Mimosa-A Loss and a Gain

Andrew made me a container today from the wood that he saved from our mimosa tree that died last winter; probably due a combination of old age and extreme cold.  Hated to lose that tree but loving the bowl. Andrew said that he will never again us mimosa wood for turning because it splinters badly and isn't easy to work with.

Framing Photos

DH and I have been asked by the Director of Alumni Relations, to do a photo exhibit in the art gallery of the library at our college Alma mater for Homecoming (on display August through November). This is a huge honor and they are having an artists reception for us and everything.  After much deliberation and sorting through thousands of photos we have all selected our favorite images and had them professionally printed.  They are all wildlife/flora/fauna/four seasons themed. They let us choose our theme. Last weekend we cut the mats ourselves and are now working on the frames.  We decided the frames for our prints will all be made from re purposed, reclaimed, and salvaged wood materials. This is in keeping with our University's efforts over the past few years to reduce our carbon footprint. We have twenty-two frames (+or-) to make by August.  Here is a composite of some of the wood we are using including some beaver chewed limbs to frame an image of a beaver that Andrew photographed in the creek near our home.

And a mock up - this frame is not yet assembled but you get the idea. No two frames will be alike.  This is the really fun part in designing and creating the frames.  You look at the big jumble of wood-select a couple pieces and viola!

Hand Turned Bowls

Last fall mom and dad needed some yard work done. It included removing an old ash tree and pear tree; both of which were falling apart.  Andrew cut the trees down and we saved some wood from each tree as I wanted him to make a couple bowls.  In late December he made an ash bowl for my brother and a pear bowl for me. Both have lids and turned out very nice.

Here is the bowl in progress-mind you I left out a lot of the steps along the way as this is an all day project.

 

Finished pear bowl

 Finished ash bowl

Hand Turned Bowl

Sad to have lost our Norway Maple this fall. Thrilled with the bowls that Andrew made for me and Elisha to remember it by.

 Elisha's

 Mine

Our once beautiful tree that finally succumbed to old age leaving us some beautifully grained (due to fungus) wood.