Katherine Kowalski - Professional Woodturner & Artist

New Publication!

2012-01-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely THRILLED to announce the publication of my "Color Rim Bowl" article in the latest issue of Woodturning Design Magazine! (Winter 2012 Issue). Please pick one up at your local newsstand, and check it out!

Also, I'm adding SIX new crochet hooks to my eBay Auctions page this evening. Please check out recent additions to my Etsy store: BRAND NEW nostepinnes, spinning wheel orifice threader hooks, hair sticks, letter openers, and more!

New Year & New Opportunities

2011-12-28T16:32:00.000-08:00

Almost the New Year now, and I've decided to change things up a little in my online shops.

Firstly, I've got SIX brand new crochet hooks on eBay right now! I'll continue to post crochet hooks on auction on a regular basis.

Etsy is now my main fiber tools shop! I have a HUGE selection of special crochet hooks, nostepinnes, orifice hooks, needle cases, and thimbles. I also have other marvelous items, like hair sticks, dread beads, letter openers, toothpick holders, jewelry, as well as very fine scale miniatures. Also check out Etsy (or e-mail me personally) about gift certificates or custom items!

Please check them out, and e-mail me if you have any questions!

I just want to thank all of my wonderful customers for your continuing support! Thank you! My best wishes for a fantastic New Year!

Katherine

Dread Beads!

2011-07-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

Whenever I do I custom order, I always make some extras! I just listed these extra Dreadlock Beads in my Etsy store. They have a center hole of 10mm (3/8"), and can also be used as focal beads in any fiber arts project! Check them out!

Posting Day!

2011-07-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

I just posted some colorful new crochet hooks and hair sticks on eBay last night! Check them out!

Garden Glories

2011-07-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

Summer is in full swing here in Cheyenne, WY. We are in the midst of Frontier Days -- a nice outing if you're from out of town, but an inconvenient traffic entanglement if you are local. It's brings good business to town though, and the Native American dances are fun to watch.

In my own "backyard", my mum has been working and working to get our garden growing, and what a success it's become! Our planting area is quite large - about 12 by 50 feet, so it takes a huge amount of care and maintenance. Forgive some of the weeds in the photos. Yesterday was a harvest day, and we spent over an hour collecting chard, spinach, and snow peas.

I figured I should post some pictures of our garden glories while the growing is good!

A virtual tour of the garden:

On the north end, we have summer squash in the form of yellow squash and zucchini, which are just starting to bloom. Then, two rows of snow peas, uplifted by trellises. The peas have been fruiting like crazy! We are harvesting every couple of days -- and goodness are they sweet!!!

Between the rows of peas, we snuck in some parsley and dill.

Mid-garden we have tomatoes in the forefront, just beginning to bloom. Behind them are the cucumbers, also starting to have blooms. Both of these plants seemed to get started late -- the cold prevented a lot of the "leaping" from the ground that we have come to expect.

In the very background are raspberry bushes, some type that apparently grows well here. No sign of flowers or fruit yet...

Next, we have kohlrabi, with it's strong and beautiful leaves. And in the same row, bok choy, which has gone to seed (regrettably) without producing a full head of leaves. We think it must be due to the weird weather -- first very cold, then very hot and raining. At least we'll harvest more seeds than were in the packet. (Only 10 seeds!)

The strong beets are next, and spinach. After, chard, which was just harvested yesterday, (hence the de-leafed appearance of the plants). Behind those are onions.

Here, an onion plant is having an intimate entanglement with a strawberry!

The onions are doing great! We planted about 200 of them, (overdoing it, I know), but we can have fresh green onions every single day!

Katherine

The excitement of something little...

2011-07-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

I just made some GORGEOUS new crochet hooks and posted them on eBay last night. (See photo below for the glorious details!)

This spring I was in the unfortunate situation of not having my beloved lathe to work on. My busy hands needing to keep busy, I decided to get out my crochet hooks and knitting needles to delve into some fiber arts. Most specifically, I am knitting socks. I started out by buying the typical ok-but-not-great yarn found at my local craft store, mostly skeins on clearance... and then, as I was searching for nice knitting needles online, I found something entirely different...

(I needed, needed, some Addi Turbo Circular needles -- they are soooooo much easier to use than some other brands I've tried. I like to make my socks on two circular needles -- that way I can do both socks at once, (making sure they are the same length), and finish them both at the same time, avoiding the dreaded "one sock syndrome"!)

Forgive the diversion... I shall continue the story...
At this online fiber-holics shop I found yarn, (sock yarn), on sale... so I bought some. It arrived a few days later and I was enamored: sparkly yarn, yarn that was knitted into flat squares, then printed, yarn space-dyed into brilliant colors! I was hooked!

I then went back and found sock yarn that was NOT on sale, but I couldn't help myself, I bought it anyway! This glorious spun wool felt so scrumptiously silky running through my fingers, it was ecstasy through propinquity!

Then, last night, I sauntered through the gardens of Etsy, and found and found and found... (and bought!) Goodness me it felt fantastic!

And... I have been knitting like crazy, finishing 7 pairs of socks in the past month! (see above) Anyway, I guess my point is -- even if sometimes it feels like there's "no money" -- it can be worth it to treat yourself to a little something. Such bright little spots of happiness enliven and invigorate the spirit, awakening creativity once again.

Starting by following the first couple of patterns by-the-book, I've moved on to designing several of my own, creating unique works for myself and my mom. (One thing I like doing is calculating the exact number of stitches in each sock, so I can relate the fact to curious onlookers. Did you know that (on average) there are over 21,000 stitches in a pair of socks?)

Anyway, I suppose the point is -- take care of yourself. Do something special for yourself: treat yourself to a dinner out, a skein of yarn, a hand-made wooden crochet hook, or even a CD of your favorite artist. Have fun!

Katherine

Posting Day!

2011-07-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

More brand new crochet hooks! I've just posted ALL of the below on eBay, including those scrumptious hair sticks! (With the hot weather, I've been wearing my hair up every day using my favorite hair pin, which I made from Bethlehem Olivewood.)

It's interesting -- when one must take a brief hiatus from creating, sometimes new designs come into view -- it's been fun getting back into the swing of things, turning gorgeous new hooks and hair sticks! Check them out!

Tis a Gift to Be Simple

2011-07-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Gardening can bring unexpected pleasures: a walk through growing things, the scent of blooming flowers, and the ability for a spontaneous snack!

My mom has been tending the garden this year. (I've been so busy with my turning production work that I've scarcely had a moment to get out there!) She's been planting, weeding, watering, and the like, and FINALLY her herculean efforts are paying dividends. (The growing season here in Wyoming is very short and starts quite late, so we're only just now starting to harvest).

May I present a harvest of peas from this afternoon (along with a smattering of spinach):

Chard is coming up, so is the bok choy, spinach, radishes, beets, etc. The strawberries are fruiting tenderly, but the birds are pinching all the bounties! Our tomatoes and cucumbers are just beginning to flower, and so are the zucchinis and squash.

All the while I was meandering through our trellises of snow peas, an old Shaker song kept repeating itself in my head and my heart: Simple Gifts. "'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free..." Gardening certainly qualifies as a precious note of freedom in our busy world.

Katherine

New! New! New!

2011-07-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with teaching and demonstrating woodturning the past few months, so I am just getting back into the swing of things. I'm delighted to have had some creation-time to make some beautiful new crochet hooks! With the hot weather we've been having, hair-up seems like a good idea, so I've also posted lots of new hair sticks in gorgeous colors and natural wood! Check them all out in my eBay store & auctions.

Back from Utah

2011-07-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a time I had! There is something very special about the Utah Woodturning Symposium; there's a sort of magic in the air, a wild anticipation that comes straight from the snow-capped mountains, a sparkle, and glitter in the wind. Every time I've come back home, I feel immeasurably inspired, that my life has made a hard right turn into a positive future destination.

The Utah Woodturning Symposium, (known simply as "Provo" to the old guard), is one of the largest and most prestigious symposiums in the world, and also the longest running -- 32 years as of 2011.

SUPER WEDNESDAY
In case you're interested in making the trip, I'll tell you what you can expect... the first day begins with Super Wednesday at Craft Supplies. The staff there go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. The big draw is the sale -- I picked up lots of DVDs, books, wood, and tools for seriously inexpensive prices!

Gorgeous books! (I even bought a few extra as gifts for friends!)

Some beautiful figured cottonwood.

Pen blanks, including Trustone and several acrylic varieties.

While their warehouse clearance sale is going on, there are 6 demonstration rooms, (including another at Treeline), to view presentations by top turners all day long! It's like getting an extra day at the symposium for free!

I'd like to thank Dale Nish and Darrel Nish (and the rest of the staff!) for organizing this wonderful event -- I had a fantastic time!

THE SYMPOSIUM
The Symposium lasts for three intense days, and I was very honored to be invited to demonstrate this year. The first day I had one rotation, a popular presentation in which I make my Color Rim Bowl. (To my great surprise, many asked me if the coloring is done freehand -- nope, it's all wood! The designs are produced by cutting into dyed plywood, no painting skills required!)

The second day I presented "Grinding, Sharpening, and Chips," in which I talked about the relationship of the tool grind (the shape of the tool) to the cut it's capable of making in wood. I also did my demonstration on Goblet with a Twist, which combines end-grain hollowing with thin-stem turning with a hand-cut twist.

As with the Goblet demonstration, the last day I had a full house, demonstrating Platters: cutting techniques, and decorative embellishments. I'd like to thank everyone who came to my presentations -- I enjoyed meeting everyone!

WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO....
In between demonstrating, I caught as many of the other presentations as I could, seeing Bob Rosand, Bonnie Klein, Hans Weissflog, Jacob Weissflog, Kip Christensen, Dale Nish, Jason Breach, Rudy Lopez, Dick Sing, and so many others!

I also took time to browse the Instant Gallery, which was full of incredible work! (I took two treasures home this trip: I bought one of Bonnie Klein's top boxes, and a set of three spinning tops from Kip Christensen!)

The Swap Meet is on Thursday evening -- a parking lot full of wood vendors and others selling tools, finished work, even lathes! I brought home a large box elder burl, some Mormon Poplar, a block of Willow, and some little Japanese Yew logs. To top off the evening, three special presentations were scheduled.

From left, clockwise: Maple Burl, figured cottonwood, and a big boxelder burl cap! (The maple square is about 8" across)

Friday is the night of the legendary banquet! After chatting with friends and eating a sumptuous meal, the auction starts. Both world-famous and local artists donate their works to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. I'm delighted that my platter "Sway with Me" was won by a friend!

THE LAST DAY
By now, nearly everyone is exhausted, but three more rotations ensue, followed by a "good-bye" ceremony filled with door prizes! Then, everyone goes off, driving, flying, walking... back to their own shops, their thoughts filled with inspiration!

WHAT MAKES UTAH SPECIAL?
People ask me what makes Utah different... I guess I would have to say "the community." Every year we return again, greeted by the same friendly faces. They are there year after year, working tirelessly to create a fantastic event. I've come to treasure these dear people just as I would my closest friends.

