Tom Lowe Woodcarver

2011-12-12T14:26:00.000-05:00

18x17x3 silver maple.

2011-11-30T08:46:00.001-05:00

2011-11-15T09:02:00.002-05:00

There's been a lot on the wood dust laden mind lately. Little sister and the five youngins will be in town next week for a week along with Dad and Mom. Then I'll be heading up North to stay with her, hang with the kids and work on sculptures December 13th. through February( Don't worry about Roberta, she has a quick trigger finger). There are a dozen sculpture ideas in my head that will have to wait till the end of the season here. Three weeks to go with the mad rush of wood grinding bowls, platters and spoons.

2011-10-21T09:15:00.002-04:00

Walnut sculpture.

2011-10-20T09:44:00.002-04:00

Fresh silver maple.

Walnut carved nice and thin.

2011-10-12T08:19:00.003-04:00

These will be ready for market in 2 weeks.

Beer and mineral oil is all a bowl carver lives on.

2011-10-03T09:33:00.001-04:00

Been a busy month of September carving. Trying to gear up for the last 2 months of markets and the Christmas season.

2011-08-25T08:00:00.002-04:00

2011-08-14T11:11:00.003-04:00

New shapes carved out of cherry 13x13x5. Twice the amount of time and white knuckling was spent to carve these. It's nerve racking when the grinder rides up on the inside edge of the bowl wanting to free itself from your hands. The one on the right $140 and to the left $160. They go to market in 2 weeks.

2011-07-31T08:23:00.002-04:00

Sorry these two are not for sale but just had to show them.

2011-07-17T14:41:00.001-04:00

Maple 32x15x4.5

2011-06-29T07:43:00.001-04:00

Maple platter 31x9x1 $84.

2011-06-08T07:15:00.002-04:00

Maple salad bowls 14x14x4.5 $140 each.

2011-05-23T08:21:00.001-04:00

Cherry 16x8x3 $90.

2011-05-09T09:10:00.008-04:00

New bowls. These are a little more time consuming to create. The inside curve of the bowls take a lot of work to get just right. These are a weeks worth of sore fingers from sanding.

Maple 13x10x5 $140.

Cherry 14x8x4 $100.

Walnut 13x8x4 $100.

Walnut 13x8.5x4 $100.

Cherry 16x7.5x2 $80.

Cherry 14x8x4 $100.

2011-05-03T09:54:00.003-04:00

Back on the evening of 6-4-2009 I took pictures of our flooded little creek that had made it's way up to the shop. The water went back down rather quickly after the clogged 36" (under the road) drain pipe let loose.

Not much has changed with the shop since then, with the exception of wood dust to water ratio. Where water was is now filled in with wood dust. Problem solved. Not to mention the town putting in a larger drain pipe.

5-3-11.

2011-04-27T09:30:00.003-04:00

Markets have started up.
Wednesday: Forest Hill Ave. 5000 block 3-8.
Thursday: Robious and Huguenot 10-2. Then Powhatan at the roundabout 4-7.
Next Saturday the 7 South of the James 8-12.

2011-04-22T08:51:00.001-04:00

Crotch maple platters. Ranging from 20" to 30" long and being 1.5" deep.

2011-04-14T07:37:00.001-04:00

2011-04-12T13:09:00.000-04:00

2011-04-01T08:58:00.000-04:00

Red Maple, maple leaf bowl. 13.5x13x2.5

2011-03-31T07:56:00.000-04:00

Daffodil Festival 2011.

2011-03-14T14:22:00.003-04:00

Just getting back into the swing of things.
My brother-in-law John Wajda passed away from heart failure on January 12th. he would have been 43 on the 20th. My younger sister Amy and the 5 children are doing very well. I left here on the 9th. when he had been taken to the hospital 2 days prior and stayed in Vermont to help till February 21st. I did bring some tools to carve while I was there. Not that I had a whole lot of time to between feeding a horse, 5 chickens and a guinea pig, not to mention feeding and maintaining the out side wood furnace. They go through 14 to 15 cords of wood each season.
A lot of catch up work around the house consumed the first week and a half or so. Now it's back to the old grinder and make many bowls.

