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Simple Christmas Gifts - Bud Vases

Project by Don posted 732 days ago 882 views 1 time favorited 30 comments Add to Favorites Watch

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been in my shop. But today was the day. Bad leg or not, Christmas is comming and I have about a dozen gifts to make.

Last year I made some small wooden boxes – and in case you didn’t already know, I just love small wooden boxes!

But this year I’m cutting back; not because I want to but because I need to keep off my healing knee repair. So I whipped these up in three hours from three different Australian timbers – Red Gum on the right, Huon Pine in the center and Tasmanian Blackwood on the right.

The finish is friction polish from Ubeaut.

I’ve inserted a glass vial in each to retain the water. Hope my friends and family understand. Each one is slightly different in shape – not intentional.

Sorry the pictures are similar, but why waste the space?

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


30 comments so far

View mot's profile

mot

4901 posts in 914 days


posted 732 days ago

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)

View Peter O's profile

Peter O

1005 posts in 753 days


posted 732 days ago

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.

-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4015 posts in 840 days


posted 732 days ago

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

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1768 posts in 875 days


posted 732 days ago

Very pretty turnings!

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

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6396 posts in 861 days


posted 732 days ago

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.

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

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3415 posts in 942 days


posted 732 days ago

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.

View Jojo's profile

Jojo

581 posts in 850 days


posted 732 days ago

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/ · http://twitter.com/japanesetools

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7222 posts in 1125 days


posted 732 days ago

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

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5970 posts in 944 days


posted 732 days ago

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/

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14090 posts in 1039 days


posted 732 days ago

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.)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View miles125's profile

miles125

1413 posts in 884 days


posted 732 days ago

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

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

View furnitologist's profile

furnitologist

189 posts in 891 days


posted 732 days ago

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????

View ThreeJs's profile

ThreeJs

82 posts in 818 days


posted 732 days ago

Well done. I like those al ot.

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

View Calgirl's profile

Calgirl

188 posts in 774 days


posted 732 days ago

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 !

View Karson's profile

Karson

25271 posts in 1279 days


posted 732 days ago

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

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View David's profile

David

1982 posts in 1017 days


posted 732 days ago

Don -

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

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2501 posts in 872 days


posted 732 days ago

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

View CharlieM1958's profile (online now)

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 732 days ago

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"

View snowdog's profile

snowdog

806 posts in 861 days


posted 731 days ago

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"..

View relic's profile

relic

342 posts in 815 days


posted 731 days ago

Great Idea for a quick gift. They look fantastic.

-- Andy Stark

View Don's profile

Don

2590 posts in 1055 days


posted 731 days ago

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.hilsbiblechurch.org/

View schroeder's profile

schroeder

508 posts in 1003 days


posted 731 days ago

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

-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe

View Bob A in NJ's profile

Bob A in NJ

519 posts in 877 days


posted 731 days ago

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

-- Bob A in NJ

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 731 days ago

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

View furnitologist's profile

furnitologist

189 posts in 891 days


posted 731 days ago

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

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3709 posts in 858 days


posted 731 days ago

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

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

6990 posts in 1177 days


posted 728 days ago

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

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3785 posts in 1192 days


posted 666 days ago

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

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9496 posts in 866 days


posted 666 days ago

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.

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3392 posts in 566 days


posted 475 days ago

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

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

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