EXTRA KUDOS
I wanted to make special mention of some things that were really great this year. First -- videography -- the camera operators were either videography students from the college or woodturners with video experience -- they gave huge value to the demonstrations by following the demonstrator's every move, capturing closeups of the techniques.

The Volunteers: they were always there with a smile, happy to answer questions, or find a forgotten tool, or whatever-you-needed. THANK YOU for your dedication!

And who can forget the organizers: Mike Mahoney, Kip Christensen, and Dale Nish -- THANK YOU!

CONCLUSION
My own conclusion is that I will never miss the Utah Woodturning Symposium -- it's like a family get-together with the added benefit of learning new techniques, making new friends, and having a three-day party all at once! See you there next year!

Katherine

Posting Day!

2011-05-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

I've posted 14 new hooks in 3-day auctions! That will allow me to ship them on Monday before I leave for Utah. Thread hooks, Small Hooks, All-Wood are all on eBay right now! Auctions end Sunday evening. Check them out! http://stores.ebay.com/Daystar-Handworks

Utah Woodturning Symposium

2011-05-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

My favorite symposium is only a week away! I am delighted to have been invited to demonstrate at the Utah Woodturning Symposium this year, among my honored colleagues: Richard Rafffan, Bonnie Klein, and so many others!

I will be demonstrating my "Color Rim Utility Bowl" (you've seen me post more decorous versions on FaceBook, including my moon plate, "Halo"), "Platters", "Goblet with a Twist", and "Grinding, Sharpening, and Chips," in which I demonstrate the relationship between grind and cut.

If you're still deciding, make up your mind to go! I love Utah because it has such a family atmosphere -- Mike Mahoney is such a generous and gracious host.

I hope to see you there!

http://www.utahwoodturning.com/

Windows - New Crochet Hooks!

2011-03-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

I try to update my blog regularly, but time just gets away from me! However, I DO add new items to eBay every other day, so please check out some brand new crochet hooks, posted just this evening! Check Etsy too for new items!

Today I'd like to introduce a new series of crochet hooks -- Windows! (I have some on auction right now!)

These are what woodturners call "multi-axis turnings" because they are mounted two different ways on the lathe.

I took inspiration from the 2011 Winter issue of Woodturning Design magazine (#28), (thank you Thomas R. Farrell for the idea!) and adapted the turning style to my crochet hooks, and to the wood being used.

Indeed, they remind me of the colorful glass ornaments on a Christmas tree -- the ones that have a concave opening, faceted on the inside, that sparkle wildly in the lights of the tree!

First, I mount the rectangular block of wood sideways, so that I can turn the hollow. (Good thing I have a enough swing on my lathe!) I create "steps" that become progressively smaller as they go deeper into the wood. I take advantage of the layered nature of this wood by making each step a different color. I then drill a calibrated hole for the silver setting to rest within.

Now, time to flip the blank around and turn as spindlework, with the grain running parallel to the bed of the lathe. I then turn the piece almost as normal, making sure to be careful around the hollowed area.

The depth of the hollowed bit is crucial: it allows more "steps" to be seen, more colors to show. Therefore, I leave as large a diameter as possible on that part of the hook, (and hence the larger rag/rug hooks that I've been making).

When turning this area, you much make sure to take gentle cuts -- the layers of dyed wood want to chip off fairly easily. Sharp tools are a must. (As always! :-)

After turning and finishing the crochet hook, I then choose a matching stone. In these hooks I've used a cubic zirconia gemstone, set in sterling silver. Not a simple crystal, cubic zirconia has the the second-highest refractive index in the world, (just below diamonds on the scale!)

In the light, these stone sparkle like mad! The drilled hole is precise so the setting fits in with a snug fit, secured by a drop of epoxy.

The photos don't show the depth of the hollowing, but they are really cool to look at in the hand! They remind me of the stepped wells of old India and other ancient cultures.

I love to experiment with new designs, and these are just the latest! It's always fun to take an idea seen in a magazine, or the world, and apply it to what you do, and make it your own.

Have fun!
Katherine

New Jingly Ring Hooks!

2011-02-28T10:10:00.000-08:00

I've had so many requests for these! I've just made and posted lots of new Jingly Ring hooks on eBay and Etsy. These hooks have captured rings that spin freely, adding extra fun and delight to your crochet time! :-)

Posting Day

2011-01-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

I listed more absolutely GORGEOUS hand-made crochet hooks on eBay today! (And the second set will be up on Sunday!) Check them out!

(Click the photo to make it larger and the hooks in all their glorious detail!

Published Article

2011-01-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

First, I've got new work! Check out these gorgeous crochet hooks on eBay! (I also have lots of new nostepindes, thimbles, and beads on Etsy, including my famous "Sun Rainbow" colorway!)

The hook in the photo, furthest to the right, is the largest hook I have ever made! A size S, 17mm, for only the most ambitious crochet projects! (In contrast, the hook furthest to the left is a Q, the largest most of us ever attempt!) Both beauties are listed now on eBay.

Without further ado, I give you a photo, then on to the main topic of the day!

It all started one day when I was asked to give a demonstration on how I did my crochet hooks... I was absolutely terrified, but when the time came, everything went very well indeed, and I gained huge confidence in my ability to present a woodturning topic. I also found out one very critical thing that had not occurred to me previously -- people were interested in what I did... !

I thought everyone knew how to make a crochet hook! After all, they've been around for hundreds of years! Well, turns out that it's relatively specialized, and by making very high quality hooks, I had developed even more specialized techniques.

Later, it was suggested that I write an article about making crochet hooks. And again, it seemed to me that the world probably already knew everything I would have to say... but to my great surprise, my idea was preliminarily accepted to be published! So I wrote, took photographs, and turned. And, at length, (the publishing industry has a long lead time), my article has been published in the February 2011 issue of American Woodturner!

You can view it at my web site here: Creating Crochet Hooks article by Katherine Kowalski

We all have our own ways of working, and sometimes it seems so normal to us that we don't even bother talking about it. I would heartily encourage anyone, everyone to share what you know, even if it seems commonplace to you. Give a presentation to your group, write an article for your art/craft magazines.

How do you get started? E-mail the editors of the relevant publications, and ask for their submission guidelines as well as what types of articles they are looking for.

When you hold that magazine in your hand, see your work in full color, and your name on the article, it gives an unforgettable feeling of pride and satisfaction, along with a strong dose of je ne sais quoi! :-)

And, on a more personal note, it was an absolute joy to work with the editor of American Woodturner, Betty Scarpino!

Holiday Crochet Hooks, Captive Rings

2010-12-13T18:15:00.000-08:00

Closer come the holidays, and I've been busy as a little bee, making new crochet hooks, thimbles, nostepindes, (ball winders), needle/toothpick cases, and all manner of lovely things! Check out my selection on eBay and Etsy. (There's still time to ship for Christmas!)

Some of these are on eBay right now!

One of my favorite types of hooks to create is one with captive rings. What are captive rings??? These are doughtnut-shaped pieces of wood that are turned in place, spin on a shaft, not allowed to slide off the piece.

In short, they're lots of fun, as you can gleefully twiddle and spin them with your fingers, gloriously ignoring your work in progress!

How are they made?

Step 1: Cut one or several small "beads" in the finial of the piece. (Make sure to make it far enough off the end so that the hand doesn't touch them when used -- the rings could break).

Step 2: Grind a special tool from a hacksaw blade, in essence a tiny parting tool, and cut into the side of the beads at a 45' or shallower angle, but don't part all the way through.

Step 3: Make sure you didn't "free" the rings in Step 2! Sand and finish the rings as you would the rest of the piece.

Step 4: Make additional cuts with the tiny captured ring tool, carefully so that you do not mar the finish on the surface, and part free.

Step 5: This is the tricky bit -- make cuts around and underneath the rings to give them room to wiggle and spin. Use your tiny parting tool, and a 1/16" parting tool to liberate some more wood chips.

Step 6: Check for breakage. Inevitably a ring or two will break, but don't despair, more practice and altering your angle of approach will see success. Always start more rings than you need in Step 1. Fractured rings may benefit from a drop of CA glue, but it's generally better to break off the imperfect ones, since sanding the join is difficult at best.

Step 7: As a measure against future mishap, turn a pretty shape along the shaft, underneath the rings by moving them to either side. (See why below.)

Step 8: Turn either end abutting the ring shaft, but keep the diameter large enough that the rings won't slide off the piece. (This is very important to the "captured" aspect!)

Step 8: Sand and finish your piece as usual.

A completed piece!

In reference to Step 7 above: I once went to a show in which I was demonstrating turning during the day time, and consequently was unable to watch my items on the table behind me. One hook I'd set out had 4 captured rings... and by the end of the day there was only one left! Yes, someone had maliciously broken them...

The point of this story is... Turn a pretty section underneath so that in case of such mishaps, the piece will still be decorous enough to appeal. (A straight, cylindrical section where there is supposed to be decoration, is rather dreadful looking...)

This technique, of course, can be used on any variety of spindlework, especially small items like stick pens, hair sticks, crochet hooks, fine finials, bottlestoppers, etc. One can also use this technique for making rings on the outside of bowls with colored-graining. You won't want the ring to spin freely, just move it enough so that the grain pattern is shifted slightly, and put a dab of glue to stick it in place. (Try this technique on a sapwood/heartwood bowl, and shift the ring so that dark is on light, and vice versa).

Have fun with it!
Katherine

Thimbles & Posting Day

2010-11-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

New crochet hooks posted on eBay tonight! (And check out the brand new THIMBLES on eBay and Etsy -- great stocking stuffers!)

Guess what... (you probably already did, based on what I just wrote,) ...but... I have now added Thimbles to my collection of fiber arts tools! Not only that, but I've recently acquired NEW colorways in the dyed hardwoods, and they make exquisite thimbles and crochet hooks.

How exactly is a thimble made? First, I cut a block of wood to size, carefully on the bandsaw. I then mount in the chuck on the lathe, and hollow out the center with a specially-shaped drill bit.

I then re-mount the block on a tapered form, (a jam chuck for all the woodturners out there), and turn the final shape, removing the tail support, and carefully cutting the rings on the top side. (If you don't do it carefully, (and make sure you use italics), the piece is liable to jump off of the lathe and end up who-knows-where. (Don't ask me how I know this... keep your tools sharp!)

One also must make sure the walls of the thimble are the perfect thickness, and that the piece doesn't crack while on the jam chuck. The tail-stock must not be over-tightened, (again, cracks may happen). Critically , I cut the grooves in the top deep enough to support a needle -- after all, these are usable, functional tools, and must serve their purpose.

The inside is left unfinished, providing for superior grip-ability, and the outside is polished to a high shine!

Shape-wise, I chose a moderne design, opting out of over-ornamentation, going with a sleek look. (They look quite good on! (See below))

These thimbles make a lovely and fun addition to your collection of needle-working notions, and are perfect gifts for yourself, and friends who like to quilt, do needlepoint, sewing, embroidery, etc. (Even crocheters and knitters may need them as they tuck in the tail-ends of their yarn!)

Thimbles, are of course, an excellent way of helping push needles through difficult situations!

Enjoy the glorious colors! See my shops on eBay and Etsy for my new thimbles.

