Spring Went Where?

Yes where did spring go? All that I can remember is dressing in multiple layers of clothes for the Farmers Market up until a couple of Saturday's ago. I vowed that I was going to wash my long john's for the very last time until winter arrived again later this year. So with most days now pushing into the upper 80's where did spring go? Did it even happen?

Thank goodness for the outside studio where there seems to be an impression of normalcy happening. WoodArt is being created on a daily basis pieces continue to find their way into many happy homes across the nation. Many mothers received happy jewelry, bowls, bud vases and cooking utensils all uniquely and patiently hand crafted by only artist Steve. How lucky they all must feel. Now with Fathers Day around the corner I am sure the same will be for so many lucky dads. Bowls, flat platters, free form containers and the likes there of will put a smile on many a dad's face soon.

And so with summer actually starting in a few weeks I wanted to share our current schedule with you as it has expanded.

          Harrisonburg Farmers Market every Tuesday and Saturday, 7am - 1pm

          Daylily Festival July 20-21 2013 Fishersville, VA

          Gallery Shop at the Smith Center 20 S. New St. Staunton, VA

          Lost River Artisan Cooperative Route 259 Lost River, WV

To keep up to date with our what's, whys and where's this summer follow us on our facebook page.  

Until we meet again... choose the right branch.

These are a Few of my Favorite Woods

During the few years that Steve has been turning and carving wood I have seen some of the prettiest pieces go into and come out of the studio. You know the end product is oh so beautiful but the start of it can be just as wonderful.

To see the log roll out of the Jeep and into the studio is a joy to behold. Some of the wood gets squared off and sealed on the ends right away and other pieces he just can't wait to get the tool into. When we lived in NY, Yellowheart was my favorite. Maybe that was because living there you couldn't just walk around the neighborhood and find a dead tree on the side of the road. In fact I will never understand why so many New Yorkers would cut down beautiful live trees and then spend exorbitant amounts of money to replant another tree just as large. Oh well.

Now that we are down here in the south other woods have taken over the race for my favorite. It was and probably will still be Osage Orange. The warmth in the color is just magnificent. We are blessed to have some friend who has this tree on their property and have offered it to us from time to time. The latest piece from this tree is our #799 Osage Orange Goblet found in the Studio Gallery. It is just the right size to hold in your hand filled to the brim with your favorite drink. I also think it would look great on your desk holding my favorite candy…M&M's.

#798 Plum Spirit Fire Necklace
SOLD

But now for this month's favorite wood… Plum. Steve was fortunate to again have some wonderful friends at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market offer us some of their plum tree limbs. My oh my is that a beautiful wood. Now because you know this is Debbie writing you will find that I am only chatting about the beauty of the wood. Steve does tell me that any of these fruit trees are great for carving and turning but for this blog it is all about the prettiness. So anyway this plum is absolutely gorgeous. It has just the slightest hint of pink emerging from the grain. I love pink! Who doesn't?

As you can easily see in this Spirit Fire Necklace the pink makes for the tongues of fire. What a perfect gift it will make. You just need to decide for whom.

Until next we meet... choose the right branch.

WoodArt Summer 2012

So I am a day or two late with the onset of summer, but only with this writing. The garden has been planted such as it is and the grass is getting mowed. Sybbe, our cat is moving much slower in the heat and the chips are still flying all over the place in the studio. Steve's studio will never make the front page of "Home and Garden" magazine or any other magazine where they show a place that you could eat off of the floor. Ours is a working studio and there is dust and chips all over even though there is a dust collector installed. And yes he does turn it on.

So welcome summertime in Virginia. As always there is much planned and I thought I might just give you the quick list (which I do have the prerogative to change) of where you might find us at any given time.

June 23… Highland County Old Time Fiddlers Convention. I know it is over but I wanted you to update you and let you all know that we had a fabulous time on the other side of the mountain. Sold WoodArt pieces, fiddles and listened to some fine mountain music.

June 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25, September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29… Harrisonburg Farmers Market. Every Saturday from 7am - 1pm. Our vendor spot will vary amongst the other 50 plus vendors so you might have to look a bit for us, but you know that it is worth the look see. We always try to bring at least one new piece each time we are at the market.

June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7, 14, 21 28, September4, 11, 18, 25… Harrisonburg Farmers Market. Every Tuesday from 7am - 1pm. Our vendor spot will vary amongst the other 40 vendors so you might have to look a bit for us, but you know that it is worth the look see. We always try to bring at least one new piece each time we are at the market. Yes same as Saturdays but less vendors. Great time to shop and chat a bit longer.

June 24… We will be representing OASIS Fine Art & Craft at Bloomfest 2012 to be held at the Turner Pavilion in downtown Harrisonburg. Spend your afternoon (2 - 4pm) shopping amongst the various vendors.

