Christmas is almost here

While making some fun items to sell in my shop this week, I was reminded that no matter what sells or doesn't sell, isn't the point.  God has loaned me a gift of being able to create with wood.  I love it and enjoy it.  Creating the different useful things of wood gives me pleasure, especially when the item is going to become someone's gift to give another.  You see, it is the giving that is the point.  During this time, we should remember that the greatest gift of all was given to us by our God.  He gave us Jesus, who came into the world humbly and quietly, but his purpose was great.  God gave us Jesus.  Jesus gave us His life so that we might live.  Jesus gave us an example of the loving relationship that He wants to have with us.  Everyday and always!  There is no gift in the world that compares.  So, whether I sell another cutting board, or bowl, or pepper mill, is in His hands.  Hopefully if someone buys something it will be used to nurture a relationship.

This last week, I had the pleasure of completing a custom made music box.  It wasn't the box that I made that mattered.  It was being made by a groom, for his bride to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary!  He asked for some specific things, including a special song.  It was her song...their song.  We were able to accomplish his wish, and though I am humbled that he liked the box, I am grateful that I was able to participate in this small way in helping to nurture their relationship with one another.  This wasn't for Christmas, but it is in this season.  The season in life where relationships are really all that matter anyway.

So, this Christmas, enjoy your family.  Get toghether.  Sing, laugh, play, be.  Life on earth is short.  Make the most of every moment that you have with each other.  Everything else is just........stuff.
Blessings,
ASH

Tineo (Weinmannia trichosperma)

I have come across a new (to me) exotic hardwood called Tineo.  It is absolutely beautiful.  I have purchased a few bowl blanks and will also be making a few pens from them.  Tineo is native to South American with lumber coming to the US from both Chile and Brazil.  It has colors from red to dark brown and the grain is very stripey.  The color variations are beautiful.  It has been used in hardwood flooring and furniture veneers.  You have probably seen it and not known it.  I know that I have.  I am looking forward to turning these pieces and will show what they look like.  Below is a photo of the blank wood.
Better get busy in the shop.

Come by the woodshop and have a look around.  There may be something of interest to you.

ASH Woodshops.  Making everyday life beautiful through wood.
Woodgrain is our palette.

Blessings.

Sleepy Sunday in the Shop

So today after church, spent a little time in the shop experimenting with some walnut on the lathe.  I was trying to make something usefull out of a piece of 4" diameter, 4" long Claro Walnut Burlwood.  I only had the one piece, and I didn't want to just throw it into the firewood pile, so I stuck it on the lathe.  (yes, I know, what else is there!)  This piece had such beautiful grain. Dark and swirly, my favorite!

I wound up making a "ring saver" for my wife.  She is always taking her rings off of her hands when washing dishes or washing her hands in our bath.  She has never lost anything down the drain, but, I thought that this might be nice.  In fact, I made two of them.  I thought that I might list one of them on Etsy, but... sorry, she has kept them both.  Although she did say that one of them looked a little "penile", so even if she didn't keep it, I probably would have put it back on the lathe and reworked it. 

Well, more tomorrow.  I will post some pictures, as well as the bowls that I turned today out of "Ambrosia Maple".  Absolutely beautiful!!

Nothing about Wood!

Ok, so I haven't been writing about anything to do with wood for the last couple of weeks.  I have been working on another project that is much more important.  Children and their guidance towards knowledge of God, and understanding that God Loves them and that Jesus is their savior.  I had the privilege last week of working during the Shoreline Community Church's Vacation Bible School.  But even before last week, I had the privilege of working side by side with some amazing volunteers that were dedicate to making VBS happen @ Shoreline Church.  We converted a large 3000 square foot room into a Ship for the "High Seas Expidition".  The kids loved it, and related to it.  Walking into the room through the "gang plank", they just knew that once they entered, something was different.  This was a different, magical place!  Building the set was rewarding, but more so, was watching the 175 children that spent last week on the "ship" with us.  I took on the roll of "sailor Jack" and our fearless skipper was "captain crunch".  We had a great time, but the children had an even better time.

It was really great serving.  I thought to myself as the week built up, that God was using me to change the lives of these children, but in reality, God used these children to change me too.  I truly believe that we all were blessed by each other.

God is good, All the time!

Back to the woodshop next week.
Blessings,
ASH

New and Improved, but Vintage

I am not sure whether nostalgia takes over, but I have really begun to enjoy making useful kitchen items that are vintage styling.  Pepper Grinders, Ice Cream Scoops for example are fun to look at and are a reminder of my Grandma's kitchen.  I used to cook with her with I was young and I learned a lot from her about making treats, especially for the holidays.  Something that I enjoy still today.  The style of these old fashioned tools take us back to those bygone days but help remind us of the very important people that we had in our lives.  Some really good projects for the woodshop.  Here are a couple of pictures:

Also, check out the Women Love Tools Too Blog

Happy Thursday!

Vacation Bible School is almost here

ASH isn't spending much time in the Woodshops these days.  I am volunteering at our local "Shoreline Community Church" in preparation of the Sets for Vacation Bible School.  Lots of things to be done here, so not much happening in the world of woodworking from the artistic point of view.  That is, not creating much "useful art" over the last couple of weeks.

I did however, begin to experiment early this month making some bangle bracelets from wood.  This is a great use for some of the cut off scraps and you can once again, continue to make useful art out of them.  Bangle Bracelets first.  We will try something else soon. Here is an example of one of the bracelets.  Another original from ASH Woodshops.  You can purchase this at http://www.ashwoodshops.etsy.com/:

More next time on this really special tropical hardwood called Cocobolo!

That's all for now!

Blessings....

Some Really Crafty People!

