Thread: Huon Fruit bowl

Fruit bowl 5.jpg
I must be getting too old, or forgetful, or impatient, whatever, but I realised that it would be a lot easier if I put the Huon through the thicknesser rather than tracing my design on a rough sawn surface. I drew a quarter of my design onto tracing paper and used carbon paper to transfer it around the lip of the bowl.

Next, I cut out 3mm thick oval shapes to glue to the olives to give them enough depth.
Once again, my impatience overshadowed my knowledge. I started carving a couple of leaves and an olive, then realised the cart was in front of the horse; I should have dropped the “background” away first.

This is going to take quite a while as my back gets too sore if I stand at the bench too long. This is only one of about 4 projects I have going currently, so I “come and go” with each. The photos probably show where I am going with the top shape. I still don’t know what I am going to do with the underside.
Fruit bowl 6.jpgFruit bowl 7.jpgFruit bowl 8.jpg

looks great. can't wait to see the finished product.
a lovely gift

This is just great. Reminds me of carving in Yellow Cedar (a native here, Chamycyparis nootkatensis).

The bottom.
Cut four olive leaves, glue them on and model them. They can act as "feet" for the dish to stand on.
All the rest of the bottom could simply be textured with shallow chippings of about a #5 sweep.

very nice

Thanks for your comments Mattocks & JJF. Thanks for your suggestions, Robson Valley; you have given me something to think about.

It's amazing how many gouges make their way onto the bench when you start carving.

Progress on the Huon bowl has been slow as I have been completing two rocking horses for my new (first) grand-daughter. (One for her house and one for when she visits the Grandies). Anyway, I have been able to start dropping the background out of the last section.
Fruit bowl 9.jpgGouges.jpg

That dish is going to be a wonderful accent to find on any table.

In turn, you have given me ideas to do glue-ups of different woods for different colors without having to resort to stains or paints.

It's a bit rough, but I've got to the stage where I can start carving the olives, leaves and stems.
Fruit bowl 10.jpg

Giving my last post a bit more thought I realised that, if I carved the top, I would have trouble protecting it when shaping the underside. I used the router table to remove the bulk of the material.
Fruit bowl 11.jpgFruit bowl 12.jpg

Using a 7/30 gouge, I have started shaping the oval curves.
Fruit bowl 13.jpgFruit bowl 14.jpg

I've cleaned up the bottom, with a few adjustments expected later. Now I'm ready to make a cradle to hold the bowl while I carve the olive branches.
Fruit bowl 16.jpgFruit bowl 15a.jpg

Great pictures of the progress, thank you. What's your decision regarding feet for the dish?
Please tell me again how big this is. I can sort of guess from the 7/30 gouge = a biggie.

Took me a few ruined dishes to realize that there's a order to carving the parts.
First, the rim.
Second, the bottom.
Third the bowl part.

Thanks for your response, Robson Valley.
The overall size is 430X250X40. I have decided to leave the bottom flat, as it is now. I know that the outside shape does not conform to the inside, but I'll live with that. I might have to adjust the thickness once I've cut the rim into the oval shape - after I finish carving the olive branches.

I do not want to hijack your thread. At the same time, I figured that I should show you what a dish of mine
looks like with a textured surface (about a #5 sweep with a crooked knife) and feet on the underside.
I like it. My greatest disappointment is the size = takes up far too much space on the table.
Yellow cedar (Chamycyparis nootkatensis 450 x 350 x 50.)