Handmade Wave: Spotlight On: Woodturners

About 15 years ago I wandered into a gallery in Greenwich Village, NY and saw the most beautiful wooden objects ranging from jewelry boxes to sculptural items to vases, bowls and vessels. I was particularly drawn to the items that were turned, though at the time I didn’t know what “Turned” meant. The unbelievable smoothness and full ripe roundness of the objects fascinated me. I couldn’t put them down. I just needed to caress them. I’ve been a woodturner for about 14 years now. There is nothing like putting an “ugly” log onto the lathe and cutting it into a thing of beauty as it spins. The wood revolves and evolves. It takes on a life of its own. The grain “paints” its pattern in amazing ways. Most woodturners will agree with me that once you’ve turned, turning becomes a passion.
Woodturnings make fantastic gifts. You can find useful items like bowls and platters and salt and pepper shakers, or you can find solely decorative objects for the one who has everything. The wonderful thing about woodturnings is that no two are exactly alike. The wood grain is always different, like fingerprints. There are many talented woodturners out there. Find them at your local galleries and craft fairs. You’ll be glad you did. Here are three I found this morning on-line. Most are quite reasonable. Some a little more costly. All are definitely worth it. Take a look at their on-line shops. They have more. You'll also find other woodturners at those sites.

Holzfurhaus http://www.holzfurhaus.etsy.com/