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 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….

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...

Last Minute Book Report

I feel like the kid who left the book report to the last minute. Not that I meant to as I believe that I am past that stage in life. Or at least I thought so with most things but with the computer giving us daily attitude it managers to put us behind a bit.

Whenever Steve leaves the studio with a piece or two I set about to become instant photographer so that we have a log photo of every piece. I know many say why bother but maybe it is the genealogist in me that needs to record all of these daily adventures in The WoodArt Studio.  Yes I am a genealogist but that could be a whole other blog. And as I said the computer has been not cooperating to say the least. Glad we spent all that money to get it fixed.

#462 Birdhouse Ornament
SOLD

So today was catch up day for one and all. Steve has been very busy out there creating many new and old pieces for everyone’s holiday giving. He has also been working hard on a huge bowl that came from the General Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree which fell this past spring. He will hope to bring it to his next woodturners meeting this month, which also reminds me that I need to photograph that also. We had the unusual Halloween snow as most of the Eastern seaboard had so that caused us to shovel a bit but today it was like springtime. It was perfect weather to take some time and go for a nice walk and trim some of the bushes for the winter.

Dinner and a shower then reminded me that I needed to write and post the blog that you all eagerly wait to read?? With that in mind here I sit contemplating the last minute book report routine, cramming and hoping that it will get a passing grade. I am so beside myself that I think I am going to post it now, the day before. So it is up to you… Did I pass or did I fail? I’m waiting to hear from you all.

Until next we meet…