Mary Ostler

Last minute commission came up the other day. I was requested to make a Niddy Noddy. Its a tool used to wind skeins of  yarn. I have made one before, but entirely turned.  The period images that are kicking around show a turned handle (usually with cross bracing) and curved boards that the yarn winds around. Since the person [...]

JUst a quick post as I am headed out to an event.
I was requested (told really) that I make a plywood bowl for my aunt’s birthday.

This is the first plywood bowl I have made with an inner lip. I left the wall a little thick as I was worried about the laminations separating if I cut it [...]

. I have been a little busy and /or sick for the last little while. I do have stuff to post, but am waiting for some final finishing.
Sherbert the Entari is slowly chugging along. Its possible it will be done for investiture, but I am starting to doubt it.
I didn’t kill my Mulberry Tree over [...]

I have a commission to make 60 spools up for a local merchant that deals with dyed textile goods. She bought a few when I was merchanting last fall, but wanted a slew more. Since then my original source of head scratching cheap dogwood billets has disappeared. I am now using scrap Cherry and Walnut [...]

By Request: How I convert my electric lathe to a functioning pole lathe.
I am lucky enough to have a decent size shop, and even luckier (mis-fortunate) to have inherited a lot of old tools. The decent size shop seems pretty small when all the tools are taking up every corner. Hence I have no room to have [...]

Well thank goodness that is done. The seat is finished and ready to go. I still have to make a table top, but their is no rush on that as the chair is the present.

Weaving the seat with paper rush was harder than I thought ti would be. The top side looks really nice, but [...]

The finish line is in sight.  All I have left is a little bit of light sanding (where the clamps where used) a once over with more wipe-on poly urethane, and weave the seat. My mom asked if I was making any thing for her this year. I couldn’t help myself but burst into laughter.

This [...]

The Long an plodding road continues with Emily’s Highchair. I am getting tired. I will be glad when I finally get to finishing this chair. I am actually rather excited about doing the reed seat on the chair.

The arms are shape kind of like an exclamation point. I walked around the house menacing people with the club.

The [...]

A little more done on the Highchair. It would have been more, but I was so cold I realized I was starting to shake while using the lathe. Not good.

I cut a board down to squared spindles. The four spindles that will have the reed seating strung over are boring 3/4″ dowels.

The lower spindles that circle the [...]

Got a bit more done on the highchair.

The barley twist and fluting is finally finished. Its a pretty good match, although the foot profile is different from the front to back legs. Once they are not so close to each other, it will hardly be noticeable.

This was the most difficult part so far. Trying to figure [...]