Gallery of Other Useful and Attractive Household Items
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I enjoy creating a variety of products in my woodshop. Turning large bowls and "artistic" works is fun, but can get somewhat routine. So I am always on the lookout for other items to make which might be useful as well as attractive to my customers. In addition, many of my larger projects produce relatively large pieces of scrap which frankly, are too nice to toss into the burn pile (or BBQ pit in the case of Mesquite). So many of these pieces go into the smaller pieces you see below. These items do not fall into any reasonable category such as Bowls or Goblets, so they are just categorized as "other". The woods employed are generally the same as those used for the bowls and other turned forms shown elsewhere on this site, including Texas Mesquite, Pecan, Oak, Huisache, Walnut and Bodark, as well as some "foreign" Mahogany and Maple. If you like the woods I'm using in my turnings, you can buy similar woods through my companion website, Texas Woodcrafts.net. |
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Natural-edge Bodark Tea Light 07-2 This is a beautiful holder for a small tea Light or candle. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a very nice piece of Texas Bodark (that's Bois d'arc, Osage Orange, or Hedge Apple to you non-Texans). This tea light is distinctive for its strong golden colors and full-bark natural-edge rim. This bowl is oval in shape, approximately 4-1/2 inches long, 3-1/4 inches wide and 2-3/4 inches high. The rim is quite thin at less than 1/8 inch. The colors include the strong golden brown of Bodark heartwood, the lighter golden brown of sapwood, and the light to dark brown of the bark rim. The central portion smoothly curves upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess at the top is just over 1-1/2 inches wide, suitable for a tea light or votive-type candle. Completion included sanding to 1000 grit and lacquer finishing to a soft glossy surface. It comes with one unscented white tea light so you don't have to wait to try it out!
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Natural Edge Mesquite Tea Light 07-3 This is a more rustic or natural holder for a small Tea light or candle. It has been turned from a piece of "burly" Texas Honey Mesquite with portions of bark still attached. The distinctive character of this piece includes a compound curved rim, the prominently raised bark-edged body of the central light holder, and the areas of irregular bark and spalting on the outer portions of the rim. This tea light is approximately 4-1/2 inches wide and just over 2 inches high. The rim is quite thin. The central portion has been carved to smoothly and prominently recurve upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess at the top is approximately 1-5/8 inches wide, suitable for a tea light or votive-type candle. Completion included sanding to 600 grit and lacquer finishing to a soft satin surface. It comes with one unscented white tea light so you don't have to wait to try it out!
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Mesquite Hurricane Candle Holder 06-3 This is another attractive lamp or candle holder with a glass hurricane globe. The wooden base has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of Texas Honey Mesquite. The grain is strong and includes an area of "quilting" and a number of small, linear "ray flecks". The colors are the beautiful reddish brown of the heartwood with two small patches of yellow sapwood - typical of Texas Honey Mesquite. The Mesquite base is approximately 4-1/2 inches in diameter and 2-1/4 inches high. The hurricane globe extends approximately 9 inches higher, for an overall lamp height of 11-1/2 inches. This lamp comes with a 4" ivory coach candle. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Huisache Tea Light 07-6 This is a tiny little candle holder turned from Texas Huisache (that is Sweet Acacia to you non-Texans). That rosey-brown color and gently-flowing grain pattern made that small piece of scrap wood too nice to throw in my burn pile! It is 3 inches in diameter at the rim, 2 inches high with a tight "waist", and sits on a flaring 2 inch base. That rim is quite thin at approximately 1/16 inch. The pith of the original limb is marked by a small, dark brown "bulls-eye" within the grain on two sides. Two small, old "bugholes", one open and one filled, are present on on one side of the rim. The inverted recess in the center is just under 1-1/2 inches wide, suitable for a tea light (without the small aluminum cup, middle photo) or a larger votive-type candle (top photo). Completion included sanding to 1000 grit and lacquer finishing to a soft glossy surface.
