February News

Winter Continued

Cherry Vase with Rhododendron Twigs

I have this theory of creativity that it’s like a stream that always needs to be flowing through me. The world is always presenting me things: images, ideas, objects and I have to choose to either let them go or to transform them and release them back into the world.  In terms of my wood collection, I learned a lesson about the pitfalls of holding on too long. 

I cracked open a cherry log that I had kept in my garage for about three or four years wrapped in tarp to keep it moist for bowl-making.  Once split apart, I saw that it was rotten all the way through and spongy chips broke off with ease.  Fungus had had a feast and consumed it.  Lesson learned.  Keep things moving in and out, don’t hold on too long.  It’s something I have to keep working at.

In my first woodturning workshop back in 2016, my instructor pointed out that where we live in the northeastern US, you have to pay to dispose of wood. So, one of the advantages of working with fresh cut wood, or greenwood as it’s called, is that it’s usually free of charge. I find a good deal of what I use through woodturning friends or on the side of the road.

Rotten Cherry Logs

In the spirit of using up saved wood before it’s too late, I cut open a log that I got from my uncle last spring.  It’s a wood that I have never worked with before, or even seen used.  The common name for the tree is Redbud, and it’s a small ornamental tree planted in parks or yards for its bright purple flowers that bloom in the spring.  My uncle’s tree was damaged in a storm and couldn’t be saved.  The bark has a reddish tone, but when I opened it up, the heart wood was a saturated greenish yellow. 

Fresh cut Redbud log

Mindful that different species will change color as they dry and age, I’ll be watching what happens long term.  For now, I have a shallow bowl with bright yellow-brown coloring.  It’s always exciting to try out a new wood species.

Bowl made from Redbud

For the rest of the month I’ll be working on some special projects and getting ready for a spring update in my Etsy shop. If you have a special project in mind, please reach out!

I’ll write again in March.

Julia