Blog

Log from a 200 year old cherry tree removed from a building site.
Still Beautiful After Two Hundred Years
I would never cut a 200 year old tree down to make bowls, period. Read more...
Spring Is Here!
Spring Is Here!
Spring is my favorite season.  The temperature is rising and everything is starting to bloom.  My walks from the house to the shop recently have included some picture taking.  Can... Read more...
New Store, Not Quite Yet
New Store, Not Quite Yet
It's been almost a month since I started the project to change my website host from Squarespace to Shopify. Read more...
A Scary But Exciting Day Ahead
A Scary But Exciting Day Ahead
Today I’m joining the legions of ecommerce websites on Shopify. I have been on Squarespace for about 8 years. Squarespace is OK but has absolutely no support and a lousy... Read more...
Thankful
Thankful
I have lots to be thankful for. I have a loving wife, four children and their wonderful spouses, eight grandchildren and one great granddaughter. That’s plenty enough right there but... Read more...
Ten Very Good Reasons To Buy From Me This Holiday Season
Ten Very Good Reasons To Buy From Me This Holiday Season
Because I make very beautiful stuff (bowls, hollow forms, cutting boards, puzzles) Read more...
Like a Ton of Bricks
Like a Ton of Bricks
This morning I read an article about why women live longer than men. I didn’t get very far into the article when I read this passage “Women can still expect... Read more...
The Nuts and Bolts Of It
The Nuts and Bolts Of It
Selling products online requires a lot of behind the scenes hard work, especially if you sell on your own website like I do. I sell on three platforms because they... Read more...
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
I’ve never done a very good job of protecting myself from the hazards of woodworking or woodturning but a series of things has driven me to take it more seriously. Read more...
A Mighty White Oak
A Mighty White Oak
Many years ago in the 1980’s a big storm felled a very big white oak tree in a neighbors yard. I was allowed to get 3 logs that were 9... Read more...
Pommele Sapele - Again
Pommele Sapele - Again
I don’t usually write two blog posts on the same subject but I’m making an exception today. I just finished a pommele sapele wooden bowl that has extraordinary figure. Those... Read more...
Lemony Snicket - A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket - A Series of Unfortunate Events
It all started with an email from Microsoft saying they would no longer support my Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet computer. That means the door is wide open for the... Read more...
Another New E-commerce Platform for Handmade - Handmade.com
Another New E-commerce Platform for Handmade - Handmade.com
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1400"] One of the artisans on handmade.com [/caption] As of 12/31/25 I have closed my Handmade.com shop for a myriad of reasons. I was the fourth artisan... Read more...
The Other Things She Does
The Other Things She Does
Besides being a great shop partner, my wife Pennie is also a very talented “plant lady”. She has worked at our local Lowes store in the garden department full time... Read more...
The Way She Does the Things She Does
The Way She Does the Things She Does
My wife Pennie takes my green bowls out of the soup (denatured alcohol), paints them with Anchorseal and wraps them in brown paper. I’m not sure she enjoys it but... Read more...
Scarface
Scarface
This beautiful curly black walnut fruit and salad bowl has a repaired stress crack. The crack occurred while the bowl was drying. Read more...
So Much To Be Done!
So Much To Be Done!
Logs destined to become bowls. Read more...
The Best Laid Plans
The Best Laid Plans
Some of you know how much I despise the back-end work of operating a website/ecommerce site. Taking the pictures, making the videos, doing the SEO. I realize that it’s not... Read more...
I’m Teaching Again!
I’m Teaching Again!
I have Jennifer Garner to thank for my new woodturning student. Read more...
A Very Pleasant Surprise
A Very Pleasant Surprise
I get most of my wood locally from trees blown down in storms and those removed by arborists. Some friends bring me wood and a local tree service brings me... Read more...
Testing, 1, 2, 3
Testing, 1, 2, 3
As you may remember from a previous post, I’m listing some of my items on a new platform called Goimagine. The platform gives 100% of their profits to children’s charities... Read more...
