Saturday 26 April 2014

smoking!

 
 
And for something completely different to my normal turnings, well perhaps a lot of them aren't normal!
This is a Hookah, originally it came from the Persian empire, then it became popular in Egypt, now it is known the world over, sometimes known as a water pipe or shisha, although many substances can be used it is know for flavoured tobacco, the vapours are passed though a water basin or bowl.
I have turned this from a lovely piece of a new hybrid material.
All my turnings are miniature, this hookah for example measures just under 2" tall.

Below is a tobacco jar and pedestal, I say tobacco but could be used to hold many different things.
The last of today's turnings is below, an incense burner, again this could be used for any purpose you wish.
 
The Tobacco jar with stand and the incense burner are both turned from Maple eye burl, this has a lovely finish, tops are removable and the bowls are hollowed out.
Now I need to start racking my brain to see what other ideas I can come up with.

Monday 7 April 2014

and there's more!


Still playing with the new material that I have, this is a pedestal with a lidded container, could be used for anything, I just love the colours in this piece.
The miniature below is a flour barrel, turned in Thuya Burl, the grain and marking in this piece is lovely, one of the nicest pieces of wood I have used to date, the photo does not show how shiny it has come up, sanded down to 12,000 grit and lacquered.
 
Finally the piece below is the start of an idea I have, wonder if anyone can guess what it will turn out to be!
Again I have used thuya burl, got to be careful now as I don't have much of this wood left.
Will post more photos soon.

 
Got to get a lot more turnings done now as I will be featured in the June edition of the American Miniaturist magazine, which is due out on May 10th.