Simple Christmas Gifts - Bud Vases

Just beautiful, Don! I love a good turning!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Hey Don, I understand you can’t make me a box this year. I will look forward to receiving my vase – they are very beautiful! Let me know if you’ve misplaced my address and I’ll email it right over.

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

Me too, Don. Don’t fergit me now!! They are really wonderful and we hope your leg gets better. While your recuperating why not write a very good book on ” Small Wooden Boxes”? You could keep the knee elevated and we would all have some excellent reading.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Very pretty turnings!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Think you are as good at turning as you are at boxin’ ...... All three are beautiful, but the white one is my favorite. Especially in the third photo. It really stands out as a special piece.

-- ..... art for lifes sake

I have certainly enjoyed all three sets of pictures of your round, skinny-necked small lidless wooden boxes.
I just love them.
Continued good wishes on your return to full mobility, illustrious Box Elder!

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Welcome back Don! It’s been a while since your last post and I was wondering where you’d gone. I didn’t know you had a bad knee but I hope is healing well cause we have small-box withdrawal syndrome here.

When I first looked at the picture of the Shellawax Cream I first thought you did use Vegemite to finish the vases but then I realized the paste looked way too whitish to be it. :o)

Nice vases by the way… err I mean round, skinny-necked small lidless wooden boxes. Damn Douglas why those upside-down Canucks have to make things so complicated? ;o)

Tell us Don, did your last friend-customer eventually loved the great box you made for her?

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://www.japanese-woodworking-tools.com/

I just love small wooden vases, have I ever told you that Don and those are exceptional. Very nice. mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

Very well done Don. I think that it would still qualify as a small box – if you think about it, it’s made of wood and intended to hold something – in this case a flower. So, nice turned box.

Did you hollow them out, or drill them out for the vials?

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

stunning, Don.. simply stunning.

Best of luck with your knee recovery. I’m glad to hear that you are taking it easy.

(I like the book idea.)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Techinically those could be cylindrical tall boxes with out the lids. Great job!

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Hi Don:

Didn’t know you were on injured reserve….......everyone keeps telling you to give up the Rugby…... but NO!!!!

COOL turnings…...........is the “Huon Pine” like N. American pine or like maple????

Well done. I like those al ot.

-- David, Charlotte NC (http://beechcreeknaturals.etsy.com)

I have never seen Tasmanian Blackwood before, and I love it. Folks who recieve those vases are going to be delighted. Hope the knee heals well.

-- Forget the health food, I need all the preservatives I can get !

Don some great small boxes. Welcome to the shop if only for a while.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Don -

These are beauiful turnings! I really like the wood species you get to play with.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

Don, Those are really nice and the wood is beautiful!

Hope that knee heals real well for you.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

I just love small wooden boxes, Don. Only someone of your imagination and talent would have thought of creating some in this unique and useful shape!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Great idea. And much better than pencil holders <grin> if you ask me :) I hope the knee if getting better.

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

Great Idea for a quick gift. They look fantastic.

-- Andy Stark

Well, thank you everyone; its good to be back. I appreciate the sentiment of calling my bud vases ‘turned boxes’, but I think, strictly speaking, a turned box has a lid. Never-the-less, the scale is right for me and these are a joy to turn – a lovely way to spend an hour.

Now I will answer a few questions and make a couple of comments.

The book idea – I love writing and, as you all know, I just love small wooden boxes, and I love making them, too. But I have never thought of combining the two. I’ve done a fair amount of Internet research. Based on what I know is out there, I call myself an average woodworker. When I scan the pages of Tony Lydgate’s books on the subject, The Art of Making Elegant Boxes, The Art of Making Elegant Jewelry Boxes, The Art of Making Small Wood Boxes, or John Bennett’s Making Little Boxes From Wood, or Peter LLoyd’s Making Heirloom Boxes, or Doug Stowe’s Making Boxes, I am humbled. So a book on box making is probably not something I will undertake.

Quote Jojo: ”…I first thought you did use Vegemite to finish the vases…” What a great idea, Jojo, I’ll give that a try – I always knew that there had to be a good use for the foul stuff. LOL

Quote Cajunpen: ”Did you hollow them out, or drill them out for the vials?” The latter, Bill.

Quote furnitologist: …is the “Huon Pine” like N. American pine or like maple???? Neil, Huon Pine has no equivalent on earth. It’s nothing like Pine as you know it. Here's a paper on this unique timber. Neil, you just have to get some – you would be amazed at its properties for furniture making.

Thanks again.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

beautiful work Don, as always! – welcome back! heal quick!

-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe

These are wonderful, very nice shape. I have to make a few. What are the dimensions?

-- Bob A in NJ

Don, everyone else has covered my thoughts from “small turned boxes” to comments on the beauty of the different species. So, best of luck with your recovery and thanks for sharing these.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

Hey Don….............Thanks for those links….........tree has some odd behaviors…INTERESTING!!!

Hi Don;

Sorry to hear your having knee problems.

Your turnings, like “your small wodden boxes” look great!

I’m certain your family will appreciate them.

Beautiful work, Don.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Beautiful work as usual, from you!

I’ve been away from LJ’s lately, so I hadn’t heard of your knee problem. Both Barb, & I wish you a speedy recovery.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Ya but..you might be just the guy to write a book about the box builders.
Good work as always!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

I thought that you just loved small boxes?

What are these doing here?

Looks good anyway!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

gorgeous turnings …thanks for the “foul stuff” link , it was very entertaining : ) I have tried the Marmite here in the USA courtesy of a friend ….I haven’t been back for seconds yet though …hahahaa

-- Dusty56@comcast.net