| Project by trifern | posted 466 days ago | 808 views | 3 times favorited | 37 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
It all started one blustery day. I was released from my mothers arm and I twirled through the sky. The man called me junk, the little girl called me a helicopter. She twirled me over and over again. That night she tucked me into some warm soil.
I quickly grew legs and shot up towards the sun. The little girl nourished me and talked to me regularly. One day I caught the man’s eye. He reached down to puck my feet from the soil as he mumbled ” damn weed.” The little girl came running over, pleading my case with tears in her eyes.
Over the years we grew together. Many years I provided shelter, a place to climb, someone to talk too, a back drop for portraits and numerous other happy occasions.
One night, out of no where, a storm blew in from the south. I fought it’s brutal breath with all my might. After awhile I grew weary and could not fight any longer. The mighty wind brought me to my knees.
A few days later the little girl, now an elderly lady, came out and paid her respects. Then a man sawed and chopped on me for hours. He explained to my dear friend he would not charge her if he could keep me to burn as firewood. She said he could have all of me except my heart. The man looked perplexed, but did not argue. With a couple of swift cuts, he left my heart lying there as if I was a piece of junk.
The next day the little girl and her sister loaded me in their car. They drove me far away. They handed me to a nice man they called Trifern. She told him to make me into something that other people might enjoy. I heard her whisper as Trifern carried me away, “You’ll never be a weed or a piece of junk to me, you’ll always be my treasure.”
Trifern skillfully trimmed away some of my fat. He not only found my heart, but found the very character of my soul. He even carved out a ring and glued purpleheart dust into it. He called it “The Circle of Life.”
So here I am for all to see. I can’t wait because Trifern promised me a family reunion with a little girl!
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.































37 comments so far
Russel
home | projects | blog
2030 posts in 817 days
posted 466 days ago
An absolutely great story and a fantastic piece. Your creativity continues to show in your words and work.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
Dick, & Barb Cain
home | projects | blog
6989 posts in 1177 days
posted 466 days ago
Very nice turning.
You get the story telling, or poetry award.
-- -** 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
Michael Brailsford
home | projects | blog
212 posts in 471 days
posted 466 days ago
beautiful.
-- Michael A. Brailsford
Bob O'Brien
home | projects | blog
11 posts in 492 days
posted 466 days ago
Exquisite turning and great tale!
-- Bob
TedM
home | projects | blog
1838 posts in 610 days
posted 466 days ago
”...but found the very character of my soul”
Beautiful story, beautiful piece
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com
teenagewoodworker
home | projects | blog
2470 posts in 646 days
posted 466 days ago
very nice story! you should send that to a magazine! i’m sure they would be very impressed! and the great turning is a bonus :)
Napaman
home | projects | blog
3409 posts in 955 days
posted 466 days ago
fantastic!!! I love the ring!!!
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
brianinpa
home | projects | blog
1363 posts in 601 days
posted 466 days ago
Nice job all the way around. What do you have in mind for the family reunion with the little girl?
-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.
odie
home | projects | blog
1601 posts in 718 days
posted 466 days ago
Looking good … show-off.
-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke". http://woodstermangotwood.blogspot.com/ (my funny blog)
ChuckM
home | projects | blog
142 posts in 544 days
posted 466 days ago
Many woodworkers are full of talents far beyond the circle of woodworking; you’re one of the shining examples.
-- The time I enjoy wasting is not time wasted
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
7459 posts in 1096 days
posted 466 days ago
So, just wowing us with your exquisite turnings wasn’t enough anymore? Now you’ve gone and proved you are a talented wordworker as well.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
lazyfiremaninTN
home | projects | blog
528 posts in 831 days
posted 466 days ago
That story reminded me of Shel Silverstien’s “The Giving Tree”. That is a wonderful story and BEAUTIFUL turning. Keep up the good work.
-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"
Woodhacker
home | projects | blog
1145 posts in 601 days
posted 466 days ago
Joe…Great Story! I enjoyed reading it :) And I love the design of this bowl and you did a fantastic job with it! (as always)
Thanks for the post.
-- Martin, Kansas
woodbutcher
home | projects | blog
415 posts in 1044 days
posted 466 days ago
trifern,
Very nice turning. Thanks also for the story-for I never would have known how the purple heart ring got there. Great job, keep up the story telling and woodworking!
Sincerely,
Ken McGinnis
-- woodbutcher north carolina
Douglas Bordner
home | projects | blog
3415 posts in 942 days
posted 466 days ago
Misted me up. Good platter too…
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
ryno101
home | projects | blog
231 posts in 542 days
posted 466 days ago
Fantastic… Thanks for that. Nicely said.
-- Ryno
GaryK
home | projects | blog
9496 posts in 866 days
posted 466 days ago
That’s a great looking bowl! Nice wood choice.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
frank
home | projects | blog
1491 posts in 1084 days
posted 466 days ago
Hellooooooo Trifern;
....eloquence is in the words you write,
fluency is that feeling you convey through your wood,
consummated with the story of a wood-wright,
and then articulately your ‘wood art is under-stood….