2010-12-21T09:08:00.001-05:00

Here is what there is for bowl inventory.

2010-11-25T09:56:00.002-05:00

2010-11-24T08:21:00.002-05:00

2010-11-16T07:49:00.004-05:00

2010-11-09T07:59:00.003-05:00

Goodness me it's been way to long since the last post. So many bowls that went to market without their picture taken(dang camera).

Here's a bowl with natural character. Iron wood or muscle tree. It lives up to it's name being very dense and difficult to work with. This bowl has already been sold.

2010-09-22T13:20:00.002-04:00

More hearts. This one is carved from the heart of maple. The color looks like cherry.

This one is carved from cherry.

2010-09-21T09:02:00.001-04:00

22x14x4 atlas bone. The white to the lower right is an anatomically correct neck bone cast model.

Cherry 7x6x1.5

2010-09-20T09:03:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine is a Chiropractor and asked if I could carve him up an atlas bone. It's 6" wide. I guess about 3 or 4 times the normal size.

Of coarse I had to take it to the next level.

Heart of cherry. 7x6x3

2010-09-15T08:16:00.002-04:00

Our first polo match. It also happened to be a show for the wares. A few generous folks helping to pay for the show and over night accommodation. What a nice weekend get away. Well in between driving for 3 days, setting up the booth and taking it down. A real vacation to the mountains are in order.

We were set up at the goal end of the field. Great spot to watch the ponies charging up to take a shot and win the chukker. Had a few balls roll up to the tent. Even got to keep one.

2010-09-07T08:24:00.002-04:00

Cherry clef note 20x8x3.5.
16 hours of wood removal. Hope to finish another today that is a little larger. The slab of cherry before carving weighed 52 lbs. and was a bear to cut on the band saw. Got my work out. The finished piece now weighs about a pound.

2010-08-27T12:32:00.002-04:00

18x7x3 maple treble clef note

2010-08-06T08:16:00.001-04:00

A heart of cherry.

2010-08-03T07:31:00.000-04:00

2010-07-28T13:18:00.003-04:00

The rack is full and more are coming in from the shop every day. Maple, cherry and cedar. These will be ready for market next week.

Click on this bowl and look at the character of the grain. It's a large bowl 22x12x3.

2010-07-22T08:09:00.002-04:00

Ash sculpture 30"x10"diameter. Spent a good three days to carve this piece. I used a Makita electric chainsaw to rough it out as well as a grinder with a chainsaw tooth disc. Came across a new tool a while back called a bandfile or mini belt sander. What a time saver to use smoothing out the rough spots in tight areas.

2010-07-16T08:42:00.000-04:00

Maple 10x10x3

2010-07-15T09:00:00.003-04:00

I've said it before that time really flies when making wood dust. Just sent an e-mail and stated that I cleared my head of getting in to a gallery this year after reassessing with my manager, counselor, therapist, financial adviser and most important of all my Wife. God bless her..

2010-06-23T06:42:00.004-04:00

This is one distinct bowl. The color is amazing.

The owner of the bowl was told the slab was cherry. Turns out to be sassafras about 70 years old. The slab sat for 8 or so years in a basement curing. Had to remove 8 years of growth because it was to rotted.

2010-06-20T08:16:00.001-04:00

It's back to reality and make more bowls now. Had a fun 2 weeks with the funky stuff. I'll still need another 12 sculptures before trying a gallery show. Next will be some larger pieces.

2010-06-16T08:15:00.004-04:00

More sculpture. Cherry 16" high. 2 full days of work @ $20 per hour=$360.

Interesting story behind this bowl. It may have spent most its time on Martha's Vineyard Island my hometown. Circa 1930 and well used over the years. It looks as though it even made it into a garage with nuts and bolts markings on the bottom. I was entrusted its care for Tinkering a crack.

