event that starts already next Friday. If any of you are going, click on this post and drop me a comment- remember: two heads are always better than one! Look forward to hearing from you!

And then there was wood burning....

 Here I am getting a little wild with the wood burner pen. This is a good view of my twisted bottoms I am modeling for the first time. I dip the piece in mineral oil and let it sit overnight before I begin burning. This softens the wood and intensifies the color by increasing the heat of the pen.

Here's the life of an artist. Huddled in the corner with one light, burner, and a fan vent......

A beautiful day for a little carving....

Pfeil carving knives. Don't you dare buy anything else. Taking advantage of a beautiful day outside today to finish carving my links on this piece of quilted maple. I'm getting to the end so the pressures on after investing over 10 hours into the piece. If you have never invested that amount of time into something 1/8th of an inch think, I do recommend it. As the quote goes, "It changes a man". But seriously, a lot is learned when dealing with gallery pieces like this one.

It's never too early....

Good morning, Sadie! 6am and Sadie was interested in what was going on in the shop! She thought it was a great time to clean up, do you like her outfit? Have a great turn everyone!

Glass cabinets

Took some time to put these glass cabinets together but when they're all finished they look pretty nice . Here's 1 of 2. 60 dollars for the pair on craigslist what a deal!

A messy situation

 Is it wrong to have your 10 year old daughter clean up the waste if it is taller than she is? Well...she did give me some homemade clean up the garage coupons for clean up (very cute). As I look closer at them there is no stipulations on volume of chips.....(:                                                                                                                                         

It was a "rough" night last night.

Flame Box Elder- Excellent maple cousin....

Flame Box Elder Natural Edge 11 inches

 Here's some great flame Box Elder natural edge bowls from todays work. There are some woods that just do well as a certain form. Flame Box for instance is excellent as a natural edge because its decorative figure and coloring screams non-functional. Box Elder, if you haven't worked with it is a dream to work wet. It is like butter. When it dries it sand very easily and takes a great finished luster.

Figured Maple Closed Vessel

Hey! Finished piece 8x8 Figured Maple.

Really would like to work this top a bit more on different forms.
Ripple makes it look like it's swirling. Luck or chance?
 I think not my friends!   

Can't see it but I left a little tail at the bottom to indicate'
that it should be presented on its' side. Mineral oil and
Brushing Lacquer polished with 0000 wool.

Comments now open to all!

Sorry, folks. It seems that I had the comment ability restricted. Should be open to all now. Thanks for your patience with my electronic inadequacies! Look forward to hearing from you!

Organic top on a closed form

Its been hotter than a two dollar pistol here in Milwaukee. I have felt such a sense of shame the last few days for not giving the shop the attention it deserves. I was up at 4:30 this morning (it was only 98 degrees during that time) to finish this piece. It took about 3 hours to do the rough sculpting as you see here. I like the organic look of the top and may advance it to my next piece and see how it goes. That's what it is all about, find out what is working and move it into the next piece to see how far you can push it.