The Perfect Christmas Gift-Tamarack Bowls

 

 



Brian and I made a special delivery this weekend, just in time for Christmas. Susan and Rick had to take a tree down on their cottage property this summer and wondered if one of the logs could be made into bowls as a gift for their daughters.  The tamarack tree had been planted by their great-great grandfather more than 100 years ago. 

 

Brian sawed the log down the middle lengthwise with his chainsaw and cut each half of the log into a circle.  It was his first time working with tamarack, which is a softwood, and he found it had a distinctive wide grain and golden colour. 

The bowls were roughed turned and waxed to slow down the drying process and prevent cracking. 

Brian used the nesting tool on the lathe to maximize the use of the wood and turn four bowls from each half of the log.

After months of drying, each bowl was chucked, mounted on the lathe and turned.

Weeks of shaping, sanding, oiling and polishing resulted in a smooth, food-safe finish.

Natural knots, wide grain and the variation in colours of the darker heartwood and lighter sapwood add to the beauty of the bowls. 

 

A tree which has been been part of the cottage for generations is sadly missed when it is removed, but it will be with the family for generations once made into bowls.  They can be stored by nesting one into the other.  Susan and Rick's daughters will have bowls for large and small salads, rolls, snacks and nuts.  And each time they use them, they will be reminded of their cottage and the property they love.  The perfect Christmas present!

 

 

Sugar Maple Burl Bowl

A maple burl before turning

Burls, with their rough edges, bark inclusions, cracks and irregular surfaces, appeal to people who love rugged contrasts in nature.  It is always interesting to see visitors to Brian's studio as they gravitate to different styles of wood.  Some prefer smooth surfaces while others are immediately drawn to the tactile dimensions of burls.

The woman who recently purchased this sugar maple burl bowl knew that it would sit perfectly on her kitchen island.  She was excited about serving fruit or cheese and crackers on the the bowl and the visual introduction of natural, organic textures to her city home.

Sugar Maple Burl Bowl

Back Into Production

 

The studios tours are over and it is time to get back into production.  Brian has collected his most promising burls and brought them into the workshop.  Timbers which have been drying for a few years have been cut and made into rounds on the bandsaw. Maple and box elder burl, walnut burl and spalted maple are now ready for turning into platters and bowls.

Brian is excited about getting back to work as he finds inspiration in the shape of the burl, the texture of the wood and his intuitive approach to woodturning.

Yellow Birch Burl Bowl-Studio Tour Demonstrations

 

 

Demonstrations by the artist are an important part of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and visitors enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at the process of making bowls and platters.

 

This year Brian turned a yellow birch burl on his lathe.  There were many questions about how Brian finds the burls, how he decides on the shape, and the steps that go into the turning, sanding and finishing of the bowl.

This yellow birch bowl is one of the 300 burls which Brian received in September that were saved from the scrapheap at a local sawmill.  This was described in a previous post 300 burls.  Brian is pleased with this bowl, which has distinctive figuring, colour variations and a live bark edge.  The art of woodturning takes a discarded and gnarled piece of wood and reveals its unexpected natural beauty.

 

Huntsville Art Society Exhibition

 

The Huntsville Art Society is showcasing the work of their artists at an exciting Member's Exhibition at the Canada Summit Centre from October 17, 2012 to January 14, 2013.  This collection of art demonstrates the talent of the diverse and dynamic group of Huntsville artists and highlights a variety of artwork in painting, glass, textile, pottery, and wood.

Bigleaf Maple Burl Bowl

Brian is proud to be included in this juried event with his submission of a bigleaf maple burl bowl. Bigleaf maple is found on the west coast of Canada in British Columbia and is prized for its detailed figuring and bark inclusions.  This unique bowl has a natural live bark edge and a lustrous food-safe finish.  For more information about the exhibit, go to

www.huntsvilleartsociety.ca

Studio Tour Success

 

A studio tour is our opportunity to open the doors and showcase all the work that Brian has produced this year.  The smiles and surprised looks on the faces of our visitors is our reward as they enter the workshop and react to the beauty of the display.  It was a family affair this year as our sons helped to welcome our guests and tell them the story of each bowl and platter.

 

The drive to the workshop along roads with colourful autumn colours sets the stage as people experience the beauty of the forest and Muskoka's scenery.  Brian was able to explain the process of turning bowls on the lathe and he demonstrated with a maple and yellow birch burl.  The chips were flying, bowls were revealed and the questions were answered.

It was our pleasure to be part of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and we loved seeing the delight of our customers as they left with their purchases. 

The studio will soon be turned back into a workshop and the bowls and platter will be safely packed away.  However, we are always open by appointment if you have a special occasion with a need for a wedding, birthday, retirement or holiday present.  Call us at 705-635-3190 and we will help you find the perfect gift.

Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour - You Are Invited

 

Cool crisp days, brilliant sunshine and the splendor of autumn leaves.  It is the perfect weekend to explore the dramatic back roads of Muskoka and visit artists in their studios.  Brian works alone at his lathe all year and he loves the opporturnity to interact with people and show them the bowls, platters and tables that he has created.

 

 

We welcome you into the workshop where you can see the raw burls, the slabs of wood and understand the process involved in turning them into platters and bowls.  The crowds form around Brian's lathe and there is time for discussion and a demonstration of his craft.



