Adversity and invention

In these extraordinary times, everyone has to adapt.  Working and schooling from home, competing for internet bandwidth with my wife, trying to carve out quiet space for everyone--it poses challenges.  For me it has become increasingly obvious that my basement workshop is poorly suited for our current lifestyle.  Noise travels too easily in our house and I am constantly disturbing others.  I have dreams of a standalone shop and even built a platform in the trees where I might someday have a treehouse workshop, though the family loves the platform as it is, and I can't take it back now.  But maybe I could set up an outdoor lathe on the platform?!?

Lugging my old lathe up there was out of the question.  It is monstrously overbuilt and nearly immobile.  So over the past few days, I banged together a Viking-style lathe to use outdoors and travel with if necessary.

As the name implies, this form of lathe has been in use for thousands of years and is a pretty simple affair: a single thick board for the bed, a notch cut down the center to hold the poppits, legs insert into holes in the bed.  Years ago I saw photos if Robin Wood making such lathes.  He attached the legs, stood on the bed, and cut the notch with a chainsaw.  It was quite a sight!  Ben Orford used such a lathe in his videos on turning bowls.  (I bought my first hooks from Ben and they are still among my favorites.) Since then I have had a chance to use a few of these lathes, mostly at Greenwood Fest courses with Jarrod Dahl and Robin Wood.  They are pretty simple to build, and if you are interested and want some guidance, Owen Thomas has just released a series of videos on how to build one of your own, and Sharif Adams also has plans and some great videos on turning.  I built mine in just a few days.

The new lathe has its quirks, and I am still fine-tuning the setup, but it works just fine. 

Turning outside can be idyllic or horrific, depending on the weather.

But there are some mornings when going to turn is in itself an experience. 

Our current adversity also comes with new opportunities--more time with family, more time for hobbies, more creativity. I hope you are safe and healthy.

Supporting the craft community

In these strange and scary times, I am feeling very fortunate.   While so many are isolated, out of work, and even struggling with their own health, I am feeling pretty secure.  Thankfully, my family and I are in good health.  My wife and I can work remotely, so our income is secure.  We live in a lovely environment where we can get out and exercise.  Stands of birch and beech surround my home; I have more wood than I can imagine and lots of time to turn it into lovely little objects.  I am one lucky guy. 

So, I have been turning and carving a lot these days.  Staying at home allows me to slow down, take the time to refine designs, pursue some new forms (more on that later) and experiment with different paints and finishes.  Honestly, it is all a real luxury.  As a result, I now have a surplus of bowls and spoons, more than my family needs or my friends want.  

I have been planning on selling my work to the public for some time now, but the COVID 19 crisis is making me pause.  While my day job is secure, there are plenty of full-time craftspeople who are really struggling.  They have seen their teaching income dry up, and while some are leading virtual carving lessons and generating great videos to increase visibility, I imagine many are relying on craft sales more than ever.  Maybe now is not the time to open up shop?  Maybe I should just box it all up and wait for another time?  (Not that I am expecting some big rush to buy my bowls...) 

I have started posting my work on this blog under a new tab titled "Craft."  Maybe someday I will put up a "for sale" sign, but not today.  Instead, I think I will support some of my favorite craftspeople.  I hope you will consider doing the same.

A "nestle" of new spoons.

What does one call a group or collection of spoons?
I asked the "Spoon Carving, Greenwood working, and sloyd" Facebook group and my favorite response was "a nestle."  (Thanks Thomas Silberberg.)  So, here is the latest nestle of spoons, carved over the past week or so.  Mostly black birch, which I like carving but is quite hard compared to other birches I have used in the past.  I will let them cure for a while before they find homes.