| Project by MsDebbieP | posted 154 days ago | 401 views | 0 times favorited | 28 comments | ![]() |
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June 20/09
This week, following the posting of my first pen, Karson sent me some pen blanks to help me become addicted to turning pens. That was your goal, wasn’t it Karson? :)
Amongst the package of blanks were pieces of: birdseye maple and a piece for the 391 challenge. (photo #2)
I started with the maple because I really didn’t want to screw up the challenge wood. That would be very embarrassing!
PEN 2
The maple (bottom pen in the photo) went rather smoothly and I’m quite pleased with it.
PEN 3 – 391 CHALLENGE
The 391 Challenge—well, I thought the “challenge” was to have everyone make a pen from the same piece of wood. I didn’t realize that using the wood would be an extra challenge! At first I struggled with making those first cuts and then with getting it round. Fighting the process I was becoming a little frustrated. And then I started to feel the turning process—feel the change of the wood beneath the carving tool… and I realized that this “challenge” was a turning point (no pun intended) in my turning experience. With patience and a delicate hand I slowly turned the chunk of wood into a pen. (photo #3) I almost felt like I knew what I was doing!
And so I thank Karson for sending this wood (we won’t say what I first thought when he said that I now had to join the challenge!!) HAHA. Anyway… all is good.
I only have 2 sets left for making these Sierra pens. I will have to go shopping now to see what I want to do next!
WOOD- top pen: the 391 Challenge wood (I think it is cherry burl?)
- bottom: birds eye maple
- Sierra Ballpoint
Photo #4
The Challenge Pen displayed in the beautiful boxhttp://lumberjocks.com/projects/1927 that I received from Douglas. Thanks again to Douglas for this box that I treasure.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
































28 comments so far
Karson
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25794 posts in 1292 days
posted 154 days ago
Debbie: Suberb. Great , wonderful. Glad you are picking a bunch of new skills.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1053 days
posted 154 days ago
thanks Karson—really, thanks!
that was very kind of you to send me the wood and to “force” me to challenge myself (again) :)
It was a very rewarding afternoon.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Karson
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25794 posts in 1292 days
posted 154 days ago
I’m glad that I’m able to force you to stretch
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
jeffthewoodwacker
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486 posts in 696 days
posted 154 days ago
Debbie, nice job on your first pens. You will find that pen turning is additive. By the time you have turned your 100th pen you will be a real pro!
-- Those that say it can't be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.
a1Jim
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16577 posts in 469 days
posted 154 days ago
Wow this pen is knock dead gorgeous
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Karson
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25794 posts in 1292 days
posted 154 days ago
Some great additional photos. Nice box Douglas.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Allison
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652 posts in 691 days
posted 154 days ago
Beautiful. How nice of Karson to do that for you. LJ’s is such an awesome site. Keep up the great work. Are you totally addicted yet?
-- Allison, Northeastern Ca. Remember, Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic!
Karson
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25794 posts in 1292 days
posted 154 days ago
You ready to get into pens Allison?
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1053 days
posted 154 days ago
not addicted yet.
(chuckling at Karson’s innocent sounding question—- evil, I tell you, evil—hooking in another unsuspecting LumberJock…. )
haha
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
cabinetmaster
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8462 posts in 450 days
posted 154 days ago
Really a nice job MsDebbie. Those pens look very nice especially the 391 challenge pen. You’ll be a pro before long…..............lol
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
dlcarver
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260 posts in 622 days
posted 154 days ago
MsDebbie:
Fabulous!!! GREAT JOB!
DAVE
-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1053 days
posted 154 days ago
thanks everyone :)
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
kenn
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217 posts in 612 days
posted 154 days ago
Well done, you put a smile on my face tonight. Allison had better watch out or she’ll be using all those little 5” scraps that she was getting rid of. Karson’s challenge was a lot ot of fun and a bit difficult, I guess that’s the idea.
-- Every cloud has a silver lining
dustbunny
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311 posts in 187 days
posted 154 days ago
Wow! Great looking pens. Although you say your not addicted, looks like your definitely hooked. Addiction to follow.
Keep up the great work,
Lisa
-- I inherited the woodworking gene and it's gone into overdrive.......
James
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161 posts in 173 days
posted 154 days ago
nice pens debbie, and hats off to karson for helping you out,
its always great to see people helping each other,
hope all is well
-- James, Bluffton, IN
Douglas Bordner
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3424 posts in 956 days
posted 154 days ago
Next some well meaning Lumberjock will be attempting to lure you into furthering a box addiction. Be afraid, be very afraid. Mwahahahaha (Glad your box is still getting love and good use. I try and match my “children” to good homes).
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1053 days
posted 154 days ago
thanks, again :)
no.. I’m not addicted – yet, anyway. I wanted to make pens for presents. I wonder how many pens my family will take before they say “enough is enough” lol
Karson is the best!! :)
Douglas—also the best. I do love my pen and box. .. pieces of art that I can use!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Russel
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2057 posts in 831 days
posted 154 days ago
Not to worry MsDeb, the addiction sneaks up on you. Some day you’ll be lounging by the pool and yearning will begin. At first you will simply feel a bit unsettled and then it will grow. You’ll remember the pleasure of that first pen and lust for the taste of accomplishment. Then comes the anxiety because you don’t have a kit, or blank readily available.
Then comes munchies.
Very nice looking pens. The challenge blank turned out particularly nice.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1053 days
posted 154 days ago
haha sounds like you have experienced the “pull” :)
thanks for the compliment on my pens
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
jockmike2
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7297 posts in 1138 days
posted 153 days ago
Ms. Deb. making pens? WOW! You are my hero. Have you made a bowl yet? Great job, beautiful in fact. m
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
scottb
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3403 posts in 1219 days
posted 153 days ago
can’t believe you attempted the challenge wood before knocking off hundreds of practice pens. Great job!
I haven’t made hundreds yet, but I’ve spent hundreds at a time picking up kits. They are just so fun and quick to complete, you might as well make “just one more” while you’re in the shop…
and since my blanks outnumber kits several dozen to one, I know I have a lot more pens in my future.
I just drilled my #391 challenge blank yesterday and am working up the nerve to turn it.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
mtnwild
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2013 posts in 419 days
posted 153 days ago
Looks like fun, great looking pens. Wonderful gifts! The boxes really make them special.
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
pommy
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948 posts in 583 days
posted 153 days ago
Debbs they look soooo cool nice job…
to karson if you ever feel the need to send some birdseye over to me i’d be more than gratefull lol….......
-- cut it saw it scrap it
Karson
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25794 posts in 1292 days
posted 153 days ago
I wondered what happend to you Scott. I hadn’t seen your 391 Challenge
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1053 days
posted 153 days ago
Mike.. yes, I’ve now made 3 pens, with more to come – lots of birthday gifts for the next year.
No, I haven’t turned a bowl yet but it’s in the near future, now that we have the new chuck for the lathe.
Scott: I didn’t know the challenge wood was going to be a challenge to use—ha! Lesson learned. But I did do it right after the second pen so that my skills would be “in the groove”. I didn’t want to wait too long, because Karson pointed out that there was a deadline to the challenge. Pressures!! Pressures!!
Mtn: ha.. you guys—the pen wasn’t good enough. Now I have to make a box… you are always pushing me to new skills :)
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
mtnwild
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2013 posts in 419 days
posted 153 days ago
Sorry, did not read last line. But, I think you will come up with something eventually. Fun stuff…...
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
Grumpy
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14914 posts in 743 days
posted 138 days ago
Excellent work Debbie.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1053 days
posted 138 days ago
thank you; thank you!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)