Katherine

P.S. And please don't hesitate to ask if you need more details -- whether you are a woodturner or a needleworker I'm happy to help. E-mail me at katherine@daystarhandworks.com

Last Harvest...

2010-09-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

... well, one of the last anyway. An early frost in the beginning of September forced us to pick nearly all of our tomatoes as the leaves had withered in the cold. Same with the cucumbers and cantaloupes...

BUT -- and forgive my inattention to writing about the garden during the summer -- we had an almost miraculous harvest during the entire aestival season! Cucumbers grew with zeal, sending out runners and producing buds and yellow flowers like wild! And under that canopy of shade leaves, fruits grew by the DOZENS to fill our eager pantry!

Snowpeas attended trellises, and we made two complete harvests before the plants had exhausted themselves. Green onions grew from the onion sets, and were so delicious that we relied on their steady production for our daily dishes! (It's amazing how much tastier they were, fresh from the garden, than from the grocery store...) Our persistent "deforestation" of the onion groves will probably prevent any large onions from appearing, but it was worth it!

Our chard continues to produce, and we have enough frozen now to last in making quiches through the winter! The parsley survived too -- even through the plague of grasshoppers that descended upon us mid-season, (which destroyed the dill entirely!). The turnips are still growing beautifully and the beets as well.

At last we come to the end of the growing season -- it is always short here in Wyoming. I'm amazed we grew anything at all -- the soil is poor and hard as concrete, and the wind blows persistently. However, with a few loads of manure and compost and daily watering, our garden thrived, giving us glorious produce that we could enjoy.

And while tending a garden didn't necessarily save us any money from a dollar-per-hour standpoint, (I really should have been making crochet hooks), we ate naturally-grown organic vegetables and fruits that were much tastier than store-bought, (no doubt because of the true ripeness and farm-to-store travel time). We also ate foods that we probably wouldn't have purchased at the store -- turnips, (which are new to us this year), chard, and more cucumbers and beets than we would have bought on a regular basis.

It was an interesting experience, though trying at times. I certainly learned quite a bit about organization in a growing field, and what I would alter in next year's garden plan. E.g.: Forty tomato plants is probably too many for two people to eat from... (though it works well for sharing with good friends!), and eating cucumbers three times a day due to overproduction can be a singular experience..., and green onions are so fresh and vibrant picked from the garden we should plant TONS more next year..., and Bright Lights (Swiss) chard is the most loyal, productive plant I've ever seen!

A work-intensive, but very productive summer journey!

Shop Tour

2010-09-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

Greeting everyone!
Yesterday I was so busy getting ready for my shop tour that I didn't get to post the crochet hooks I promised! (But they'll be up tonight on eBay, and some tomorrow as well!)

This morning, beginning at 11:00 I hosted a shop tour at my home. Even though the weather was a bit misty and cool about 11 people came from as far away as Denver, Estes Park, Fort Collins, and Nebraska! I showed off my lathes, (of course!), all five of them, including my two production minis and my new Stubby.

I began right away with my presentation on using a platform to grind and sharpen woodturning tools, talking about the various angles used on tools, and reasons for them, as well as powdered metal tools and the grinding wheels I use to sharpen them. I showed sharpening techniques for bowl, spindle, and detail gouges, scrapers, as well as how to add a negative rake to any scraper.

Of course, first up I was presented with a challenge! Our turning colleague from Nebraska brought me a old Rude Osolnik tool, which I can only describe as a skew with a flute. The bottom of the tool was square stock, like a skew, yet the top-side had a flute, requiring a curved cutting edge. It was something of a challenge to sharpen, requiring some freehand work, as well as the balance a grinder platform provided.

Everyone got a chance to sharpen tools if they desired, and I think we all had a great time! As an encore performance, by request, I demonstrated making a crochet hook from Canarywood with a right-hand twist! (Thank you Stuart Mortimer for your inspiration!)

By afternoon, the sun came out and warmed up the shop a bit; everyone was having such a lovely time that we went long past my estimated finish time of 1:00, ending at about ten 'til two.

Thank you everyone for coming!

2010 Rocky Mountain Woodturning Symposium

2010-09-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Well, Turning Season is over for the year...

What's "Turning Season?" It's a term I use to describe the period of the year that encompasses some of the most special events in woodturning. Turning Season begins in May with the incredible Utah Woodturning Symposium. (I must admit to this event being my favorite of all -- the camaraderie and family atmosphere is truly unique and makes it such a lovely gathering).

June brings the annual AAW National Symposium, a huge gathering of turners from around the world, a veritable cornucopia of color and delight! We are given a bit of time to "relax," (meaning "make more work and prepare new presentations"), and then comes the Rocky Mountain Woodturning Symposium (RMWT), which is just up the street -- our local event that draws a wide variety of both local and world-renowned turners.

This year, September was a veritable odyssey of loveliness! The journey began in the first week when the wonderful Stuart Mortimer came to demonstrate for our turning club. Wow! He's an absolute dynamo! He's an incredibly fast turner, and creates the most gorgeous twist-work, (and is a master of the skew)! Stuart also gave an all-day demonstration + evening presentation at our Denver club the next Tuesday, (and was a major demonstrator at the Symposium).

I had the distinct and glorious pleasure of being able to take his class on Friday, the 10th. I have to say that Stuart is an absolutely incredible teacher! He is simply amazing! The photo to the left is of the goblet I created in Stuart's class: Osage Orange, unsanded, unfinished.

Stuart demonstrated all manner of twist-work, including twisted hollow forms, goblets, and boxes, twisted finials, pigtail and pig's-ear finials, open and laminated twists, and also creating hollow forms with light as the "calipers."

I am in awe of Stuart Mortimer -- his quick turning technique, the ease in which he makes cuts and his friendly and sharing demeanor! (If you are ever have an opportunity to take his class -- DO NOT hesitate -- sign up right away!)

The RMWT Symposium was just wonderful! There is something special about a smaller symposium -- you can meet people that you never thought you would. On occasion, at the larger events, I've wanted to talk to presenters but there were so many people around and so little time between rotations that I often wasn't able to introduce myself. No so with a smaller event -- not only was there plenty of time, the smaller venue allowed me to "run into" folks everywhere I went!

The photo on the right is of AAW President Tom Wirsing. He was one of two representatives of the AAW this year to visit our symposium, and spoke briefly at our Opening Ceremonies on Saturday morning. I was thrilled to be able to meet all of our wonderful demonstrators: Jimmy Clewes, David Nittmann, David Marks, James McClure, Sam Angelo, and Larry Fox, and of course, the inimitable Stuart Mortimer.

I was "on stage" first thing Saturday morning, and presented "Skew-less Spindlework," a demonstration in which I showed how to make nearly-identical skew cuts with use of a gouge instead. (I know how fearful most people are of that dreaded four-letter word -- "skew!") That's me in the picture.

In the afternoon I gave a hands-on demonstration to help turners "tune-up" their spindlework. This is one of the neat and unique features of the Rocky Mountain Woodturning Symposium -- we have a classroom in which a professional demonstrator/teacher does a mini-class (90 minutes) and each participant has a lathe, tools, and wood to learn with. At our new venue this year, we had a large room with lots of space, and everyone who participated was able to get a tool in their hands an immediately try the new techniques that the presenters were showing.

The Saturday-night auction was a great success -- the demonstrators & vendors in the community were very generous with their donations, and we raised a large sum for our club's Educational Opportunity Grant Fund. (And the trade show was fantastic!)

I can't tell you what a wonderful time I've had meeting people at all of the symposia this year... it's like a family reunion, and discovering new relatives all the time! Thank you demonstrators and everyone else in the community for sharing your knowledge... and the love... of woodturning.

Day 2, the garden receives plants.

2010-05-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

Warm and windy out today, but pretty good weather for planting. The tomatoes were getting a droop each morning despite daily watering, so we figured it was time to get them in the ground.

My ma planted all thirty tomatoes on the south side of the garden, carefully inserting each into their holes, burying them quite deeply, (covering about 3 inches of stem), to brace them against the winds and encourage the plants to develop more roots. We bought the tomatoes from a local grower -- Ollin Farms, in Longmont, Colorado, and they're some of the strongest, healthiest plants I've ever seen! We bought four varieties, including a miniature which already has fruit! (We chose varieties based on a very short growing season).

As my ma was busily digging away, I was doing what I like to do best -- build things. In this case, I was constructing a backdrop for our beans to take the stage! (Ok, that was somewhat dramatic phrasing, however, our garden is poised to be dramatic this season!) All those years watching Time Team has paid off. (If you've never seen it, Time Team is a UK production featuring archeologists who explore ancient sites for three days at a time. They also demonstrate and de-code ancient building and other techniques, such as lathe work, jewelry making, casting, etc.)

In any case, I happened to remember a program whereby the inhabitants of a swampy district were creating bridges, even houses that were perched above the water atop poles... poles that had been driven into the ground with a large weight being pounded on their tops. The bottoms, it was discovered, were sharpened before being driven into the muddy soil beneath the waters.

Instead of 2 ft. diameter tree trunks, I found some 2 inch diameter trunks behind the shed. In lieu of a draw knife, I used my bandsaw to "sharpen" the ends of my poles, and used a hammer to pound them into the soil.

I found some wire fencing as well, and that will serve as the climbable "wall" that peas and beans need to thrive. Planted along our new construction: snow peas on the west side, and green beans on the east.

If you're wondering what all the flags are about -- well, they mark the lines of the soaker hoses -- so we don't accidentally puncture one!

In other news, I've discovered that the seed packets are lying! Apparently, bok choy seeds are supposed to germinate in 7-14 days. WELL, after three days, two have bravely emerged to greet the sunlight! (I can only credit our nifty indoor greenhouse, with it's high humidity and warmth-keeping abilities, for this early emergence!)

I was inspired to do a bit of turnery today -- check out my garden dibble above. Perfect for poking into the soil, the marks on the tool are spaced at half inches to gauge seed planting depth. (You can see I've used it already -- there's genuine Wyoming dirt on that handle!) Planting the bean/pea seeds was a breeze!

Signature Ornate Crochet Hooks

2010-02-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

Greetings everyone! I've just posted six new crochet hooks yesterday and five more today on eBay! Check them out!

I wanted to tell you a little about what goes into my Signature Ornate Crochet Hooks -- a very special segment of the fiber arts tools I create.

Each is different, often inspired by my own life, what is happening around me, the seasons, etc.

Even before turning begins, I specifically choose each piece of wood to become one of my special hooks. As I turn, I carefully measure to make sure that the area of design is out of range of hand holding. (There's nothing worse than using an uncomfortable tool!) All of my hooks are designed to be extremely comfortable and delightful to work with.

After finishing the crochet hook on the lathe, then carefully carving and hand-polishing the hook, I take in the character of the wood -- what does it want to be? I then drill a carefully-sized hole where I would like the gemstone to sit, then walk inside to the studio...

Once comfortable, with bright lamps turned on, I look at the hook again, and start doing the hand-carving. I accomplish the wonderful texture in the carving by using a pyrography tool. (No, it's not a dirty word! pyro- = fire, -graphy = drawing/writing.) I literally burn the design into the wood. This has the advantage of burning off the finish (allows the paint to stick), and also creating a wonderful dappled texture, like beaten gold, or copper.

