Look at these beauties that arrived int he post today. George Lailey was known as the last bowl turner. He worked at the small Berkshire village of Bucklebury and before Kate Middleton was probably the most famous person form the village. He made bowls up to his death in 1958. Lailey’s lathe and tools are on display at the Museum…
My Space in the telegraph today, if you click on the image it comes up big enough to read
This is one of the reasons why I work. Robin, I got a couple of quaichs from you a while a ago. One of them was used in our wedding last August and we had it engraved. Last night we used both in our annual (this was our fourth) Burns’ supper. I’ve included a few photos that I…
There must be no bowl turner in the world that can get by without one of these. It’s the first tool you use to mark out the wood yet most folk have nasty flimsy ones that don’t do the job very well. I love these old forged ones. I like the way they feel in the hand. I like that…
The excavations at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 were the biggest ever dig in the UK. They also uncovered a particularly fine wooden bowl. I loved the bowl from when I saw the first images and was thrilled to be asked to make a replica of it to go in a display in the terminal building. The original is above and below…
Mary Rose bowls The Mary Rose was Henry the VIIs ship and sank in 1545. Every sailor had his personal bowl and I have had the opportunity to study and photograph the originals during my research. Whether you particularly want a Tudor replica or just a characterful bowl for your breakfast, soup or stew, these beech bowls should stand years…
The center for wood art has for the last 30 years been the focus for the worlds best wood artists, particularly in woodturning. In their last major international exhibition I showed a piece which was a video installation along with a floor covered in my wooden cores (it was before and rather smaller than Ai Wei Wei’s magnificent sunflowers) The…
Here is a new design that I am really happy with, I turned them on the pole lathe on Friday and carved them yesterday. I enjoyed it so much I am off to the workshop today on a Sunday to make some more just for fun. The design is inspired by some that I have used at home for 10…
A new film from Artisan Media hope you like it [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLpNNf4V5lU?rel=0]
Paul Martin’s Handmade Revolution went out today on BBC 2 if you missed it this link to iplayer will work for a week or so (UK only I am afraid) and starts at 28 minutes in on the section with Paul learning to turn a bowl. http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01nd2h2/?t=27m41s It was a great days filming and we all had a lot of…
