About the Artist
Since 1974 I’ve been doing some kind of woodworking.Usually I tend to read some books on the subject, do some of the work, and then take a course. Many years ago I took a course in lathe turning down in Vermont, but over the years with moving around, I was unable to keep up with that part of woodworking.
The next thing was the wood. I do have quite a bit of wood (my wife thinks I have a tree downstairs), but not a lot of the exotic kind that would make a pen stand out. That was when I began to haunt a number of lumber mills that carried the types of wood I was interested in. I also began to bid for wooden pen blanks on eBay and found other turners who passed on pieces that they did not need.
It all came down to finally making a pen, which I did in 2004 my wife claimed that one). Now I just can’t stay away from it. The joy of turning each and every pen is great because each and every piece of wood is different. To see more of my turned pens see the Pens of Distinction website.
It all came down to finally making a pen, which I did in 2004 my wife claimed that one). Now I just can’t stay away from it. The joy of turning each and every pen is great because each and every piece of wood is different. To see more of my turned pens see the Pens of Distinction website.
In 2005 I wanted something with a bit more challenge and my wife found a piece of Manitoba Maple (Box Elder) that she felt I could turn into a bowl. I finally got up the courage to turn it and lo and behold it worked. It was just a small bowl but to me it was beautiful and I felt as though I had accomplished something amazing. I was at a craft show in Ottawa in the Fall of 2005 and it was the first piece that sold. The woman who purchased it was looking for a different piece of wood to give to someone as a gift and really wanted to buy that bowl. It was difficult to part with it but I'm sure it received a good home.
Since that time I made a number of pieces that you can see in the gallery, bowls, candlesticks, flower pots, tops and on and on and on.
In the Fall of 2007 I purchased a Nova 1624 lathe because the mini-lathe limited the size of any bowl
that I made to about 7-7.5 inches. The new lathe allows me to make a bowl up to 29 inches, but due to space restrictions and the fear of having a piece of wood that size spinning near me I will wait awhile.
The largest that I feel comfortable in making right now is about 20 inches and I've got a lot of wood out in the back yard awaiting its turn (once more the comment about a "tree" in the back yard is coming up).
In the Fall of 2007 I purchased a Nova 1624 lathe because the mini-lathe limited the size of any bowl
that I made to about 7-7.5 inches. The new lathe allows me to make a bowl up to 29 inches, but due to space restrictions and the fear of having a piece of wood that size spinning near me I will wait awhile.
The largest that I feel comfortable in making right now is about 20 inches and I've got a lot of wood out in the back yard awaiting its turn (once more the comment about a "tree" in the back yard is coming up).
Also in 2007 at the Ottawa Wood Show I was pleased to discover that one of my pieces had won a Third Prize in the "With a Lid" Beginner category. This makes me very proud and will cause me to make greater efforts in my turning.
I've been in a few crafts shows now and I'm proud to say that some of my pieces have found good homes because
people do appreciate an art that takes some time and effort. If you are interested in any of the pieces, please let me know by email. For now, take a look at the
For Sale link by clicking here; it will show what I may have in stock and what I've made. Or you can look through the Gallery of Turnings to see the pieces that I have sold. Please remember that although a picture is worth 1,000 words, there is no picture that can truly show the
beauty of a finished piece of wood.
I've been in a few crafts shows now and I'm proud to say that some of my pieces have found good homes because
people do appreciate an art that takes some time and effort. If you are interested in any of the pieces, please let me know by email. For now, take a look at the
For Sale link by clicking here; it will show what I may have in stock and what I've made. Or you can look through the Gallery of Turnings to see the pieces that I have sold. Please remember that although a picture is worth 1,000 words, there is no picture that can truly show the
beauty of a finished piece of wood.
Since 2007 I’ve been a member of two craft guilds here in the Ottawa area which have now amalgamated into one guild. My wife and I usually exhibit in about four juried arts & crafts shows a year. I’ve done a few demonstrations of woodturning and will promote this art at the drop of a hat. Some of my pieces have been purchased as gifts for people in other parts of the world but not yet to Antarctica.
Laurie
Fall 2019
Laurie
Fall 2019