“My first opportunity to use a lathe came 10 years ago when a new neighbor moved in two houses down. I went by to say “Welcome”, spotted his lathe and asked if he might teach me how to turn a bowl. My first lesson was a disaster, but I was smitten with the concept. Three months later, while I was once again spending an entire weekend in his basement, he politely suggested that it was perhaps time for me to buy my own lathe so he might be able to use his once in a while.

Now, logs in plastic bags litter the back of my driveway waiting to be turned. Learning the technique is an experience process, and experience can be defined as learning from failures, of which there have been more than a few. But when the wood is sanded smooth and the first coat of finish is applied, magic happens as the grain, spalting, and other inclusions in the piece show what Mother Nature can do with the inside of a tree. Each piece is, of course, unique. That makes the magic forever new.” -Peter C. Block