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Mesquite Hurricane Candle Holder 06-4 This is another attractive lamp or candle holder with a glass hurricane globe. The wooden base has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of Texas Honey Mesquite. The colors are the beautiful reddish brown of the Mesquite heartwood with a large area of dark brown spalting. A thin, tight crack is present within the area of spalting, but was reinforced during turning and is quite secure and essentially nnoticeable. The Mesquite base is approximately 5 inches in diameter and 2-1/2 inches high. The hurricane globe extends approximately 9 inches higher, for an overall lamp height of 11-1/2 inches. It comes with a 4" ivory coach candle. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Hurricane Candle Holder 06-5 This is another attractive lamp or candle holder with a glass hurricane globe. The wooden pedestal-type base has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of Texas Honey Mesquite. The grain is strong; the colors are the beautiful reddish brown typical of Texas Honey Mesquite heartwood. The base is approximately 5 inches in diameter and 2-1/2 inches high. The hurricane globe is the large-mouth variety and extends approximately 8-1/2 inches higher, for an overall lamp height of 11 inches. This lamp is suitable for a 2 to 2-1/2"-wide pillar candle (not included). Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Ash Tea Light 06-21 This is a nice tea light from Texas Green Ash. It is the result of an experimental turning of fresh and green (un-dried) Ash. During subsequent drying of the wood, the rim has gently warped into a very interesting shape. The rim, now not-quite-round, is between 4 and 4-1/4 inches in diameter. The height is just over 2-1/2 inches, and it sits on a flaring 3 inch base. That rim is quite thin at less than 1/8 inch, and I turned a crisp bead as a "belt" around the waist. The color is a light golden brown; the grain pattern is strong and flowing. The pith of the original limb is marked by a small, dark brown "patch on two sides, and by a small "bughole" on one side. Another small dark patch on the rim, around which the Ash grain pattern flows, marks the location of an additional, secondary limb in the original tree. The recess in the center is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide, suitable for a tea light or votive-type candle. Completion included sanding to 1000 grit, sealing with Danish oil, and then buffing and waxing with a hard Carnuba wax. The final finish is a soft glossy surface. It comes with one unscented white tea light so you don't have to wait to try it out!
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Mesquite Tea Light 06-15 This is an interesting small lamp for tea lights candles. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from Texas Honey Mesquite. The walls are relatively thick (~1/4 inch) with horn-like upward-turned corners. The color in the photos is very close - the rich reddish brown of Texas Honey mesquite with touches of yellow sapwood at two corners. This lamp is a rounded square in overall shape, approximately 4-1/4 inches side-to-side, 5-3/4 inches corner-to-corner, and 2-1/4 inches high. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Tea Light 06-17 This is another delicate lamp for small tea light candles. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of Texas Honey Mesquite. This lamp is round and approximately 6 inches across and 1-1/2 inches high. The upper portion is quite thin and delicate, at less than 1/8 inch thick. The grain is a gently undulating linear pattern. The color is the rich reddish brown heartwood with a large area of brownish-yellow sapwood typical of Texas Honey Mesquite. The patchy gray areas in the sapwood are the result of partial light spalting that occurred before the piece was turned. Completion included sanding to 1000 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Tea Light 06-18 This is another delicate lamp for small tea light candles. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of Texas Honey Mesquite. This lamp is round and low at approximately 5-5/8 inches across and 1-1/4 inches high. The rim is quite thin and delicate, at less than 1/8 inch thick. The grain is a gently undulating linear pattern with several small burl buds on one side. The color is the rich reddish brown heartwood with a small area of brownish-yellow sapwood typical of Texas Honey Mesquite. Completion included sanding to 1000 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Tea Light 06-19 This is a delicate lamp for small tea light candles. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of Texas Honey Mesquite. This lamp is square in overall shape, approximately 4 inches across and 1 inch high. The upper portion is quite thin and delicate, at less than 1/8 inch thick. The grain is a gently undulating linear pattern that includes both heartwood and sapwood. The color is the rich reddish brown bright brownish-yellow typical of Texas Honey Mesquite. Completion included sanding to 1000 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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"Burly" Mesquite Tea Light 06-20 This is a delicate lamp for small tea light candles. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of Texas Honey Mesquite burl. This lamp is round and low - approximately 4-3/4 inches across and 1 inch high. The upper portion is very thin and delicate, at about 1/16 inch thick. The grain is a gently undulating linear pattern that includes both heartwood and sapwood and several areas of small burl buds and tiny areas of "included bark". The color is the rich reddish brown heartwood and bright brownish-yellow sapwood typical of Texas Honey Mesquite. Completion included sanding to 1000 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Black Cherry Tea Light 06-1 This is a very small and delicate lamp or holder for a tea Light or small candle "turned" on a lathe from a piece of Texas Black Cherry. The rim is quite thin at less than 1/16 inch thick and is gently undulating. The central portion has been turned to smoothly recurved upward to hold the candle or tea light. The rim of this interior rim included a small area of bark which resulted in a small, elongated hole in the side. The size is approximately 3 inches in diameter and 3/4 inch high. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface. The color is the beautiful reddish brown of Cherry. It is a neat little tea light.
