Natural Edge Peace Bowl

Its baseball season and if you are into baseball at all you might remember that bats can be made of Ash. Players like the durability of ash bats because they're light, enabling the player to swing faster and therefore hitting the ball farther. The wood is smooth and players like the feel.

Well Steve was fortunate enough to find this piece of Ash and turned it into this natural edge three footed bowl. Yes the three feet are not glued on afterward but actually are part of the turning process. What makes this 4” high bowl special, in addition to the natural edge from the tree, is the ground Pipestone inlay in the center that fills straight through to the underside of the piece. Pipestone is a prized Native American stone that is often used in their scared peace pipes. It is a beautiful red-clay color and like the Ash in this work it is quite smooth to the touch.

So many of the pieces that come out of the studio are not only useful and pleasing to the eye they need to be caressed in your hands. The smooth touch of this bowl may just offer you the peace that you are searching for while reminding you of the inner strength, like the Ash tree that you possess.

#334 Three footed Ash bowl w/ Pipestone

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If this is what you have been searching for please see us at the market this week or contact us directly. For now… Dream wood.

National Salad Month

Did you know that May is National Salad Month? I didn’t until I started to write this story. Steve and I love salads and try as often as we can to enjoy eating them. The majority of our garden is planted and we have already enjoyed the lettuce and the radishes and look forward to incorporating more of the fresh veggies as the season progresses. We also love to get fresh food from the farmers market when we can. So do you enjoy salads? What kind and what do you put into your salad?

No matter what kind of salad you make it can become a labor of love when you reach for a favorite wooden utensil to stir or toss the ingredients. Steve has several custom-created utensils such as Spoons, pierced and slotted, with straight or arched handles, Salad sets, Icing Blades, Pie Lifters, Olive Scoops, Spurtles and more. The best utensil for the best job. All of these are hand carved from various woods and treated with food safe oil. They are easy to maintain by hand washing (easy for me as I never had a dishwasher) and then a quick towel dry. 



Utensil Assortment

In the picture is a small sample of what we currently have in our inventory with prices starting at $25.00. If you need to feel before you purchase visit us at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market Tuesdays and Saturdays. Too far a drive, email and I will send close up pictures for you. Remember your favorite salad recipe and a WoodArt Studio utensil makes a special gift for the hostess of your next BBQ adventure. Till next week… Dream wood.

Pomp and Circumstance

Composed by Sir Edward Elgar and first performed as a graduation piece at Yale University on 28 June 1905 where Sir Edward received an honorary Doctorate of Music. Ah… music is another connection for Steve and me. We met in a music store where Steve was the instrument technician and I was in sales. Steve had been repairing both band and orchestral instruments for most of his life. Those years of experience fell directly into place when he began to turn and carve wood. Violins, Violas, Cellos and String Basses all need precise service in order to play in tune and too look good as well.

Tiniest Bowl Assortment

Forward several years and here we are in the Shenandoah Valley evoking from the wood, the symphony that it wants to play. Each chunk of wood starts out in the raw such as any elementary school music group and through time will become a philharmonic orchestra set for Carnegie Hall. In the Studio Gallery we show a beautiful Box Elder bowl (#296) with quilting that would compare to that on a fine violin. Smooth to the touch and a most marvelous gift for your graduating student.

We have many other fine gifts for your graduate from the tiniest of bowls to hold paper clips and push-pins to cooking utensils and jewelry. So no matter what school they are leaving and whether it is with an AS or a BS, The WoodArt Studio will have the gift that will honor them for a lifetime. We have added a few more pieces to the Studio Gallery so don’t forget to stop by there for a peak also. Until next week… OR see you at the market.

Just a Touch of Turquoise

Ailanthus, aka the Tree of Heaven, especially down here in Virginia is very appropriate for Steve and me as we often think living in Virginia is a slice of heaven. Just so happened that one spring 2010 day we had one of the Ailanthus in the front of the property come crashing down onto the driveway. Lucky we were not out for our morning walk about. Well nothing else to do except locate the chain saw and get sawing. Several nice chunks were salvaged from that tree that became weed pots and bowls of various sizes and shapes.

