Christopher Robin and I

I took my kids to see Winnie, The Pooh at the theater a couple of weeks ago, and the strangest thing inspired me. A friend had given me a piece of Walnut, and here we are. It is about 8" high. The center band is bleached, and then the whole thing is finished with orange tinted shellac. I then gilded the top with Dutch Metal (imitation gold leaf) for the honey. Not an exact replica, and I need to re-take the photo without so much glare, but the kids love it.

A new market?

I have been working with pool balls a little bit. I have done some peppermills and small boxes, and working on a few other designs. Yesterday, my mom2 (long story) called and said she met someone through her work that was interested in my stuff. He owns a billiard's store, and is interested in having putting some of my stuff on consignment.

I think this not only opens up a new avenue for me, but has inspired me to try a few new things, and hopefully a new niche. I love it when I get motivated.

Wood haul, and changing times

I've had my some of my work in a shop in downtown Glendale for awhile now. A few things have sold, nothing spectacular, but I was beginning to wonder if it was the right venue. It was more of a curio shop than anything else, and they had some of my pricier items. I went in there yesterday to have some engraving done, and they informed me that they were changing the format of the store. They were going to get rid of all their consignment stuff and concentrate on their cookie business. Well...problem solved, they want my stuff out after Christmas.

Well, OK, I can handle that. I wasn't sure it was the right fit anyway, it was just a start. I walked into another shop a few doors down, and immediately formed a new relationship. It is more of a "mens" curio shop, with unique gifts for men. They are interested in seeing many of my items, and I will be making an appointment next week to show them some shaving sets, etc. Keep your fingers crossed.

I also spent the day chasing down wood. I got some Sissoo and Acacia from a friend in East Mesa, and ended up getting some Alligator Juniper from my uncle who was down from the eastern part of the state.  That species of Juniper is named for it's bark, which resembles Alligator hide. It is a very soft wood, and as such, is actually hard to turn and get a good finish. Most turners don't like such soft wood, and I admit, I really don't either. However, between the smell when I am turning it, and the finished product, which I think is beautiful, it wins. At Right is a pic of a previous Alligator project I did.

Time is not on my side

I don't know about other artists, or even other turners, but my creativity runs in spurts. I feel like I really need to capitalize on it when it comes, because it will be gone soon. I have even resorted to carrying around a small notepad that I can jot ideas down on as they come, because I know they will be long gone by the time I get home. Even then, sometimes the sketch does not translate to what my brain really wants to do.

Lately, I have been experimenting on a few pieces of Walnut a friend gave me. I also have several different peppermill designs down that I need to beta test before I demonstrate them for my club in September. I also  have been kicking around an idea I got from Stephen Hatcher, a turner who does a lot of design with crushed mineral inlay and combining that with some of my own ideas.

Here is one of the experiments. It didn't turn out exactly like I had expected, but close enough to spark some new ideas and give me a different direction to go in. It is hollowed so it is very light, and has copper pipe and Turquoise Inlace (an imitation turquoise- epoxy type material) inlaid at 8 places around the base.