My dad is a big fan of classical music and growing up we would always listen to it during family dinners. He would always tell us about the music and the composer of the piece. One of these stories was of a composer who would lock himself in his basement until he was finished writing. As a kid, I couldn’t begin to understand how or why anyone would do something so drastic. But now, as an adult with my own workshop in the basement, the story comes back to me and I see the appeal.
It’s production time for holiday craft fairs. I need to be working on making as many ornaments and wooden goods as I can. But experimenting with new materials, forms and techniques is my favorite thing to do, even though it’s an inherently slow process and it gets in the way of getting much done. Queue my internal battle of strategy and production versus experimentation and play.
Recent experiments I’ve pursued include a food-safe stain and grain-filling finish for oak plates.
I’ve been learning and practicing how to make scoops on the lathe. I would like to offer workshops on scoop-making in the future, so I need to get good enough to teach them.
I have been trying out milk paint techniques on vases for visual interest. When it doesn’t go well, I sand it off and start again. I’ve tried it on poplar and oak and figured out how much to apply to avoid gray streaks where the paint is thinner.
All that aside, it’s time for me to get back to making ornaments. I would like to offer woodland-themed sets again this year and make some more mini-birdhouses. These last few days of warm weather in the Northeast are perfect for painting and finishing pieces outside and it’s time to make the most of it. Look for more mushrooms, acorns and pine trees coming from me in November.
Shop:
I have several items available through Rivertown General in Dobbs Ferry including this rolling pin.
Upcoming events:
10/19 Noon to 4:00 p.m. Brookfield Craft Center Open House - I’ll be demonstrating the lathe
10/26 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Turn a French-Style Rolling Pin workshop
11/30 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wood-Turned Holiday Ornaments workshop