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…

Life Busy

I quite often find it interesting to see the cycles of life. From the large picture or one’s entire life down to the smallest of day to day issues. Yes I could go smaller down to the minute but we need to keep the blog short and sweet. After all who wants to hear about our minute by minute daily ups and downs? That is one of the reasons we don’t use twitter. Who can guarantee a signal when one is out in the woods or would I really want to disturb the serenity of the moment anyway?

The early part of this week was so absolutely beautiful weather wise that we just had to get outside and cut and haul some wood. While Steve does the large chunks I deal with the kindling type pieces. It gets hard this time of year because we are hauling wood in to burn so that the studio stays nice and warm with the VT casting stove but what do we do when we find that wonderful log that Steve knows he can get a nice bowl from. Well the answer is simple enough. The bowl or bud vase, new turned ornament or great cooking utensil will win out every time. Most often we will be able to find enough wood to burn but oh the precious pieces that just call out to be turned can sometimes be rare. Beauty is in the eye of the wood not just the beholder.

#463 Walnut & Osage
Orange Ornament Sold

Now later on in the week it is turning a bit chillier along with some light rain. So first we are happy that we cut and hauled and second we are now even happier to be doing inside work. Steve is in the studio and I have been busy adding to the Etsy site. We now have a total of 15 pieces up and showing, most of which are the holiday ornaments. Some you may never have seen via our blog so be sure to drop in there as the door is open 24/7.

Ornaments are how Steve got started with woodturning and I am pleased to be the proud owner of one of his firsts. It is a simple spiral from a piece of padouk, very similar to our Spiral Canary Wood one. I chose the spiral design because it had reminded me of the crystal icicles that use to hang on the tree when I was younger. Now any size, shape, design and wood type will emerge from the studio and hopefully, without much deciding difficulty, into your home where it too will become a cherished heirloom. We currently have 29 unique, one of a kind ornaments that you can find with us at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market, at C’Ville Arts Gallery, OASIS Art & Craft Gallery, The WoodArt Studio on Etsy, or via this blog.

Until next we meet....

Falling Leaves

We certainly do not have to look at the calendar to know that autumn is upon us. While walking around the homestead I am amazed at how many leaves have already fallen to the ground and need to be raked and put into the compost pile. Leaves and nature in general can sometimes bring out the best in a piece of wood as it did in this lapel pin.

Out of the studio this week came some fine nature inspired jewelry. First butterflies hand worked from some left over burl with silver wire for antennae. Then yesterday it was a slice of Bloodwood. The most awesome shade of red that so reminded us of the fallen maple leaves that it just begged to be carved.

So with chisel in hand this maple leaf emerged. After the initial shape was made the veins were carved in on the face. The veins, along with the entire edge of the leaf, was slightly burned to give a bit more definition to this 3 ½” pin. A ¾” pin clasp is glued to the back, while a soft coat of finish was applied to give it a gentle glow and protection.

#454 Bloodwood Leaf Pin
SOLD

So dress up your fall wardrobe with a reminder of the connection you have with nature and earth this season. This as all of the work that comes from the studio is one of a kind. With that in mind and the approaching holidays if you would like to purchase it or need more information and pictures please contact us via our email address.

Other news to keep you going:

• More pieces have been posted to our WoodArt Studio on Etsy.
•  We hope to be set up at the C’Ville Arts Gallery in Charlottesville, VA in the next week or two.
• We are celebrating Oktoberfest this week at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market with 10% off our entire inventory that we bring to market. If you can’t make it down and need to have something that we do usually bring to market contact us by Sunday night and let’s see what we can do for you. Remember that we ship throughout the USA.
• Harrisonburg Farmers Market made the local news last night so if you want to see a bit of what our market looks like then click here on 1 on 1 Harrisonburg Farmers Market.
• For all of you market attendees who can’t seem to get to some of our other venues we have started the “Other Venue Book” that will contain pictures of what we do display in these other spots. If it is something that you are further interested in we can make arrangements to have you see it in person.

Until next we meet…