Willy Nelson
14th January 2014, 03:17 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen
I have just returned from a two week cruise on the Radiance of the Seas visiting ports around New Zealand on a wood turners inspection of shops and galleries, ooops, I mean family holiday.
This is what I discovered.
I placed a thread on here a while ago in the hope that someone was keen to swap timbers. I finally made contact with Ian Thorpe. After a few PMs, we arranged to meet in Dunedin and make the swap after I did the Taieri Gorge railway trip (which was excellent). Anyhoo, but as the train arrived in Dunedin, I saw a gentlemen holding a bag of goodies who seemed to be waiting for someone. He brought an amazing array of timbers along with some from his mate Bam Bam. As it was, both of us were aware of the quarantine issues and these were addressed by us (now bug activity, bone dry, no bark and sealed bags). The timbers I gave Ian included Curly Jarrah, Curly Sugar gum, York Gum Burl, Curly York Gum and Sheoak. Ian and Bam Bam gave me many timbers including Figured Kauri, Rimu, Gorse, NZ Olive, Totana, Red Beech(I think), Rata, Barbery, Swamp Rata, Puriri, Rewrea, Matai plus many more. It is my intention to make a couple of pens for each family member who accompanied me on the cruise. Thanks to Ian and Bam Bam (I think Barny Rubble is his Dad).
I then visited many ports on the East coast and visited many shops, galleries and tourist type shops, looking for KIWI turned artifacts. Wow, hardly any. Really disapointing. I won't name towns or cities lest I offend anyone, but there is a real gap in most towns and cities for any aspiring turners. There was one big shop in Rotorua and another in Dunedin, both of these had a single bowl each.
Our last port was the Bay of Islands. Wow, the markets were on, I spent the day chatting to turners and woodies.
Crikeys!!!!!!!! I even bought two pieces. What turner buys another turners products? I bought a fantastic Ancient Kauri timber chopping board with Paua shell embeed in both sides. The board has fantastic flame and figure.
The second item was a Kauri clock with embedded Paua shell, Both are stunning and fantastic items to remind us of NZ.
Sorry about the long post, sorry about the piccies , the items are stunning
Overall, the trip to New Zealand was brillaint, magnificent scenery and the Moari Culture is brilliant
Sincerely
Willy
Jarrahland
I have just returned from a two week cruise on the Radiance of the Seas visiting ports around New Zealand on a wood turners inspection of shops and galleries, ooops, I mean family holiday.
This is what I discovered.
I placed a thread on here a while ago in the hope that someone was keen to swap timbers. I finally made contact with Ian Thorpe. After a few PMs, we arranged to meet in Dunedin and make the swap after I did the Taieri Gorge railway trip (which was excellent). Anyhoo, but as the train arrived in Dunedin, I saw a gentlemen holding a bag of goodies who seemed to be waiting for someone. He brought an amazing array of timbers along with some from his mate Bam Bam. As it was, both of us were aware of the quarantine issues and these were addressed by us (now bug activity, bone dry, no bark and sealed bags). The timbers I gave Ian included Curly Jarrah, Curly Sugar gum, York Gum Burl, Curly York Gum and Sheoak. Ian and Bam Bam gave me many timbers including Figured Kauri, Rimu, Gorse, NZ Olive, Totana, Red Beech(I think), Rata, Barbery, Swamp Rata, Puriri, Rewrea, Matai plus many more. It is my intention to make a couple of pens for each family member who accompanied me on the cruise. Thanks to Ian and Bam Bam (I think Barny Rubble is his Dad).
I then visited many ports on the East coast and visited many shops, galleries and tourist type shops, looking for KIWI turned artifacts. Wow, hardly any. Really disapointing. I won't name towns or cities lest I offend anyone, but there is a real gap in most towns and cities for any aspiring turners. There was one big shop in Rotorua and another in Dunedin, both of these had a single bowl each.
Our last port was the Bay of Islands. Wow, the markets were on, I spent the day chatting to turners and woodies.
Crikeys!!!!!!!! I even bought two pieces. What turner buys another turners products? I bought a fantastic Ancient Kauri timber chopping board with Paua shell embeed in both sides. The board has fantastic flame and figure.
The second item was a Kauri clock with embedded Paua shell, Both are stunning and fantastic items to remind us of NZ.
Sorry about the long post, sorry about the piccies , the items are stunning
Overall, the trip to New Zealand was brillaint, magnificent scenery and the Moari Culture is brilliant
Sincerely
Willy
Jarrahland