Johannesburg Gold Vase

A end grain vase made from "Johannesburg Gold". It's about 190 mm (7 1/2") with quite a distinction between the sapwood and heartwood. Still to be finished....

I'm blogging again

Hi everyone, I haven't blogged anything for a while but I have been busy:)

This piece is from an unknown wood but it has been burnt and then stained with 2 colours. I am still debating what colour to make it on the inside.

Another piece that was posted earlier on in the year except that in the meantime it has been burnt and stained.....not sure what colour to make the inside.

 Some natural edges posted earlier on in the year but finished now-just in time for Christmas. Made from a shrub called Johannesburg Gold.

A piece that I am due to start some carving work on - inspired by a shell called a Chiton.
That's what Christmas holidays are for!

Another natural edge

Inspired in part by Chris Ramsey's natural edged forms I tried to put my own spin on it.....

Turned from a "Johannesburg Gold" shrub/tree, about 230 mm or 9" dia.
The beauty of turning with voids is that minimum effort is required in removing shavings from the vessel - it just falls out!

Some more of the same but with natural edges

Some small bowls made from "Golden Johannesburger"

A thin turned natural edge bowl also from "Golden Johannesburger"
The wood seems to be part of the melaleuca family according to the internet where it is know as "Johannesburg Gold".

Some "Golden Johannesburger" in progress

A natural edge with a twist. The bark would not stay on so I took it off. The idea is to do some form of shaping on this piece - over the next couple of weeks we'll see how it turns out.

A low natural edge but the bark does not seem to like co-operating. Some shaping will be done on this piece as well - watch this space.

I finished in time!

I was able to finish this vessel in time. It's a departure from what I have done in the past but I think it's good to explore other options. Made from Jacaranda, textured and stained following the prominent grain lines on the outside. It's about 300mm (12") tall.

During our yearly exhibition this Saturday I was asked to demo some techniques that I do with the Dremel and have nearly completed this piece. The vessel is turned from Golden Johannesburger, a common garden shrub here in Gauteng, South Africa.

A week away from our exhibition

It's a week away from our yearly exhibition and I'm still trying to complete stuff.

A large (for me) Jacaranda vessel that I am trying to complete. It's got great grain but I had to do something more. By following the grain lines I textured parts of the surface. This would not show contrast once the finish was applied so I coloured the textured surface. What do you think?

I believe that the signature should as much detail as the rest of the piece. It should almost surprise the viewer with unexpected detail. Here the surface was textured/burnt and then the text was added using a thin diamond tip in the Dremel. The uneven surface did not make it too easy!