maple burl hollow form

Re: maple burl hollow form

Tom Sweeney - Coatesville, PA

>Mike,

It's time to find some galleries to show your work. That is gorgeous -can't say anything else.

Re: maple burl hollow form

Kevin Gerstenecker

>WOW Mike, that is a purty rascal! I love the shape and color. The small hollow forms really appeal to me, and I like the collar's you add to your hollow forms. Great piece of wood and very nice execution. You have to make do with what you have, and you nailed it with this small Burl. For being small, there is a TON of things going on with the grain. As always Mike, NICE!

Re: maple burl hollow form

MP Wall

>Mike I have seen a lot of your stuff on several sites lately and this one is one of the best. I like it a lot. MP Wall

Re: maple burl hollow form

Steve Roxberg

>Beautiful, I'm just getting started on hollow forms and can only hope they look that nice in a year or two.

Re: maple burl hollow form

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>Nice one Mike,

A very inspiring piece!

Jen

Lookin good!

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Mike,

Excellent looking piece my friend! I really like the "direction" your work has been heading. You've gotten that "organic" feeling shape nailed. I really like the collar as well.

Just had a thought: Have you ever tried inlaying, or filling the wormholes with powdered gemstones? Like malachite or turquoise?

Liquid resin inlays like "Inlace" are nice. But you don't get the "sparkle" quality as you would with powdered gemstones. I sort or stumbled onto this over the past month while working on some pens. IMHO, the inlays made up of Inlace (even when combined with powdered gemstones) don't have the "flare" of one comprised of powdered gemstones and medium CA glue.

The only down side is actually cutting the inlay down to size after gluing. Who'd a thought powdered rocks could be so hard? :>)

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: maple burl hollow form

Ruth

>Mike,

This is a beautiful piece.

Does Tom's reply mean you don't have your work in a gallery? And why not; it's as good as any I've seen in galleries (and better than some!).

Re: maple burl hollow form

Mike Schwing from Maryland

>Thank you all. And particular thanks to those who suggest finding a gallery.

I have just recently passed my 1 year anniversary of my first turning. I'm not nearly confident enough in my turning to approach a gallery, even though I have been to many and seen pricy work that I believe is sub par to mine. My wife is stymied by this as I am in nearly every other area of life brimming with over confidence. The other reason is I believe my finishes are not up to my desired level. I need to build a spray booth first, and figure in the mean time I'll practice my turning.

Most of my turnings sit in my office for a week, as I've developed a "following" of sorts where people stop by to see whats new. They then go into a Rubbermaid bin in the basement until the day when I get up the nerve to approach a gallery or two. I have to admit, thats a neat bin to sift through. It also provides "instant gifts" that can hardly be matched by store bought items. Mrs. Schwingding does not have permission to give things away without my OK, though, or that bin would be empty!

I will have a bunch of things for sale at the Gettysburg/Biglerville Apple Harvest Festival in someone else's booth, but they'll be mostly bowls.

Re: maple burl hollow form

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Mike,

You have been turning out some very, very nice work of late.

This one is great.

You have a good eye for the wood.

You should be proud.

Mark

Re: maple burl hollow form

Ron in Drums PA

>I think the only difference between your work and the work you see in galleries is the amount of confidence you have. Believe me, your turnings are excellent. Now is the time to start talking to galleries while they are getting ready for Xmas.