Ring Holders and Small Vase
Less than 3″ tall
Poplar
I did these turnings for fun. I was experimenting with the various forms just to see if I could turn the shapes on a rather small scale.
Photography by Pearl Washburn
Miniature Vases
Various sizes
Found wood
Fun with small branches. The wood came from some fallen branches a guy I met found when he was cleaning up an area to expand his backyard into. I knew they were starting to mold on the ends, but it wasn’t until I started turning them that I found out they were spalted. Spalted wood has very interesting patterns in it, and no two pieces will ever be the same. You don’t have to have a huge piece of wood to make something really nice, and with these small pieces, if you don’t like the results, you haven’t wasted an expensive turning blank or a rare piece of wood, and you can experiment with some complex design features without risking your “good” wood. And, when they turn out nice, they make great gifts.
Photography by CR Washburn
Mushrooms
3 1/2″ diameter x 3 1/2″
Spalted cherry
It was a challenge to turn this piece as there were some very soft spots right next to some solid wood. And then, after I had turned it, the wood dried out and those soft spots shrank some so I had to re-turn the mushroom to get the surfaces even again. Mushrooms anyone?
Photography by CR Washburn