I do all of my pyrography work freehand, without a template. Natural woods are much more conducive to pyrography than the Dyed Hardwoods I sometimes use. (And smell MUCH better!) After burning, I then take up my paintbrush and go to it!

I like to use metallic acrylic paints because they shine, have a little bit of sparkle, and add extra visual texture to the already-stippled "canvas." I add between 3 and 10 layers of paint, different colors, in order to give the hook a more jewel-like appearance.

After all the paint has dried, I then set the gemstone into a Sterling Silver or 14k Gold setting. Remember the hole I drilled earlier? The setting fits EXACTLY into this hole, and besides having this tight jam fit, I also secure it with epoxy. This allows the stone to have a proper countersink with which to sparkle beautifully! (I wish I could capture the sparkle better in my photos!)

After the hook is completed, I then sign it with my artist's mark, a double-K/snowflake symbol.

When posting them on eBay, or Etsy, I also try to include a story about the piece, what inspired it, or a story that the hook itself inspired.

These hooks represent a huge amount of time and effort to create a piece that is truly special, and something I hope their owners will cherish through generations to come.

Posting Day and Airbrush Class

2010-02-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

New, new, new! Four brand new hooks on eBay today! (And some fancy ones tomorrow!)

Greetings everyone, last Tuesday I had the incredible privilege of taking an airbrush class from world-renowned artist David Nittmann! All I can say is "Wow!"

"Sweet Surrender" by David Nittmann
Used with permission

Seeing his breath-taking artwork, I've always thought of David as an incredible artist, almost in a different world than us mere mortals. However, David is a very down-to-earth person, and a fantastic teacher! With his years of expertise in woodturning and painting and dyeing wood, every morsel of information he passes on is an absolute jewel! (It is impossible to overstate how much wonderful knowledge I gained from his class -- there's nothing like learning from a Master!)

We began the class by learning every piece and parcel of the airbrush, including the all-important cleaning process. Then after discovering how to hold the tool properly, and working some beginning exercises, David moved on to mixing colors.

This might seem fairly self-explanatory, right? Red + Blue = Purple, maybe.... It's more difficult if you have to match a color on a magazine photograph. Red is not merely red any more... it's the color of candied apples, or a Russian lacquered box... a color not found straight from the bottle. To achieve that precise match requires much skill in observation, and good guesswork about how much of a particular color to add to the mix.

David took time to give me his expert advice on achieving the colors I needed, and now I'm home, happily mixing and painting away -- the perfect colors in hand! (And with the knowledge to create ANY color I need!)

"Mandarine" by David Nittmann
Used with permission

Another very cool thing I learned is that David has spent countless hours, days, months, experimenting with and researching the very best paints and dyes to use on wood. Not your standard buy-at-craft-store-paints, David carries E'tac brand, which are the most light- and color-fast available today. They work especially well on wood because they are slightly stretchy, and won't "break" if the wood moves, (as it always does... even slightly). They're archival quality -- for the finest art pieces.

David Nittmann is an absolute treasure! I would encourage EVERYONE to take his classes -- he's a wonderfully creative and inspiring teacher, with a huge amount of knowledge to share. Thank you David for the very valuable and personalized instruction!

Now I get to practice painting with this fabulously fun tool. (I can't wait to take more advanced classes!)

On a very personal and professional note: I absolutely believe in taking classes from Masters of their art/craft. You can learn more in a single moment with a Master than in days with a someone who only practices their craft as a hobby. Masters use and improve their skills every working hour of the day -- there's NO substitute for their expertise. David Nittmann is one of the finest of these professionals.

Posting Day!

2010-01-25T20:01:00.000-08:00

Greetings! Yes, indeed, it's another posting day, and I have some beauties for you! Check out five new crochet hooks posted on eBay today!

Here's a small preview:

Two fantastic new materials -- Pasta and Acorns! Each is embedded within coordinating acrylics! Very very cool stuff! Both are listed up on eBay!

In other news, I have been working on some other VERY cool projects lately... having a lot of fun in the shop and learning many new techniques! Back to work for me!

Working with New Materials

2010-01-01T20:26:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! I wish everyone the best in this bright and promising new year!

I've just posted five gorgeous new crochet hooks, (including the two mentioned below), on eBay, and two gorgeous new nostepindes on Etsy! Please check them out!

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments about my Photography Tutorial posted last week!

I was so inspired this past week, I wanted to share my experiences with you about new materials.

Whether it be yarn, fabric, wood, metal, plastic, clay, or even new plants for your garden, new materials can rekindle passion and provide inspiration for ongoing projects. Take the two hooks below:

I was privileged to win a wonderful handmade pen from Syzygy Pens in a Christmas contest. I asked about the material from which it was made and was sent to a web site that was completely new to me! Inside I found some marvelously magical materials, and my thoughts began to fly!

Last week I received my order, and oh what inspiration took hold! I made a profusion of new designs inspired by these phantasmagorical acrylics!

I own literally hundreds of miles of yarn, hundreds of yards of fabric, and hundreds of board-feet of wood, and while it may seem that I clearly have enough... sometimes it is beneficial to buy that sparkling something that winks at you in the store... that material that combines real coffee beans with acrylic and smells delicious... and that rosewood that can't help but jump in the car and excitedly ask "are we home yet?"

I try to be on-top of new technologies, especially where tools are concerned -- I use only the best. Keeping on top of materials technology is important too -- new materials can take your work to the height of excitement!

Adding an eyelash yarn to plain knit transforms "mundane" into "pizazz." Using exotic burls instead of straight-grained wood adds texture and life to a piece. The second hook from the top has a finial made of burl wood combined with acrylic material, allowing the plastic to flow into every nook and cranny. When turned, it produced a fantastic "river" that flows all the way to the top of the hook!

Keep looking for the newest, the most interesting. Remember the Free Form Fiber Artist's Credo: "You only need one skein." (Or one block of wood). Visit new web sites, explore the marvelous global community of the Internet, and search for what excites your imagination!

Photographing Your Work Tutorial

2009-12-23T19:29:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! I just posted four gorgeous new beauties on eBay! Check them out!

Notice something different? Yep, I've been experimenting with photography recently. My friend, Cindy Drozda inspired me to try some new things! (BTW, check out her brand new Etsy shop!)

So, while I'm here and writing, I figured I'd compose a short tutorial on photographing your work -- it's an essential skill, especially if you sell (or want to sell) online, and also gives you a record of your work. Too often, I've seen photos that are poorly lit, have distracting backgrounds, or simply don't show the piece to full advantage. While I trust a professional photographer to do promotional work, being able to take good photographs gives me a lot of flexibility.

Step 1: Begin with a Light Tent & Lights
The biggest problem that we photographic amateurs face is direct light, which creates hard shadows, glare, and too much shine. A light tent, made from light-diffusing material, is the easiest way to overcome this difficulty. The fabric on the tent panels breaks up the light rays, sending them off into all different directions, which has the effect of softening the beam.

You should use several lights -- I use the overhead fluorescent (on the ceiling in my photo room), a second overhead light (the "white-light" type that are sold for illuminating detail work), and two tiny directional lights that can be easily moved around the item.

You can buy ready-made tents, or make your own. Check out photography supply stores to buy materials.

Step 2: The Background
Choose a background that lets your item shine! In your light tent, spread fabric or use paper as a backdrop: something without wild patterns: plain, nothing distracting. IRON fabric if you use it! (There's nothing that looks worse than crinkled fabric, and it says "sloppy" to a potential judge or buyer). Recently, I've discovered that using a medium color background reduces contrast, allows the grain of the wood to show much more beautifully, and colors appear more substantial as well.

Large pieces of paper (11x11), in a wide variety of colors, can be found at craft supply or stationary stores; places that sell scrapbooking materials. Choose a median color and something that will represent your "brand." Color/background consistency helps your clients identify you and your product.

Step 3: The Camera
Digital pictures are very valuable media these days -- if you don't have a digital camera, BUY ONE! They come in all shapes and sizes and every price range. I recommend something at least one or two steps above the cheapest... but even those can work magic with experimentation. (A cell phone camera won't work -- the images are too poor quality to use online).

Step 4: Setting it all up
Most of my work (fiber arts tools & small spindles) must lie on the table to be photographed, which means I take pictures from above. Use a tripod if you possibly can -- it will help the sharpness of the image. I set up my lights to illuminate every part of my piece, watching for hard shadows, correcting them when possible.

Crochet hooks, being round, have the most curious tendency to roll around on the paper. I stick them down with "adhesive putty" purchased at an office supply store. (It's removable, non-staining, and works perfectly for sticking small pieces like crochet hooks and pens, allowing you to photograph the side you want). (When you go out to buy it, tell the clerk that it's normally used for sticking posters to walls). Best of all, it's almost infinitely reusable -- I've had the package in the photo for over 2 1/2 years!

Posing:
Make sure you take at least one photograph of the "best" side of your piece. Often, a side that shows contrasting color, or has "exciting" grain changes will be the best candidate for the "power shot." (A "power shot" is the photo you use for the first picture in the online listing, as well as the "thumbnail." Multicolor often gets a better click rate than the more subtle side of a piece).

Remember -- the general public sees things slightly differently than woodturners do. While turners thrill to the undulations of crotch curliness, the public often doesn't know to look for this type of figuring, and a sapwood/heartwood contrast is much more eye-catching, especially on a casual-look basis. By all means, show the subtleties... just use the most "clickable" pictures up front.

Camera Settings:
Setting up the camera, I use Vivid, (so that the colors appear true-to-life), the Macro/Close-Up setting (represented by the flower in the flowerpot), and adjust the White Balance to match the background. You *will* have to experiment with your settings -- your lighting and camera settings will never be the same as another person's. I advise taking several pictures in a session and comparing them. For example, to find the best White Balance, I set up the studio, and take 1 picture at every other level: 0 clicks, 2 clicks, 4, and 6 clicks. (On my camera: 0, 2/3, 1 1/3, 2) This way, they can be easily labelled on the computer.

Taking pictures at intervals also lets me do half the work... when I observe the resultant photos, I can estimate what the best setting would be, and if I need to take an in-between picture. Repeat this process for each color of background that you choose -- the settings will be different.

The Computer Bit:
Hopefully, your pictures will have turned out well enough to require no editing at all, except for maybe cropping out a bit of the background. (Choose an attractive margin around your piece -- it helps the work stand out.) If necessary, "sharpen" the image slightly in Photoshop (or other capable graphics editing program), but note that it won't make too much difference in a very blurry photograph -- much better to re-take the picture.

I don't do any color alteration, add special effects, or do anything to impinge the original character of the photograph. This is important! If you "retouch" your photos and your clients notice the discrepancy in the piece when they receive it, you'll likely get a return... and a VERY unhappy customer. Don't try to be a Photoshop wizard -- flaunt the features of your work -- show every crack and cranny, knots, finish, etc. Your clients will buy your work for what it is, not what it could be. Be honest and build trust with your clientele, and they will reward you with customer loyalty.

