Spurtle

I’ve been combing Pinterest for ideas on things to turn on my lathe, and I came across the Scottish Spurtle. A turned rod used for stirring porridge and stews, a spurtle is special because it doesn’t gather a wad of foodstuff like the bowl of a spoon. I really liked that some of the designs mimicked the Scottish Thistle for the handle. I made this spurtle from apple wood from my Dad’s wood pile, sanded it down to 400 grit, then painted a small apple on the end of the handle (not only to mark the handle end, but to identify the wood). I finished it with many coats of tung oil, since it is a food safe finish.

Spurtle with apple painting before the finish was applied
Finished spurtle, side view
Finished spurtle, end view

I love the beautiful grain on this spurtle. I have to disclose that this is aged apple wood. It has sat in my garage for years, and sat in my Dad’s wood shed for years before that.

Early present

I picked up an early present from my husband, as he ordered his early present for delivery. We’ve been married awhile. The wood turning book I’m reading recommends getting high quality hardened stainless steel tools, so I figure I will start collecting. Pictured below are a roughing gouge, a square edge scraper, and a bowl gouge. Let the wood chips fly!

Long handled tools for wood turning

Scarf section for Bronto

I learned that Dinosaur Valley State Park was looking for scarf section donations to bedeck Bronto the brontosaurus sculpture at the park. This was done in conjunction with a toy drive! So I went through my stash and found some yarn that I was using to experiment with making crocheted leaves. I didn’t really have a plan for the leaves or the yarn, so it seemed like a great thing to turn it into a scarf section! I crocheted a 10” wide strip using the double crochet stitch (American notation), then used some metallic gold and silver yarn to attach the leaf motifs.

Crocheted scarf section with leaf motifs

The scarf made it in time to be stitched in with the other submissions. This was such a popular drive that they had enough sections to give their T Rex a scarf too! My section shows up about six wraps down from the top of Bronto’s neck.

Bronto’s scarf (photo credit to Dinosaur Valley State Park), arrow is mine

Baby hats

A neighbor had her baby and I wanted to make a couple hats. I only had natural fibers in my stash, and wanted to make something warm but washable (no way would I give something hand-wash or drip-dry to a mom!) So I wandered through the yarn section at a local big box supply store (I know, but I actually needed acrylic). I found a short repeat, super soft, very bright skein of rainbow yarn. I use a double crochet pattern to make beanies, and these I made newborn size with a diameter of 14” and height of 6” (if they don’t fit, I’ll make her new ones, they don’t take long). I think the way the color pooled is interesting; one spiral striped, and one spotted!

Happy

I ventured out to Woodcraft and picked up a few turning blanks to get some more practice on my lathe. This pile of potential makes me happy.

Turning blanks loaded in the back of the vehicle

I have some maple, sycamore, and ash. I didn’t intentionally pick for color, rather I was looking at sizes and density. I had to back order the hickory, which should add a bit of hue variation to my hoard.