Time for an update. My burl bowl is finished. What a great experience. Ray’s finishing skills pay strict attention to detail. His experience from the galleries he supplies is that the smallest imperfection in the finish is picked up and the item is returned to him, so he is very particular about his work. Good learning curve for me, with a lesson in: ”what the eye can’t see the hand can still feel”. Signing my name on the base of my bowl with the engraver pen felt really good. The final bowl is really amazing; don’t think I will ever be able to part with it!
We also had an evening at the club making snowmen. That was fun. Many a nose was dropped and lost to amongst the shavings and had to be remade. Anyone dropping in to the club would have wondered what some of the big guys were doing crawling around on the floor - looking for a tiny nose! The snowmen are quite cute. I ended up bringing half a dozen home for the girls to paint. A bit tricky when the scarf, arms etc. were glued on but fun nonetheless.
I made a set of knife handles for a Christmas present, buying the steel for a cheese knife, butter knife and cake server. I got all my woodturned gifts off to SA with Grahame on his recent trip back. A few pens and honey dippers, which turned out rather nice, made their way to Durban. Just finished the UK presents now and need to think about the Australian ones next. Set myself the task of making all my Christmas presents this year, which has been good. It’s nice to think of someone when you make something for them.
Started another bowl at Anne’s. Seemed to get off to a slow start but was getting some very fine cuts made by the time I was finishing the outside and the resulting smoothness of the wood is a pleasure to feel. Anne also gave me a big platter blank to turn so can’t wait to do that. Would like to make some wooden bangles for the girls to put in their Christmas stockings. Only 2 Monday nights left so not much time.
Went to the woodturning Christmas lunch this weekend. Was awarded my beginners course certificate to “Snakes Jackson” but that’s another story about 3 snakes in my washing machine….
Today we were down at the club again helping with a working bee. A new shed has gone up and help was needed putting in shelves, cutting up and cataloging wood and clearing the area around the clubhouse. I did a band saw operators course last week so was able to help with some of the cutting. It was also good marking the cuts of wood as I learned a few new woods and got quite familiar with their look. We cooked up sausages for everyone’s lunch; the girls helped and rode around in the wheelbarrow. Shona had her first try on my lathe and has been bitten too by the looks of things. She didn’t want to stop after she learned basic skills and then we made a pen together. Down at the club they have a couple of lathes that can be lowered for someone in a wheelchair so they will be lowered for the kids class in the holidays, which Shona has signed up for. Jessica has started pyrography on a Monday night too and seemed to really enjoy it. Chainsaw course next, more bowls and final Christmas presents.
Kept thinking about names so I can make labels for the things I make. I like the sound of the word Kookaburra, as they seem to sit and watch me turning and laugh raucously too, hopefully not at what I am producing! Was wondering how to work Kookaburra into a company name. Couldn't think of anything that related to my name. Also think your name has to explain what you do so perhaps need the word woodturning in it. Anne tried to introduce me to clock making this week but I was determined to make a bowl. Grahame also mentioned clocks tonight as no one else is really doing clocks. Perhaps turning burl clocks would be unique and then at the supper table we thought of Kookaburra Clocks! Now that has a nice ring to it….
