Art in the Park

I have to admit, I was not at all positive about Art in the Park this year as I woke up to pouring rain. Maybe it was because the art show I was in earlier this year ended up being a weather disaster and I still had images of holding on to the display for dear life as a huge thunderstorm barrelled down the street we were set up on.

In the big scheme of things, art show weather is not up there on the important scale but I couldn't wrap my head around sitting under my little, light canopy during a day of wind and rain. 

For me, it was a real blessing that the rain stopped during set up and held off until we were packed up. And when people stop in to talk to you and spend their money on things you've made, you feel really honoured. 

I was happy to have Emily with me selling her whimsical sea glass cards. She has a beautiful imagination and has a very impressive sea glass collection. 

Love making things!

Salad Servers

I was trying to come up with a new piece to make which would not take as much time as a spoon but still be useful and artistic. 

Simple Salad Servers!

(Walnut and cherry)

(Curly, spalted maple)

Each server is hand rasped along the edges to make them smooth, and, just like the spoons and boards, I like to use my carving knife to widen the drilled hole for hanging.
  
Then they are sanded, sanded, sanded.....

The shimmery, striped, curly maple servers are from a maple tree about 20 minutes from my house. It is the most interesting wood I have worked with and is both curly and spalted. 

Curly maple is not a type of maple but a grain pattern that is found in some maples. The effect is a wave pattern that looks to be three dimensional and 'moves' as the wood is turned. 

It's possible that this is my favourite wood so far. Reminds me of something else I love...