Sunday 31 January 2010

Big buttons and little tableware

After so much interest in big wooden buttons I made a few more, some in sets, some OOAK.







Also someone who is into dolls houses mentioned furniture etc as I made these as an example. Made of beech they are 1/12th size and approximate at a 12" bowl and a 9" tall vase. The coin is a 5p piece to give an idea of size.

Friday 29 January 2010

Latest request

I get asked to a fair num,ber of things for other crafters and usually it ias tools. Things like the hooks, drop spindles, couronne sticks and braiding discs. The latest was from someone who makes handbags and wants big wooden buttons so here are some prototypes.

The three with brown centres are hawthorn and the others are spalted beech. They vary from 5 - 7 cm in diameter.

Thursday 28 January 2010

Busy day

Just made 2 doz. crochet hooks, enough to cover two orders and some spare and also a couple more drop spindles just need to finish off a couple of  Kumihimo discs (Japanese style braiding discs) and then make a start ofn some courrone sticks and have a go at doing a few other things.

Sunday 24 January 2010

Walnut bowl


This is 7" diameter and 2" tall. It's made of walnut with an ebonised oak foot.
The edge has been scalloped and it is about 4mm thick overall.


Saturday 23 January 2010

Crochet on the increase?


I have seen an upsurge lately in the orders for crochet needles. As I make two types,
<---the smaller ones (usually from 1mm - 4mm) like these with the metal tips and wooden handles for strength and the larger ones like these ---> for anything above I have been trying to sort out a more economical way of producing them. I make each hook individually with a different styled handle and using whatever wood is to hand so that it both keeps the uniqueness of each one and also helps keep the cost down. I started them when asked to make them fopr someone with arthritis as they are mucvh easier to gold but they seem to be popular with all chrocheters.
I have also been asked about knitting needles but to be perfectly honest, unless they are large, about 15mm upwards, it isn't worth the cost as they can be got much cheaper than I can make them for online

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Upgrading photos

I have got my tent and tripod and have made a start upgrading the photos. They still won't win any competitions for the best snapshot but hopefully they look a bit better. Tell me what you think


Before                                                                                                                                             After


Saturday 16 January 2010







As I have been doing a lot of crochet hooks lately I decided to have a break and made a box for a change. The box is about 3 1/2" tall overall and 2" deep inside. It's made of hawthorn with an ebonised hazel foot and lid


Underside of the lid looks like this.

Friday 15 January 2010

Bare wood

I was asked to make a platter for someone for them to purograph. I managed to get hold of a lovely piece of sycamore and made this 11" one. It's bare wood but sycamore sanded well has a sheen so it looks polished.



Top view                                                                                                                                   Bottom view

Thursday 14 January 2010

Picking up?

Several orders today and some potential ones. (believe them when the money is in the bank..cynic at heart) Maybe things are looking up. All these are from other crafters for tools or blanks so maybe that is where I need to focus more. Need to get a stock built up again so I don't keep people waiting.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Getting warmer

Managed to get some workshop time in today. Got three drop spindles and a some crochet hooks done. Also did a Georgian style goblet in apple wood. Looks gorgeous but as the wood is pretty wet it may well split on me. I f not I'll make a partner for it out of the other half of the log and finish this one off. Be ideal for the gallery.

Sunday 10 January 2010

Better picture

Here's a better picture of the goblets with a normal sized wine glass for referenced.








I have also just been contacted by a garden centre that is setting up a craft shop on their premises and they are interested in having some of my work there. They are really keen to have garden sculptures as well which could be bigger money if I can get my head around doing them. Need to sort out space for that though

Saturday 9 January 2010

Liqueur goblets

Got a phone call yesterday from someone setting ap a new gallery over in Lostwithiel asking if I would be willing to have some of my woprk ther. They specifically want goblets and bowls. Ones that can vbe used not just decorative stuff. Most of the goblets I have been doing are decorative only (unles you don't mind dribbling) so decided I better start making some new ones.

Photo is lousy, am awaiting arrival of a photo tent but here they are. They are 3" tall and for liqueurs or tots of spirits (Liqueurs sounds posher somehow LOL) They aren't as rough as they look here....honest!!!

Friday 8 January 2010

Something different.


I was asked to make a cleaver for someone who wants to split willow for making skeps (straw beehives). Payment will come in the form of a couple of oven ready cockerels from his smallholding.

Fair exchange is no robbery LOL

Made out of beech it is part turned part carved

Thursday 7 January 2010

Sunny Cornwall


Needed to go to the local shop (2 miles away) and it took 1/2 hour. Not a single road was clear. Fortunately I have 4 wheel drive or I reckon I wouldn't have made it.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

New ideas

Too cold to go towork in the shed again so have been working on research. Have found a few different crafts that I can make the equipment for. Kumihmo and Marudai being two of them. Probably loads more. As soon as it is warmer I will make up a couple of samples and post. Watch this space.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Where'd it go

This weather is not nice. It's not only cold we now have rain as well. At least much of the country has the lovely views of snow. My get and go seems to have get up and gone. I should be revamping and redoing my photos for the shop but just can't quite reach round far enough to kick myself in the rear. Any volunteers? LOL

Sunday 3 January 2010

Too cold

It's just too darn cold to go out to the workshop and make things. I had wondered about putting a calor gas fire out there but with the wood dust that isn't really a safe option. I could do with a larger workshop with some kind of way of heating it but unless the economic situation changes in my favour that isn't going to happen in the foreseeable future. Oh well. Perhaps spend the time re photographing my work and sorting out the online shops. See you in the spring LOL