Finally found a keeper. After carving up a hundred large bowls this one is mine........

2010-06-08T08:16:00.000-04:00

More sculptures on the way.

2010-06-01T14:01:00.003-04:00

I am really enjoying this cherry mainly the wonderful aroma it gives off when worked.. To much fun with these free form shapes. A lot more time to make than a large bowl that's for sure, but well worth the pain when done. This piece is 19" high and 4.5" across. The pictures are front and side shots.

2010-05-26T08:19:00.002-04:00

Gnocchi forms carved out of cherry for a chef at Acacia Mid-Town restaurant 2601 W. Cary St.

2010-05-24T09:03:00.005-04:00

2010-05-19T09:28:00.002-04:00

Big bowls are piling up and more to come in the next few weeks. Ash, maple and a mystery wood are shown. Today I'll be digging into some Royal Paulonia(princess tree) and making long narrow bowls from it.

2010-05-05T07:57:00.003-04:00

It's sad to see such a beautiful tree have be cut down. It is however a special feeling to be able to do something with the wood to keep the memories alive.

The tree was cut down in the morning and the bowl was carved later that afternoon.

2010-04-26T08:11:00.003-04:00

Once again it's been a while.
A friend from the market was looking for a long display bowl as you see here. Cedar about 32"x7"x2". What a contrast on that beautiful counter top. Thank you for the pictures Diane.

2010-03-23T08:57:00.002-04:00

What a start for the Year. First quarter: throw back out then finish off with bronchitis. Second quarter has to be better.
The tables are empty and just to sick to be in the shop (safely) making things. All out of cherry, maple and walnut anyway. I do have a bit of that box elder left. Hoping to make some nice mortar & pestles along with soup scoops.

2010-03-05T06:31:00.001-05:00

2010-02-23T08:56:00.012-05:00

2010-02-16T13:49:00.001-05:00

2010-02-16T13:46:00.003-05:00

2010-02-15T13:02:00.002-05:00

2010-02-15T12:55:00.003-05:00

I'm still alive. In the shop as much as I can be. It seems there just isn't any time for uploading pics in the morning as well as writing about them.

2010-01-15T08:43:00.001-05:00

Just about recovered from the back blow out. Fired up the chain saw the other day and slabbed up some walnut, maple and box elder. I am ready for some production work now.

2009-12-24T12:54:00.002-05:00

The day after my last post I ran some errands and stopped by the Hanover Art's and Activities Center to pick up a few chunks of maple trimmed off a tree right next to the road. I was able to load the first piece relatively easy. The second a little larger would not cooperate and kicked me in the lower back causing the disk to swell between the 4th and 5th lumbar in my spine. I some how managed to roll the 2nd log back off the sidewalk. 10 minutes later I'm flat in bed and have been there since. I figured it's been about 138 hours and out of that time I have been on my feet maybe a total of 7 hours. I guess it was 4 years ago I was laid up for 2 full weeks. Today as you see I can sit and type again. I'll never play the violin the same.

2009-12-17T06:29:00.003-05:00

Boxelder 14x9x4 $110.
This is some gorgeous wood. The bowl was carved last Monday after picking up a truck load from Richmond. I just could not wait and see what was inside those logs. Went back Tuesday and really wore out the back. Being cut down the Friday before the wood has a lot of moisture in it. Had to let it dry 3 days just to finish sand it. It's very stable at this point, but we'll see how it goes in the next few weeks.
A red stain in the wood of living trees caused by Fusarium reticulatum var. negundinis apparently is specific to boxelder. The stain regularly is associated with Cerambycid beetles and the galleries of other insects, but itself does no damage to the wood (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_2/acer/negundo.htm).

