turning a nest of bowls
Nicola has finished the video of me turning the nest of bowls yesterday. I hope it is a fitting tribute to George Lailey, “the last bowlturner”
George Lailey died 50 years ago today
George Lailey was “the Last Bowlturner” He made wooden bowls on a foot powered lathe the same way they had been made in medieval times. He died 50 years ago today aged 89. He forged all his own turning tools which are kept with his lathe at the Museum of English Rural Life at Reading. He could turn nests of…
Swedish woodworking
This week I had a visit from Anders Theodorson our Swedish friend who we have stayed with several times when visiting the Swedish National craft school at Saterglantan. He works for the Swedish company Clas Ohlson and was over for the opening of their first store in the UK. It was nice that he was able to spend 2 days…
a typical day?
I tend to do a bit of everything each day and today was pretty typical. This morning was very cold with a hard frost, I answered emails, kept up to date and answered some questions on a couple of woody/bushcrafty forums then packed up a couple of parcels of sets of plates. Then I tried out a new Japanese sharpening…
Back to where I started
Well when I started my blog back in January I was making porringers. In March I oiled them up, here they are. And now they have all been sold so I have to make more. Today I parceled up the last 6 for a customer and also cut up another big lump of beech to make more. I shall be…
on exhibition in the USA
A couple of weeks ago some of my work went on exhibition in Philadelphia as part of the “Challenge VII” exhibition which aims to show interesting pieces that are pushing the boundaries of the art of woodturning in the world today. The very posh catalogue arrived yesterday and I was delighted not only to be in the exhibition but to…
wooden plates
I have been back in the workshop this week turning wooden plates, when the wood is in perfect condition and the tools sharp it really is a joy. Particularly so since I know people enjoy eating off the plates so much. Whilst my bowls vary quite a lot with plates I only make one design based on the ones I…
foot powered bowl lathe vs electric lathe and a spooncarving course
Its been a hectic time since my last post. Last Saturday was the Sheffield woodfair so I was turning bowls and again racing my bowl lathe against Mikes electric lathe, a rerun of the popular “man against machine” race we have done for 3 years. Nicola did a youtube clip of last years race here. To be fair I am…
bowlturning waste goes on show in the USA
Woodturning has a long history as a craft but there are many folk who also push the boundaries into the art world. The Wood Turning Center in Philadelphia USA has been a focus for the best wood turned art for many years and every few years organises a showcase of the best woodturning in the world at the time. I…
Bowl finds a good home
I always love to see photos of my bowls and plates in use and to hear from folk that enjoy using them. A couple of weeks ago I had a visit at the workshop from a regular Blog corespondent “Miss Rika”. When folk can see where the bowls are made and choose the one that feels right in the hand…