One of the pieces that he fashioned is what you see here. It is a free form bowl with a naturally formed fissure through the side of the bowl. Part of this fissure was filled with my favorite semi precious stone, turquoise. If you are unaware turquoise has been a stone that you will often find in Native American jewelry and is a stone of peace and tranquility. Some believe that it will increase wisdom, balance, strength, friendship and love. I find many of these qualities in this piece as I am sure that Steve did while giving it birth.

#289 Free Form Ailanthus Bowl w/ Turquoise

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I know that it is hard to envision the beauty in this piece, especially when I only give you a small taste with one photo, so if your appetite is whet and you want to see more it is currently at the OASIS Art and Craft Gallery in Harrisonburg, VA. Is the valley to far to drive? Email me and I will send you more photos. It would make a truly special wedding gift for your bride and groom or if you are celebrating a 5^th anniversary, wood is traditional and turquoise is the gemstone. Until next week… 

Mother’s Day Gift Basket

What mother does not like to cook? Yes I know many fathers like to cook also but this is Mother’s Day that is coming upon us. The day you profess to her how much you love her. Why not do it with a cooking theme. Yes I do mean cook for her. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert or even a salad could clearly place a smile on her face. So how do we spin this with a small gift from The WoodArt Studio? Easy!

#322 Walnut Salad Utensil Set

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First find a favorite recipe and one that you will be able to make for her, so if you are not the best cook then keep it simple, hence the salad. Purchase one of our hand carved spoons or salad utensils. You should do this fairly quickly if you need to have us ship it to you. Then travel to your favorite local market and purchase all of the ingredients to create your special gift for mom. Pack all of the makings and your new unique WoodArt spoon or salad utensils in a pretty basket, add a card with the recipe that you plan to create for her and ta-da you have a personalized gift that she will hold in her heart for a life time. And oh when you actually cook it for her and wash the dishes afterward you will have created the perfect Mother’s Day. Look forward to hearing from you and until next week enjoy. Now I have to go out and cull my lettuce.

Daisy

#101 "Daisy"

"Daisy, Daisy/Give me your answer do/I'm half crazy/all for the love of you". So the lyrics of the 1892 Harry Darce song go. We were so in love with the way this lady turned out that we also named her “Daisy”, which also happens to be the nickname of my Grandmother.

Our “Daisy” was born in 2010 right here in Virginia. She has a genealogy of different trees. Her body is Birds Eye Maple that was first turned and then flipped inside out. The bottom half of her body is slightly dyed a soft green. The upper part of her torso has four hand carved Cocobolo buttons. Her head is a smooth, rich Cocobolo also. The hat that sits askew on her head is hand carved Yellow Heart. From any angle she is pure pleasure to look at, like the Mona Lisa, simply art. I have posted in the Studio Gallery a side view of her.

Daisy would make a most memorable Mother’s Day gift but keep in mind like your Mother there is only one Daisy. Until next time, create your day.

The Cross of Easter

I can not think of a better time then the onset of Easter to introduce to you the two crosses that Steve has designed. People at market had asked him if he ever had carved a cross. It took some time but he had finished two of them a couple of weeks ago. I found it quite calming when I took the photos of them both and can envision you holding either one in the palm of your hand as you study scriptures year round.

This first one was hand carved from a piece of Bloodwood that was purchased while we lived the life in NY. Bloodwood is a tree that grows in South America and has this deeply moving rich color to it. It has been hand-rubbed many times to bring out not only the luster of the wood but making it smooth to the touch when you hold it in your hand.



#284 Bloodwood Cross

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This second cross is again hand carved except this time from a piece of Oak. There is strength and hardness in the Oak tree which does make it a challenge to carve. While this design is a little chunkier in body and feel it would still be fine to hold during your scripture readings or meditation. 



#291 Humble Oak Cross

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Until next time may your week be serene and full of joy.