If you can't make it down to the valley you can also find us at the following venues which are pretty much open daily with several of our finer pieces.

OASIS Fine Art & Craft / 103 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA

Warehouse Art Gallery / 15 Campbell St., Luray, VA

C'Ville Arts / 118 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA

We are on Etsy.com but extremely limited and for how long, we don't know but that could be a whole other blog.

There are numerous pictures in the Studio Gallery coming and going so stop by there often. It is like a brick and mortar store… the shelves are never empty. We ship throughout the United States and information is under  shipping information.

Are you looking to have a private WoodArt Studio party in your own home or backyard? Lets chat about that as now is a perfect time with such wonderful weather.

Remember that we love to meet you in any or all of these places. We thank you for supporting us in our venture as it touches our heart when we see a piece traveling with you to your destination. Wedding gifts, personal gifts, Moms, Dads, Kids, Anniversary and a little piece of hand created Virginia is what you will find at The WoodArt Studio.

Until next we meet… choose the right branch.

Court and Market Days

#562 Box Elder Bowl SOLD

Back in the day, somewhere around 1862, here in America we were in the midst of a Civil War. Still everyday tasks needed to be done. Farming, tinkering and tailoring quite often from sun up to sundown every day, except for Sunday as a rule. A wife needed a new spoon so her husband went and fashioned her one. She needed a bigger bowl for mixing. So he took the time and carved her out one. A battle was being fought and a southern general, Stonewall Jackson, was heading into battle.

Hence he stopped along his way, with the company of his men and prayed under a huge oak tree in the Grottos area of Virginia, or so the story goes. Who could imagine that some 300 years, plus or minus, branches of that tree would be carved and turned into pieces for you to purchase here today at our very own Harrisonburg Farmers Market.

#604 SJPT Collectable Spoon
SOLD

So stop what you are doing today and step back into a different kind of market where dancers, musicians, artisans and maybe even a solider or two might be walking the dusty field. After that then head down the embankment to the current Harrisonburg Farmers Market where you will find us vending along with 40 plus other Saturday marketers. Commemorate your special time there with a handcrafted piece made by artisan Steve. We have bowls, spoons, bud vases and even some finger tops for the children. If you are looking for a piece designed and created from the Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree we will also have some of those pieces there also.

Until next we meet…take the right branch

The Inbetween

Good morning to you in the haphazardness of the season. With so much of the pre holiday season to prepare for I did forget to physically sit and type my Thanksgiving wishes to you all. You were all in our hearts and minds and are truly blessed for having you read, admire, touch and purchase so many pieces from The WoodArt Studio. Without you we would not have gotten as far as we have so a huge THANK YOU! 

Remember to keep your stress levels down this time of year and enjoy all that is given to you and do forgive me if I miss a post or two. We are here to fill your holiday needs with many gifts of wood. You can find us daily at OASIS Art & Craft Gallery, C’Ville Arts, Etsy.com and via our site here. We will also be at the following:

November 30: 2^nd Annual JMU Artisans Holiday Bazaar in Warren Hall between 11am and 5pm.     

December 3: Harrisonburg Farmers Market 9am – 12pm.

December 4: C’Ville Arts Artist Steve on the floor.

December 10: Harrisonburg Farmers Market 9am – 12pm.

December 17: Harrisonburg Farmers Market 9am – 12pm.

December 24: Bonus Harrisonburg Farmers Market 9am – 12pm.

Wishing you at this time an enjoyable, stress free season.

Until next we meet…

A Leaf in the Garden

Light snow fell in the Valley this week much to my dismay. Some of the really nice weather that we had last week spoiled me into thinking that spring was here with summer soon to follow. Buds are starting to pop and the leaves that I should have raked up last year are all over the land. Steve has been fascinated with leaves for a long time now. In fact during our time in NY on lunch time walks I use to bring back to him different colorfully shaped leaves. I think that he use to imagine craving them sometime in the future. Well the future is here today.

About a month ago he happened upon a piece of Catalpa, perfect for the carving of the Leaf Bowl you see below. What a beautiful grain is running through the wood. It was a challenge to carve if only to get the bends of the leaf all in the right spots. You can see the vein that stretches down the center, which is also prominent on the back of the piece. A very delicate stem was added to the end of the leaf, naturally. The bowl is of decent size (able to hold 4-5 medium size apples). Surly this could be the centerpiece on your dining table.

#306 Catalpa Leaf Bowl

Sold

So where is this bowl today? How about in a place full of exciting discoveries and surprises? It was first introduced at the Farmers Market last Saturday and then it went to OASIS Art Gallery in downtown Harrisonburg, VA where it will be part of April’s group show “The Secret Garden” based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, until it may find its way into someone else’s homey garden. How about yours? Until next week may all your secrets bloom forth in your garden of leaves.