Oh gawd - what have we gone and done now?

First we said no more cats after my two old moggies died a few years ago. So obviously we took the first two that needed a home.

Then we said, thats enough now. So what did we do?

The end of the plank

The elm is finished. Shame as its beautiful wood. The colour and grain is fantastic and, apart from a few issues with some very soft patches, the wood has been very rewarding to turn. A few more things to add to the collection for a couple of exhibitions coming up.

The little bowl in the middle is an interloper from an earlier supply. Thought I'd attack it as I was in the 'elm' mood.

Still learning the basics

Basic wood finishing techniques apply just as much to turned wood as any other. I seem to have dropped this information from the poor old fading grey cells somehow. This elm was causing me trouble with torn grain that I just couldn't sand out. SAND WITH THE GRAIN.

I like the first platter with its knot hole and double curve to the bowl but the second is much better after changing both the scraper and sanding technique.

Another three to come from this plank so the fifth one might be OK

The joys of green yew

The last tall stemmed vase decided to bite back. This is the first time I have had a bit of the yew crack since I started sealing straight after turning. Maybe I've been lucky.

So I had to cut off the base and make another one, this time its black and I think I prefer it like this.

The joys of self sufficiency

We came to France to enjoy all the finer things of life. Friends called us Tom and Barbara. We have chickens, we do all our own fruit and veg.

CORRECTION.... for 'we' read 'her'.

However, fate, as ever, has intervened. By destroying my back, I have edged myself into the other camp and have to join in a bit. This means spending time away from the lathe and enjoying life's little luxuries like joining lots of the onion family together into long strings so I can hang them on the front of me bike - if I could ride it now. Good job I don't have a beret.