LABEL your photographs. How many pictures of nameless bowls are floating around the internet? What if a buyer sees one and wants to buy it -- who can even tell who the maker is? Keep your original photographs intact, but for pictures that you post online, I highly recommend labeling them with your name or web site address, somewhere in the corner of the photograph. Give your work the credit they deserve, and let potential buyers know where to find you.

Most of all, have fun, and experiment to your heart's delight! Play with the settings on your camera, adjust the color of the lights and their position. Find what works best for you. (And after some time, you'll get googly-eyed from staring at the computer screen -- ask a friend or spouse what they think about your pictures -- they'll come up with some good suggestions.)

And before I let you go... the resultant pictures: White background was my "old" standard, and the tan is the after new experimentation. The difference in the appearance of the wood grain and color is just staggering!

Finally, a Posting Day!

2009-12-16T17:09:00.000-08:00

Brrrrrrr! The fall, (yes autumn, we're still not officially in "winter" yet!) has been freezing, and even more than that! Snow has fallen, and temps have been waaaayyyy below zero. My shop/studio has been too cold to work in... BUT, thanks to some westerly winds, the warmth is back! (And by warmth, we're talking 40'F! :-)

I am pleased to announce my posting of three crochet hooks on eBay and three more on Etsy! Hopefully the temps will hold, (and I can get a better heating system in the meantime!)

One other announcement: if you are looking for a VERY special gift item, please see my friend Cindy Drozda's web site and brand new Etsy shop! She makes the most exquisitely gorgeous work -- beautiful beyond belief! Truly wonderful art pieces that would make an incredible gift for a treasured person.

I absolutely LOVE candy canes... as a child I used to eat them all through the Christmas season, tasting their delightfully sweet peppermint flavor, reveling in every last bit! Nowadays it's the color that I find most appealing -- those simple red and white stripes that swirl upward with a prancing sort of happiness!

I couldn't help but make a "Candy Cane" crochet hook this Christmas -- the stripies were calling out to me! The red in the hook (pictured above) is naturally crimson Bloodwood, a hard, dense wood from South America that makes wonderful crochet hooks. I then carved and textured two stripes that swirl around the entire top of the hook, and painted them with metallic acrylics, adding little dots that seem to dance to the heavens!

For extra shine and sparkle, I then added a 3 mm brilliant-cut Cubic Zirconia gemstone, set in sterling silver... right in the middle of the larger stripe. The pictures don't show it well at all, but in the hand it sparkles like magic! (Check out my Candy Cane hook on eBay.)

The second hook in the photo is wonderfully special -- it's made with Olivewood... but not just any piece of Olivewood... this is a fantastically wonderful piece with beautifully curling swirling grain! Paired with the double purples, simply gorgeous! (I posted this lovely on Etsy.)

Posting Day!

2009-11-14T18:28:00.000-08:00

Greetings everyone! I've just done a monster posting today, with items on both eBay and Etsy! Among those are crochet hooks, needle cases (which are also perfect for carrying toothpicks), and nostepindes! These all made fantastic gift items -- and they are hand-made by a real person, (me), a professional craftsman who takes pride in her work. Very special gifts indeed!

I am happy to make nostepindes/ball winders, and needle cases as custom orders for the Christmas season. If there's a colorway/wood/stone that you've been wanting, please e-mail me!

Below is a sampling of the lovely items I've put up today:

Check out the "Money" toothpick holders -- yes, made from REAL United States currency! I've got one on eBay and one on Etsy!

Posting Day!

2009-11-10T21:07:00.000-08:00

Five brand new crochet hooks on eBay today! See a gorgeous new hook from my Signature Ornate Hook Series: "Winter Swirling" !

Posting Day!

2009-11-02T17:03:00.000-08:00

I'm soooo glad it's finally November -- my very favorite month of all! It's the month of orange, and Thanksgiving, and (probably) my birthday, though you never can tell. It's the month when cool breezes bring that fresh winter frost, when the brightest stars shine from the heavens and we can welcome back our favorite Hunter and his dog Sirius. I LOVE the smell of snow.

In other news, I've just posted five new crochet hooks on eBay!

This absolutely GORGEOUS piece, (which is one of those I added to my eBay store), was a very interesting one to make. I choose the types of wood based on their color -- and the lyptus (the peach-colored shaft) goes amazingly well with the bi-colored stripes on the Dyed Curly Hardwood, which forms the finial.

As I was turning, I had this thought to create a "vase" shape where the ornamentation starts. (For some reason I normally don't start out this way, but this piece practically insisted!) At any rate, I continued to turn the hook, and often stopped the lathe to see how the designs were unfolding on the finial... it was practically mesmerizing.

To me, the striations in the dyed wood looked like tendrils of smoke floating upward, and inspired me to write a lovely story about it. (See the eBay listing). Anyway, it's quite interesting because besides this bi-color effect, the wood also has wonderful chatoyant "curls" which show up as shortened stripies, and look like undulations in the wood.

A fantastic, lovely lovely piece! I'm sooooo tempted to keep this one-of-a-kind piece for myself.

Halloween Posting Day!

2009-10-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

Halloween and pumpkin time is fast approaching! Have you gotten out all of your orange and black yarn yet???

I have a marvelous treat -- two crochet hooks made especially for the season! Check them out on eBay! (Plus three more and several brand new nostepindes and hair sticks!)

The first hook above combines one of my favorite natural colors of wood with a marvelous acrylic, I call the piece "Ectoplasmic!"

The second piece is a special one -- the idea was floating around in my head for weeks. Initially, I was going to make two separate hooks -- one featuring each character. However, because of time restraints, I thought that making one with two faces might be even more interesting.

The hat was accomplished with segmentation, combining a piece of "Charcoal" Dyed Hardwood to the green "Jadewood." (All of my segmentation is done with secure, proper joinery techniques such as are used in the cabinetmaking industry).

I carved the textures for the hair, eyes, and mouth, then painted them in metallic acrylics. I like to layer the paints so that they have a more jewel-like effect when viewed. For Zelda the witch, I used copper, bronze, orange, and red paints for her hair, then painted her lips in two shades of red. Frankie has lovely zig-zag hair painted in purple with silvery specks.

The hook came out to be completely and adorably cute! Happy Halloween!

Posting Day!

2009-10-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hooray, it's Posting Day! Ahh yes, but a Posting Day with a difference! Today I am offering a brand new Squid Crochet Hook! (And not just any ordinary squid... one with an Opal eye!)

Check out my new squid hook as well as four other lovelies on eBay!

And here she is:

This is my third hook in the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea series... something so fascinating about creatures so different to humans. Alien, yet prolific. I can only wonder what I could do with all those arms!!! (I might could work four or five lathes at the same time! hee hee!)

I really enjoyed making this hook -- it was quite time-consuming, but well worth the effort. I knew that I wanted to make a squid hook and so started out by turning an appropriate shape -- three "bubbles" rising from the deep, culminating in the shape of a squid.

It may sound odd, but I actually inlaid the eye first, before even defining the carved and painted form of the squid. I chose a Blue Opal that seemed to be the right shape and coloration. I then hand-carved a recess for the stone to sit in, and then inlaid the stone. (Indeed, this is a real opal, not an imitation). After seating the stone in the wood, I then carved all the offending surfaces so that the opal would be flush with the curve of the wood.

After this, I finished the rest of the hook, (sanded and polished), before beginning the carving. After making a suitably textured "skin" for this brand new squid, I then painted it in metallic acrylics. I've been fascinated watching documentary footage of the incredible undulating patterns that squids produce under the water -- for communication and other purposes. I tried to capture this by applying multiple layers of color, culminating in golden-colored dots, which add to the jewel-like appearance of the piece.

I think the opal is a perfect choice for an eye -- it reflects the natural state of squiddy affairs -- they do seem to have "watery" eyes. This particular stone has a stunning green flash when you turn it in the light! (The perfect "glint of intelligence" from our undersea friend!)

Anyway, I enjoyed making this piece very much -- please check her out!

Posting Day!

2009-10-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

Hooray, another posting day has arrived! As Autumn has come knocking at my door, I'm definitely in a fall mood. I've posted SIX more hooks on eBay today, including several thematically related to the season. Check them out!

Yes, I couldn't resist delving into the traditional fall colors: oranges, red, golds, and bronzes. My thoughts are of pumpkins and harvests, leaves changing, and finally getting to wear sweaters and warm windbreakers that have been hibernating in the closets all summer long.

Of course, the absolute star of today's posting is my new "Autumn's Daughter" hook. I turned this hook almost two weeks ago, and I couldn't figure out how to decorate it. I knew she needed something, but I had no idea of what to do. Finally, the thought came: I should do LEAVES -- autumn leaves, swirling, dancing in the breezes.

After I carved this free-hand design, I then painted it in metallic acrylics, adding reds, bronzes, golds, and even a touch of greens, layering the colors to intensify the effect. I eagerly awaited the moment that the paint would be dry so I could inset a 3mm Peridot gemstone set in Sterling Silver.

The green of the Peridot adds something special to this hook -- brings it more liveliness, rather like the last green leaf on an Aspen turned golden. Like finding the proverbial "needle in the haystack" -- it's a little surprise!

Must say, I'm definitely enjoying the season!

Posting Day!

2009-09-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Hooray it's posting day!

I have just added four gorgeous new crochet hooks to eBay today... and it seems like a week for Nature to take center stage!

One beauty is a dyed burl, another filled with the gorgeous grain lines of Olivewood. One of the two pictured has the most splendid grain lines you've ever seen! (One of the precious miracles of Bocote -- one of my favorite demonstrative woods.) I will go way out of my way to find lovely looking pieces that I can turn into crochet hooks and other fiber arts tools.

The most kinetic of the hooks that I posted today is one I created out of one of my special Dyed Hardwoods called "Arctic Light." The turned form came out to be absolutely stunning. I have to say that my favorite part is the lower bead -- perfect! Of course, I couldn't stop the decoration there, no sireee!

I hand-turned three captive Jingly Rings into the top of the hook. (Indeed, they are part of the original wooden piece, not "glued on"). They're so fun to spin around... just sit idly and twirl them with your fingers! They're marvelous!

Anyway, a fun collection of hooks today! Check them out!

Posting Day!

2009-09-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today I have a treat for you! Five brand new crochet hooks and two fantastic new nostepindes -- all on eBay!

I've put together some GORGEOUS color combinations, and I can't wait for you to see them! In the mix are some bright and brilliant dyed hardwoods as well as some purely natural beauties.

Take that Olivewood hook on the right, there ---> Supremely silky and wonderful to hold. Even in such a small size hook, the wood feels remarkably substantial in the hand, and it's positively a dream to crochet with! (You can probably tell at this point that I'm enormously fond of Olivewood!) Anyway, the grain stripes -- chocolate on cream -- are simply divine to behold.

The two nosties I added to my store are made of the wonderfully colorful dyed hardwoods that I do so much work with. I put up one in "Tapestry" (which you see just to the right), and one in the "Mardi Gras" colorway. I simply love the way the layers of dyed hardwood wrap themselves so beautifully around the shapes I turn -- they accentuate every curve and line.

By the way, this weekend I will be doing all-day demos at the Sustainable Living Fair in Ft. Collins, CO. I'll making all kinds of things on my lathe, and will have crochet hooks and nostepindes available for purchase too! It's a great opportunity to see how turned items are made by a professional woodturner. I absolutely LOVE doing demonstrations, and I hope to see you there!

Posting Day!

2009-09-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

I'm back, I'm back! The symposium was GREAT! I learned a lot from my very favorite woodturner, Cindy Drozda, having watched all three of her marvelous demonstrations! (She made these absolutely precious mushroom boxes... one of her signature fine finials... and a tantalizingly sophisticated multi-axis hollow form in which the inside of the piece is larger than the outside!!!) On Sunday I saw Matthew Hill do some fantastic things with finishing, carving, and pyrography. I can't wait to see how my new work will evolve!

Today I've posted SIX gorgeous new hooks on eBay, including those beauties on the left! I love, love, LOVE working with wonderful figured woods, and when they are dyed, those chatoyant stripes just JUMP right out at you! Like cat's-eye gemstones, those stripes dance in the light!

As I was making these hooks I also wanted to play with color, and experimented to my heart's content! I think they turned out GORGEOUSLY well! Please check them out!

Symposium is Coming!

2009-09-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited -- only a few days left until the Rocky Mountain Woodturning Symposium!!! I will be attending all of the wonderful demonstrations, and I can't wait to see the Instant Gallery! Oh, to see those gorgeous pieces of artwork... only days away!

If you are in the area, (Loveland, CO), please come by! The Instant Gallery and the Trade Show are free to the public. You are also welcome to come to the Banquet & Auction on Saturday evening at 5:00. Tickets are $25, and all of the auction proceeds benefit the RMWT Educational Opportunity Grant.

(Remember my post on Cindy Drozda's wonderful 5-day workshop? I was the recipient of one of those educational grants, and could not have attended the workshop without it!) I will be donating one of my ornate crochet hooks to the auction.

And, in other news... I have posted FIVE gorgeous new crochet hooks on eBay! (Including that lovely below!)

I gave two demonstrations last week on how to create crochet hooks, and I talked quite a lot on wood choice and design. The hook above came out to be incredibly lovely.

For the shaft, I chose "basic black" -- "Charcoal" Dyed Hardwood. I then added a thin band of premium white Holly for some contrast. The finial is made from Curly Koa... and it has the most incredibly dense and fine stripes of chatoyancy! (I've never seen them so close together before!) Those marvelous stripies dance in the light!

Anyway, the hook came out marvelously well -- the colors are just perfect, and I love adding the beauty of natural wood. A premium crochet hook.

Posting Day!

2009-09-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

Greetings and salutations all!!!

I had a fantastic time demonstrating Creating Crochet Hooks at the Loveland and Denver, Colorado clubs this past week! I hope you got to come and see me, because I had a blast!

Now, for your fiber arts tools pleasure, I present FOUR brand new crochet hooks, which I've posted on eBay!

One of the most surprising pieces I've done in a while is this little beauty!

See the inset picture? Yes, it's a perfectly natural HEART! The grain lines meandered ever-so-beautifully to produce a natural "picture" of a heart.... I love when Mother Nature reveals her surprises in such charming ways! Annnnnddd... the wood is Bethlehem Olivewood, which is certified from the Holy Land. I adore the beautiful grain lines -- chocolate on cream.

Of course turning the hook is an absolute PLEASURE! Please check her out on eBay.

2009-09-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

I will be giving an encore performance of my Creating Crochet Hooks demo TONIGHT! Come and watch me at the Rocky Mountain Woodturners Club Meeting in Loveland, CO. You are very welcome to be my guest. (Price is Free!)

I will also give a short presentation on my receipt of the Educational Opportunity Grant, talking about my wonderful experience at Cindy Drozda's 5-day workshop in Utah, and showing pieces that I created while there.

The meeting is from 6:15 to 9PM. Please click here for directions. Hope to see you there!!!

2009-09-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited to see my Creating Crochet Hooks demo tonight in Denver, CO! I will be doing the demonstration for the Front Range Woodturners, and you are very welcome to be my guest. (Price is Free!)

Click here for directions, etc.

Posting Day!

2009-08-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

New nosties have arrived today! I posted those three beauties below, as well as four new crochet hooks on eBay!

I'd forgotten how much I like making nostepindes! I had lots of fun turning them, and whatever you choose to call them: nostepindes, nostepinnes, or ball winders, they turned out great!

Nosties work wonderfully well as ball winders for those extra-long, extra- un-wound hanks of yarn that you find in your LYS. I find them incredibly useful, especially to prevent the over-stretching of yarn that you tend to get when you use a mechanical ball winder.

I couldn't help but use some of my favorite colors of the Dyed Hardwoods... annnnnnnndddd Curly Maple! Yes, that beauty in the middle has chatoyant stripes that dance in the light!

Check them out!

Posting Day!

2009-08-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

Guess what.... it's posting day! Hooray!

I have added FIVE lovely new lovelies to eBay, including those three peeking out from the side!

As I was making these hooks, I had so much fun putting together different colored woods, combining the dyed hardwoods with beautiful natural colors.

Of course my design ideas were just flying! The shapes seemed to "play" as I gently turned them with my chisels, coming out with gorgeous designs!

The theme, I think, this week must be summer and the beginnings of fall. Even as our tomatoes ripen in the garden and the yellow flowers of the cucumbers grow into fruit, the prairie is goldening.

The wind is bringing that wonderful cool air that tells me autumn is beginning to fall. The fresh breezes invigorate my spirit, and inspire me to do wonderful things.

The lathes have me at their beck and call, the wood sings from the shelves: Pick ME first! New tools want their turn too, anxious to participate in autumnal bliss!

I love fall. It has all the freshness of spring, but in colors of maturity -- reds, oranges, soothing browns, and subtle greens; the golden prairie reflects peacefulness and wealth that the season brings.

Posting Day!

2009-08-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hooray, it's posting day! I have put up some extraordinary beauties this week on eBay!

I had the urge to do another polka-dot hook -- it must be the summer sunshine taking effect! I love Osage Orange -- the color and smoothness can't be beat! It's a wonderfully golden orange color, and I couldn't resist pairing it with purple! (What better combination?)

When I create these special hooks, I always like to shade the colors very carefully and add multiple layers of paint, so that it adds a richness to the piece, and ends up having a jewel-like quality. This little polka-dotted beauty came out to be very lovely indeed!

Of course, my favorite hook of this week has to be the "Golden Blooms" hook -- I really love the natural way the design wants to meander around the hook. This particular hook has "one" vine that connects all of the flowers (and bud!), and wraps around the piece, culminating in a tiny spiral ending at the top of the hook.

The design is completely carved into the hook, then painted in metallic acrylics. The carving gives the design depth and permanency. I painted the flowers in various shades of gold with a pearly white center, and the vines in several shades of green.

Both pieces are signed with my artist's mark. (You can see my "snowflake" at the top of the Osage Orange hook). I had a delightful time creating these two hooks!

Cindy Drozda 5-day Workshop -- Review

2009-08-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

I've just come back from Utah -- 16 hours driving through the deserts and mountains of Wyoming, crossing the Continental Divide four times, (ask me how this is possible), and finally arriving back home with new ideas, new thoughts, and new inspirations!

A five-day workshop is pretty intense... even for me... (and I'm known for my insatiable desire for knowledge and improvement)... Cindy shared so much of her expert knowledge, it was a dream come true!

Days 1 & 2 were devoted to learning proper turning technique -- beads and coves and vee-grooves with both the bowl and spindle gouges, culminating in design exercises which resulted in some very interesting forms! With so many in the class, it was incredibly valuable to be able to see others' ideas for shape and composition, share critiques, and try out new designs with each iteration of turning. Cindy shared her secrets about what makes a successful design, as we worked on both vessel and finial forms.

Day 3 was devoted to making our own Fabulous Finial Box, which Cindy is so well known for creating! My box (photo on the right) was made from Claro Walnut with a Holly inlay and foot. Such a beautiful design, complicated too, but Cindy's step-by-step instruction made it easy to complete within the day. (Yes, even that tiny finial was easily within reach with Cindy's superb teaching of technique!) Another session of group comparison led to all kinds of design inspirations!

Day 4 brought a wealth of possibilities, with the fabulous Cindy Drozda allowing a choice of projects among the group!

There were at LEAST 5 different projects/variations going on at once, and Cindy, who is so incredibly versatile, like the great turning Masters, went from lathe to lathe, easily switching gears to help each student with his/her chosen turning, and effortlessly demonstrating methods of solving any difficulties s/he might have had.

Of course, me being me, I watched ALL the projects, and got a little behind on my turning, but I did finish the natural-edge Mushroom Box (on the left), made of English Yew. (Even though I didn't get to make it in class, I also watched Cindy turn a square-edged bowl, as well as demo dyeing techniques, both of which I am going to try at home!)

By day 5 I was almost exhausted! Cindy suggested I do a hollow form for relaxation purposes, and what a fantastic idea that was! I turned a spalted wet maple hollow form with walls 1/8" thick -- what a joy! (And that Jamieson hollowing system is a MUST HAVE!)

On day 5 Cindy also gave a wonderful presentation on how to "read" burls as well as plan projects using the figure of the wood to best advantage -- invaluable knowledge for us to have.

Conclusion: Whenever Cindy Drozda teaches a class, I will be the FIRST to sign up! Her knowledge of turning is impeccable, and her ability to teach turning technique is nothing short of extraordinary. By the end of the week, each and every student in the class improved his/her technique, as well as improved design in their unique style.

"Phoenix"
by Cindy Drozda

Far from being a "copy me" class, Cindy encouraged and spurred each student to find their own direction. No one's boxes looked the same -- and through her encouragement of group communication, we all learned from each other.

Cindy Drozda, the Great Woodturner, is nothing short of a woodturning Master. And the best part is.... we all had lots of FUN!!!

Fantastic fantastic class! I can't possibly say enough about this incredible experience!!! I arrived home filled with new knowledge, overflowing with inspiration, and best of all, the insatiable desire to TURN...

Another event of note... I have it on good authority that Cindy will be at the Loveland Sculpture Invitational this very weekend, August 7-9th! I can't wait to see more of her exquisite artwork in person!

See you there!
Katherine

Posting Day!

2009-08-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

I've just posted four new lovely hooks on eBay, (including the one below!) Check them out!

Workshop

2009-07-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

Remember back in February when I was awarded a generous Educational Opportunity Grant by the Rocky Mountain Woodturners? This week is it! I will be attending a 5-day workshop given by world-renowned woodturning artist Cindy Drozda, which I know will be lots of fun, with so many wonderful things to learn!

Since I'll be away from my studio, I won't be able to mail packages until I return. I'll post new fiber tools on Monday, August 3rd, when I come back -- see you then!

Tori Amos in Denver

2009-07-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Last night I saw Tori Amos in concert -- she was absolutely Magnificent. She (and her fantastic band) played so beautifully, with such incredible energy! It was liquid bliss!

Her set list was amazing; each song flowed flawlessly to the next. And the colors, the lights -- each tableaux seemed "painted" to show off her signature red hair! Absolute PERFECTION!

Tori's music is so incredibly powerful... so very inspiring! I feel honored and privileged to have been able to see her performance -- WOW!