Another New Platform
Another New Platform
Another new sales platform! Read more...
Thank You Kara Buntin
Thank You Kara Buntin
It’s a little early to be celebrating but I can’t help it. I’ve got happy feet. I’m not quite ready to shout from the rooftops but I’m a happy camper... Read more...
ETSY - You Try My Patience!
ETSY - You Try My Patience!
I have had a shop on ETSY since 2010. https://www.etsy.com/shop/sanderswoodworking It has been a love hate relationship. They constantly tweak their algorithm and I have to make changes to my... Read more...
The Fruits of My Labor
The Fruits of My Labor
One of my favorites to turn is wild cherry. The wood is close grained, dense and really smalls nice when you are turning it. It’s not the only fruitwood I... Read more...
Small Bowls and Jewelry Dishes - Why?
Small Bowls and Jewelry Dishes - Why?
One reason is that not everybody can afford to buy a $200 or $300 bowl right now. Inflation is eating up a whopping percentage of our paychecks. This Christmas, the... Read more...
It's Coming On Christmas!
It's Coming On Christmas!
In 1971 Joni Mitchell published the album Blue including the song River. It is one of my favorite songs of all time. The first line is “It’s coming on Christmas”.... Read more...
50th Anniversary
50th Anniversary
50 years, not marriage (though we are close at 46 in June), 50 years of making puzzles. I’m not sure exactly which year I started making them but know it... Read more...
Shopping.....at long last!
Shopping is where I tell my wife I’m going when I leave the house in the morning and walk to the shop. Oscar, my four year old great dane accompanies me. My shoulders are finally well enough to start working in the shop again. Hallelujah! It’s been eight long months since my rotator cuff and biceps tendon surgery. I started making things in the shop again in late January. On January 30th, I had a heart attack. Really. Two stents on Monday, 2/1 and home on Wednesday 2/3. Back working... Read more...
Surgically Repaired
Surgically Repaired
I have had terrible problems with my shoulders for the last several years. Read more...
Sold But Not Forgotten Too!
When we built this website we decided to have a place to exhibit previously sold items. Read more...
Surprise!
Pennie and I decided to take an inventory of finished bowls left in stock. I downloaded a CSV. file of the listings, imported it into Excel then arranged it in order numerically and printed it. Read more...
Getting It From Here to There, It's a Crap Shoot!
Getting It From Here to There, It's a Crap Shoot!
Many of you know from recent personal experience that quite a few packages are taking vacations in warehouses while on route to their final destinations Read more...
Say Cheese! (and save 20%)
Say Cheese! (and save 20%)
Now through December 2, 2020, save 20% on all cheese and charcuterie boards. Read more...
Let's Start at the Beginning
Let's Start at the Beginning
The other day I posted a picture of the remodel I’m doing to my lathe room. Today I will show the whole system from start to finish. Read more...
A Little Remodel
A Little Remodel
I rotated my 3520c lathe 90 degrees and built a temporary enclosure around it with 4x8x2 foam board. Read more...
Slowly But Surely
Slowly But Surely
After a very long spring and summer with very little time in the shop, I was able to work a full day there today. Read more...
I Can See Clearly Now - Well Almost
I Can See Clearly Now - Well Almost
The good news is that my retina surgery seems to have been a success! Read more...
Old One Eye
Old One Eye
Though it’s too early to know for sure, the cataract surgery on my right eye this morning seems to have been a success. It was done a couple of hours... Read more...
What You See
What You See
I have tried very hard to limit my exposure to people outside of my immediate family, It just makes sense. Read more...
Who Are You and What Do You Want?
Who Are You and What Do You Want?
Writing a blog about my woodworking is both inspiring and intimidating. While there is no deadline being imposed on me, I do feel some pressure to come up with something... Read more...
Heavier Than I Thought
Heavier Than I Thought
I’m over-run with lumber. I have been sawing lumber on and off for two years. Read more...
When Life Gives You Lemons!
When Life Gives You Lemons!
