Sunday, November 13, 2011

Summer Season in Yosemite is Complete!

Summer Season in Yosemite is Complete!

I have had a grand season in Yosemite hiking here there and everywhere! I love Yosemite's grandeur. Both in the Valley and outside in the back country where few go. It is definitely one of the most amazing places in the world! Being born and raised in the local communities where tourist income is the main revenue and they flood the towns with fervor. Some locals complain but they do not realize the value and beauty that surrounds them. I guess I have been lucky enough to have experienced the outdoors to the fullest and realize the importance of having such an amazing part of the planet in my backyard.

As a youth and young man my friends all called me Goat. I guess it was the rock climbing  and incredible balance that started it. As facial hair became a part of my life and I grew a goatee the name Goat was a larger fixture. When internet became bigger and bigger and email was new form of communication. I decided to come up with a unique name that fit me very well. YosemiteGoat was born!! I have used the name ever since and have continued to do so with my Yosemite Art Style and YosemiteGoat's Woodworking.
 
Today YosemiteGoat's Woodworking is composed of myself, my father Jim, and my girlfriend Christine. We each play specific roles that make the business/hobby a wonderful venture. Well, adventure would be more appropriate. I make a large majority of the items and the styles. I also maintain the business portions such as the blog, etsy and the simple book keeping. My father Jim has half of the shop tools and makes almost all the other items. My father is an excellent guy who has eccentric, out side the box, ideas. He is a great inspiration. Jim has an excellent eye for gathering unique pieces of wood from unique places. I believe it has to do with his many years collecting firewood!! Then we have Christine, my lady =) Christine is Quality Assessment and Quality Control. Basically she decides if it needs to go back to the drawing board. If she wants to keep the item then we know it is a good one (she has had fair picking of items). Christine also writes many item descriptions on the business cards for sales at local shop. The combined help I receive from these wonderful people make YosemiteGoat's Woodworking better than I could do alone.


I love making my Candle Holders from Manzanita. I would have to say they are the best sellers because the wood is so amazing. I make a variety of styles and a variety of tea candle cups. Styles include flat surface, natural, burl, arched, and square stock. If you would like a special order, please contact me and I will make one unique and specifically for you. I hand pick special request to ensure you receive the best I have to offer.



Awesome little candle stand. You have to check out the grain!! 
My etsy sight has some other close ups as well




My first Pepper Mill. A client asked me to make one out manzanita because she enjoys the fabulous colors the wood has. This was a wonderful challenge and I have ordered 2 pairs of mechanisms to make more. Now that I have an understanding of the full components and mechanisms involved, I am ready to make a few more that come out awesome and will be ready for sales. The next few should be ready for Christmas time and presents for friends and family!!


















These items are all from a small section of big leaf maple. The grain structure, coloring and spalting is some of the best I have seen in a while. These pieces will be great attractions anywhere and in any home!
 I love turning wood and having chips fly and wondering what will appear when you remove all the bark, exterior wood and get into the amazing colors that you hope will come! The joy of discovery is a min reason turning wood is so much fun.





 

 Buckeye Burl. Some of the rarest wood to find that has such amazing colors and designs!
This item is currently for sale on Etsy!

 Rustic Pine Candle Holder. A super cool new addition.
Oak, nothing else is ever like it. This burl vase was made by my father on the new lathe. 

I hope you have enjoyed. In the next week I am planning a pre-Thanksgiving sale at 20% off. I will provide a sales password for Etsy which you enter in during checkout. This sales is for friends and family who love my work and can get a few Christmas items out of the way and have some choice picks of what I have made.The Pass code coupon is: YOSEMITE. Sale has begun and will go until Thanksgiving.


Pine Cone Vase
 Big Leaf Maple Candle Holder
 Big Leaf Maple Cribbage Board

Nature and Love, Heart made Modern
Made from Incense Cedar (calocedrus decurrens)

 Small Big Leaf Maple vase from a fold in the tree

Amazing Winding Oak Cribbage Board 

Monday, October 17, 2011

Things Are 'Turning' Out Fine

         As of Friday, my woodworking life has 'turned' out great!! A new lathe has made all the difference. This new lathe has been spoken about, discussed and pondered about for almost two years. Now that Yosemite Goat's Woodworking has become such a great success, a chance to invest in new and improved machinery is the reality. The Lathe specifics: turning speed from 100rpms to 4000rpms; dial for changing rpms!!!; 17" radius and 42" in length; 12" bar rest; 375lbs (does not wobble!!); and one happy woodworker.  The Lathe arrived Thursday and we assembled it Saturday morning. A little testing to make sure all moving parts were functioning properly and we were ready for a real turn. OK.... I reread all the instructions, double checked all the parts, made sure the lathe was level, sharpened each and every tool even though they didn't need it, adjusted the speed dial again, etc, etc. Yeah, pretty excited and didn't want to break anything. So I started in on a piece of oak I had been saving. I have turned a number of items and thought it was pretty slick, now turning is grand. Everything works so smoothly. Nothing is half broken. Nothing wobbles. And changing speed is as simple as changing the radio dial!!!!
          Here are some of the cool photos with the new lathe and the items that have been recently made. They are offered to those who visit my blog and are interested.  I like to give my customers some first picks. Send me an email or message if you are interested and we can make arrangements through etsy. Thanks for stopping by! 
 

   
 Oak Vase - $35


 Spalted and with Birds Eye,  Maple - $40



 Oak Vase - $35




 Live Oak $25

 Manzanita, fresh cut, cracked during drying, I still think it is beautiful!! $25

 Awesome manzanita vase- not sure on the price yet, make me an offer!! best offer sells =)

 Big Leak Maple- small vase- $25

 My father's manzanita vase, I am not certain if he'd like to sell it but if you give him a nice offer I am certain he will! 6" tall, 5" wide
He was given an offer and it is now in the home of a friend!



Yosemite Artwork styles include unique colors , shapes and sizes. If there are any request please let me know. I have received a request for another pair of manzanita salt n pepper shakers. Now that I have the new Lathe the will 'turn' out this coming week!


 Fall Colors in Yosemite are amazing right now!!!