Category Archives: trees

Late June

Posted on June 27, 2020 by

“If man is ever going to admit that he belongs to the earth, not the other way round, it probably will be in late June. Then it is that life surpasses man’s affairs with incredible urgency and outreaches him in … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Making the Best of It

Posted on March 29, 2020 by

Limits encourage creativity.  This is evident in many aspects of life, such as when a resourceful home cook manages to create a splendid meal from the few things left in the cupboard.  Or when an aging athlete expertly adapts his … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, finding wood, layout, Lettering, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged | 26 Comments

Liking Lichens

Posted on January 27, 2020 by

What is produced by a free stroke charms us, like the forms of lichens and leaves. There is a certain perfection in accidents which we never consciously attain. — Henry David Thoreau, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers … Continue reading →

Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, nature, quotes and excerpts, spoons, trees, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Ambrosia Maple Bowl

Posted on January 8, 2020 by

A little bread—a crust—a crumb— A little trust—a demijohn— Can keep the soul alive— — Emily Dickinson, from Poem 159 (1896) Looking back, I was surprised at how long it had been since I’d carved a lettered bowl like this.  … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, figure, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Thankful for Birds and Trees

Posted on November 28, 2019 by

  This past summer, we were fortunate to have a pair of wrens make a home in our yard.  We enjoyed watching them flit around and hearing them sing.  It also reminded me of my grandmother who loved her “Jenny … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Mulberry Rooster Bowl

Posted on September 15, 2019 by

In summer, the birds and I eat the mulberries from my neighbor’s tree.  We have a deal; the birds get the high ones and I get the low ones.  The other way around proved to be far too dangerous. A … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, finding wood, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Two Upcoming Exhibitions

Posted on September 3, 2019 by

If you’re in the neighborhoods of Asheville, NC or Rockport, ME, there are two exhibitions coming up that may interest you. Opening first is Spoonin’: A Showcase of Handcrafted Spoons that will run from 14 September through 13 October at … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, events, spoons, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Welcome Sign

Posted on May 18, 2019 by

I’ve never come across a redwood tree in my neck of the woods, but now I’ve carved the wood for the first time.  I’ve had this board (18″ x 9 1/2″ x 1″) kicking around since it was given to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, trees, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

First Snow

Posted on January 21, 2019 by

This weekend brought us our first significant snowfall of the winter, about a foot waiting for my snowshoes.  Here are a few photos from yesterday’s walk, along with an excerpt from the poem First Snow by Mary Oliver who passed … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, photography, quotes and excerpts, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Slippery Elm Bowls

Posted on August 13, 2018 by

There’s no better way to understand the working properties of a wood species than to carve a chunk of it.  Its character is revealed through experience with it,  including subtle nuances that are difficult to communicate.  Different trees within the … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, finding wood, paint, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 11 Comments