Recently ASH Woodshops became involved in some craft shows on a blog called, "Tools Are For Women Too".  Some pretty amazing things can be found on the posts by these really talented people.  It is amazing to see some of the ideas that come up.  If you want to check it out, follow this link:  http://toolsareforwomentoo.blogspot.com/


Blessings,
ASH

Time Flies When

It is amazing to me that it has already been two weeks since my last post.  Yes, been pretty busy, but just not enough time in the shop.  I have been busy trying to get the Father's Day items posted and listed in my shop at http://www.ashwoodshops.etsy.com/.  It has been a challenge to get it done.  I have recently been making some new cutting boards.  One is on a commission but the others will be posted on Etsy and put up for sale.  They will be done shortly and you will be able to see them in my shop.  In the meantime..

I wanted to tell you about some new kaleidioscopes that I have been making.  These are beautiful, mini kaleidoscopes.  The "jewels" are beach glass from Monterey Bay beaches.  Norma and I pick up the glass when we are beachcombing.  It really makes a unique view.  I have recently shipped one to Denmark!  The customer base is spreading.  Thank you loyal customers!

I have been trying to figure out how to get the message out about the items that I sell that are for men.  Masculine Pens, etc.  I have come to realize that I need to figure out how to make these attractive for women, since women are the people who are buying for their men.  So, a new challenge to contemplate while I turn a few more of these beauties!

Blessings to you from ASH Woodshops.

A Spectacular Day - In OH SO MANY WAYS

The shop tools in ASH Woodshops are feeling a bit neglected today.  I live near the ocean at Monterey Bay and the water was shining like an emerald this morning.  It made it very hard to get into the shop.  So I decided to run some errands today.  That allowed me to be out an about almost all day.  I had several orders for wood products that had sold and needed to be shipped today, and that got me started.  I was able to talk with a great friend today also.  He is a mentor to me and I always am blessed by our weekly conversation.  Unfortunately he lives all the way across the country near Atlanta, but we manage to have a weekly call.  I visited several stores today and was in such a great mood, that I had to share that with everyone that I came in contact with.  It was great.  It is amazing how easy it is to make people light up with a smile, just by smiling yourself.  It is Wednesday, so my wife and I attended our Night of Worship service.  We both were blown away by the music and the sermon.  All in all, a very rewarding day.  I got some great feedback from a customer that received a music box that I had been commissioned by her to make for her mother.  We are always very proud of good feedback, especially when we exceed the expectations of our customers. 

A picture is worth a thousand words, but it is really nice to hear that the piece looked more beautiful in person than the photographs.  This piece was made from cherry and walnut.  Beautiful if I do say so myself!

Truly a great day.
Blessings,
Alan

Magnificent Day

My wife Norma and I are training for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon that happens on June 6th.  We are training through Team-In-Training as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  We raise funds for blood cancer research in exchange for 1st class training for the endurance event.  We have met some of the most fantastic people that are part of our team!  I may never give this up.  I really like it.  But what is also really special is the place we live and where we get to train.  We live and train along the fabulous Monterey Bay in California.  Today we had an 11 mile training walk along the shoreline.  What a magnificent day.  There are almost no waves and the ocean is the color of the deepest blue jewel that you can imagine.  I didn't even get into the shop today.  It was so gorgeous that after our training, we went to the beach to relax.  Unbelievably beautiful.  I am so lucky that I get to live in a place like this.  I am certain that I will need to spend at least a little time in ASH Woodshops tomorrow.
Blessings,

Rainy Day - SHOP day

So with it pouring down rain today, it is unlikely that I will be able to get outside to do much.  It is not a bad thing, it makes it possible for me to spend more time in the woodshop.  At ASH Woodshops, I have to balance my time to be able to spend time there anyway.  How else can I make the beautiful things of wood that I sell through http://www.ashwoodshops.com/, or also http://www.ashwoodshops.etsy.com/?  I need to get out there today to complete some very nice pens that will be displayed soon.  I have some great wood to share in these items.  The wood is called Cocobolo.  Tomorrows post will tell you all about it.  Cocobolo is a beautiful dark tropical hardwood.  More tomorrow....

Blessings,
ASH Woodshops

Oak Bowls

Generally Speaking, when it comes to bowls, pens or other usefull items, Oak can be pretty boring.  Don't get me wrong, it is a very strong wood and great for making furniture, doors, cabinets, cutting boards and other things that need to endure and be very durable.  But the grain can be pretty plain much of the time. 

I was commissioned to turn a couple of bowls for a friend from Oak from their property.  I chose some crotch wood from some large branches, hoping that the branch connections would add some character and features that would be attractive.  I tried to keep these as masculine as possible, (as in non-foofy) as they are a gift for my friends husband.  He had cut down the oak trees to make room for a house that they are building together.  I am very happy with the results.

Why a blog??

I never thought in a million years that I would ever write a blog!  Really!  But this vehicle give me an opportunity to discuss things on my mind.  Not that anyone else will care, but as a business owner, there are things that all of us are concerned about. 

In addition, it gives me an opportunity to talk about things related to my business that I can't fit into my webpage or online shop that relate to it.  ASH Woodshops is a place where hand made woodcrafts are sold.  Much of the wood that I use is exotic hardwood from the tropics (only from FSC Managed Forests mind you) but much of it comes from local sources and is in the form of upcycyling.  Taking something that would otherwise be waste, and making something beautiful out of it.

Woodgrain is my palette.

So feel free to comment and if there is a wood related subject that you become interested in and think that I might be able to give you some information, I would be happy to do so.  Hopefully this is a great resource for you. 

In the meantime, check out http://www.ashwoodshops.etsy.com/ to have a look around my shop.

Blessings
ASH Woodshops