And then I pause….not only has your work conveyed the character of this wood’s soul, but your use of words has conveyed the image of the spirit of wood….and so it is with honor that I count my-self to be one of those who knows your talents, just as I also congragulate you on this in-deed beaut-i-full piece of turned ‘wood art’ you have brought forth!
Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/
Grumpy
home | projects | blog
14852 posts in 729 days
posted 466 days ago
Speechless Trifern, speechless.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20040 posts in 700 days
posted 466 days ago
Trifern,
This is another beautiful piece that, as usual, displays your unique style and excellent craftmanship. I loved the story too by the way. Not only are you a woodturning artist but you can write as well!!! You are indeed a multi-talented individual.
Thanks for the post. I enjoyed sharing this.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
cobbler
home | projects | blog
242 posts in 668 days
posted 466 days ago
I love the depth of the story. It brought back the thoughts of
how I feel about trees.
Thanks for sharing.
P.S. Great bowl!
-- ''Carry on my wayward son''
Russel
home | projects | blog
2030 posts in 817 days
posted 466 days ago
Trifern, I showed this to the Mrs. and she would like to post a link to this over on GardenTenders … Is that okay with you?
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
trifern
home | projects | blog
7890 posts in 645 days
posted 465 days ago
Wow, I am truly humbled by all the kind remarks. I typically am a man of very few words. There simply was a story screaming at me the whole time I worked on this piece. The little girl collects what I think is called granite ware, so I added little pieces of ash and turquoise colored box elder to the purple heart. It kind of resembles that “blotchy” look.
Russel, tell the Mrs. I would be honored.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Terry
home | projects | blog
82 posts in 511 days
posted 465 days ago
I have to tell you good folks something. It has been less than a year since Joe came to my house for a turning lesson. Joe I am turely amazed at how rapidly you are progressing. I believe we have a natural talent here. Your bowl is great and your eloquent narration is splendiferous.
Terry
Tim from Iowa City
home | projects | blog
172 posts in 478 days
posted 465 days ago
Great story. Wonderful piece of art.
-- Tim from Iowa City, IA
eklectic
home | projects | blog
22 posts in 647 days
posted 465 days ago
This story is truly from the heart! Thank you so much!
And the “The Circle of Life” really emphasize the story!
You have, I believe, the true heart of an artist!!!
-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss!
MsDebbieP
home | projects | blog
14089 posts in 1038 days
posted 465 days ago
sigh….....
(beautiful work and story)
and here’s the discussion over at GT.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
PineMan
home | projects | blog
57 posts in 472 days
posted 465 days ago
Very nice looking bowl.
-- I never started a project I couldn't screw up.
dennis mitchell
home | projects | blog
3785 posts in 1192 days
posted 465 days ago
I found this on GT. Great posting!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
trifern
home | projects | blog
7890 posts in 645 days
posted 465 days ago
Once again, thanks for all the kind remarks.
Russel, please tell the Mrs. I am honored to have her write a forum about this post.
Terry, I’ve had lessons from one of the best. I think it’s time you showed the rest of the Lumberjocks the stuff your made of. You have some wonderful turnings, furniture and scroll work.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
jockmike2
home | projects | blog
7222 posts in 1124 days
posted 464 days ago
Joe, that was the most eloquent prose I’ve ever read. When did you take that up, did you learn it in College? I am amazed, not just the poem but your work has taken on a whole new look. What up dude? Very, Very good. I’m stunned buddy. Congrats. Put that in a contest of somekind.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Dusty56
home | projects | blog
3392 posts in 566 days
posted 464 days ago
BEAUTIFUL BOWL , BEAUTIFUL STORY BEHIND IT : )...... I don’t know which I like the most ! Thank you for the inlay tip as well…this is heading straight into my favorites ! Will the story continue after the reunion ? Can’t wait …..you’re an excellent writer as well as woodworker , Trifern….God bless you
the link to Greenthumbs comments is well worth following , MsDebbieP , thank you : )
-- 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 .
SteveKorz
home | projects | blog
2030 posts in 592 days
posted 464 days ago
BRAVO!
(clapping in the background)
Very well done Joe!
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
jeanmarc
home | projects | blog
1750 posts in 594 days
posted 464 days ago
Very nice looking bowl.
-- jeanmarc manosque france
itsme_timd
home | projects | blog
675 posts in 709 days
posted 460 days ago
How amazing, a great story and a fantastic piece to go with it. I can visualize the whole process through your writing and the bowl. WOW!
-- Tim D. - Woodstock, GA
Grumpy
home | projects | blog
14852 posts in 729 days
posted 460 days ago
Good luck in the contest Trifern.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
trifern
home | projects | blog
7890 posts in 645 days
posted 460 days ago
Thanks Grumpy. I was hoping to get at least one vote. However, since I can’t vote for myself and the looks of all the other great projects, I’ll settle for the satisfaction of having competed.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.