Fluted Pots

As the last pot i made in this style was received so well, i thought i had better make a few more in the hope of selling them at a couple of forthcoming shows im doing.

All of the pots shown are made from fresh felled sycamore, i also changed the name from "Cup Cake Pots" to, "Fluted Pots", now all i have to do is sell them.

Cup Cake Pot

New style of pot for me this, the pot itself is made from a big lump of Sycamore and the upper surface retains the outer radius of the tree itself, i had hoped to keep the bark on the pot, but i knocked it during the manufacturing process and damaged it, so i had to go.

The name?, well, it looks like a gert big cup cake, so it seemed the natural thing to call it.

Second Event Of The Weekend

Took part im my second show of the weekend today, the event was in support of a local conservation group that i am involved with.

Each year the group holds a family fun day, unfortunately the weather was not overly brilliant and that was certainly a contributing factor to the low turnout.

I spent a few hours on the edge of the woods making green wood whistles for the kids and the two boys busied themselves with doing fire by friction demonstrations. Despite the weather, we all had a great time and are already looking forward to next years event.

Summer Fete

Enjoyed a really great day at the Sir Robert Woodard Academy at their Summer Fete, i had a small stand, ok a couple of tables, at the event and had a number of different products on display and for sale, including Fan Birds, Wooden Rakes, Spoons, Spatulas, Bowls plus a few other bits and bobs.

This years event was 1960's themed and participants were encouraged to dress up and enter into the spirit of things, what did i do, well, in the run up i played Mr Grumpy and maintained i wasn't going to do anything, but then on the day, i surprised everyone by dressing up in a hippie wing, John Lennon round specs, head band and CND Medalion.

It was a really enjoyable day out, made a few pennies and there were a few lovely sights to be had too, one of which, was NOT me in my hippie wig.

Quick Bimble

Sunlight through Beech leaves.

Hugo of BCUK and i went for an impromptu bimble earlier today, i was supposed to join him yesterday but events during the storm on Tuesday night meant i needed to stay at home, so we arranged to go out today.

We didn't really do much i suppose, well we did a bit of carving, i went on the hunt for a few wild edibles and took my time to admire the spring flora, and we drank loads of tea and generally put the world to rights as you do, it was nice to get away from the workshop and the looming show season for a day, all starts again tomorrow though, more products to make, orders to fill and get everything ready for two events this weekend - no rest for the wicked i guess?.

Beech Serving Spoon

Made a small serving spoon today out of some beech that was at the bottom of the wood pile, was tough going, but worth it i think, even if it is just for the superb grain patterns within the wood.

The spoon is pictured resting on the opposing half of the log that bore it, and out of which im hoping i will be able to get an eating spoon at the very least.

The photo below shows the side elevation of the spoon, not a bad shape considering it came from a relatively straight log.

This is a style, that i really enjoy carving, but you do have to aware of the massive amount of end grain in the handle, but despite the handle being fairly thin in the vertical plane, it is carved in such a way that the grain itself remains long and therefore retains some strength, a study of the photo will show the grain length.

The spoon was completed with a fine tooled finish and then oiled with pure Tung oil, to protect the spoon from food acids and to really make the grain patterns pop.

Lily Cutting.

Spent a good day up at the lakes today, the main reason for being there was to conduct a survey in one of the ponds as part of a scientific research paper that has been commissioned by the Environment Agency and for which they are using our lakes as part of the study. 

Once the guys conducting the research were set up and away doing their thing, i grabbed my lily cutter (Scythe blade mounted to an extending pole saw handle) and cut back most of the Yellow Water Lily's in one of the ponds, we have to do this each year as the lily's are invasive and if left unchecked, they would soon cover the majority of the waters surface, we don't remove all of them though, as we need to maintain some cover for the fish and other pond life, but we take, probably 95% of them.

It's a shame that we have to do it, as the lily is quite a pretty plant and has a lovely yellow bloom, but needs must and this is a necessary function of the management scheme we have in place.  Once the leaves have been cut and removed, we pile them on the bank, but importantly, close to the water, so any invertebrates that have been caught in the work can find their way back to the water and help maintain a healthy eco system.