 

Limberlost Woodturning is on Fieldale Road, north-east of Huntsville on beautiful Rebecca Lake.  Plan your weekend to see some of the 20 artists who are opening their studios to the public.  For more information go to:

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com 

Burl and Wrought Iron Furniture

 

Bigleaf maple burl table with a wrought iron base

 

Brian specializes in turning bowls and platters on his lathe, but has recently completed some magnificent maple burl coffee tables. 

 

 



Last winter Brian made burl tables for our home, and a previous post about them on our blog,  Maple Burl and Wrought Iron Tables, led to a commission for a couple who have a cottage on Lake of Bays.  They chose the perfect piece of wood for their table from a slab of a maple tree that was covered in burls.  

 

Once again Brian worked with Matt Church, an artist and blacksmith, at The Artisan's Gallery , to make the  base for this table and three others, each with their own distinctive grain, colouring and details.

Matt Church designed the bases from wrought iron to fit and complement the unique shape of the table tops.  As the tables are maple, Matt formed the legs to appear as branches and twigs with interlaced maple leaves.

Brian shaped each table top, maintaining the raw edge, as he sanded and buffed the tops to a fine finish.

Multiple layers of urethane were rolled onto the table tops.  They were allowed to dry and then sanded between coats until there was a lustrous hard surface.

 

With each coat and the final polish, the contrasts in colour and grain were revealed and enhanced.  This table is made from a cross section of a huge bigleaf maple burl. The lighter sapwood and bark edge encircle the inner, darker heartwood centre, creating a rare and highly-prized effect.

 

Once the table tops were complete, Brian positioned the bases on the wood and screwed them into place.

Red maple table with a wrought iron base

The choice of Matt Church's wrought iron bases with their maple leaf motif was a perfect match to the finished table top.

Bigleaf maple burl table

Close-up photos of the tables detail the beauty of the burls with their irregular grain, bark inclusions and rich contrasts of colour.  These tables would be a splendid addition to any home.



Red maple table with a burl live edge

Artisan's Gallery wrought iron leaf



We are only a few days from the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and it will be a wonderful opportunity to travel along the beautiful Muskoka roads with their colourful leaves and awesome scenery. You are welcome to visit Limberlost Woodturning on the last two weekends of September from 10:00-6:00. For more information, go to:

 

 www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

 

 

Maple burl tables with wrought iron bases

 

300 Burls

Every so often luck comes your way and in this case, it was in the form of a phone call from a man who works in a lumber mill.  Burls are cut off when preparing trees to be sawed into boards at a mill.  Often burls are discarded or burned but fortunately they were set aside until the pile became unmanageable.

Burls are the irregular growths that occur spontaneously on the sides of trees when exposed to trauma, insects or stress.  Most people would think of them as ugly and unwanted parts of the tree but to Brian, they hold the mystery of the forest, just waiting to be discovered on the lathe.  Brian bought the whole load of 300 seasoned burls and has started to turn a few of them.

The burls came in all shapes and sizes and were primarily yellow birch and maple from the Muskoka area.  Brian sorted through the pile, found a dry spot to store them and chose a few to begin to turn on the lathe.  The Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour is two weeks away so he wanted to have a few ready for sale.

Yellow Birch and Maple Burl Bowls

 

The unique characteristics of each burl determine the shape, colour and grain of each bowl.  Brian loves the challenge of finding the extraordinary within the discarded piece of wood, allowing the inner beauty of each bowl to be revealed.

 

Limberlost Woodturning is open for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour on September 22, 23 and 29, 30 from 10:00 am  to 6:00 pm and we would love to see you. For more information, go to:

 

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com



 

Maple Burl Bowl with a Live Edge

 



The Perfect Wedding Gift

Brian had a visit this week from a couple who have recently purchased a cottage in the Limberlost area.  Already they have developed a love for Muskoka forests, lakes and the restorative effects of cottage living.  Markus and Ann were about to attend the wedding of his brother who lives in British Columbia and they wanted to give a gift that was distinctive, organic and artistic.

 



They were immediately drawn to the maple burl bowls and fascinated by the irregular shapes, raw, bark edges and the food-safe smooth finish.  This unique creation from Muskoka, with the warmth and beauty of the forest, is the perfect wedding gift.

Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour-Plan Your September in Muskoka

September is a special month in Muskoka.  The air cools, the colours change, and the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour continues its tradition of welcoming visitors to experience, learn and acquire work directly from the makers.  This year the Tour runs two weekends; September 22-23, and 29-30, from 10 till 6 each day.

In this, its 34^th year, the tour features a wide range of media including fibre, wood, glass, metal, clay, photography, drawing and painting.  It provides a unique opportunity to meet the artists, to learn how and where they work, and to experience a wide range of creativity.

Mark your calendar and plan to visit Limberlost Woodturning in September.

muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

A Successful Studio Tour

The atmosphere of Limberlost Woodturning during the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour was upbeat and postitive as Brian, Carol-Ann and Bob shared their work with the public. 

Visitors entered the studio and expressed their pleasure at being able to experience the beauty of Muskoka as they travelled through the forests and by the lakes in the Limberlost area.  It was the perfect setting to display the Brian's hand-crafted burl bowls and platters, Carol-Ann Michaelson's pottery and Bob McLean's Muskoka paintings.

The 6th year for the Artists of the Limberlost was the busiest ever, with well over 600 people experiencing the tour. All of the artists and their guest artists came to our home on Saturday night for a pot-luck dinner and there was a sense of satisfaction to have a successful tour as a result of the collaboration of so many talented individuals.