Handcrafted Wood Wares (Treenware)
No Power? No Problem! All products were created using hand tools unless otherwise noted.
No Power? No Problem! All products were created using hand tools unless otherwise noted.
Though woodworking has always interested me, I only started practicing in early 2018, specifically green woodworking, when I became comfortable investing in the necessary tools. Since then, I have shunned power tools and opted for traditional wood shaping techniques (largely carried out with folding saws, hand axes (hatchets), bushcraft knives, and curved knives) with the mindset that the craft should be able to be carried out anywhere. The vast majority of my work has been finished with multiple rounds of sandpaper and oiling. I ultimately strive to be able to proudly present "imperfect" knife-finished works. Until then, the majority of my work is going to be finished with sandpaper, which exhibit their own "perfect" beauty.
In the future, I hope to have a dedicated work space and a forested area to selectively and mindfully harvest green wood. Having the former would allow me to utilize larger primitive machines such as saw horses, foot-powered lathes and the like. Having the latter would allow me to continue the craft in a more secure and self-reliant fashion. I have even toyed with the idea of using power tools down the line with one catch- all power tools would be operated by solar energy powered from the solar panels on top of my hand-made work shop. I never anticipated becoming consumed with whittling; there was a time when all I wanted was to go fish. The truth is, I am not sure what the future holds, but hope this Spanish pipedream becomes a reality.
Since I started whittling, I have striven for perfection. After having spent hours above and beyond what I felt it should take to complete a piece, I decided to finish pieces by sanding in hopes of a "perfect" result.
Though I strive for perfection, it has taken me a long time to understand or accept that no piece I create will be perfect, sanded or not- I'm not a machine, and I also have flaws. I hope you can appreciate these human-made pieces as much as I have!
Why not? It may sound selfish, but I started whittling as a personal challenge with the products to be enjoyed myself. After spending five of more hours on a piece to satisfy personal standards, I have rarely had the heart to put my pieces to their intended uses for I knew they would never look the same again. Art has been elusive for me to understand or respect, but I appreciate each newly oil piece enough to sit on my kitchen shelf in jars similar to flower bouquets. When a piece is used, an individual patina is formed unique to the piece, which tells a story. I hope your piece will exhibit a good-natured novel others will read and appreciate!
Whittle'n'Fish
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