2009-12-13T09:02:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was the last market. A large sigh of relief and sadness. To much yard work neglected all summer long. To many projects around the house put off. I have all winter to get that stuff done now.
If anyone needs that last minute gift just call or e-mail to stop by here at the house to see what is left in inventory. If it's a small piece that will cure fast like a coffee scoop, spreader, spoon or mini bowls I can have those ready next day. Large bowls take at least 2 weeks to cure. If you don't mind waiting to receive a bowl till after Christmas I can carve you one.
Speaking of yard work my close friend Gary has lent me his Katobata front end loader with back hoe tractor. Definitely need more room for logs behind the shop and get them out of the way in the yard. It will probably take week to cut and move what logs I have.

2009-12-06T13:14:00.003-05:00

I just had to do another hammer this time even smaller. It reminds me of how I felt in my teen years when I should have been doing home work but instead I'm goofing off again.

2009-12-02T08:34:00.003-05:00

I am actually working in the shop, a lot lately. So to break the hectic pace of the days I like to goof off and make something fun. 15 minuets here and there over a couple of days has added up to about 2 hours or so for this little guy. The handle is hickory and head is from a #20 nail. Using a bench grinder to rough out the head then finish grind with a Dremel and diamond bits. If you look close at the second picture and click on it you'll see the handle passes through an oblong hole that took the life of 2 good 1/16" diamond bits. What a shame cut down so early with more to do.

2009-11-29T14:32:00.004-05:00

Fungus among us. Eating into my profits. Pretty stuff.

2009-11-24T13:47:00.002-05:00

Thanks Nancie for taking the photos.

2009-11-22T08:13:00.005-05:00

Working on the small stuff again. Neat woods to work small are cherry, cedar and oak. The mini bowls and spoons were carved from the Silva's tree.

Thursday, I finally got out to the Silva residence to process an oak log from a 100 year old tree that had succumb to a storm. The piece was about 26-28 long and about 20-22 in diameter just about the weight of a hernia. Assuming it to be a red oak I was pleasantly surprised that it did not stink like red oak does. s

The tree sometime before the fall......

2009-11-17T08:24:00.003-05:00

Walnut knot 8x6x3 $38.

Walnut 24x5x2.5 $72.

2009-11-15T09:26:00.000-05:00

Had a nice misty raw day at Yorktown yesterday. Thanks to all that came out to see us wet vendors. I'll be back out there December 12th.

Little mini salt cellars $15 for the bowl and spoon. Little fork $5.

This micro mini was made for Roberta. It's cherry and took a good 45 minuets to make. I think more skin and finger nails were sanded off than wood. Fortunately skin and nails grow back.

2009-10-29T07:16:00.001-04:00

Maple platter 29x17x1 $126.

2009-10-28T07:37:00.010-04:00

I've been working the top down from the Ashland cedar I got last year. The bowls will be getting bigger. There are still 4 pieces left to make 8 large unique bowls.

18x11x6 $162

18x10x6 $162

2009-10-23T08:41:00.002-04:00

I'll have new pictures soon. Just to busy right now. Off to the shop to make more sawdust.

2009-10-13T13:10:00.001-04:00

One more shot of that cedar bowl. Lillie got a trim and is sporting her work out suit.

2009-10-09T08:59:00.006-04:00

My oh my how the days are flying by. Took my little Lillie Mae on an over night hike in the mountains Sun.-Mon.. We had a great time. She's on top of my pack taking a break. We hiked in about 2 miles(more like 8 for her little legs).

Maple 16x8x1.5 $42.

Cherry 18x7x1.5 $64. Pretty chip and dip platter.

Maple 16x16x3 $136.

2009-10-01T07:21:00.005-04:00

20 more spreaders @$8 each. I'm pretty tired of making spreaders....

Cherry 6x2 $32.

Carved rose hair buckles $38 each.

2009-09-29T09:11:00.007-04:00

cedar 19.5x12.5x4 $156.

pine 9x6x2 $32.

cedar 20.5x17x7 at it's highest point $188.

2009-09-25T08:44:00.003-04:00

Sycamore 24x10x2.5 $128.

2009-09-23T08:09:00.007-04:00

Cedar 18x9.5x6 at it's highest point $136.