There's nothing.... nothing in the world like Tori's glorious music...

Posting Day!

2009-07-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone!

"Banksia Space Station"
by Cindy Drozda

If you haven't signed up for Cindy Drozda's workshop yet, TODAY is the day! I am soooooo looking forward to it! She makes the most extraordinary boxes and lidded vessels you've ever seen! And she's teaching us how to make them! What could be better??? Check out her blog for more information, or her web site to see more of her exquisite work.

My news for today includes four new lovelies on eBay!

My roses are blooming like crazy! They're so beautifully bright in the summer sunlight -- pinks, and peaches, and reds, and fuchsias! They inspired one of my hooks today.

Lovely pink flowerets bloom on a verdant green background, golden-green vine connecting these seeds of life!

I quite enjoyed making this hook -- it's a design I've never tried before, and I think it came out quite beautifully. I'm particularly pleased with the shape of the flowers and petals, (as well as the shading within the painting part of it). So pretty!

The second hook is from my new series "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" -- it is entitled "Squid #2".

I'm particularly fascinated at the way the craft of turning can produce such a perfect squid shape. It's made me wonder what other sorts of creatures are similarly round and radially symmetrical, in hopes that I can find a way to represent those as well.

The hooks are always so much more magical in the hand than they are in photographs... and the squid hook is no exception! The "eye" is a 3mm Garnet set in Sterling Silver, and sparkles beautifully in the light, really seeming to bring the creature to "life." The tentacles wrap all the way around the hook.

This, as well as the "Summer Blooms" hook are signed pieces.

Posting Day!

2009-07-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

Another Posting Day has arrived -- Hooray!

I've posted six lovely new crochet hooks on eBay today, including the two pictured.

Did you happen to see the blog entry below? (About the incredible opportunity to take a class with world-renowned woodturning artist Cindy Drozda? (If you didn't, check it out!) If you did... I just wanted to prove how fantastic a teacher she is! Check out my Before and After photo and story.

On to the hooks!

That little gal on the left is made from Asian Satinwood, and absolute pleasure to work with! It's so very smooth to cut, and the chatoyant stripies on the sides add such playfulness to the hook! I think that the amethyst looks absolutely stellar on that hook.

I've never done black painting before -- never really thought of it with regards to my general proclivity to color. However, I think it turned out to be a wonderful combination of colors, especially after adding the silvery colors as well.

The hook on the right is an absolute STUNNER -- sooooooo pretty. Indeed, after I uploaded the photo for eBay, I thought... ooooh, maybe I should keep this one! Soooooo gorgeous!

This beauty was inspired by "Apollo's Frock" by Tori Amos, a B-side from the Scarlet's Walk era. One of my favorite songs, another in which she uses metaphor upon metaphor, including prolific historical and literary referents. A very complicated song, and complicated meaning.

I suppose I wanted to transcend a lot of that -- it just isn't possible to create a small work of art that can express all of the meanings present in such a vastly meaningful work. Indeed, I went with the most apparent of meanings, and chose to incorporate color as a primary part of the design. The flames are obviously representative of the solar innuendo, though also include deeper parts of the lyrical meaning.

I had quite a lot of fun painting this hook -- I used various metallic acrylics: bronzes, copper, golds, etc., applying shading to the flames to give them a bit of life -- as though they truly are licking upward to the top of the hook. I added a 3mm brilliant-cut Garnet set in Sterling Silver to complete the piece... and does it! Garnet in place, the whole hook has a jewel-like effect!

Woodturning Dream!

2009-07-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone,
I thought this was too good an opportunity to pass up, so I wanted to post it here: I just found out that there are still spaces in Cindy Drozda's Workshop at Craft Supplies USA this month! You've all heard me rave about her -- she is an absolutely extraordinary teacher! She

"Inanna"
by Cindy Drozda

can coax gorgeous works even out of raw beginners, and teach any advanced turner tricks to making exciting work.

Cindy is, quite simply, the turner to learn from. I can't even begin to tell you how much her instruction has improved my skill and artistry. Anyway, it's a 5-day workshop at the end of the month, July 27-31. Check out her web site (where you can see more of her amazing artwork), and her blog, (which has links to the workshop info & sign up).

If you've ever had interest in woodturning, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn! (I can't wait to go myself -- my bags are already packed! I hope to see you there!) It's going to be great fun!

Posting Day!

2009-07-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Hooray! It's Posting Day! It's the day I get to share all of my new fiber arts tools with you!

Today I posted FIVE new crochet hooks on eBay, as well as added a couple of lovelies to my Etsy page.

Here are two of the eBay gals:

The green gal on the left is absolutely STUNNING in the hand! That CZ is so very sparkly! (Did you know that CZs have the highest refractive index aside of diamonds? -- and it absolutely shows!) I wish I could take better photographs of the gemstones -- they're brilliant-cut, and so reflect light incredibly well.... so well that it appears as a single facet in the picture. Hmm... maybe I should try different lighting angles? At any rate, the "Golden Vine" hook is a treasure!

The purple hook on the right is a special one -- I was thinking about what sort of design I'd like to create, and started off with the tiny little dots on the middle "bead." From there, my mom's advice came to mind -- she's been suggesting that I do polka dots on some of the hooks... so here it is! I had a difficult time choosing between all the colors of metallic acrylic, (they're all so lovely!), but finally chose a gorgeous cerulean -- so beautiful. Like a mix of lapis lazuli and aquamarine. Of course, I added a host of other colors in layers to create a "jewel-tone" look.

The polka dots wrap all the way around the hook, even over the very tippy top!

Posting Day!

2009-07-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

Howdy everyone! (I am still recovering from the Symposium -- BUT, I am sooooo inspired! I've been making things like crazy, using new techniques I learned!)

Anyway, back to the business... the wonderful business at hand! I've posted six more hooks on eBay today, including some brand new nosties and a needle case in my store.

My favorite hook has got to be my new Tori Amos inspired piece -- brought to life through her American Doll Posse song: "Girl Disappearing."

This song has been quite important to me over the past couple of years -- I can certainly relate to it's thematic references -- I've lived some of those things. Indeed, I'm happy to have "boycott(ed) trends" and found a different way of being over the past ten years or so.

Reading the rest of the lyrics, I found it quite a romantic notion to escape to a constellation -- a place of there or possibly not there -- is it reachable? I don't know -- maybe. I suppose that I've never tried.

What was interesting to me while making this hook was that I normally gravitate to the chorus, the bit about "riding on backs of palominos," but whenever I thought about creating the hook, all that would come to mind was the stanza:

Envy can spread
Herself so thinly
She slipped in
Before I could notice it

And I suppose it was quite apropos for creation of a crochet hook -- after all, you can't really tell the entire story in such a diminutive format -- best to focus on the most important point.

So, I took that traditional green for envy and based the hook around that idea, "slipping" a thin band of green between the (almost pure) white of Holly -- the innocence of the protagonist of the song. After carving the spiraling designs, I painted them in varying, shading greens, allowing them to almost dissipate at the top; a metaphor for letting go of that anger, the forgiveness of self for wanting what isn't possible.

I couldn't resist adding a 3 mm Peridot gemstone, which I set in Sterling Silver, which really brings the piece home for me. This piece is engraved with my signature/artist's mark.

At any rate, I very much enjoyed making this hook -- it turned out to be absolutely gorgeous!

Posting Day!

2009-06-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

Well... post posting day, but I have soooo much to tell you, it's taken me two days to write! Firstly, I've posted some brand new, GORGEOUS hooks on eBay! (See those two beauties below? Check them out on eBay!)Speaking of... the new fashions for hooks have arrived! My new design series is called "Unexpected Details." Because I use so much color and shape in my work, I often feel like a fashion designer, and love to come up with new things. The "Unexpected Details" series will incorporate tiny details, perhaps even barely noticeable, but which make all the difference in the world. I guess it's my way of adding a "hidden treasure" in plain sight -- but only if you look closely!

In other news, I have returned from the AAW National Symposium in Albuquerque! I had an wondrous time!

I saw many woodturning celebs, and got to attend demos by the best in the field. I learned all kinds of marvelous things, and came back inspired, enchanted, and improved.

The instant gallery was absolutely incredible; the artwork was marvelous! My very favorite piece of the show was "Renaissance" by Cindy Drozda. (Second from left in the picture below).

The picture doesn't even come CLOSE to doing justice to her wonderful artwork -- the shape, the form, the finish, the colors are literally breathtaking! Soooooo beautiful, and unquestionably Perfect. (Yes, "perfect" with a capital "P," or, in other words, Magnificent!)

The walls of the goblet are incredibly thin. You can't see it in the photo, but the bead on the finial mirrors the natural edge finish on the amboyna goblet with tiny scallops. The very tip of the finial also has these carved points, ending in an emerald-green chrome diopside stone! The detail is just extraordinary!!! (I won't even TELL you what's inside!)

I was also privileged to see her demonstrate her ultra-fine turning at the trade show. I spent hours watching... I was utterly captivated by her skill and artistry. She's AMAZING! (Check out her web site). She created fine fine finials, as well as demonstrated her signature Finial Box and her Finial Star Box, using her brand-new line of signature tools! (Check them out at Packard Woodworks) The recess cutter is my absolute FAVORITE! (And the vortex tool is... well, "large grin" may suffice as a description!)

Even as I was watching, she came up with a brand new finial design incorporating what she calls "wave forms," separated by impossibly narrow v-grooves. She continued to demo these throughout the show, astonishing us with her prolific creativity!

In other news, I am glad to be back home! My cats missed me, especially my tiny Arabella. ...And it felt really weird not to be covered in wood chips!

Time to get turning again!

Off to the Symposium!

2009-06-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

This week I'm off to the AAW National Symposium in Albuquerque, NM to be inspired by some of the greatest woodturners in the world! Looking forward to meeting up with friends and making new ones, as well as learning new techniques through the prolific demonstrations.

I will also be unveiling a VERY SPECIAL crochet hook in the Instant Gallery... as well as presenting a new design series of hooks.

Since I will be away from Wednesday through Monday, I won't be able to ship items purchased on eBay or Etsy during this time, (or, of course, answer e-mails). Next posting on eBay will be Tuesday, June 30th.

I hope to see you at the Symposium!

Posting Day!

2009-06-16T15:32:00.001-07:00

I've posted SIX new hooks on eBay, including another Tori Amos inspired hook. (Hint, she's the one on the left!)

However, before I go further on that topic, I'll tell you about the lovely little gal on the right: I couldn't resist creating a hook with more of my swirling dotted designs, thusly came the ~Winds of Summer~ crochet hook. I happen to think that blue and white go very very well together, and I love to try to create different combinations. Usually, I like to add a band of turquoise gemstones, however, with this hook, I thought I'd do something different.

I was inspired by the lovely summery weather we had a couple days ago, (it's been raining for weeks now!), and so after turning this hook, I thought I'd add some feather-light decorations. I painted the swirl carvings with turquoise and blue-colored metallic acrylics, and they came out to look very jewel-like indeed. The photo doesn't really give a great idea of texture, but it's just beautiful in the hand!

