Two More Sea Urchin Christmas Ornaments and a 8 1/2 by 2 1/4 inch bowl
Recently completed a  new bowl and two more Sea Urchin Ornaments.  The Sea Urchin Ornaments are time consuming to fashion.  The wood is made of Maple, bamboo skewers hold the pieces together, wall filler sprayed inside.

This is my first attempt at making a Sea Urchin Christmas Ornament.  I read a number of articles, bought a DVD, had a class at my Wood Turning group.  I ended up taking a little bit from each source and invented some techniques to do it.  Linda and I have bought a box of these Sea Urchins so there are more to come.  I hope I am as successful with the rest of them as this one.  Gary

Tipuana vase.  Had to use scrappers to make it.  Wood is the hardest I have ever worked with  Almost impossible.  It is a shade tree from South America and its sap is a blood red resin.  Considered an invasive weed.  11 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches. 

This wood is almost impossible to work (Tipuana).  From Bolivia considered an invasive weed.  Feels like I am cutting steel.

Gary and Linda collaborate on a bowl.  Linda did a hand rubbed finish.

I am making bottle toppers for my Tai Chi Group for Christmas.  I have made ten of them.  I have them in special plastic containers with a description of the wood I am using.  I am using Bocote, Cocobolo, Zebrawood, Birdseye Maple and Bubinga.  I hope they like them.  I plan to make ten more of them.

Just completed making a 10 1/2 platter and 9 inch bowl made of Liquid Amber.  Used Russ Fairfield finishing process involving 10 steps and two types of wax, brown steel wool and rottenstone.