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Natural-edge Bodark Tea Light 06-1 This is a beautiful holder for a small tea Light or candle. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a very nice piece of Texas Bodark (that's Bois d'arc, Osage Orange, or Hedge Apple to you non-Texans). This tea light is distinctive for its strong golden colors and full-bark natural-edge rim. This bowl is oval in shape, approximately 5-1/2 inches long, 4-1/2 inches wide and 2-1/4 inches high. The rim is quite thin at less than 1/8 inch. The colors include the strong golden brown of Bodark heartwood, the lighter golden brown of sapwood, and the light to dark brown of the bark rim. The central portion smoothly curves upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess at the top is just over 1-1/2 inches wide, suitable for a tea light or votive-type candle. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface. It comes with one unscented white tea light so you don't have to wait to try it out!
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Mesquite Tea Light 07-4 This is a very nice small lamp for tea light candles. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from Texas Honey Mesquite. The color is the rich reddish brown of Texas Honey mesquite; the grain pattern is strong with a faint pattern of ray flecks that are most apparent on the bottom. It is approximately 3 inches in diameter and 2 inches high. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-5/8 inches wide. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Green Ash Tea Light 06-2 This is a more rustic or natural holder for a small Tea light or candle. It has been turned from a piece of Texas Green Ash with portions of bark still attached. The distinctive character of this piece includes the roughly-rectangular, winged form, the prominently raised body of the central light holder, and the areas of irregular bark and spalting on the outer portions of the "wings". This tea light is approximately 5 by 6 inches wide and just under 2 inches high. The rim is quite thin at approximately 1/8 inch thick. The central portion has been carved to smoothly and prominently recurve upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess at the top is just over 1-1/2 inches wide, suitable for a tea light or votive-type candle. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface. It comes with one unscented white tea light so you don't have to wait to try it out!
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Mesquite Tea Light 8-8 This is a small and delicate lamp or holder for a Tea Light or small candle. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of "burly" Texas Honey Mesquite. This lamp is round, approximately 4-1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch high. The upper rim is thin at less than 1/8 inch thick. The Mesquite grain forms an attractive pattern around an area of burl buds on one rim. Additional burl buds are visible on the base. The colors are the beautiful reddish brown of the heartwood and yellow of sapwood - typical of Texas Honey Mesquite. The central portion has been carved to smoothly recurved upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Tea Light 8-9 This is a very small and delicate lamp or holder for a Tea Light or small candle. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of "burly" Texas Honey Mesquite, with a nice area of quilting but no distinctive burl buds. The size is approximately 3-1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch high. The rim is relatively thin at less than 1/8 inch thick. The colors are the beautiful reddish brown of the heartwood and yellow of the adjacent sapwood - typical of Texas Honey Mesquite. The rim is slightly warped due to uneven drying of a "barky" portion of sapwood on the rim. It is a neat little tea light. The central portion has been carved to smoothly recurved upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Tea Light 07-5 This is a small Texas Honey Mesquite holder for tea light or votive candles. The color is a combination of the rich reddish brown of Texas Honey mesquite with a large area of dark brown spalted heartwood. It is approximately 3 inches in diameter and 1-3/4 inches high. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle is approximately 1-5/8 inches wide. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Tea Light 08-10 This is a very nice pedestal-type Tea light or candle holder turned from Texas Honey Mesquite. The distinctive character of this piece is the long concave-curved shape of the pedestal base - I think that it is very attractive. This light is approximately 5 inches in diameter and 3-1/4 inches high. The rim is quite thin and trimmed with a beaded edge. The Mesquite of the rim exhibits numerous short, radiating "ray flecks" at high angle to the overall grain pattern. Again, the central portion has been carved to smoothly and prominently recurve upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess at the top is just over 1-1/2 inches wide, suitable for a tealight or votive-type candle. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface. It comes with one unscented white tea light so you don't have to wait to try it out!
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Mesquite Tea Light 8-11 This is a larger, bowl-like Tea Light holder turned from "burly" Texas Honey Mesquite. The colors are the beautiful reddish brown typical of Texas Honey Mesquite heartwood and a spalted yellow of the adjacent sapwood. There are small burl buds in the rim area adjacent to the sapwood. The size is approximately 6 inches in diameter and 1-1/2 inch high. The rim is turned sharply upward and is relatively thin at less than 1/8 inch thick. The central portion has been carved to smoothly recurve upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Tea Light 8-12 This is a small flower-like Tea Light holder turned from "burly" Texas Honey Mesquite. The outer portion of the rim rolls out and downward; the central portion is recessed in a flower-like fashion. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide. The colors are the beautiful reddish brown typical of Texas Honey Mesquite heartwood. The size is approximately 5 inches in diameter and 2 inch high. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Rustic Mesquite Tea Light 08-13 This is a more rustic or natural holder for a small Tea light or candle. It is a roughly rectangular form that has been turned from a piece of Texas Honey Mesquite. Relict radial cracks are present in one edge and a barky gap is present in the outer portion of another edge. This tea light is approximately 4-1/2 by 5 inches wide and just over 2 inches high. The rim is quite thin at approximately 1/8 inch thick. The central, candle- or tea light-holding portion has been recessed. This recess is just over 1-1/2 inches wide, suitable for a standard tea light or votive-type candle. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface. It comes with one unscented white tea light so you don't have to wait to try it out!
