[studie]

It's been a while, but I haven't been unproductive!

I've been doing nothing but perfecting my turning for Russian-style lace spindles. I even experimented with French spindles too.

People have noticed and I have been sending off a freshly turned spindle to a far flung corner of the United States at the rate of about one a week. Between that and teaching classes, I had to go out and get a proper business license and start paying taxes.

I would like to branch out to some other areas as well, but right now my heart is in practicing my turning and experimenting with supported spindles.

From a desire to give something back to others, I met with a woman who manages programs at a local senior citizen's center and asked her if she might like to open a class for Spindling (making yarn with a wooden spindle). After a demonstration and gift of one of my spindles, she decided she wanted to try and get me into the class catalog. Sometime this spring I'll be hanging out with a room of women who will all be learning to make yarn on my hand crafted spindles. That excites me and brings together the best of both of my interests… fber arts instruction AND woodworking.

Well, I am neglecting my turning to be here at the computer… so I should get back to it!

Always great to see your work Lisa! Becoming a business isn't so hard to do, just keep every receipt & wright off every tool. Even your old stuff. My sister teaches weaving & fiber arts in CO. If you PM me a email I'll send it to her & you two would have a blast & lot's of knowledge to share.

 

[studie]

The agony of de feet.

... and the back. And the throat!

I flew through minor throat surgery with flying colors. It kept me out of the shop for 5 days. In that time, I managed to work up a pretty decent backlog of orders. (I create and sell custom tools for hand spinning yarn.)

Catching up has been a mixed bag. I'm feeling a little off my sculpting game. So my first spindle, while functional and to the order of my client, just didn't please me. The weight was too much, the Cherry bruised, the bead was off…

BTW, Cherry can bruise when scraped. It left dark areas in my detailed work when it soaked up polishing oil. It's not something they tell you at the check out counter when you're buying the stuff. You find out when you're finished with a project and it has welts all over it and you are frustrated and banging your head against a wall because there went 3 hours of your life. Too bad, so sad.

Next Cherry wood turning, I made sure that my skew tool was nice and sharp. I avoided scraping. Yet, I still experienced some bruising, but I anticipated it and made sure I could sand a bit and it was minimal.

I liked my second Cherry spindle design and shape a lot more than the first, so I am going to go back to the client and offer them a choice between the two.

Also… I learned that I need to pick up a floor pad to stand on. 4 hours at the lathe (with breaks) is OK. 6 hours wrecked my back. And, I wish my stand was 3 inches taller.

Also… I bought an inexpensive Skil bandsaw as a get-well gift for myself. I'd like to set it up this weekend. I wish I had a drill press too. Drill press for me? Anyone?

I want so bad to start turning & have enough tools to get going too. The wood I have is some gig leaf maple & some cherry. Both cut down about 2 months ago in logs still, about 2' to 4' long & the cherry is 6~8" maple is 10 ~ 30" diameter. Still trying to figure out if I should slab or let it cure for turnings. Would be happy to give you some of each as I will others here in town but it's green. I know that to make boards It should be cut right away & then carefully stickered & stacked for about a, well long time. So do you know if it can be turned right away or does it need to season & dry for eternity like board stock?
Glad to hear you are feeling better, your spindles are always very fine so even what you may think way not be your best would be a triumph for most! So why don't we post our ? bad stuff too? Ha Ha I have plenty that others seem to like so I give it away as it was 3hrs of learning for me & a gift of love for another!