That little gal on the left was inspired by Tori Amos' song "Never Seen Blue," a B-side from her From the Choirgirl Hotel album era. I took some of the lines to heart, obviously, and thought about them a great deal as I was designing this hook. "Some boy you are to wear my color red/wear it very proudly"...

I usually play "Never Seen Blue" with "Beaulah Land" as they are both blue-colored songs to me. However, when I thought about the lyrics above (and those that follow), the meaning changed for me, and I wanted to make a hook that more accurately reflected those new meanings. (It's interesting -- I've been studying her music for about 8 years now, and I STILL hear something new each time I play a song!)

Anyway, I carved some wonderful textural flame-like designs on both sides of the hook, which wrap all the way around. I added a 3mm brilliant-cut Cubic Zirconia, (a real CZ, not a crystal), set in Argentium(R) Sterling Silver. (See the June 11th post below for info about Argentium (R) Sterling.) It sparkles sooooooo beautifully! The sparkly-ness is REALLY difficult to capture in a photograph. No matter what camera angle I tried, the light reflected off the top facet, making it look white.

I guess I'm going to have to ask for help on the photographs! Actually, there are some pretty good tutorials out there on photographing jewelery, so I hope to have a better photo for the next hook.

Well, back to work... I've got to get ready for the AAW Symposium next week!!!

Estes Wool Market

2009-06-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

I ventured out of Cheyenne today... it was Wool Market Day!!! Yes, even though thunderstorms were favored by the weather service, I decided to brave it and take a trip to Estes Park, CO.

Well, the first part of the trip is truly a test of courage. I am more than slightly claustrophobic, so the drive is no insignificant matter... (see photo below, click to zoom).

Yes, those walls are made of solid rock, and they go alllllllllll the way up! ...which inspires thoughts like... "how much do I really want the wool???"

Wooly thoughts prevailed, however, and even though I felt horribly squished, thank goodness the canyon widens out a little for the rest of the 45 minutes of that part of the drive. (All together, for me, it's about 2 hours each way.... yes, I LOVE wool... THAT MUCH! :-)

(Living in the country, I'm used to more than 180' unfettered skyline, so 15' is insufficient at best).

Soon enough I arrived in lovely Estes Park, and the sun was shining! Hooray! I immediately went to the fairgrounds, and the first sight to greet me was this gorgeous llama:

Her coat was extraordinarily soooooooft... I found out that she (and the llama behind her, to the left), are both very "girly" llamas, and I had such fun talking to their keepers that I forgot to ask their names! (Please forgive this breach of etiquette on my part!) Anyway, they had just been shown, and their owners were escorting them back to their pens.

All sorts of creatures great and small were at the festival, including no lack of sheep, angora rabbits, angora goats, paco vicunas, alpacas, llamas, cashmere goats, and... some very unusual visitors: YAKS!

There were three lovely yaks being shown outside, and there was fibre and yarn to be found inside!

Yes, the shopping... I'm afraid I went just slightly overboard. Well... I really couldn't help myself. I intended to get a couple of hand-dyed batts for spinning... and before you know it, I had a PROJECT come to mind, and I was fluttering around the place, buying all kinds of natural and dyed batts and rovings, angelina fibre, and similarly sparkly nylon to add into my soon-to-become-yarns.

Among the interesting people I met was a production woodturner from Colorado who makes lovely niddy nodddies, (large) needle boxes, and drop spindles. He's been at the show for several years in a row now, and since my mum couldn't go, she requested that I buy one of his boxes for her, so I did: a tall cherry box which has a very streamlined shape to it: so lovely and smooth.

I also got to spend a few minutes watching a spinner demo the navajo spindle. WooHoo! Now mine doesn't have to sit in the corner anymore as "decoration"! I can put it to work! (Amazing how 5 minutes can change your life! :-)

I saw all manner of creation at the show -- beautiful knitted and needlefelted art dolls, a giraffe hobby-horse, wet-felted flowers, nubbly yarns, smooth yarns, sparkly ones too! Lots of mini-looms for sale, as well as fibre beyond compare! Colors! Colors! Colors to the delight the eyes! and softness to delight the fingertips! and the chattering of hundreds of critters outside to spur you on!

Well, I'm so glad I didn't trust the weather service... and didn't chicken out on the drive... and wore my sturdy tennis shoes! I had a great time! Actually, it's my fourth year to go -- I've gone every year that I've lived in Wyoming, and look forward to next year!

Posting Day!

2009-06-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Hooray! It's Posting Day! Annnnnddddd, I've got some fantastic new designs for you! (Before I get ahead of myself, let me just tell you that I posted seven new hooks on eBay today. I also added the nifty little box on the right ---->, showing some items from my Etsy store, AND also a list of links to all the places you can find my work.)

Now down to business.... ("serious mode" engaged)...

I had an absolutely GLORIOUS time making this hook:

It is a wonderful thing to be inspired by a person, or their creation, so I like to try and give back some of that inspired thought with a direct link of some sort.

Inspired from Tori Amos' "Carbon" from her Scarlet's Walk album, I thought about what makes the song so very special -- the lines she sings, the meanings that come. "Carbon made only wants to be unmade" ... "crystalline irises" ... "shred in ribbons of lithium" ... "keep your eyes on her/on her eyes on her horizon"

In doing this, and figuring out how I could translate this into a piece of artwork, I discovered new meanings in the song. For example, I always, always thought of "crystalline irises" as eye irises, never even occurred to me that they might refer to the flowers. However, when I was searching for the right color to add to the hook, the images of those purple flowers in my own garden jumped to the forefront of my attention, and I knew it was right.

For this special dedication, a very special hook was in order, so I used techniques that I was inspired to learn at the Utah Woodturning Syposium: the textural design, plus a wonderful secret from world-renowned woodturner Cindy Drozda (web site / blog) -- the setting of precious gemstones and adding them to my woodworking. (She adds them under the lids of her boxes, which creates a marvelously special effect whenever you open one! You'd never mistake a Cindy Drozda original artwork with anyone else's!)

For this piece, I added a 3mm amethyst set in Argentium(R) Sterling Silver. (In case you're wondering, Argentium (R) Sterling is made with germanium, which severely inhibits tarnishing, yet is never less than 93% silver, like traditional sterling. You can read more about it here (PDF)).

Combining all of these techniques together was a delightful challenge, and I enjoyed every minute of it! I will be posting more artist-inspired (Tori) hooks in the coming weeks. Only my very favorite songs will be translated into crochet hooks, and I'm happy to say that I've got a few of them planned already.

Posting Day!

2009-06-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

Five new nosties on Etsy today, and six new needlecases on eBay!

My favorites of the needle cases (which are also multiply handy for carrying toothpicks), are these two guys:

The top one is one of my custom colors of Dymondwood, and I inlaid it with abalone shell. It's so difficult to capture the sparkles of the shell -- they look almost rainbowy, and reflect greens and pinks and blues in the light. Actually this is one of my favorite combinations of Dyed Hardwood + natural material (i.e. shell/stone).

A new favorite combo I just created is the second case down -- "Flying" Dyed Hardwood + Chrysocolla gemstones. I looooooooove the blueness of the stones -- they look sumtuously gorgeous! (I think it's even prettier in the hand than on the photograph).

(Both of the above have 24k gold plated findings)

Shop Tour

2009-06-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

I had a GREAT time at Anthony Prough's shop tour at Milliken Middle School on Saturday. Several of his students were there to demonstrate their turning skills and show us around the shop. I was thrilled to see that quite a few members of the Rocky Mountain Woodturner's club came down to visit. World-renowned artist David Nittmann also came by, sharing turning techniques with the students.

Thank you for sharing your shop with us!

Spring has come!

2009-06-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally decided to arrive in Cheyenne... a welcome respite from the snows of winter... (Well, sort of... I do actually prefer the cooler weather -- it makes working in the shop a LOT more comfortable).

It's been raining like crazy all week, but today, finally, the sun has arrived, complete with golden rays, beams, and all manner of pouring down gorgeous golden light! I missed the sun. Wyoming has two things in abundance: grass and sky. And the sky is literally cloudless 90% of the time... the other 9% has tiny bitty clouds. Only 1% gets reserved for the overcast rainy days that dampen the ground and the spirits. (Thus, a week without sun is merciless punishment for sun-loving artists!!!)

Our irises appreciate both the rain and the sunshine: they're finally in bloom, and their lovely purple faces greet us as we walk outside:

Yes, a LOT of us are late-bloomers, but who cares? There's plenty of time in life to live :-)

Back to creation! K

P.S. Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention: as the Vice President of the Rocky Mountain Woodturners, I'd like to invite you to our monthly meeting held today at WoodCraft in Loveland, 6:30 sharp. Dennis Liggett will be presenting twistwork. (Which is a REALLY neat technique!) Join us!

Posting Day!

2009-06-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

Monday! It's posting time! (Or, actually, post posting time, since I've already posted what I needed to post!)

I've just put 10 new hooks on eBay, and they're all a treat! Gorgeous, every one of them!

There are two up there that showcase designs that I was inspired to do after visiting the Utah Woodturning Symposium, and here's a little teaser for you...

I've been carving the surface to create a very delicate texture, then painting the carved area with metallic acrylics. They shine sooo beautifully in the light! The texturing is much more substantial in the hand -- if only I could find a way to photograph it better!

In any case, I find I really enjoy this kind of decoration -- it reminds me of when I was a child, (eons ago), and I painted swirls and swirls all over the pages. Rather like a form of pointillism, I suppose -- using these lines of color to create basic shapes, (like flowers, trees, hills, etc.).

This evening, I also posted some wonderful eye-candy in the form of needle cases! (These can also be used as toothpick holders). I added a total of six tonight, all in the brightly beautiful Dyed Hardwoods with 24k gold plated findings. Here are three of them:

Well, back to the shop! See you soon!

Happy Day!

2009-05-30T09:21:00.001-07:00

Life is better today!

I get to see the goddess in concert: Tori Amos! Hooray! Bought tickets this morning to see her in Denver. I'm always blissed for weeks afterward!

*~* Happy Dance *~*

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I am conceiving of a Very Special crochet hook to be unveiled at the AAW Symposium in June. I hope to see you there!

I woke up on a hill of electrons...

2009-05-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

... and was prompted to choose a template, and a layout, and complete the Profile...

Ahhh, I've arrived in Blog-land!

Greetings fellow citizens, I'm new!

Well, new here at any rate -- I've been around for a while otherwise. I am a professional woodturner. Yes, that means I LOVE my job. Please check out my web page at http://www.daystarhandworks.com to see my work. I focus mainly on creating fiber arts tools: crochet hooks, nostepindes, needles cases, etc. Of course, that only fuels my interest in exploring all of the other ways to turn wood!

(While I'm digging through my files, let me post a pic -- this Q will go on Etsy next week)

I have approximately three cats: Arabella, Jingle, and Magnolia (Maggy Mae), whom I love dearly. My life would inexorably, most unpleasantly altered without them.

In other news, today my Magnolia expanded her snack repertoire. I don't even want to think about it, but suffice it to say: it probably "tasted like chicken." I'm going to have to keep a better watch on her to prevent too much natural instinct from kicking in.

Otherwise, it's been a pretty busy day: I've been making some special projects for special people, and new wood arrived! Hooray!