I went to see a new orthopedic surgeon yesterday for a second opinion on my shoulder issues. His recommendation for a lasting solution is surgery on both shoulders about 6... Read more...
Delayed Gratification - At Least I Hope It’s Only Delayed!
Delayed Gratification - At Least I Hope It’s Only Delayed!
We have all paid a price for the pandemic, some have even paid the ultimate price. I am lucky so far. Read more...
Ahhhh!
Ahhhh!
The picture you see is not of two drill presses nor of metal ductwork, it is a picture of the wall unit of my new mini-split heating and air conditioning... Read more...
The Beast!
The Beast!
One of the advantages of being old is you can tell on yourself and nobody will make fun of you. This is the story of the beast and it’s a... Read more...
Cutting Boards
Cutting Boards
I’m sure your mother, or some other wise person, told you to never say never. I’ve sure heard it many times in my lifetime. Last year I said I would... Read more...
Nostalgia - Puzzled!
Nostalgia - Puzzled!
I was making puzzles yesterday and waxing nostalgic. I have been making them for almost 50 years. I learned to make them from Robert S Brunk. I helped Bob and... Read more...
What's in a name?
What's in a name?
When I first opened my website there were only dot.com’s. Someone had already taken sanderswoodworking.com. I was very disappointed. The person that had that domain name had a website with... Read more...
It's Been Awhile
It's Been Awhile
I haven’t written a blog post since December. Lot’s has happened since December but let’s focus on what’s happening now. I’ve decided that my life’s calling isn’t teaching woodturning, it’s... Read more...
Three
Three
Some days everything just goes really well. Today was one of those days in the shop. I started off this morning on housekeeping duty. Read more...
Oscar and I Went To Hickory Today For Some Mustard
Oscar and I Went To Hickory Today For Some Mustard
Oscar and I took a trip to Hickory to the Klingspor Woodworking Shop. We did not browse, we did not lollygag, we got right down to business. Read more...
Three More Weeks
Three More Weeks
About a third of my business comes in in November and December. Christmas shoppers buy a lot of wooden bowls. Read more...
Sale! Now Through Monday Dec. 2 at Midnight
Get 15% off automatically at check-out on any purchase 11/30 to 12/2. Get free domestic shipping on orders of $200 or more! Read more...
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving
It’s been a busy year. We’ve been blessed with reasonably good health aside from Pennie’s broken arm and my torn rotator cuff. At our age, that’s reasonably good health. Stephen’s... Read more...
Oscar the Cone Head
Oscar the Cone Head
I took Oscar to the vet yesterday to be neutered. His vet had recommended that we wait until he was two years old to be neutered because he is a... Read more...
Pumping Iron, Well Not Exactly.
Pumping Iron, Well Not Exactly.
My son Stephen is building a house here on the farm. He and his wife are doing pretty much all of the work themselves. Read more...
Back In Business
Back In Business
My sync cable came yesterday so I was able to photograph the bowls that were waiting to be put up on the website Read more...
They're Backing Up!
They're Backing Up!
When you sell almost exclusively on the internet, pictures of your product are vitally important. Read more...
Makore - Tieghemella heckelii
Makore - Tieghemella heckelii
Continuing the theme of wide plank platters, today’s entry is makore. I’ve had this plank for at least 7 or 8 years. I have made four platters from this plank... Read more...
The Very Last One!
The Very Last One!
When I get a beautiful plank I try to ration it. I make one bowl then return the plank to the wood room. Eventually I use up the plank. Read more...
Boxelder - Box Elder - Acer negundo
Boxelder - Box Elder - Acer negundo
Both variations of the name are correct. I use boxelder. The botanical name is Acer negundo. Boxelder is in the maple family. Read more...
International Shipping
International Shipping
I’ve just discovered that I can’t accept international orders on this website. I’m very disappointed, to say the least. Read more...
What Does a Woodturner Do?
What Does a Woodturner Do?
In this case I’m talking about turning planks into platters. Wide planks can be a great source of one day projects. Because the wood is already dry it can be... Read more...
