Treevival

I was out in BC. two weekends ago to visit my dad. As I was looking around I spied this wooden walnut vase sitting up on a shelf in my mom’s sewing room. I remember making it for her around the time the world was introduced to Indiana Jones and DeLorean’s DMC 12’s were rolling off the assembly line! (If you don’t know when that was you are much younger than I am and you grew up with Google!)

It’s certainly humbling for me to see some of my earliest efforts on the lathe. The lines on this slender vase (left) are not fluid compared to what I make now (right) and there’s too much tear out for my liking. I also had to glue up two pieces because I wasn’t patient enough to dry my own wood back then.
We all need to start somewhere. Try not to compare yourself to others who have spent decades honing their skills.
Get on a path of constant improvement (however you interpret that) and enjoy the journey. And when you do look back, celebrate your achievements.
All this from a guy who’s been around the block a few times and still has lots to learn.

Spalted ash. Yakisugi finish with verdigris glaze.