Cottonwood Dish With a Flare!

Nothing like a square edge bowl with flair to set things off right!  And, with it turned from cottonwood it has a soft and rustic appeal to it.  With the subtle light and faint darker colors, you will find it fits with most any décor.  Although a relatively soft wood, which is in the poplar family of trees, it is also fairly durable.  The sight of cottonwoods in the distance was a sure sign of water to early settlers during their travels west. Borrowing the Spanish word for 'cottonwood,' the Mission San Antonio de Valero is commonly known as 'The Alamo' because of the presence of nearby cottonwood trees.  This dish is 9 ½” square, 1 ¾” high and has a depth of about 1”.  The wood was sealed with food grade walnut oil and then finished with a walnut oil and shellac mixture.  Using a combination such as this gives the dish a nice hard long lasting natural finish.  25Jun18  For more info see:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/609472498/cottonwood-dish-with-a-flare

It's Summertime!

Oh, yeah.  It's definitely summer regardless that yesterday was the summer solstice.  Here it is 8:00 pm and it is 102.  I would call that fairly warm, wouldn't you???

Colorful Pecan Wood Spoce Box

If you want a beautiful yet out of the ordinary wood spice or herb box then this is what you are looking for!  First of all pecan wood is really great looking on it’s own.  Then when you add the crushed powdered turquoise added full circle on the rim you really have something.  Lest we forget the line burned into the lid for extra measure.  Combined you have something super duper!!!   When you consider that the wood was sealed with food grade walnut oil and then finished with a walnut oil and shellac mixture, you know you have something that will last a long time.  After all there is nothing like a long lasting natural finish, is there?  Nope.  The outside diameter is 4 1/2” with the inside at 3 ¼”.  The total height is 3 ¾”, vessel height is 2 ¼” and the vessel depth comes to 1 ½”.  The volume is measured at ¾ cup.  You will find a couple of natural pitting flaws in the wood that do not hinder it’s usage in any way but do add to the rustic appearance of the piece.  13Jun18  BXP88  For more info see:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/607045146/colorful-pecan-wood-spice-box

Gorgeous Pecan Natural Edge Bowl

Oh, the natural beauty of a bowl with bark still on it.  How can one pass it up?  I normally do not have a base quite as large as this but I didn’t want to jeopardize that great looking knot in it.  So, it has a bit larger base but so what?  A knot like that is worth it.  This bowl has a nice capacity of 2 cups measured to the lower brim, which does not mean that it is limited to that amount of your favorite treats that will just pile up in it.  The diameter of the bowl is 7 ¼” and the height is 4 ½”.  The depth came to 2 ½”.  The wood was sealed with food grade walnut oil.  The bark was reinforced with clear drying glue to help keep it in place.  Then the bowl was sprayed with 2 coats of shellac.  The spray was used to help penetrate and keep the bark intact.  Do not pass this up.  10Jun18  NEP35    For more info see:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/620161679/gorgeous-pecan-natural-edge-bowl

Pecan Cupcake/Pastry Stand W/Turquoise

This delightful looking cupcake/pastry stand is really good looking.  There was a crack that occurred during drying that I decided to do something with other than ditching the piece of wood.  So, I first filled it with coffee grounds and clear glue, then added crushed turquoise on top of that.  To me that made it even more attractive and certainly utilized a piece of wood that some would have tossed.  After the filling was done and then all the sanding, the wood was sealed with food grade walnut oil.  After that the finishing was done with a walnut oil based wax.  This gives the stand a nice hard long lasting natural finish.  And, it is totally renewable with olive oil when needed.  Care instructions are included.  The diameter is 8 ¼” with a height of 2 ½”.  The base diameter is 4”.  5Jun18  SDP55  For more info see:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/619095545/pecan-cupcakepastry-stand-wturquoise

9 1/4" Pecan Pastry/Cupcake Stand

This stand is certainly beautiful and useful at the same time.  Now how can you beat that?  I don’t think you can.  There is a small amount of natural edge on the lip that adds some rustic appeal to the piece.  The line that I burned into the base area is decorative only.  The wood has a little bit of the usual natural flaws that I prefer to leave as I think that makes the stand even more desirable.  The wood was first sealed with food grade walnut oil and then finished with a mixture of walnut oil and shellac.  Using a combination such as this gives the stand a nice hard long lasting natural finish.  The diameter is 9 ¼” with a base diameter of 5” and a height of 3 ¼”.  Don’t pass this one up!  3Jun18  SDP54  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/618631433/9-14-pecan-pastrycupcake-stand

Some Changes

The Texas heat has come and it ain't going away for a while.  Busting 100 most days now and with a relatively high humidity makes it a bit tough for us older folks to work out there.  So, my work methodology is SLOW but STEADY and it will get done.  But, if it ain't done by around 11am it ain't getting done that day.  My back is also getting worse and I suppose I am going to have to give in soon and have surgery on it.  I guess most folks would look at me weird.  I'm out there in the log yard ripping down logs with a heavy chainsaw with braces on both knees and a back brace.  Wonder if there is a brace for my brain???