Author: Richard Colson

I would like to wish Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to everyone who has supported me in 2017.  See you all again at Kinvara Market on the first Friday in April 2018

 

 

Join us in Kinvara Community Centre next  Saturday 9th December and again on Sunday from 10am.  Lots of lovely Christmas gifts, food, music and fun for the kids and all the family..  And we will be there again on Sunday.  And then again  the following weekend  16/17th!   Here are some of the new Items I will have on show (more in the gallery)::-

 

 

This was the last day at the Friday market for 2017.  But what a great day!  Blue sky and sun all day!  Who could ask for more!  We start again on the first Friday in April next year.

Hope to see you at the Christmas market in the Community Centre 9/10 and 16/17 December.

 

 

I am often asked what wood is used to make a particular item.  All the wood I use is ethically sourced in Ireland.  Spalted* beech is particularly attractive and popular so I tend to use this a lot; for most turned items.  I also use macrocarpa (otherwise known as monterey cypress), ash, sycamore and cherry.  I usually use sycamore for decorative items as it does not have a particularly distinctive grain and therefore works well with added colour. A few years ago I was lucky enough to be given a quantity of labernum. which has an amazingly beautiful contrast between the dark heart wood and the lighter sap wood and beautiful grain patterns reminiscent of  olive, but this is difficult to come by!

*Spalted- This refers to dead wood that has been subjected to a natural fungal attack producing a contrast between light and dark areas and often blackening in distinct lines.  It is very popular as it considerably enhances the otherwise rather plain colouring in woods such as beech. This is the Wikipedia explanation:-

Spalting is any form of wood  coloration caused by fungi. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees under stress. Although spalting can cause weight loss and strength loss in the wood, the unique coloration and patterns of spalted wood are sought after by woodworkers.

See:-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalting

Spalted beech bowl

I will be at the Kinvara Market for the next 3 weeks, before the market closes for the winter.

Be sure to drop along before we close! And if you’re thinking of Christmas presents, I will have a stall at the Kinvara Christmas Fair in the Community Centre on 8/9 and 15/16 December – you will be inspired by my range of ideal wooden gifts!