Poplar 20x14x2 $124.

Cherry 10x7.5x3.5 $62

This little one stays home(5x1).

Dip and chips platters. The cherry at the top is 18x8x1.5 $64. The other two are maple(larger $52 smaller $42).

2009-09-18T07:03:00.012-04:00

2009-09-17T06:53:00.003-04:00

It's been far to long now. Still need that new camera, maybe next week. Been sayin that for a year now. There are about 12 spoons, 4 medium platters, 3 dough bowls and dozens of other little projects that have been done the last few weeks. Waiting for that camera.

Poplar 18.5x13x4 $160.

2009-09-02T07:43:00.002-04:00

Sorry for not posting in such a long time. The camera is on it's last leg and I have been dreading taking 5 or 6 pictures only to select 1 that looks decent. Things will really be getting busy in the next few weeks. As for this week I'll be at the Great Big Greenhouse on Huguenot and Robius rd. Thurs. 10-3, First Friday Art walk at the Quirk Gallery 311 Broad st. 6-10 or so and Then Sat. morning out at the Irvington Market by 7-12. Hope to see you at one of those events.

2009-08-14T08:46:00.002-04:00

Hair accoutrement. Sticks made from mulberry and cherry $10. Hair buckles dogwood and cherry. large $25 small $20.

2009-08-06T08:01:00.006-04:00

Maple end grain cut 10x8x3.25 $62. What a look I just hope it stabilizes well. It started off with larger fractures in the center. After pouring water in it and letting the grain soak it up and swell I let it sit for a few hours then glued up all the little cracks. It's been a 3 day project and a little more than 3 hours I'm sure. Once again I have a good memory but forget to use it. One other thing is when carving end grain compared to cross grain your going to spend twice the amount of time shaping.

Maple spatulas $21 each. Bout 15 long with a 4.25 wide spat. It's hard to believe that the look of the wood grain changes so much in just a few months of laying around before carving it up. If you go back a few posts to March 31st. you'll find other maple spoons from the same tree that have a creamy look.

Cherry mortar and pestles. These took about 3 each to create. I've said it before that cherry is a lot of fun to get thin, but it takes forever to sand. It would be great to get some feed back from you viewers as to pricing pieces such as these. Would any of you be willing to pay $62 for a set?

2009-07-29T07:39:00.012-04:00

Where have I been since the 20th?
In the shop...

To many pieces to make with to little time to make them.

There are 3 sets of walnut tongs I have not oiled yet. Maybe I'll take pictures tomorrow. Don't hold your breath though.

2009-07-20T08:49:00.002-04:00

Walnut 16x14.5x6 $178
This is about the largest walnut I've carved up so far. A little extra unexpected work on gluing up a crack. The glue up is looking good after 4 days of oiling. 10 more days to go.

Cherry eating spoons $16 each. They are about a tablespoon size and are 7" long.

2009-07-17T06:23:00.004-04:00

With much anticipation my good friend Ryan came through again bringing me some willow tree. The v shaped bowl goes to Ryan and the mini is for Jackie's collection.

2009-07-10T07:53:00.002-04:00

Cherry 14x12x4 $126 each.
I'll get to making salad tongs later. They go for $42. This pair is already spoken for.

2009-07-08T07:27:00.003-04:00

Walnut 16.5x14x5 $168.
This beauty came from a large walnut in Louisa Co. that was clear cut to make way for a field. Trees of this size are hard to come by. I should finish the other half today.

Long handle oak spoon $42.
I received a request for this long 36" handle spoon from a very nice woman that does Civil war reenactments. She cooks over an open fire and was tired of bending over stirring the pot while getting smoke in her eyes. I'm sure someone has carved up a long handle spoon in the past to serve this purpose.

2009-07-02T07:24:00.004-04:00

Cherry deep spoons $21.

Walnut burl 9x8x2 $48.
This stuff is hard to come by. It's also difficult work with the grain swirling in all directions.

Walnut with the sap wood 14x7x2 $56.
Makes for a nice serving bowl.