Huge Hickory Becomes Beautiful Salad Bowls
Huge Hickory Becomes Beautiful Salad Bowls
Last year a huge hickory tree behind our cottage died suddenly. It was over 36” wide at the base and very, very tall. Read more...
Very Old Forklift Finds a New Home
Very Old Forklift Finds a New Home
After several months of waiting (almost a year) my 1960’s Hyster QC20 three wheel forklift is in my shop. It was a bit of an ordeal. Read more...
Natural Edge Bowls
Natural Edge Bowls
Natural edge bowls can be very beautiful. There is a wonderful contrast between the smooth bowl and the rough bark. Read more...
Khaya - African Mahogany
Khaya - African Mahogany
Though I very rarely work with exotic lumber I have collected an assortment of planks over the years that are rich in color, figure or both. Read more...
Up or Down
Up or Down
When turning a bowl from a plainsawn plank, you have a choice, rings up or rings down. Read more...
Playing Hookie
Playing Hookie
All of my life, I have defined my success by my accomplishments. How much can I do in a single day, how high can I climb the ladder of success. Read more...
Patience Is A Virtue
Patience Is A Virtue
The older I get, the more patient I am. Patience has never been one of my natural virtues. For me, it is an acquired virtue, one that has developed over... Read more...
Inspiration Ebbs and Flows
Inspiration Ebbs and Flows
Inspiration ebbs and flows, at least for me. In the shop it’s easier, I have so many dry green bowls waiting to be finish turned. Read more...
It's the Little Things
It's the Little Things
We got an order yesterday from the parents of a couple who are celebrating their anniversary. It came with a request for a gift card so we assumed it should... Read more...
My Favorite Partner
My Favorite Partner
My favorite shop partner, my wife Pennie, is on vacation this week. Read more...
I Save Everything
I Save Everything
Thirty five years ago a big storm came through with lots of rain and very high winds. Read more...
When the Body is not Willing
When the Body is not Willing
As difficult as it is to admit, I can’t go hard at it every single day anymore. Read more...
The Best Laid Plans
The Best Laid Plans
Okay, half day green turning didn’t happen today. I attacked the pallet of mulberry burl instead. Read more...
Decisions, Decisions
Decisions, Decisions
I’ve got a pile of logs that is calling out to me. The logs need to be cut into sections and turned into bowl blanks. Read more...
To My Lovely Wife
To My Lovely Wife
Pennie and I have been married for 43 years. Yesterday was her birthday. In celebration of that momentous event I made a bowl, of course. Read more...
Home Again
Home Again
I had a great visit with my former workmates and enjoyed our tour of the Biltmore House. Read more...
Heading to the Biltmore House
Heading to the Biltmore House
In the late 60's and early 70’s I lived in Asheville and the surrounding area including Barnardsville and Big Sandy Mush. It was an interesting time. Read more...
No Rest for the Weary
No Rest for the Weary
I was able to finish two bowls today and have two more nearly finished. One of the bowls was a second slice off the ambrosia maple burl I found on... Read more...
Busy With Baseball
Busy With Baseball
I have been working. I announced my intention to put up at least two bowls every day until the end of the year. I have made at least two bowls... Read more...
Stocking the Store
Stocking the Store
This time of year I’m possessed! I’m finish turning like a wild man. My shoulders know what time of year it is. Read more...
What A Dish!
What A Dish!
I’ve collected a lot of small blocks and narrow planks over the years. They are to thin to make bowls but not to make dishes, jewelry dishes that is. Read more...
Finally, A Response!
Finally, A Response!
I finally heard from an administrator at my domain host. It’s pretty good news. “First of all, I'd like to clarify that visits to your site, no matter how frequent... Read more...
The Saga Continues
The Saga Continues
So I’ve written about my visitors from the east in previous blog posts but things took a decidedly different turn today. Last night I had 168 visitors with unique IP... Read more...
OK, What's Up?
OK, What's Up?
Half of the people who visit my shop do so as a result of a Google search or from a Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest link. I get some from Yahoo,... Read more...
