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kareinaMany years ago my beloved Step-father, who was a fantastic wood turner, made me a set of beautiful Sassafras salt and pepper mills.
Alas, due to an ill-timed sudden gust of gravity, one of them broke. Not being one to waste perfectly good wood, I set it aside for use in potential projects. A couple of years ago I converted one quadrant of it into a wooden spoon with Pictish style carving decorating the handle.
Some months back I started another spoon out of another quadrant, but, alas, during the coarse of the initial shaping I managed to break the bowl of the spoon off of the handle. Rather than throwing out the broken bits, I set them aside, convinced that they would yet be useful.
Yesterday I noticed that my tall apprentice had left his belt sander set up under the carport.
Today, when trying to smooth out the wax in the wax tablet I keep by the computer upon which to jot down notes that I wish accessible when the computer is off (or, when the computer is off, jot down notes of things I wish to remember to enter into the computer when next it is on) I realized that I need a proper stylus for the tablet. When I made this tablet, sometime last year or so, I didn't bother making a stylus for it, since the pen I use with my computer drawing tablet is perfectly functional for scribing in wax. However, it doesn't have a flat end with which to smooth out the wax--the rounded bit on the end will smudge out the old writing, but leaves grooves behind. Suddenly I remembered the broken bit of spoon handle, upon which I hadn't started carving any sort of establishment. Thirty minutes later, the belt sander turned off (I want one of those things!), and a final fine sanding and oiling later I now have a tool with which it is *easy* to smooth out the wax in the tablet, and with which I can also write on the tablet. The carving on the back of the tablet is patterned after a panel on a Carolingian chest we found photos of.
And, finally, photos of an odd project in progress. Rather than letting our hair get washed down the drain, when we take a shower we gather up the shed bits and roll them into a ball. Eventually, over the course of a number of months, the ball becomes large enough that it is difficult to keep adding hair and getting it to stick. When this happens it gets set aside and a new one started. I had thought about covering the balls with wool felt to make balls, but am busy enough that the thought hasn't gone anywhere. But the other day I was hit with some inspiration, and thought I'd try nalbinding a cover for them. The thought is to cover them with the knots/stitches, and then wash them again in hot soapy water and let the yarn shrink that bit tighter around the balls. I suspect they will be too light for juggling balls, but might make good cat toys. Just for amusement, I thought I'd share the photo of it barely started, with a second one undone. When/if I finish this project, I'll share the "after" photo, and ask if anyone has a cat that needs a toy...
Alas, due to an ill-timed sudden gust of gravity, one of them broke. Not being one to waste perfectly good wood, I set it aside for use in potential projects. A couple of years ago I converted one quadrant of it into a wooden spoon with Pictish style carving decorating the handle.
Some months back I started another spoon out of another quadrant, but, alas, during the coarse of the initial shaping I managed to break the bowl of the spoon off of the handle. Rather than throwing out the broken bits, I set them aside, convinced that they would yet be useful.
Yesterday I noticed that my tall apprentice had left his belt sander set up under the carport.
Today, when trying to smooth out the wax in the wax tablet I keep by the computer upon which to jot down notes that I wish accessible when the computer is off (or, when the computer is off, jot down notes of things I wish to remember to enter into the computer when next it is on) I realized that I need a proper stylus for the tablet. When I made this tablet, sometime last year or so, I didn't bother making a stylus for it, since the pen I use with my computer drawing tablet is perfectly functional for scribing in wax. However, it doesn't have a flat end with which to smooth out the wax--the rounded bit on the end will smudge out the old writing, but leaves grooves behind. Suddenly I remembered the broken bit of spoon handle, upon which I hadn't started carving any sort of establishment. Thirty minutes later, the belt sander turned off (I want one of those things!), and a final fine sanding and oiling later I now have a tool with which it is *easy* to smooth out the wax in the tablet, and with which I can also write on the tablet. The carving on the back of the tablet is patterned after a panel on a Carolingian chest we found photos of.
And, finally, photos of an odd project in progress. Rather than letting our hair get washed down the drain, when we take a shower we gather up the shed bits and roll them into a ball. Eventually, over the course of a number of months, the ball becomes large enough that it is difficult to keep adding hair and getting it to stick. When this happens it gets set aside and a new one started. I had thought about covering the balls with wool felt to make balls, but am busy enough that the thought hasn't gone anywhere. But the other day I was hit with some inspiration, and thought I'd try nalbinding a cover for them. The thought is to cover them with the knots/stitches, and then wash them again in hot soapy water and let the yarn shrink that bit tighter around the balls. I suspect they will be too light for juggling balls, but might make good cat toys. Just for amusement, I thought I'd share the photo of it barely started, with a second one undone. When/if I finish this project, I'll share the "after" photo, and ask if anyone has a cat that needs a toy...
