Twisted Affair: This Craftsman From Massachusetts Creates Distinctive Wooden Things – Design You Trust

Twisted Affair: This Craftsman From Massachusetts Creates Distinctive Wooden Things

1

The Timberturner/Bowlwood shop is owned by Ray Asselin and located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, a Connecticut River Valley area of New England that’s richly endowed with history and hardwood forests. It’s right at the transition line between the Southern Oak/Hickory forest and the Northern Hardwood forest.

More info: Timberturner + Bowlwood Woodturning, Etsy

2

“Most days of my youth were spent in the woods near home, but it wouldn’t be until my early twenties that I really started learning to identify the trees I had grown up with. Learning about them and working their wood with my hands have led to a deep reverence for the grandest members of the plant world we often take for granted,” said Ray.

3

“A one-day woodturning class at Hancock Shaker Village in the 80’s ignited my interest in turning wood on a lathe (although I’ve forsaken the Shaker foot-treadle-powered lathe for something a wee more modern). Several years ago I built a post-and-beam timber framed woodshop heated by a small potbelly stove. Finally, I could move the lathe out of the dreary basement into a bright new world. Every wall has windows- the daylight flooding in makes a huge difference in my motivation. The days zip by when I’m turning wood, particularly those gray winter days when snow is silently burying the world in white fluff, and the potbelly stove is so inviting.”

4

“While I don’t consider myself an artist as much as an artisan, I do try to produce turned pieces with smooth, graceful curves that are proportionally pleasing. There are a lot of “clunky” looking turnings out there, with unattractive shapes and thicknesses that impart a sense of heaviness. Learning to fair those shapes and trim the fat off the piece is a lesson that can be difficult to master for many of us, but is well worth the effort.”

5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Design You Trust Facebook page. You won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

Father Of The Year Builds An Amazing Bedroom For His Son
Photoshop Fridge Magnets - Burn And Dodge Your Way Through The Kitchen
JiyounKim Studio Launches Their Latest Design – The Lightning Lamp
The Superb Expressive Sculptures Of Matteo Pugliese
Vintage Photographs of People Dressed Up in Christmas Tree Costumes
These Candles Have a Human Figure that Appears to Be Meditating
Japanese Illustrator’s Charming Key Chain Design Gives You a Travel Companion to Paint with Nature
Japanese Artist Amazing JIRO Creates Mesmerizing SFX Illusions And Here Are The Best Ones
Random Bag On The Berlin Metro Was Simply Designed To Troll People
Japanese Cosplayer’s ‘BoobPack’ Becomes A Viral Trend On Twitter
This Wood Wine Box Packaging Can Be Reused As A Bird House
From Dusk To Dawn: Photographer Creates Amazing Cityscapes Showing The Transition From Night To Day
35 Examples Of Incredibly Bad Design
This Guy Has Built A Hobbit House In His Backyard
Everyday Objects Obsessively Organized Into Patterns By Adam Hillman
Deborah Simon’s ‘Flayed’ Bears Reflect On Human, Animal Relationships
Samurai Bottle Helmets Are Here To Fiercely And Elegantly Adorn Your Bottles Of Booze
Sergei Pakhomov Creates Incredible Artworks Made out Of Pasta
271 Years Before Pantone, An Artist Mixed And Described Every Color Imaginable In An 800-Page Book
Tweetcallejero
Just a Selfie Spoon
Send-Ups Of Pop Culture And Capitalism Hidden In Retail Stores By Obvious Plant
Winnie The Pooh Face Masks Are Giving Everyone Nightmares
This Alien Face Mask Is Sure To Keep Covid At Bay