They Are Not All Spectacular (But They Are All Beautiful)!
They Are Not All Spectacular (But They Are All Beautiful)!
The bowls I’ve made the past couple of weeks have a high wow factor. They have showy grain and or stunning color. They came from planks that I’ve saved for... Read more...
Teaching-It Ain't Easy
Teaching-It Ain't Easy
I’ve taught a few classes in woodturning over the last few years with mixed results. I don’t do it for the money (I don’t charge nearly enough)! I teach to... Read more...
Claro Walnut - Just Wow!
Claro Walnut - Just Wow!
Claro walnut is one of my favorite woods to turn. It grows in Northern California, Oregon and Washington. It is commercially important for lumber but also as rootstock in English... Read more...
Pillow Quilted Maple
Pillow Quilted Maple
I’m a big fan of figured maple. In general, maple turns very well. The grain is tight and takes a good finish. There is a great range in the types... Read more...
Ribbon Candy
Ribbon Candy
Ribbon sapele is easy to spot. The figure is like ribbon candy. The ribbon figure occurs when sapele is quartersawn so that the growth rings are perpendicular to the face. Read more...
An Old Flame
An Old Flame
A friend of mine has a molding shop and he runs thousands of board feet of lumber every year. When he finds an exceptional plank he sets it aside for... Read more...
Pommel or Pommele Sapele
Pommel or Pommele Sapele
I do not usually turn exotic woods but this board was an exception.  A friend was having difficulty selling his wood collection and needed to sell it to move.  I... Read more...
Veneer Cores
Veneer Cores
Veneer logs are usually very high quality, highly figured sections of tree with very few defects. The logs are mounted on a rotating machine similar to a lathe. Read more...
How I Reduce Cracking - There Are Things You Can Do!
How I Reduce Cracking - There Are Things You Can Do!
Try to turn the logs as soon as you can after they are cut. If you are not able to turn them immediately, seal the ends with Anchorseal. There are... Read more...
Chatoyancy: Yes, It Really is a Word
Chatoyancy: Yes, It Really is a Word
Chatoyant derives from the French verb chatoyer that literally means "to shine like a cat's eyes.  In wood, the word chatoyant is used to describe the way light refracts on abrupt... Read more...
Before and After
Before and After
I’ve written before about the joy of discovering a beautiful bowl when you finish turn a dry green bowl. The first picture below is one of the bowls I turned... Read more...
I Got Fired Today
I Got Fired Today
I didn’t lose my job, i lost my web guru. She fired me as a client. It wasn’t about money, we didn’t have an argument, there were no creative differences. Read more...
Thinking Outside the Box - Literally
Thinking Outside the Box - Literally
I have made two variations of wooden puzzles for over forty years. We have the large one in our living room. When our grandkids visit, at some point during their... Read more...
The Grand Finale
The Grand Finale
OK, we left off yesterday with you hovering over the add to cart button. Press it now. medium force, don’t damage anything. In the top right hand corner you’ll see... Read more...
Purchase Training
Purchase Training
I realized today that I hadn’t offered any training on how to buy a bowl or puzzle on this website. It’s very clear from the anemic sales that you need... Read more...
Puzzled
Puzzled
I’ve got to switch it up. No bowls today. It’s puzzle day. I have an order for 4 puzzles and I have none in inventory. I make two sizes of... Read more...
Lighting a Fire Under It - Attracting Potential Customers to your Website
Lighting a Fire Under It - Attracting Potential Customers to your Website
Understand that I’m less than halfway through the beginners course here but I do have a couple of other hints to pass on. Instagram! Instagram works if you use the... Read more...
Nude Selfie
Nude Selfie
Many of you know that Oscar goes with me everywhere. He waits expectantly every morning, eager to walk down to the shop. What you don’t know is that he surfs... Read more...
Building a Following on a New Website
Building a Following on a New Website
As some of you know, I changed my website a couple of weeks ago. I was Sanders Fine Woodworking for 10 years. I needed to change my web host and... Read more...
