New Items

Sometimes there are to many items that take up time from the hobbies and activities that you'd much rather be doing. Lately I have been taking a Project Management Class at the local Junior College. It has been a great class but I am happy to move on and do more hobbies such as skiing, fishing and woodworking!

Over the Easter weekend I made, or at least finished a few really cool things! First off I will mention the collage.I started a monthly challenge on Esty's Woodworkers as a fun way to force new ideas, designs and show off the talents of the many wonderful artist.

April's Challenge brought forth by TheHickoryTree was to build a collage. Extra scraps, a little sanding, some glue. Yeah I thought I could do this.

I started out with the idea of flowers and perhaps asters (daisy's) in mind. I started out with some extra scraps that I cut into somewhere equal in  thickness. Next I had to reevaluate how the wood was shaping up. I had some great manzanita, birds-eye-maple, and cherry stock. Well each time I tried to make my original plan, but it wasn't quite working. I decided to have a bite to eat and reference John Muir Laws The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada . I love Orchids but the intricacy of designing my favorite (Mountain Lady Slipper) just wasn't going to happen. Pansies and monkey flowers on the other hand are much easier. Plus who can go wrong with tulips or even better yet, California Poppies!

So in the end that is what I went with. A beautiful mixed collage of flowers!

Next I was asked to make a Votive Candle Holder out of Manzanita. I had made one for my little sister years ago. It was log style, cleaned to a sheen, then drilled for candles. Ok, this wouldn't be to bad. I made the base and was ready to drill holes. Not sure of the width due to the wide range of candle thickness.To see the final purchase see below!

So I decide to try something new, well almost. I was making thin strips for the collage out a piece adjacent to the item on the right. I decided to keep making cut until I had. made a nice equal square. Once I had the square established, I took dad's extra coaster's he had made, and placed them around the square stock.

 This branch here was actually covered over completely until I exposed the interior!

The contrast is great! 

One of my favorite items to make are Vases with large glass tubes that are visible. These pieces of natural wood are hard to come across. When I do find one I turn into a five year old who just found another Easter Egg! This piece came from an river canyon while fishing. Although the hike was only 1/4mile and I didn't catch anything (although Christine may have caught poison oak from me) I did find this great piece of wood!!

Lastly, I made this cool little vase a while ago, but I haven't displayed it until today. I made two of them at the same time. My little sister has the other one. She brought me homemade jam so I though a little flower vase would be an appropriate way to say thank you! The colors and shapes in the grain are awesome. Burl wood is the most amazing stuff!

I just placed these on the etsy website, hopefully they sell. If you know someone who'd like them send my name along. I am actually thinking of give away's for those who give me a few sales!!

Here are the small candle holder I made. I think they are great. Anna should get them today or tomorrow! I will post them with their final finish (photo's are on Christine's camera).