The Cross

Springtime is here and along with it brings new birth. Flowers, animals, trees. It also reminds us of the Easter season which is upon us. Last year Steve started to carve some crosses. We are happy to report that they sold quickly. They were mostly hand held crosses, the type you might want to hold while you were in prayer, meditation or bible study. I asked him again during the year to carve out some more. Which he did. The first couple were again hand held ones. The next three were placed on leather-like cord to be worn as a neck piece. (Neck piece because we feel that they can be worn by both men and women). The last couple that he has carved came from the Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree. How appropriate is that. Once again I love them all and would have a hard time choosing which one to keep. No matter which one you would choose I know that it would find a special place into your heart just like they have in mine. Oh one is even strung with a ribbon tie in case you want to hang it as an ornament.

Until next we meet….

Pinterest Look

Well in addition to all of the everyday it's now Springtime things to do I had decided to fool around with the Studio Gallery page. It started out as a simple I want to add some more pictures of the pieces that have come out from the studio of late. But I wanted to add them to the top of the page and not the bottom. Trying to figure out how to do that, and I haven't yet figured it out, led me to hours and hours of work. The final effect is what we call the Pinterest look. Pictures, framed white, thoughtfully but carelessly  placed. Since I feel that Blogger has a mind of its own I will still try to play with it... hopefully posting the newer pieces at the top of the page instead of at the bottom. But like all things in their infancy it does what it wants to do and I have so much to learn in so little time.

Added this week or last to our Studio Gallery was:

• #538 "Frankenstein" Notice the lines... they are turquoise. Even Frankie can have a little bling in his life.
• #602 Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree (SJPT) ornament. Signed, dated and registered.
• #603 Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree (SJPT) Crotch Bowl. Remember that the crotch is where the branches fork out. This one has three spots.
• #604 Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree (SJPT) Hand carved collectable spoon with prayer hands.
• #605 Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree (SJPT) Hand carved collectable spoon with jacket cuff prayer hands and oak tree pyrographed into bowl.

Until next we meet or there inbetween...

 

 

SJPT Display

Last week we chatted about the Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree (SJPT) pieces that were emerging from the studio. I teased you a bit with the first huge bowl that was sold via OASISArt & Craft Gallery. A couple more unique artful pieces came to life soon after the first huge bowl and are now pictured in our StudioGallery. We will be selling all of our SJPT items at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market or by emailing us directly.

SJPT items make the perfect gift for the Civil War buff, history teacher, wood lover or those who just want to own a part of history.

We will do our best to keep you posted via this blog as to what becomes available so keep up with us here by becoming a follower of this blog. Join today.

Until next we meet...

Not Just Any Tree

Let me tell you a tree story. Once upon a time, about 350 years ago, give or take a year there stood a tree, a beautiful oak  at the edge of a farm field near Mt. Meridian in Augusta County, Virginia. This tree was known as the Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree. It has been said that after the Valley Campaign in May and June of 1862 that the General and his men had prayed under this massive oak tree.

Fast forward a bit and keep in mind based on the tree being about 350 years old that it was nearly 200 years old when General Stonewall Jackson prayed under it. Tree diseases have a way all unto themselves and this tree was no exception. On May 27, 2011, and additional 149 years after prayer services were held underneath her beautiful branches high winds that ran through the valley caused to take her down. The current owner of the farm saw fit to preserve the historical significance of the tree and donated it to members of the WoVa and the CVW, local woodturning groups of which Steve is a member of so that the tree could be turned or carved into pieces that could be sold, donated or gifted.

Steve's first turning of the tree was a huge 17" bowl (#489) that was subsequently sold via OASIS Art & Craft Gallery with proceeds being donated to the Wounded Warriors project. He has now been spending much of his artistic moments creating more pieces from this historic tree. To date there has been two ornaments, two bowls and a spoon that have arisen from portions of what was cut from the tree. There will be more that will come from The WoodArt Studio so follow us here by becoming a blog member or contact us directly.

#489 SJPT Bowl Sold

In order for you to know that you are indeed purchasing a piece that is from this historic tree each item is to be signed by Steve (when able), labeled with reference to Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree (SJPT), numbered and registered with the WoVa who in turn will keep a database of all pieces created from the tree. A small information card will be presented with every purchased piece.

So on that branch we will head out for more turning and carving until next we meet...