The Process
The Process
The last few days I’ve posted pictures of bowls I’m making from some beech logs (and the shavings that process produces). The entire process from log to finished bowl takes... Read more...
Another Day in Paradise
Another Day in Paradise
From 1981 to 2017 I traveled almost every week around the world as a Field Sales Engineer. My favorite part of every week was coming home. Home to rural North... Read more...
Website Visitors - The Worldwide Web
Website Visitors - The Worldwide Web
Over the last week I’ve had website visitors from 19 states and 8 foreign countries. Wow. That’s in one week. A number of you have come back multiple times. Thank... Read more...
Exciting News!
Exciting News!
Matt Vanhoy and Sarah Sanders went to the NC Zoo today. Sarah loves to watch the otters. While they were there watching the otters, Matt proposed. My last unmarried child... Read more...
Making Bowl Blanks on the Sawmill
Making Bowl Blanks on the Sawmill
I used a different method to make bowl blanks out of the beech logs today. I used the sawmill. I cut a flat on the top of the log then... Read more...
OK, It's Only One but...
OK, It's Only One but...
I got tired yesterday, really tired. I unloaded the logs off of the trailer and sawed the first one into sections. The sections were too heavy to lift by hand.... Read more...
Happy Birthday Stephen
Happy Birthday Stephen
One of the smartest things I’ve done in my life was marry Pennie Mathewson in 1976. We decided to wait a bit before having children but we talked about it... Read more...
The Logs, The Logs
The Logs, The Logs
Although It was an extremely hot and humid day to do it, Travis and I cut the log into 4 sections 5 feet long. He had the use of a... Read more...
It's Logging Day
It's Logging Day
We call Travis our adopted son. He lived with us during his senior year in high school. He texted yesterday that he was dropping some trees in his back yard.... Read more...
How Many Will It Take?
How Many Will It Take?
All I can think about this morning is an article I read on August 3rd that said that through the 215th day of this year there have been over 250... Read more...
Spalting, It's Beautiful!
Spalting, It's Beautiful!
Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees under stress. The unique coloration and patterns... Read more...
What Is Your Favorite Wood?
What Is Your Favorite Wood?
I am often asked “What is your favorite wood?” My answer is simple. Beautiful wood. Beauty can be many things, it can be color, figure, contrast. My job is to... Read more...
My First Order on this New Website!
My First Order on this New Website!
My older sister Vicki called to chat, ask if she could visit early next month and oh, by the way, buy the Cherry Burl bowl I had just put up... Read more...
I'm a Tried and True Worrier
I'm a Tried and True Worrier
I’m a worrier. Worry does not drive me crazy, it nags at me. Whatever is worrying me is always in the back of my mind. I’m turning it over, looking... Read more...
E-Commerce - It's a Coordinated Effort
E-Commerce - It's a Coordinated Effort
When you're depending primarily on e-commerce as your sales venue it takes a coordinated approach. There are tens of thousands of people selling wooden bowls on the internet from all... Read more...
A Man and his Dog
A Man and his Dog
I get up every morning, seven days a week, and walk to my shop to work. My dog Oscar waits impatiently Read more...
Toot toot!
Toot toot!
When we bought our farm in 1979 we asked about the old railroad tracks that bisected the property. Our friend Kathryn, who sold us the property, told us that no... Read more...
Which One Today
Which One Today
I have thousands of pieces of wood, bowl blanks, dry “green” bowls and log sections in my shop. When I start each day I get to decide “Which one today”.... Read more...
I AM NOT OLD - I'M IN MY SENIOR PRIME
I AM NOT OLD - I'M IN MY SENIOR PRIME
I am retired after working 54 years for someone else. I’ve worked seven days a week since 2008, five days for my company and two days for me in my... Read more...
Big Leaf Maple Burl - Beautiful!
Big Leaf Maple Burl - Beautiful!
I love big leaf maple burl. It always has birdseye figure and I really like the spikey natural edge. This bowl is still on the late but I hope to... Read more...
I feel like Tim The Tool Man Taylor!
