The Dream

What is your dream?

Don’t have a dream, then you are not really alive.

So get one!

Here’s mine (but you need to get your own as I‘m keeping mine)!

This exquisite piece of wood was a gift from Anne. It will wait for my skill level to catch up with its potential!

By the time I turn 50: I will be a wood turner of note, spending my days in my workshop on our farm, turning bowls. My window will look down the hill to the trees by the creek, where the horses like to stand. Sawdust curls will stream from my lathe and bowls will emerge with shape and form that is natural and unique to each individual piece of wood. I will love it all and feel so incredibly lucky. I will continue to develop my skill with the talented Australians in this area and visit wood turning exhibitions in other parts of the world, maybe even giving the odd demo to show what lady turners are capable of! (Well you‘ve got to dream haven’t you?)

Ahh isn't that a nice story – have to go. Time to start living it.

Until next time, Susan.

The leopard skin bowl is finished. Nearly ended up with a hole through it as Eddie demonstrated how to remove the base at the club. It jumped in the chuck, musn’t have been in right, hence the hole. After a swear which escaped my lips I was relieved to see it rescued. Ended up a different bowl but will just have to make another one now!

Began my third attempt at a mallet. First was the wrong shape, second was not a good piece of wood, third is a lovely piece of Camphor which Vince started me off on. Not really got any desire to make a mallet so will endeavour to finish it on Monday night as have a list of things I want to make next – a mortar and pestle for crushing egg shells to feed back to our chooks (sounds nice and Australian doesn’t it), little spinning tops for my girls, a handle for the tool Brad gave me and the thought that I would like to make all my Christmas presents this year as special gifts.

I went early to Anne’s this Tuesday as my youngest two girls were receiving awards at school later in the morning, at a Gold Award morning tea with the Principal. I wanted to make something for them as a small gift to say well done. Alison had made such a lovely tree last week and Anne had several interesting designs on her shelf, so we decided two were achievable in the time available. The little trees were fun to turn and it was a case of working quickly to hit the time deadline. They polished up beautifully and I raced off to school. I was a very proud mum when the awards were handed out. Afterwards they put their hands in my bag to feel for what was there for them. Their delight and their school success gave a warm glow.

Sms/text message received from a mum at my daughters' school:

" Wow! Congratulations on your achievement at the Gold Coast Show! Shona"

My surprised reply:

" Thanks Shona but I haven't got there yet, going tomorrow, did you see my cheese knife? S"

"YES! It won a prize!"

"No ways!! I am so excited"

Following day = family outing to see mum's achievement.

The Gold Coast Woodturners had set up a wonderful exhibition of wood turning at the Gold Coast Show. Amazing, quality work, beautifully finished. Not quite sure how my novice effort was placed 2nd - yes 2nd, maybe there weren't many entries in that category or something : ) however must say I was very proud. The girls got the chance to make a small pyrography bird picture, encouraged by Ray, which was a lovely way for them to have fun on the stand. We watched Eddie & Vince at the lathe and the girls were thrilled with the little wooden boxes they came away with. A word about Ray - Ray turns burls (they are like a growth you see on the side of a tree) into incredible bowls. I watched his demo one evening at the club (he is the advanced class tutor). Was very inspiring. He said he'd mentioned to Anne we must go round to his workshop. I told him he may regret that invitation. I already joke to Anne that she'll be closing the curtains when she sees me coming soon!

And so this incredible journey in wood continues....

We have the best tutors at the Woodturning club - Anne & Peter. Anne is the most genuine, generous person who also let's me use her lathe at home. In addition to the 3 hours at the club on a Monday night, I go round to Anne's (just a few mins drive away) for another couple of hours on a Tues morning. Alison joined us this week too. I completed the inside of my bowl made from a piece of Silky Oak. It just needs the spigot on the base taken off on Mon night then my first bowl will be finished! Oh the satisfaction, I cannot explain the feeling of achievement and amazment at what I created. The grain is like the hide of an animal, the spots of a leopard or tiny ripples in the sand when the tide goes out. Alison made a miniature Christmas tree; it was lovely. Anne advises, teaches and encourages with such spirit. I feel very lucky.

Also took my husbands cheese knife round to Anne's, to enter in the Gold Coast Show - more for the experience than anything else. Haven't really got any piece good enough at this early stage but intend to have something dazzling in to the next Mudgee show!!

My first creations!
I joined the local wood turning club after watching a demo at an agricultural show. Was hooked on the first night. Amazing to work with the wood, the colours, the grain, the feel of it, the smoothness. Yes, she is hooked.
Started with the honey dippers, large, more refined and then the dinky version. Lots of fun to play with the design. Couldn't believe I could make something after one night at the beginners class. My dad has the first one to open in his birthday parcel.
The cheese knife gave such a great sense of achievement. It was for my husband, for his birthday. Had to wait a week between making it and giving it to him. Was so proud couldn't wait for him to open it!
And then the bowl, my first bowl, green turned ie from a piece of wood that was a tree 2 days earlier. What an experience! Wet shavings flying over my shoulder, into my hair, down my shirt. Can't describe what an amazing experience it was to turn green. The wood was a piece of Camphor Laurel. The smell was intoxicating and the grain so incredible. It turned so easily and the shape seemed to appear before my eyes. The curve at the rim seems just right. Now it's packed in amongst its shavings in a plastic bag, so it doesn't dry too quickly. It was turned rough and I get to work on it again 3 months from now. Ah but can I wait that long.......

To blog or not to blog - that was the question. What to blog was next. Then I discovered wood turning. Seriously addicted after the first class. Read on!