I began turning wood in 2004 on an old 1950's era Sears Craftsman cast aluminum lathe. For those of you who turn, no, it was not an impressive lathe. But it was a great place to start. As I used this lathe, I noted what I wanted in a lathe. The struggles I worked through with this lathe shaped my ability to tackle all kinds of challenges I would face in coming years.

As I have worked with a variety of wood, I have been surprised by the grain and color I find in various pieces of wood. I note that the beauty in this medium of wood comes from God's great design. Nothing else explains the beauty and complexity of a tree, large or small.

The majority of my turning is with green wood. Not the color green, but wood that is still wet. I cut and haul most of the wood that I use, so it all has a high moisture content. This presents issues with cracking and checking, if it is not handled correctly. The general process involves cutting it with a chainsaw, then shaping it with a band-saw, and then turning it into a rough shape on the lathe. After the piece has been "roughed", I wrap it in paper to dry for 2-4 months or I seal it with a wood sealer. After the wood has dried slowly, it will have gone out of round. So the dried piece is placed back on the lathe and turned to its final shape.

Some listed items may reflect that they were made a number of years ago. I've held on to many items because I love their look and feel. However, as I step into Etsy and step up my production, I want to share my wood-turning, through old pieces as well as new, with those who love wood.