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....

Holiday Rush

So let’s talk about the holiday rush. To rush or not to rush that is the question. How early is too early to be pushing the holiday. Walking through Wal-Mart the other day I was surprised and a bit dismayed to hear holiday music blasting from the invisible speakers. Now don’t get me wrong, after all we were in the music industry for many, many years. From Thanksgiving (and sometimes before) out of the lesson studios we could all hear the interesting arrangements of “Jingle Bells”. Thank goodness Steve would not dig out his holiday CD’s until Christmas week.

#444 - #446 Mini Tree Assortment
ALL SOLD

So it is not okay to be hearing the music but is it ok to see the decorations? Or how about the shopping. I say hold off until Thanksgiving for the decorations. Starting your shopping now can have its benefits.   

• Frees up time to spend with family and friends.
• Eases up the one huge money crunch in to smaller sizable bites.
• You will be able to have that one of a kind, hand crafted piece now and not regret passing it by later.
• Gives you more time for holiday baking.
• Reduces stress levels.
• Allows you to really just sit down and enjoy the holiday music.

So with that all in mind know that I have warned you. I want you to start your shopping (or at least start to make the list) and we are here to help you. I am starting small with our Mini Tree Ornaments. Most are about 2” tall. Great for the tree or tie one onto a package. There is even one with white ribbon for the new bride. If you are really bold you can remove the tie ribbon and put your own cord through and use it as a necklace. It’s all up to you.



#453 Mini Tree
SOLD

Until next we meet…Jingle, Jingle

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…

A Great Centerpiece

Autumn has arrived down here in the Valley. Reds, Yellows, Browns all the colors that put us into the season of color. Leaves that may be up in the trees this morning can very casually drift down to the ground by afternoon. Yes we could rake most of them up today and place them in the compost pile but I would rather have some fun and just enjoy traveling through them, hearing them crunch under my boots as we travel out to the studio.

#326 Catalpa Leaf II
SOLD

Fall in America also brings more people inside sharing conversations and good food. It doesn’t matter whether it is a table for two or twenty a splendid centerpiece surround by your food dishes will sure to make the table more inviting to your guests to sit and stay awhile. Isn’t that what you want them to do anyway?

I have harvested together for you some of nature’s shapes in wonderful colors of tan, browns, and golden yellows that together or alone would make for a well designed theme for your dining table or afternoon buffet.

#323 Cherry Bowl

#359 Mulberry Bowl
SOLD

#368 Cherry Leaf Bowl
SOLD

Until next we meet… Set your table with wood.

Food Day



#440 Cherry Spoon
SOLD

"Food Day" is the newest of holidays for people all across America to celebrate. I know that you are thinking what does Food Day, October 24th, have to do with The WoodArt Studio of all things. Or maybe you are just saying to yourself what is "Food Day"?

You can read more on their website, Food Day, but in a nut shell (no pun intended), “Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way.” 




#358 Pierced Cherry Flipper
SOLD



Can you imagine a better way to begin enjoying this event then to start with cooking healthy food? Of course you need some great quality wooden cooking utensils to do this in our minds. Spoons, Flippers, Scoops, Pierced Spoons are just a few of the endearing pieces that you will find we have to get you going.

Start an endearing new tradition now!                                                                                          

#461 Small Cherry Scoop
SOLD

From Oct. 21 – 24^th you can take an additional 10% off of our spoon and utensil inventory that is not in either the OASIS Art & Craft Gallery or C'Ville Arts where we also sell pieces. This is just a small sample to whet your cooking appetite.  Contact us or see us at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market this Saturday and let the folklore begin with a spoon.

Until next we meet... Celebrate Food!

#464 Olive Scoop
SOLD

Bosses Day

#370 Ailanthus Bud Vase

Ok so by now you know that I love these simple every day holiday celebrations in life. So this Sunday is National Bosses Day. We all seem to have a boss of some sort. As adults we have work bosses, children have parent bosses; students have teacher bosses and even the self employed have themselves as bosses. So keeping in mind that Sunday is the big day to celebrate we know that many of you in the work field will be giving that all important gift to your boss today BUT there is an equal amount of you who will have never realized that it is bosses day or will have forgotten to get the gift in time. Well here we are to aid you with your dilemma.

#275 Tiniest Maple Bowl

Tomorrow we will be at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market with several pieces to meet your Bosses Day gift purchasing needs and to whet your appetite here are some suggestions. Now if it just so happens that you are out of the area and need that gift, just contact us and we can get it to you. Won’t a special one of a kind piece from The WoodArt Studio gain you points with your boss this year! Oh and one more thing, because you are so thoughtful about your boss we will offer you 10% off if you tell us it is for your boss. 

#188 Myrtle Lidded Box     

SOLD

 #172 Collectable Sumac Spoon       
SOLD

#378 Mushroom

#447 Butterfly Pin
SOLD

#451 Ash Cross
SOLD

 

Until next we meet…

The Spalted Maple Leaf

Wikipedia says that the Maple Leaf is not only the  symbol that rests on the flag of Canada but can also be found in commerce, geography, music, ice hockey, baseball, football and even a soccer club. You can find them on the branches of Maple trees and now in this hand carved piece that Steve had meticulously completed last year. In the above picture it is dead center.

You can tell it apart by the wonderful spalting in the piece. Real leaves don’t have spalting. What is spalting you ask? Well to keep it simple, spalting is created when a fungus creeps up into the body of a tree. In this case it created a divine play of black, browns and grays infused in the overall light golden tan of the piece. The veins have an ever so slight bas relief affect which sad to say is hard to see in these photos. The stem is so slender that you might be afraid to touch it. 

OASIS Art Gallery currently has this on display as part of their “Nature Walk Exhibit” which extends through the end of this month. Try to make some time if you can and take a stroll through this exhibit in the rear of the gallery to check out this impressive leaf. If you are interested in having this as part of your own nature collection you can purchase it from us via our site here or stop on down to OASIS directly.



#171 Spalted Maple Leaf
See Studio Gallery

Until next time… you may never look or think of a leaf in the same way. Oh and happy raking!