Finished a couple of jobs

I managed to get done a couple of things done that I have been meaning to get round to for a while now, first was to fit some new legs to my axe block, I have been using an Ash block for years now and it finaly gave up the ghost the other day.
So I fitted some cleaved wood legs to this block I have had knocking around for a bit. Its a good height and comfortable to use for axe work over long a period.



The other job I got round to was to make a low holding bench for bowl carving and adze work.
You kneel next to the bench on either side as you work or for two handed adze work you can stand over it with your legs either side.





The bench was from a piece of a Sycamore tree that we felled and then ripped in half with the 064 because it was running like a dream that day!.



At the moment I have only added 4 holes for the pegs to hold the work but as I go on I will add a few more for different sizes of work, also you can use different sized pegs, this piece is tall so large pegs are being used but if the piece is smaller smaller pegs can be used so that they dont get in the way of the adze.

Kuksa for a friend.

I finished the kuksa that I showed in one of my past posts, there is a nice story behind it and now that the new owner has recieved it, I thought that I would share it with you.

A good friend of mine is being made reduntant from the company where I work, I will be sad to see him go as we pass each other every morning and have good chats about all sorts of subjects, one of his favourite subjects is handmade catapults and walking sticks, I have saved him wood in the past and he makes catapults from the forked bits of branches, he knows that I carve but has never seen any of my work so I thought that I would make him a Kuksa, its made from Birch and I have presented it in this box with dry wood chippings that are saved from the making of the Kuksa. I also cut a piece of the bark from the tree that the wood came from and hand written onto it some care instructions for the Kuksa.







I hope he enjoys using it for many years to come.
If your reading this fella good luck for the future and all the best to you and your family.

Simon.

Finished spoon commision.

I finished the spoon that was commisioned by Norman Stevens for his collection of 9 inch tea spoons. Norman is a collector of handmade spoons from Artisans from around the world, so I was honoured to be asked to add to his growing collection.

The spoon is made from Laburnum, and came from a tree that we were called out to at work, it was one of two that formed an archway to an old house, the owner believed it to be 100 years old, there was some rot at the base so we could only count around 60 rings. The tree was struck by a delivery van and had snapped in two, I saved some of the sound wood for projects including this spoon.









It was a shame that the tree had to come down after all the years it stood there but its good to make things out of wood like this, so it can live on in another form for years to come.

My little girls Kuksa.

I made a Kuksa for my little girl when she was 6 months old. She loves drinking water from it only she does tend to spill quite alot.
It is great making things and then seeing them being used around the house be it spoons, bowls, or even better Kuksas! I enjoy making them as gifts to give but seeing them being used for years to come is fantastic!.

A mornings work

Managed to get started on another Kuksa this morning, its made from Birch and there is going to be a bit of a story with this one but I can't give it away just yet!, all I can say at the moment is that it is for a good friend, I dont want to spoil the suprise.

The Birch is from some that I split the other week.






Pictured with the Kuksa are one of my carving knives in its sheath that I made and my new helve for my kent pattern axe, I didn't get on with the last short helve so I made this one which is just that little bit longer, I am getting on with it well and enjoying using it.

New spoon.

I thought that I'd get these pics up of a new spoon that I made from Alder, this one and another that I have just finished are for Norman stevens.
Who collects handmade spoons from artisans from around the world.
I'll get some pics up of the other one soon.

Birthday walk in my favourite woods.

Well today is my Birthday, 35 years young!.
We all went for a walk this morning bright and early in my favourite woods in Chadkirk, Its a great wood with some really nice big old Beech trees and I love exploring around there, Elizabeth is 19 months old and has been on this walk a couple of times now and she loves it. So we packed a bag and set off for the wood.
The buds are ready to burst at the minute and in the glorious sun we had today they looked superb!.






Elizabeth off exploring.



The Ramsons are covering everywhere at the minute and on the breeze you can smell them.



Its a stunning woodland walk and so picturesque.



Full of wildlife and Fungi.



Trametes suaveolens.

I saw this lovely piece of wood on a tree stump.






We all had a great walk and the sun has been shining all day, it has been a Birthday to remember spent with my family. Time now for cake!

All the best.

Birch spoon.

I finished another spoon last week made from Silver Birch, I've not been lucky enough to get any Birch for a while from work recently, so when a Birch job comes up I always grab some for spoons and if its a decent size trunk,I harvest some for Kuksa's.









I've carved the bowl quite thin on this one and when held up to the light it becomes translucent.

Cross commision so far.

I was asked to make a simple cross recently for a deceased pet.
Its made from 3 and a half inch by an inch and a half hardwood using a half lap joint, it stands at 30 inches tall by 17 inches wide making it 1:3 ratio.
I still have to varnish it and when the plaque is finished by the engravers fit the plaque.





The joint is a nice tight fit which is then glued



It makes a change not to work greenwood.

I'll get some pics up when its finished.

A nice day for carving

Today was a nice bright day so I got a bit more hewing done on the Poplar bowl, I was joined by my daughter who like me loves being outdoors. While she was playing in the garden I made a few more chips.



She had to wear her new wellys that she got the other day, she loves them and doesn't want to take off even for bed!.










I decided to take some time out from the bowl to split some Laburnum and some Birch for other projects.









The Birch will be for a spoon, a couple of Kuksas, and the Laburnum should make a few spoons.
I enjoyed my day and my daughter enjoyed exploring in the garden.

Poplar bowl update.

Well I managed to get the inside carved to the depth I wanted before the light ran out, I used the gouge to then neaten it up. Now I will have to find some time to thin down and shape the outside of the bowl.





Two posts in one day well thats a first for me!.

Polar bowl so far

I have started a large Polar bowl today, I think this one is going to take me some time to complete so I thought that I would get some progress photos done. I plan on spending the day on it all being well so hopefully by the end of the day the inside should be finished.

Hewing down to square the top and bottom.









Adzing the inside of the bowl.







Time for some coffee I think!

I might get some more pics done later on the progress if so I'll post them up.