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Mesquite Tea Light 8-14 This is a small bowl-like Tea Light holder turned from highly "burly" and "quilted" Texas Honey Mesquite. There are two curved areas of "included bark", one of which exhibits a prominent gap. The colors are primarily the beautiful reddish brown typical of Texas Honey Mesquite heartwood, but small patches of bright yellow sapwood lie adjacent to the included bark. A large area of small burl buds is present between the barky areas on the outside of the bowl. The best example of "quilting" is present on the base. The tea light is approximately 4-1/2 inches in diameter and 2-1/2 inch high. The relatively thin rim forms a deep bowl around the central tea light recess. The barky gap forms an interesting window into the candle-lit interior of the bowl (see the top photo). Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Natural-edge White Ash Tea Light 06-1 This is a beautiful holder for a small Tea Light or candle. It has been hand "turned" on a lathe from a piece of nice piece of Texas White Ash. The distinctive character of this piece is primarily the full-bark natural edge, on both the rim and the lip of the tea light/candle holder - I like this one very much. The overall size is approximately 6-1/2 inches long, 4-1/2 inches wide and 3-1/2 inches high. The rim is quite thin at less than 1/8 inch. The color is the beige to light brown of the ash heartwood in striking contrast to the light to dark brown of the outer bark. The central portion has been carved to smoothly and prominently recurve upward to hold the candle or tea light. The recess at the top is just over 1-1/2 inches wide, suitable for a tea light or votive-type candle. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface. It comes with one unscented white tea light so you don't have to wait to try it out!
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Redbud Tea Light 6-1 This is a very small round Tea Light or small candle holder turned from a piece of Texas Eastern Redbud. The size is approximately 4-1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch high. The rim is relatively thin; the colors are soft shades of brown. It is a neat little tea light. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Tea Light 07-1 This is a large, three-sided flower-like Tea Light holder turned from Texas Honey Mesquite. The outer portion of the three rims roll out and down like the petals of a flower; the central holder portion is prominent, similar to a flower's pistil. The overall size is approximately 6 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches tall. The recess for the tea light (included) or small candle (such as a votive candle) is approximately 1-1/2 inches wide. The color is the beautiful reddish brown typical of Texas Honey Mesquite heartwood. Two old cracks are present in one of the "petals". These are typical growth features of Mesquite and were present when the wood was harvested and turned - they are now stable. Completion included sanding to 600 grit, finishing with hand-rubbed Danish oil, followed by buffing and waxing with Carnauba wax to a soft satin surface.
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Mesquite Spatulas These are very attractive and useful kitchen spatulas, turned and hand shaped from Texas Honey mesquite. They are typically 12 to 14 inches in length and 1-3/4 to 2 inches wide, with a blade thickness of 1/16 inch thick at the tip. The grain forms a very nice flowing pattern in the beautiful reddish brown typical of Honey Mesquite. My wife really likes hers; it gets regular use in our kitchen and is displayed prominently when not in use. Completion includes sanding to 400 grit, buffing and finishing with a hand-rubbed mineral oil/beeswax mixture.
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Small Mesquite Scoops These are very attractive and useful kitchen scoops, suitable for tea, flour or sugar. They are carefully handcarved and turned from Texas Honey mesquite. The Mesquite grain forms a very nice flowing pattern in the beautiful reddish brown typical of Honey Mesquite heartwood, with an occasional touch of bright yellow sapwood. These scoops would look very striking if you store your sugar or flour in clear glass jugs as my wife does. The scoops are crafted in three basic sizes: -The larger ones are typically 5 to 6 inches long, 3 inches wide and with a capacity of approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup. -The medium size is typically 4 to 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, and with a capacity of approximately 1/4 cup. -The smaller scoops are generally 3 inches long and 1-1/2 to 2 inches wide, with a capacity of somewhere around 1/8 cup. Completion includes sanding to 400 grit, buffing and finishing with a hand-rubbed mineral oil/beeswax mixture. Mesquite Scoops are priced as follows:
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Please look again in the near future - I expect to have additional items listed over the next few weeks.