From Firewood to Functional Art: Turning a Birch Log into Something Special
Welcome Everyone!
I wanted to share this cool little project I just wrapped up with you. It all started when I was visiting my Dad & Mary at their home in Northwest Connecticut in the Spring of 2022. They own a wonderful, secluded woodland property of nearly 8 acres, where wildlife abounds. When there, I’m always on the lookout, ever the woodworker, to rescue any wood that has fallen to the forest floor and calls to me for rescue.
I spotted this chunk of birch lying along the trail while Dad and I were working in the yard and knew I had to have it, so I could give it a second chance at life. Grabbing my Dad's chainsaw (with permission, of course), a manageably-sized piece was cut so I could lug it all the way back to California in my suitcase. Yeah, you read that right—I flew the business jet back with a log in my luggage. Bet you don’t hear that every day!
The Idea
The idea was simple: one of my great passions is turning forgotten or discarded items into something both beautiful and useful. I decided on a bud vase. And, I wanted to keep some of the birch's bark on them, you know, to keep its story alive. Being relatively new to wood turning, I look to a few special wood artists on YouTube. One of my favorites is Phil Anderson, of Shady Acres Woodshop. He does an amazing job of highlighting the natural components of the vessels he creates, leaving as much of the original bark and elements he can. (Check him out if you get a chance!)
Making It Happen
Needing my daily fix of woodworking, I went out to the wood pile and spotted this little log. As often is the case, I scan all my little treasures before one calls to me in inspiration. Today, this was the piece to do so.
Getting down to work, I studied my little birch friend and it slowly spoke to me. As I was looking at it, I began to see the little vase in my mind’s eye. (I had made the little box six weeks earlier, from another portion of the log.)
As I began to turn this little log, it spoke to me helping to shape its own future, as these pieces often do! Sometimes there’s a catch with a tool, or a knot, or crack in the wood that changes the direction of the final piece. I honor those parts, seeing them not as defects but as attributes of the piece’s character, and allow it to help dictate its final form, rather than forcing it into my idea of what it should be.
This feels like I’m honoring the wood and giving it a voice. I don’t want it to lose its identity. Rather, I want to help it realize its potential. That’s also why I chose to leave some bark on each piece, as a nod to the wood’s origin – a rustic reminder of where they came from and the journey they have been on. This is the story I hope to convey with my pieces.
The Best Part
The best part of this whole adventure? Bringing a piece of wood that was headed for decay on the forest floor into the home of people who'll cherish it. It's not just about the wood or the final products. It's about the memories attached to them, the stories they'll tell, and the smiles they'll bring – hopefully for a long time after I’m gone.
And hey, now I've got a fun story about flying three thousand miles cross-country with a log in my bag. Not something you hear every day, right?
Join the Journey
So, if you're into woodworking, upcycling, or just love a good story about turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, stick around and consider following us on social media or visiting our online store to see if something strikes your fancy. I've got plenty more where that came from and will be back soon to share my latest inspiration. Let's enjoy this journey of creation and discovery together!