24 January 2016

Slide

I carved a guitar slide before Christmas. It was for my cousin Marian, who learns to play dobro (resonator guitar). This is the finished slide, I made just the wooden part:


Although I've never seen a guitar slide and I carved it only according to a picture from the internet, it seems to work just as it should. And it makes me quite proud.

Holm Oak

At last I've finished a spoon from holm oak that I mentioned in this post.


Compared to english oak, this wood is much harder, less porous and very difficult to split. Now I understand why it is used for axe handles. I had to hew it for a long time before it condescended to crack a little...
This wood has a very nice pattern from short rays and it works a bit like a holographic print: the pattern depends on the viewing angle. I wanted to make a picture of it, but the holographic effect almost disappeared after oiling because all parts of the pattern became more visible. But you can see it a little if you compare the two pictures here and focus on the ellipse pattern inside the bowl.


The design is inspired by Yoav Elkayam, who makes just the kind of spoons I like.