Delswood

Heading Home

2011-08-07T12:46:00.001-07:00

sailing home, a photo by cruisin couple on Flickr.

Heading Home is one of the pieces featured this month at the Blackberry Gift Shop.

I especially liked the way the water turned out. I carved Denim Pine and Spalted Birch to make the water look like it is moving the sailboat along. The four colours of the sails are Spalted Alder, Poplar (white and green) and Yellow Cedar. You can almost feel the wind as it billows out the sails.

Come into the Gift Shop to see the other 12 pieces on my Featured Wall!

Rainy days don't bother me!

2011-07-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

June and July have been really miserable here on the West Coast! But, I don't mind, as that gives me loads of time in the workshop - can't do yardwork!!

Check out my website for a peek at my newest creations. And, don't forget to drop in to the Blackberry Gift Shop in August as I will be the Featured Artist and many of my newest items will be on display for you to purchase and take home with you.

Here is one that won't be there, however, as it was a custom creation for a friend. It is a natural edged piece of oak that is approximately 10" wide and 35" long. All holes are drilled by hand and the pegs are (purchased) golf tees. Felt bumpers are attached to the underside, so it won't mar your dining room table.

When I come across a piece of wood that is unique, has natural edges or special grains, I like to keep it aside to make cribbage boards from it.

Next time you're talking to me, ask about what special piece of wood I have stored away to make your unique cribbage board to give to someone special for Christmas or birthday.

Another bird flies out of the workshop!

2011-02-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

The majestic white swan calmly glides across the blue waters of a smooth reed filled lake. Summer's coming and the swans are heading north to their feeding grounds. Catch this one quickly before it flies away!

The swan is carved from Pine with a Padauk and Walnut beak. The water from Denim Pine, that's the Pine tree which was infested with the Pine Beetle. If you look long and hard at the lumber store you may find some that has not been shipped to Asia.

A Great Blue Heron flies out of the workshop!

2011-02-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

Look at this beautiful Great Blue Heron! I created one about 5 years ago and it dissappeared quite quickly. It flew off to Ontario. Very few people got to see it up close, so I decided to make another one. I used Western Red Cedar for most of the Heron, enhanced by Pine and Walnut. The reeds in the pond are Poplar, which has a greenish hue.

WOW I can't believe what I'm finding in the workshop!

2011-02-04T16:19:00.000-08:00

Lots of new items coming out of the workshop this week. This Tool Clock emerged from all the little pieces I found while cleaning up. It now reminds me when to take my lunch break!!

What's lurking in the woodpile?

2011-01-21T12:51:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy time in the workshop this year. I have been sorting through the wood piles and these creations have found their way from the boards to the walls! Don't forget to drop in to the website and check out all the details.

A few cedar fence pickets revealed a series of holly leaves, which I assembled into a wreath to surround an angel that leapt out of a pine board that was silently resting in a remote corner of the basement.

A persian cat is slowly emerging from the depths of the curly grains of a piece of spalted birch burl.

Roses are blooming out of the small red scraps in the exotic wood pile.

This bear emerged from a piece of dark western red cedar that was hiding under the bench, and found himself in a forest of poplar trees.

Pond Friend

2010-06-12T17:37:00.001-07:00

Pond Friend
Originally uploaded by cruisin couple

Everyone has been asking me to make a Dragonfly. So here is my rendition. The green coloured wood is Poplar and will darken with time. The wings are made of Figured Maple, so have beautiful markings. The Dragonfly's eyes are made of Ebony.
Hope you enjoy.
It is approximately 8" wide by 22" high. Other species of wood used are Redheart, Walnut and Cherry.

Visit my website to see more new items.

Summer Travels

2010-06-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have finished three pieces for our 'Summer Travels' exhibit in the Port Moody Arts Centre's Plum Gallery.

"Summer Freedom" has over 70 pieces of Western Red Cedar, Walnut, Redheart, Pine, Yellowheart and Alder. It can stand on a table or hang on a wall.

"Picnic Place" reminds us of those wonderful picnics by the lighthouse, it is made out of 50 pieces of Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, Ziricote, REdheart, Alder, Spalted Birch and Baltic Birch. It is 19.5" tall by 15.5" wide.

carefree summer
Originally uploaded by cruisin couple

"Carefree Summer" is made out of 40 pieces of Western Red Cedar, Ziricote, Redhart, Denim Pine, Yellowheart, Alder, Walnut and Baltic Birch. It is 19" tall by 13.5" wide.

These and many more of my pieces can be seen on my website at http://www.delswood.com/.

Summer Travels

2010-05-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Blackberry Gift Shop will be extending their display into the Plum Gallery of the Port Moody Arts Centre in July. The theme is Summer Travels. All items are new to the shop. I am presently working on a new piece for that exhibit and sale. Will post pictures of it when I get it finished. There will also be more .... I am planning on 2 or 3 new pieces by July.

British Columbia Dogwood

2010-04-27T11:45:00.001-07:00

dogwood 2
Originally uploaded by cruisin couple

Here's a picture of our beautiful wild BC Dogwood tree in our backyard. You can tell that Spring is here when the beatiful blossoms suddenly appear, I just wish they would linger longer!

Earth Day

2010-04-22T10:21:00.001-07:00

Deer
Originally uploaded by cruisin couple

Celebrate Earth Day, go for a walk, enjoy your surroundings and pick up any litter you see on the way.

Wordless Wednesday: Psssssss...

2010-04-21T14:42:00.001-07:00

Don't get in the way!! http://www.delswood.com

snake
Originally uploaded by cruisin couple

The Inspiration

2010-04-16T21:51:00.003-07:00

king penguin
Originally uploaded by cruisin couple

We took an Antarctic cruise which was one of the most wonderful cruises we have taken. One of the stops was in the Falkland Islands where we saw thousands of King Penguins like this one. This inspired me to create an intarsia penguin and his chick.

The result

2010-04-16T21:51:00.001-07:00

penguins
Originally uploaded by cruisin couple

When we returned, this penguin found its way out of the woodpile. Go to www.delswood.com to see which woods I used.

Paris

2010-04-16T10:47:00.001-07:00

Paris
Originally uploaded by cruisin couple

Can't believe it was a year ago that we set out for Europe aboard the Emerald Princess.

We were so happy that we took the ship's tour to Paris. We drove down the Champs Elysees and toured the city, finishing off with lunch on a riverboat as we cruised the Seinne.

The weather was exceptional, as you can see, beautiful blue skies, just perfect for touring and great memories.