Mick

Joe one more step closer to the ultimate vessel ! I thought your were already there 50 vessels ago.
Wonderful ,your carved opening is a great addition Unique and special.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

That looks great. I really like the opening.

-- "I gotta have more cowbell"--------Bruce Dickinson

Joe this is outstanding ,my wife says it looks like an apple .

Great Job!!!

-- Rj's Woodworks,San Jose & Weed Ca,

opening is great … very organic …

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Just another example of your superb work.

-- I always have tomorrow to stop procrastinating. WoodyWoodWrecker

I love the finish. It looks almost like a 3D rendering it’s so perfect!

-- If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem. Roanoke, VA

Beautiful finish, so much depth.

-- Keith, Bolingbrook, Illinois. How did you do that? I just started with a bunch of wood and cut away anything that's not part of the finished piece...

Wow!

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!

I really like what you’ve accomplished here. The opening is very mysterious and seductive. The color and shape of the vessel match this well. I’d like to see a top or 3/4 over view to see more of the opening. Good job! Keep on pushing that envelope!

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

Trifern, these keep getting better and better. I really like the opening. I believe mine got lost in the mail so if you could send another that would be great.

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

Here is a view from the top.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

A beautiful art form with the flow of line and grace a the opening is the crowning jewel!

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

New abilities! Looks like you’re off to a great start on the carving.

I’ve been using wipe-on poly myself lately, and I find it quite a chore. I’m sure it’s easier when you have true, round shapes, but I’m doing green stuff that tends to go out of true. I’m sorry if you mentioned, but I’m wondering what your poly technique is. I’ve tried brush and rag. Rag goes on smoother, but far thinner, requiring so many coats. With brushes, I’ve been getting very thick coats which greatly reduces the time to about 2 days, but if I try to tweak anything while applying – and so far I always feel the need – I get gloopy brush marks that can be quite deep, and I must sand quite a bit to get back down to smooth. The final layer, as is probably obvious by now, needs to be sanded smooth with 220, and then worked through the grits slowly back to about 12k, then buffed and polished up. It’s actually quite involved. I put hours into one bowl in particular, and still didn’t get an absolutely perfect finish.

-- Gary, Los Angeles, video game animator

beautiful!!! where does the name come from?

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

Napaman, I take it that you’re not a fan of the Rolling Stones. I’m not saying that the name came from them but that would be my guess.

-- I always have tomorrow to stop procrastinating. WoodyWoodWrecker

Matt, Mick comes from Mick Jagger. The opening reminds me of his features.

Gary, I apply the wipe-on poly with a section of cotton t shirt. I believe when applying most finishes, multiple thin coats yields superior results to thick applications. This piece has approximately 8 coats. I rub the finish out with 0000 steel wool between coats. The finish on my pieces take longer than the turning.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

Trifern

This is great. I’d just call it “Lips” vs Mick. As a joke, I’d consider putting two glue on eye’s on it and turn them towards the back. When someone picks it up to admire it they would get a nice surprise.

Love the color and depth.

-- Bob A in NJ

ahhh…yes that makes sense…maybe you could send it to him….he is not the most beautiful man but this piece is…(SORRY MR. Jagger)...

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

Thanks for the info on the finish! I have a pack of 0000 unopened. Looks like it’s time to crack the package.

-- Gary, Los Angeles, video game animator

Beautifull work. Heading into a new avenue of design here and you are off to a fantastic start.

Your pieces are allways so beautifull that you just want to kiss them…....oh wait…... it wants to kiss you! haha

Keep up the inspirational work.

Scrappy

-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!

Fantastic as always. Love the carved opening and of course the finish is just astounding.

It is amazing how many high gloss finishes look like plastic, while yours just give a whole lot of depth. It certainly is about clarity, which you achieve with multiple coats carefully rubbed out in between. A great lesson and inspiration to us all. We really need to be regularly reminded just how important the finish is and how much value there is in spending the time necessary to do it right.

I am also eagerly looking forward to see your carving evolve on future pieces.

-- Mike, American in Norway

dang joe, very beautiful…...i love the opening…not that the others werent fantastic..but this adds more visual to the eye..and draws you to the top right away….super job

-- The Grizzone

You did it this time buddy. Great job. Same beautiful photography. Slightly erotic.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

I am blown away bu the quality of your work, the colouring, the finish, the design, I only wish I could get anywhere neat this standard, I guess it takes a few years

That is a great color and the carved opening looks great. A nice change.

Very impressive Joe. Great effect.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Great job again!...excellent color! – all your pieces by the way…I wish I had the eye for color that you have shown with these…..I am hoping that time/experience will get me near a point that I can feel that the finish is complete….Yours are definitely there..

There are so many areas in turning that I am experimenting with..(I have been making an eccentric jig to try some OT – since this new PM lathe can run at minimum RPMs)....sometimes I need to just get on the lathe rather then thinking about some new idea to try…You have indeed perfected the hollow form…...I like the carving with turning combinations by the way. I had pulled out my old Wecheer carver just recently, and was using it to put flutes on a bowl I recently turned (it is straight grain poplar and the pattern was so flat that this piece needed something to wake it up).

Great name by the way….the top does look like the Stones’ trademark lips…

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Thanks for all the feedback. I appreciate all the comments.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

WOW!!! Lava hot!!!!!!!!!

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

Joe you have outdone yourself.

Stunning is a good way to describe it!

-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!

excellent innovation ,
looking forward to more !

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart