the June 2009 issue of Popular Woodworking includes an article I did about the carved work in my joined furniture. I was quite pleased with the treatment I received there, and the printed result.
I carved two panels in photographing the stuff for the article, thus decided I was well on the way to another chest. So it is now one of the too-many projects I have going. It’s been a while since I made something for the house, so we’ll see if there’s room for it here.
Here is a detail of the central panel and some of the framing; it’s further along than this now, but I haven’t had much chance at photos. The muntins are made from quartersawn white oak, the rails are riven white oak and the panel riven red oak. I am planning on painting the carvings, and in time the various oak pieces will all blend together…
center panel, new chest
Otherwise, another extra-curricular woodworking that I sometimes do is spoon carving. These days, I keep a few spoons underway in a basket that I take with me when the kids & I go to the playground. It has taken a while for the moms to get used to that guy with the beard and the knives, but so far no one has called the police. I learned spoon carving 15-20 years ago at Country Workshops (www.countryworkshops.org) from Drew Langsner, and Jogge & Willie Sundqvist. This batch contains a few woods; cherry, apple and some birch. The thing I like about spoon carving is that you can take it most anywhere, and do much of it in your lap. I hew the rough shape at the shop, then do the knife work in bits & pieces as time allows.
a few spoons
June 5, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I love the spoons! Forgot about those. I don’t think I have any though. Maybe someday….
June 6, 2009 at 5:40 am
Peter, do you sand your spoons? They look great!. I’m planning to take a few blanks with me on our camping trip this summer. It will keep me busy so I won’t be asked to cook. haha
June 6, 2009 at 7:43 am
Pete,
Checkout this article by Drew in the latest “LIVING WOODS” magazine May/June 2009 : http://www.countryworkshops.org/newsletter7/ladle.pdf
Joe
June 6, 2009 at 8:51 am
” The muntins are made from quartersawn white oak, the rails are riven white oak and the panel riven red oak. I am planning on painting the carvings, and in time the various oak pieces will all blend together…
Even though the rails & mutins are white oak, the rails appear lighter in color, at least in pic. Let me ask a stupid question, if one “fumed” the oak, would it blend all the oak into a uniform brownish color one sees on arts & crafts type furniture?
Fabulous carving on new chest.
June 6, 2009 at 11:40 am
Kari
yes, some of those spoons are sanded; although this “batch” spans 16 years. Nowadays I don’t bother with sandpaper.
Joe: Thanks for the link to Drew’s article. I did see that, but now so can others, if inclined.
James: the color difference is because it’s two different white oak logs, and one’s sawn & one’s split. Yes, fuming them would blend these differences a bit, but I bet it would still be visible. Over time, they will all catch up to the same place, I’d wager.
June 6, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Peter, oh yeah, over time the tanin will turn all the oak into a rich brown color, i was just wondering if fuming would do that instantly.