2009-06-30T08:33:00.002-04:00

A few months ago a good friend said we have to make a trip to Camp Cantaford in the Allegheny NF and do some fly fishing. Time flew by and next thing I know we are there Thursday kicking back and enjoying a beer and cool weather. There were 5 of us, 2 canoes and a kayak floating down the Clarion river on Friday. What a day. It was so intense I did nothing but sit around Saturday. Well it's back to the grinder making spoons.

Walnut $16 each.

Cherry $16 each.

2009-06-24T08:47:00.001-04:00

Here is a big one. Maple 14x16x6 $147.

2009-06-23T07:26:00.002-04:00

Took a long trip to Hatteras Friday-Sunday to show the wares at a small art market .
Stowe on Twelve Shops

56910 NC Highway 12
Hatteras, NC 27943
252-986-4096

. Stayed at a good friends house just before the bridge to Nags Head. Just hanging out with them is worth the trip.

Walnut small coffee scoops $11. They will hold a heaping tablespoons worth of your favorite coffee from Koralee's Coffee.

2009-06-18T07:19:00.004-04:00

Maple 15x7x2 $68

Hickory 15x6.5x2 $58

Maple 30x5.5x2.5 $105
I don't think this one will see the public. That means the other will go to market.

2009-06-17T07:50:00.005-04:00

Maple crotch 14x10x4.5 $105
Spent a fare amount of time with this one. The middle left of the bowl had a knot with bark that had to be removed and filled with special putty.

Walnut platter 17.5x7x2 $68
Making handles takes time. Ro likes the look though.

Walnut platter 17x5x1 $48

Maple 15x7x2 $68
That more traditional look.

2009-06-12T07:17:00.003-04:00

Maple 14.5x14x2 $84(that is if she does not want to keep it)

Wednesday was a good productive day. When the last bowls came into the house at 8 the trencher maples caught her eye. All day long yesterday thoughts of a bowl she would like(or so she tells me so my feelings won't be crushed) were running through this saw dust head. I was torn between staying at a Great Big Greenhouse market(Huguenot and Robius Rd. 10-3) and carving up this bowl in the cool of the shop. It was quite muggy hot yesterday.

2009-06-11T06:55:00.006-04:00

Maple 15x7x2 $63

Cherry knot 10x6x2 $42

Cherry 13x5x2 $42

Maple 16x5x1 $28
16x4x1 $26
10x4x1 $18

2009-06-09T06:59:00.005-04:00

Walnut 12x6x3 $48.
I picked up this walnut last year and boy how it has aged nice. The sap wood has turned to a mellow tan. The tree was only 30 years old and just starting to die off when it was taken down. The logs were cut to 4' 6". Lost about 10" to cracks and a little rot.

Cherry 6.5x5x2 $32 each.
These are a special order. The shape is similar to a large cherry platter that was carved up 2 years ago. It was the first one Roberta liked so we kept it. Sitting on the kitchen counter and darkening to a rich reddish brown. A gentleman purchased it last week for his wife and wanted these 2 side bowls to accompany the platter.

2009-06-08T07:10:00.004-04:00

Maple scoops 9x4.5x2 $43.
I did make another 4 last week. It was a busy time around the yard which has been neglected for months. This week will be full time in the shop non-stop carving, saw dust flying, making medium sized walnut bowls, Ye Haa!

2009-06-02T07:19:00.003-04:00

..and more spreaders... I'm considering raising the price on these to $12. They just take to long to make. All in all 1/2 an hour each. The time is in the finish sanding working the curves.

2009-05-29T08:14:00.003-04:00

I hope I don't get a certain man in trouble by posting this but any way thanks ** ***** for the repair on the truck and the grand tour of the RIR track. It was a tingly feeling that made my butt pucker.

2009-05-26T09:37:00.003-04:00

Large maple spoons $30. The spatula is $25.

Walnut spreaders $10.

Miniature Dotson chomping on a T-bone $200.