Just an experiment:

After a 2 week trip to Ireland, I am ready to get back to the shop. Hoped to find some wood turning over there, but was disappointed. Maybe I should set up over there?

Customers at Oxford Artists Tour

I had a great time at the the tour and met a lot of very interesting folks. The weather was gorgeous after anticipating hurricane conditions. I was also able to sell 20% of my inventory on hand, so I have been working hard to replace the items I sold to have plenty for the holiday season. I often get on a theme and keep it up so I used up some more of my spalted wood stash to go back to my “honeypot” design from a couple of years ago. This piece is spalted oak with sapele top and bottom and would be perfect for holding tea bags or anything else you may have in mind.

Getting ready to work the  Oxford Artists’ Studio Tour on Sunday, from noon to 4 PM in Oxford, MD. Will be sharing space with Sean Wells who is a fantastic painter! Hopefully it will be a learning experience for me in more than a few ways. I am delighted to move some inventory from the shop — more than 30 pieces. Some have been shown here, some not.

I am now displaying and selling at the Le Hatchery Gallery in Easton. The place is huge and chock full of artistic goodness. Also available is custom print work and framing. Big plans are in store for this off the beaten path gallery to increase visibility and I am fortunate to get in on the ground floor so to speak. Stop buy.  http://lehatchery.gallery/

I thought since I left my day job I would have more time to turn wood — wrong! Last week I got a small injury on my stationary sander taking almost all the skin off the middle finger of my left hand which held me back a bit. I am finishing a building project at the house. I also had to take my guitar to get the bridge glued back on for the time when the finger heals and I can actually play again. I did have a lot of wood show up in front of the shop. This piece I started was from an unknown source and I wasn’t quite sure what it was until I started turning. I found it to be poplar and it turns like butter. This one has gone through several trips to the microwave and the moisture level is now down below 10%. I’d say it was dry. This piece is screaming for color so colored it shall be when I decide how I want to approach it. Finish project coming soon (hopefully).

My meeting with the Apothecary went great yesterday and they took all the sample pieces I took up. They were so taken with the colored pieces that I left there feeling like a celebrity. I didn’t even know this place existed but they are located on Hanson Street and offer Acupuncture, skin care, massage and yoga in addition to the herbs. Visit their website for more information.