I feel like Tim The Tool Man Taylor!
I love industrial tools, heavy ones. This is my new compressor with a temporary hook up. I will pipe in an oil/water separator, filter, regulator and dryer. I use a... Read more...
We're going live!
After ten years, it is past time to give this website a make-over and a new website host. The intended result is faster page loads, better mobile access and more ways to pay with a secure, encrypted payment processor. You can still check-out with PayPal and Venmo but now you can pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and ApplePay. Read more...
I Love to Learn But.....
I Love to Learn But.....
Creating this new website has been a huge challenge for me. There has been so much to learn. I would much rather be making bowls on the lathe. Oscar my... Read more...
It’s The Little Things
It’s The Little Things
Sanders Woodworking is a family business.  Both of my sons, Nathan and Stephen, help in the shop on occasion, my daughter Sarah helps update the website and and my daughter... Read more...
What To Do When This Happens
What To Do When This Happens
I source almost all of my wood locally.  More and more friends and neighbors are on the lookout for downed trees and burls.  Some are given to me, some I... Read more...
Mimosa
Mimosa
Several people told me mimosa made pretty bowls. My neighbor cut down several mimosa’s to make way for a building project. Here is one bowl I turned from the stump. Read more...
What Am I Waiting For?
What Am I Waiting For?
Above is a picture of two pallets of mulberry burls (plus a few cherry burls) that my son Stephen gave me for my birthday three years ago.  I have tried... Read more...
Something a Little Different – A Work In Progress
Something a Little Different – A Work In Progress
This is a walnut platter that I am finishing. I have added a ridge on the flat rim. I’m not sure I like the look but I love the feel... Read more...
Some Bowls Are Just Striking
Some Bowls Are Just Striking
I love this bowl. I loved it as soon as I started turning it.  I like the green, I love the purple, the shape is just right and the contrasting... Read more...
Labor Day Sale – Free Domestic Shipping On Orders of $100 or More on my ETSY site.
Ok, you saw my blog on free shipping, here is the trial balloon.  I need to see if it has legs. Order $100 or more on the same order and use LABORDAY in the coupon code at check-out to receive free domestic shipping. Read more...
She’s Almost Always Right
I got an inquiry about a very expensive bowl in May from a repeat customer. He wanted to buy the bowl as a gift for the landlord of his upscale business. I have sold him a number of expensive bowls and cutting boards in the past, even hand delivering several of them. Read more...
Going For It
This December I will leave behind 36 years of working in the industrial air pollution control industry, including the last 24 years with W.L. Gore & Assoc., Inc.  I will shift to full-time bowl turner.  I have been turning bowls professionally since 2008 and selling them primarily on the internet through my own website, ETSY and Amazon Handmade so I have a pretty good head start on making a living as a woodturner. Read more...
Free Shipping
According to the new CEO of ETSY, the number two reason people don’t buy an item on the internet is the cost of shipping.  He also said everybody knows that there is no such thing as free shipping.  He wants ETSY sellers to offer free shipping.  He did not offer us anything in return, like negotiated rates for sellers that offer free shipping or discounted fees. The cynic in me first focuses on the benefit to ETSY; more sales, more traffic, increased revenue with no out of pocket expense. Read more...
Dallas – The Heat Is Off
Dallas – The Heat Is Off
I am visiting Frisco, TX, near Dallas, TX, and the record heat (40 days over 100 degrees) ended today.  It was just 96 today.  It will go back to 103... Read more...
We’re here! Where’s the sun?
We’re here! Where’s the sun?
First Florida stop is Longboat Key near Sarasota.  We stopped to visit with my webmaster.  He built and maintains Sanders Fine Woodworking.  There isn’t a nicer, smarter man on the... Read more...
Vacation
Vacation
My definition of a vacation is working long hours in the shop making beautiful things out of wood.  My wife’s idea of a vacation is walking on the beach looking... Read more...
For whom the bell tolls
For whom the bell tolls
I keep making bell shaped bowls. Some wood just lends itself to that shape or I am fixated on bells, I don’t know which. Read more...
