Project 11 of 52

" Steps "

What inspires you? I have been asked this a lot lately regarding pieces I'm making and just general work stuff. The answer is practically everything. I see beauty in sometimes the hardest places to find. All ten projects so far have been inspired by a wide range of things. This piece was not inspired, more a reaction to a feeling. This was not designed ahead of time, nor did I have any clue what it was going to become when I put the block of Cherry on my Lathe. I just started cutting into it and let what I was feeling dictate how it would turn out.

I came up with a coned shaped vase, and because I really had no plan I broke two other vases in the process until I got one that wanted to cooperate with me. The first piece of wood I turned the outside and when I went to hollow it found I had a rock solid piece of cherry and couldn't. The second one was working fine until I caught a bad edge and it broke off the base. Needless to say planning is always a good thing.

To support the pointed end of the vase I cut a piece of Jatoba for the base and 21 1 inch by 1 inch Bocote squares. I drilled into the jatoba and glued the vase inside.

I glued the 21 Bocote squares in a spiral staircase pattern around the vase. Each step alternating in grain pattern as well. I finished the vase with a gloss lacquer and filled the vase hole with a wood stabilizer so water and flowers will not affect the wood as much if not used.

The overall dimensions of the piece are 12 inches tall and 4 inches around at the biggest point.
































This project will be in the Gallery showing at the end of the 52 weeks.