The coldest but my favorite month - July
Officially at the half way mark for the year and its a good time to look back at what the first half has provided and look forward to what could be from here on in!
Experiments with carving and fire have continued recently with a new artwork made from the techniques I have been practicing and seen on my nice big silky oak bowl seen below. This piece has also been submitted to Timbecon’s Against The Grain woodworking competition.
With this piece of jacaranda I pushed deeper into the carves and took less material off in the sanding process. Its been referred to as looking like a shield, maybe to ward off bad spirits. This wall hanging is available now, check it out here
Now it seems as though I get a chance to write these best after taking some time out and this week I have come back from our annual July Birthday trip (both my daughters, my mum and myself have birthdays in July)
One Mile beach Port Stephens has become our favourite holiday spot and despite the chilly winters breeze! I even got a surf in!
Fueled by new inspiration to start surfing again I found myself trawling the internet for fresh surfing gear, my algorithm quickly found its way into more surfing videos and eventually surf art and surf related woodwork.
I started seeing art of waves and fins, beaches and surfers. I imagined making my own surf fins and thinking about the way a shaper would plane a piece of foam into a surfboard using only hand tools.
So my surfboard was back in the garage, post holiday. with a fin sticking out of the board bag, a fin I have had for around 10 years and taken from board to board, clunked it on things I wish I hadn’t, surfed it in waves I couldn’t really handle. Held me steady on waves that made me smile.
I wondered if I could make one.
So I tried. And here it is
Not one minute after I finished making this I cut out four more, two more in camphor and two in Red Cedar.
I don’t know why but I cant wait to make some more!
I was asked, “I know its a fin, but what is it”
I have no idea, it just is and its sitting proudly on my bookshelf as I make a few more!
If you would like to get first dibs on one for yourself, feel free to send me a message here
As I write this I’ve just seen my fin get posted to the Hare and Forbes website OMG! (the supplier of my lathe and sander) check it out here #HFCREATORS
The Silky Inukshuk finds its way to a new home this week as we decided to throw an auction in aid of a member of our woodworking community fighting cancer.
I can gladly say we raised $300 for the family from this. We continue to think of you Phil and hope for your speedy recovery. To see the cause, or donate see it here
The school holidays comes to an end and I head back to work (the day job)
There’s an element of true calm and rest from this break, and like always more inspiration and more projects in my mind to bring to life!
