Annie’s Hands™

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Knit One

I want to go to there.

YOU want to go to there.

Trust me.

2721 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA, 15217 | (412) 421-6666

Christina and I were walking with friends along Murray. We were on our way to the game store. Fun! Then out of the corner of my eye, I spotted yarn. Lots and lots of yarn! Chris and the rest of the gang got ditched and I scurried inside to check this out. I had stumbled upon Knit One.

No sooner had I crossed the threshold than I was greeted and welcomed by someone over on the couch. Yep, I did say couch. There are a couple of comfy couch-ey areas where folks come to hang out and do yarn-ey things. You might find the owner, Laura Knoop Very, or others of the staff among them. There might even be cookies. This place is COZY, people!

One thing led to another and now I am their very first artist! They are selling my swifts and Spin-Rs, and I am looking forward to turning more sorts of wooden doodads and thingies for them. Go see!

Monday, November 2, 2015

Christmas Ornaments

Aren't they just the cutest things? Like just about everything else I make, I saw a picture somewhere of something like these, and set out to make it myself. Which means I have to figure out the chucking and the steps and design and all that. And these came out!

I think they are about three inches high. Having left town as soon as they were completed, the task was left to Rudy (the shop owner) to photograph them for me, and I forgot to ask him for measurements. Suffice it to say, they are itty bitty.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Branching Out

Bowl making is still da bomb, but there are many other things that can be turned on the lathe, and I am beginning to explore them.
Here, for example, is a bird feeder that was more an exploration in techniques than an out-and-out project. How to chuck up the various pieces, making them fit together, assembling the parts in such a way that it will contain the bird seed, dispense it, and also be easy to fill. And it worked!

Since this was a discovery of protocols, one slight detail was overlooked. The roof does not overhang the seed tray. Oops. Ok, so it gets hung out of the weather.

Next comes wine bottle stoppers. I do not imbibe myself, but have many many friends who enjoy raising a glass or two. Chief among them is Judy Fazzini, who received this set, made from a burl I had around.

Shopping for the stoppers was a task. They come in lots of configurations, from chrome to cork to silicone to stainless steel. Each has its strengths and drawbacks, mostly relating to cost vs. durability. Stainless steel costs the most, and is the most durable. I'll take quality over cheap every time.

Last but by no means least is a stopper made from spalted maple. This is from a tree that our neighbor at the shop had cut down to make room for a garage. It was a huge tree, and he gave it to me, and I have been determined that none of it go to waste. So began an experiment in spalting.

Spalting is what makes the pretty black lines in the wood. It's the process of a fungus that invades the wood and creates the distinctive zone lines. It is also a first step in the decay and decomposition of wood. The next step after spalting is that the wood breaks down and becomes punky, or too soft to work with. The trick is to get the wood to spalt, but to catch it before it begins to rot. There is much guesswork involved, and I have to admit, I've been pretty lucky.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

From Logs to Bowls

Before

and After

These two are from the tree I think of as THAT Cherry Tree. The grain patterns and colors are simply stunning. It is quite humbling to have the task of bringing them to light in a pleasing form.

See Charlotte at Etc. to purchase these beauties.

That Walnut Bowl

Charlotte Karges shows off the bowl she sold to someone. It's lucky I don't know who bought it, or I would be bugging them to borrow it.

Charlotte owns Etc. Art Gallery, Jewelry Store, Antique Store. She displays my work, among many other treasures. Stop in and visit. Charlotte is a delight!