LOST AND FOUND
LOST AND FOUND
When I started my ETSY site, www.sanderswoodworking.etsy.com, I only listed a few pieces. Sales came pretty quickly so I added every new piece as I made them. I forgot to... Read more...
The Core Issue
The Core Issue
I got another batch of veneer cores and I’m trying to decide what to make out of them. First I had to look at them for a few weeks. Yesterday... Read more...
Back To School
Back To School
Last week I attended a course at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.  The course was on turning footed bowls, platters and vessels.  The process involves turning the inside... Read more...
Go Figure
Go Figure
I found a shop on ETSY today that is selling sanded pieces of wood with an oil finish.  They cut a natural edged board with a chop saw, sand it.... Read more...
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving
In honor of the holiday, I made platters today. The first was really more like a plate. It’s mineral stained poplar and has the blackest black I’ve seen in poplar.... Read more...
Not my day
Got up early this morning, put three bowls up on my website and made it to the shop by 7:00 AM. Turned through the wall on a pretty hollow form, that’s one. Put another piece of beautiful maple on the lathe and turned another beautiful hollow form. Read more...
A short weekend
A short weekend
Saturday morning I was putting bowls up on my websites when I got a call from one of my day job customers. They were having trouble and asked for my... Read more...
Tip of the day – Top ten reasons to buy a bowl
1. Wedding present2. Birthday present3. Housewarming present4. Anniversary present5. Mothers Day present Read more...
Funny what turns up
Funny what turns up
I turned this bowl for about an hour before I noticed the heart. Most of that time it was spinning at 1000-1500 rpm but in the course of making a... Read more...
Sanderswoodworking on Etsy
Building a small business is lots of hard work and even more luck. How do you get your name and product in front of perspective customers? Read more...
Sometimes you bowl, sometimes you don’t
Sometimes you bowl, sometimes you don’t
I had visions of 5 straight days in the shop “bowling”  I have been eagerly awaiting this long weekend ( 2 days of vacation + Labor day = 5 days... Read more...
Four new bowls and a hollow form
Four new bowls and a hollow form
It was a productive weekend and the result is several new pieces that really rock. Two just stand out. They are pictured below and have been posted to the website. Read more...
TGIF
TGIF
Shop time this weekend. I hope to post new bowls Sunday. Read more...
A great new bowl – Oak Burl
A great new bowl – Oak Burl
This oak burl bowl is beautiful but the most interesting thing about it is how heavy and smooth it is. The oak burl is so dense that it feels and... Read more...
Six great bowls in 2 days
Six great bowls in 2 days
I cheated this weekend and turned six great bowls. I usually turn a mix of OK, nice and really nice. I don’t always know how pretty a bowl is going... Read more...
Flash – Updated top ten reasons to buy a bowl
It has come to my attention that two of my original top ten reasons to buy a bowl are not legitimate occasions. Read more...
Back in the saddle
Back in the saddle
I’m finally back in the shop.  Yahoo!  I made a mess of my first bowl today but the next two are going well.  I’m working on a pretty big box... Read more...
A very nice day
A very nice day
Spent the day with a new acquaintance and talked a little about woodworking but more about passion, excellence and ethics.  We threw in a little religion and politics to spice... Read more...
Finally caught up!
Finally caught up!
I got the last of the new bowls posted on my website last night. It took 4 days to put up the 75 or so bowls that were finished but... Read more...
OK, what next?
OK, what next?
Part of the fun of bowling (making a bowl on the lathe) is picking out what to do next. At any given time I have 100-200 bowls in progress. Read more...
What’s in a name?
I started woodworking in earnest in the early seventies. Just after I got married in 1976, I started Sanders Woodworking. Read more...
Bowling
I really like making bowls. I call it bowling, as in, “Honey, I’m going bowling” as I leave the house for the shop to turn bowls on the lathe. Read more...
Hello world!
Well, here goes, what follows in the posts ahead may just be the ramblings of an old woodworker but now I am officially a blogger. Read more...