MIND OF A BLACK WOODWORKER IN ARIZONA

Favorite lathe chisels  Gallery DuMaurier Bainbridge Pear, Big Leaf Maple Burl, Buckeye Burl& Box Elder Setting Nichols lathe Fresh Olive  Entering two of my works in two Arizona shows Pen and pencil set Buffalo horn and Ivory GOT IRONWOOD

Wow I can not express the excitement I am enjoying in the creation of this piece. The final is a donated scrap of ivory, hooray. I have never turned ivory before. Truly something special. This vessel, is a song ebony and ivory. With bloodwood ( may represent blood once spilled). Ivory is for purity and a change of sadness. Ebony, once known in ancient Egypt as farrows gold. For me I find that I like the depth of this gaboon ebony, black is also known to  absorb the negativity of evils.         I like the thought of it.                                         This is story about the spirit of joy, housing the special meanings, you wish to keep near. Stay tuned for the next update, there are few more surprises, inside and out, Wow I can't wait. Turning Ivory

Well I just could resist the attempt to complete this chalice. All was great until  I got it home and notice the smallest of cracks at the rim. It must have a cured while I was finishing the bottom. I see another attempt in my future. Turning wet, I soak it with shellac and alcohol. I then turn the interior and coated it with a blend of beeswax, carnuba and walnut oil. I am told that this is the correct finish for a usable goblet or cup.   I then turned the upper portion outside, and inlaid some malachite, turquoise and a couple other minerals. I the sanded and sealed the outside with shellac and then the beeswax mix. Turned out pretty good. I then started the base. Using a rotary tool I carved some decoration just below the cup section. I then used a wire brush attached to the cordless drill. I then mixed some 5 min epoxy with green alumilite dye. Sanded all down to just leave the deepest crevices. I also added some gold dust, (very little), I painted the abstract leaves with...

The  Arizona Association of Woodturners has issued a challenge for the June meeting to turn a lidded box. I have decided to turn it from one of my favorite woods, " Tigre Caspi and Gaboon Ebony .  I first decided that I wanted the shape to mimic female form. The lid maybe the breast area, the start of the ebony, the shoulders and head area with a crown top piece. the head shoulders, and breast area has finish. I need to complete the crown, which will be a challenge. I thought about attempting to insert Lignum Vitae for threading  top and base for the ultimate fit. The bottom is planned to to be rounded and maybe slightly elevated. The crown, pyrite with inlaid gold dust. 

I will start by saying that I had the most interesting evening, last night, meeting and hanging out with Bill Tonneson and some impressive support group of his friends. ( thanks to my friend Chris Hester). Well  the man is first a tall man, and his wife has a great accent. I believe he has three almost full grown kids, that he clearly adores. Some of the people that was aware, but didn't directly meet were, Mr. & Mrs Kitchell, The mayor of Phoenix, the ex-mayor of Phoenix. A couple that where pointed out to me from the Hayden family. I did get mingle with, and pass business cards, to first young designer, living in the neighborhood, a fellow black american, architect and real estate developer, and three other architects, wow what networking success. Below I will share a few pictures from this evening pass. Mr. Kitchel & Bill Tonneson  Giving a brief seminar on vision of urban gentrification, and a brief discussion on commercial financing Bills art Bills...