Excited About New Woods

I just returned from Albuquerque, NM, where I purchased some new exotic woods to use for my pens and kaleidoscopes. I love to touch the wood, to enjoy the scents, and visualize what new creation I can find inside each piece. I am so excited. Life is GOOD!!

I got some padauk, a species of Pterocarpus in the family Fabacaea, native to central and tropical west Africa, from Nigeria east to CongoKinshasa and south to Angola. The heartwood is deep orange red that will age to a deeper orange brown. It has a moderately coarse grain texture with a straight to interlocking grain pattern. It will make beautiful pens and kaleidoscopes...key rings too.

I also got some more Bloodwood, from a tree found in Brazil. It has a striking red color which is almost irridesant when it is turned and finished. The wood is of the species Brosimum paraense, also known as Satine and Satine Bloodwood.

I purchased some Bolivian Rosewood - very rare, I am told. I can't wait to see what that looks like when turned into a beautiful pen.

I am always looking for new ideas - I have a customer who wants a pen that has a 30.06 shell for the bottom and a deer antler for the top, so I am thinking about the routine I will have to go through for that. This is fun.

I have another client who wants his dog's name engraved on a secret compartment key ring, so he can insert the dog's cremains into it. This dog was a Vietnam War Dog, and saved many hundreds of people's lives. I am honored to do this for him.

Well, the 4th of July Western Days is coming up here in Timberon, and I will have a booth where I can turn pens as people watch - special orders will be welcome as well. Just imagine - chips flying everywhere!!! Should draw attention, for sure.

My work is now at the Cloudcroft Gallery in Cloudcroft, NM. You'll enjoy seeing all the other artist's work there too, so go check it out. The people there are very nice and happy to enjoy the day with you.

Also checkout the Cloudcroft Art Society 4th of July show at the Lodge there in Cloudcroft - July 3, 4, and 5. That should be lots of fun too.

Bye for now - I'll write again soon.