Twisted Roots Woodsmithing is a source for unique works of art created from wood and repurposed industrial components.

7/31/2016

Separated at birth?

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A few years ago, during a moment when I was a tiny bit bored with crafting bowls, I came across a few smaller pieces of maple burls that had been tucked towards the back of my small storage area. I had kept these pieces around, despite knowing that they were probably too small for bowls, and the fact that I really had know idea if they might have any use at all. In looking at them the second time around, I wondered if their shapes might work for well for small decorative vases, and decided to give it a try. After drilling out the center with a Forstner bit, I proceeded to carve the outside surfaces, following the graining in a way that created an organic look and feel. The next step was to carve the inside to match the flow of the outside, followed by hours and hours of sanding both the interior and exterior, and then a hand-rubbed tung oil finish. Fortunately the results were well worth the effort, leading to time spent creating several iterations of the original piece. Unfortunately, the laborious process likely contributed to a pinched nerve situation, and a few months of therapy.

Flash forward to July 30th, when I was walking the PA Guild Fine Craft Show in Wilmington, DE, and came across the across the work of Kurt Brantner, a craftsman from Central PA who specializes in pottery produced in a wood-fired kiln. The first thing that caught my eye was a sinuously shaped vase that felt like the ceramic twin of one of my own carved wood creations. For some reason, it was such a fun moment, recognizing the similar aesthetics of the two pieces, created from entirely different mediums, with completely unrelated inspirations. Kurt's vase will now be added to the existing grouping, providing a pleasing visual reminder of the discovery. More of his amazing work can be seen at kurtbrantnerpottery.com

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7/26/2016

Speaking of rescues ...

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Here's another opportunity for rescuing something from the firewood pile. It is not uncommon for harvested trees to have sections where the center of the tree has rotted out over time, leaving a hollow center, even though the tree might appear to be healthy (the nutrients flow in the layers just below the bark, so a hollow core does not necessarily affect the health of the tree)

These sections have no value in terms of the production of usable lumber, so they are trimmed from the saw logs before processing. But, when cut to length, and placed in a natural garden setting, they become perfect planters. This idea was first relayed to me by my brother, who operates the family lumber business, after having it suggested to him by a buyer from Terrain at Styer's.

Hardwoods such as white oak, locust, black cherry, etc. are the best options, as these species will hold up better over time. Not that they will last forever, but in most situations, they should hold up well for several years.

A variety of heights grouped together adds visual interest, with anything from 20" - 40" working well together.

Obtaining and positioning the planters might be the easy part, as the selection and placement of plants is the crowning touch needed to create the finished product. These particular examples are displaying the incredible talent and vision of a master gardener.

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7/23/2016

The process most often starts with a rescue

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My favorite creations have almost always started as pieces of wood or iron that have been relegated to the scrap heap, or firewood pile. A local lumber mill is a good source for interesting and unique pieces that have been removed from saw logs before being processed into usable material. Branches and weird growths are best trimmed from the logs before entering the mill. These scraps are then gathered for use as firewood

Timber harvested from the forest will sometimes have hollow sections that have little or no production value, and will therefore be removed before entering the mill. Regular visits to the pile that results from this process has produced many pieces that will eventually end up as the foundation for a new creation. This firewood pile happens to be familiar to me, as it is located on my family's lumber mill, and has offered up many treasures over the years.

It is also common to find discarded segments from areas where a large branch had broken away from the main trunk of the tree, as the growth patterns from these sections are unlikely to produce usable lumber. At the same time, these same growth patterns can produce highly figured graining, and a great start for the creative process. Last week, I came across one of these segments, cut from a red oak saw log. After slicing off only the section containing the figured graining, I will set it aside for air drying, and the chance to incorporate the piece into a future collection.