Wood works

Bit about why I started woodworking

Woodturning is a sensory pursuit. Taking the canvas of rough timber and considering how the grain can be enhanced to bring out the beauty. Does it want a sharp or a soft line? Does it need a foot, a lip or a decorative detail? The process of cutting and smoothing the wood, shaping and softening edges and refining the surfaces brings the unique smell of the resin for the tree being used. Then the finish - shellac, wax or oil. If the piece has a function - checking how it feels to use, does the lid pop, click or gently wumph? As a product, does it work as it should? Finally, standing back and just appreciating the final form, weight and impact it has on the space around it. It’s an immersive and satisfying escape.

Our home is full of bowls, pots, little boxes. We have dedicated crisp bowls, nut bowls, garlic bowls. My silver workshop is littered with little half-finished wood projects in which nestle half-finished silver projects, semi-precious gems, beads and dremel tools. In others, I organise my progress. Many are just used to hold the things that please me (I have more ancient dried pomegranates than any person actually needs). For many, a bowl or a pot become a home for paperclips, 2 pences and radiator bleeding keys and that’s ok too, you know where you are with a place to keep odds and sods.