Love HeartWood

ROOTED

Rooted began as a freshly cut sycamore log that immediately caught my attention because of the dark, irregular marking at its centre.

At first glance it looks like heartwood, but it is more likely a naturally discoloured area within the timber, possibly caused by fungal activity or a response to injury while the tree was growing. Whatever its origin, it became the defining feature of the piece.

As the bowl was hollowed and thinned, the stained area revealed itself in ever greater detail. When held to the light, it seemed to glow from within, creating a striking contrast against the pale surrounding wood. Rather than hiding this imperfection, I chose to celebrate it as a reminder that every tree carries its own history.

The title Rooted reflects that connection to the tree itself. The dark centre acts almost like a memory of the living material from which the bowl was made, preserving a visual link between the finished vessel and its origins.

One of the things I enjoy most about working with green wood is discovering features like this. They cannot be designed or planned; they simply emerge and invite you to respond.

The full story behind the Held Forms collection is now on the blog.

https://www.loveheartwood.co.uk/held-forms/

GATHERED

Sometimes the quietest pieces are the ones that stay with you.

Gathered doesn’t rely on dramatic grain, distortion or scale. Instead, its appeal comes from proportion, balance and the subtle movement created as the timber dried.

Looking at the collection together taught me that not every piece needs to shout. Some simply invite you to spend time with them.

Read more about the making of Held Forms on the blog. https://www.loveheartwood.co.uk/held-forms/

Happy Saturday everyone here is a little bit of spindle roughing gouge ASMR to enjoy today.

Using the spindle roughing gouge in the 2 o’clock position and cutting the wood on a 45° angle. Learn to keep bevel contact and the cut going simultaneously. This is the beginning of the journey to mastering the planing cut with the skew chisel.
Go on give it a try.

HELD IN

Held In is actually a small group of bud vases rather than a single piece. Each vase was turned from green Laburnum.

I became fascinated by the relationship between Laburnum’s dark heartwood and pale sapwood, carefully positioning each form to make the most of that natural contrast. I was also interested in balance: the tension between the slender necks and the rounded bodies, and how small changes in proportion could completely alter the character of a piece.

As the vases dried, some developed cracks which I chose not to hide. Instead, they were filled with copper powder, creating a subtle contrast that celebrates the movement and change that occurred during the drying process.

Of all the pieces in the Held Forms collection, these were some of the most satisfying to make. In fact, they’ve inspired a whole series of future work and I’m already planning more vases and candlesticks exploring similar ideas in Laburnum.

The full story behind Held Forms is now on the blog:
https://www.loveheartwood.co.uk/held-forms/

Last Friday I travelled down to Sussex for the private view of Tooth & Chisel: An Exploration in Wood by woodturner Jubal Prevatte.

Although we’d never met in person before, Jubal is someone I’ve chatted with for years through Instagram. We’ve attempted to meet up twice before, but life got in the way, so it was wonderful to finally meet him face to face, along with his wife Wendy, who runs Chintz & Wood in Worthing. Having once lived not far from there myself, we discovered we share a bit of Sussex geography too.

Jubal is one of those people with boundless energy, a huge capacity for hard work and an endlessly creative mind. The exhibition reflects all of that. I loved the imagination, ambition and sheer scope of the work on display. I wouldn’t have expected anything less than Jubal commissioning a blacksmith to forge a carving tool shaped like a beaver’s tooth in order to explore how beavers shape wood.

The exhibition is being held at Knepp, where the colony of beavers lives that inspired the work. One of the best things about it? You’re allowed to touch the pieces, which adds a whole extra dimension to the experience.

If you’re in the area, I can highly recommend both Knepp and this exhibition. It’s well worth a visit.

Tooth & Chisel: An Exploration in Wood
Jubal Prevatte
20 June – 20 July
Daily, 10am–4pm
Knepp Wilding Shop

https://knepp.co.uk/art-exhibitions/tooth-and-chisel-an-xploration-in-wood-jubal-prevatte/

HELD OPEN

One of the questions behind this collection was whether a simple form could communicate something beyond function.

As this vessel dried, its shape softened slightly and its symmetry relaxed. Rather than correcting those changes, I chose to embrace them. The result feels less like an object imposed upon the wood and more like a collaboration with it.

Held Open was selected for exhibition at INSIGHT 2026 at and remains one of my favourite pieces from the collection.

The full story behind Held Forms is now on the blog. https://www.loveheartwood.co.uk/held-forms/

Have you ever wanted to find the exact centre of a bowl blank once it’s already on the lathe?

When turning a wooden bowl, finding the exact centre after mounting the blank can be surprisingly simple. By spinning the blank at a slow speed, the true centre reveals itself, making it easy to mark with a pencil before continuing.

Knowing the centre can be useful for several reasons. It helps when setting your tool rest to the correct height and marking out a tenon or recess accurately.

It’s one of those small workshop tricks that can save a lot of time later on and help achieve a more accurate result.

Do you have a favourite woodturning tip that made life easier once someone showed it to you?

This 13-inch ash platter was inspired by a beautiful design from Mark Baker that I spotted in an old edition of Woodturning Magazine.

The elegant curve and fine rim make it a joy to look at, but turning a platter this thin comes with its challenges. As the wood gets thinner it becomes more flexible, which can lead to chatter marks from the tool, particularly towards the rim.

To help combat that, I supported the platter from behind while working on the second side and spent extra time refining the surface. After sanding, I wet sanded using Natasha Craig’s wood oil. The oil creates a slurry with the sanding dust that helps fill the grain, reduces airborne dust, prevents the abrasive from clogging and makes it much easier to spot any remaining scratches before applying the final finish.

Sometimes the difference between a good piece and a great piece isn’t another tool cut—it’s taking the time to perfect the finish.

This is the short video version! If you’d like to see the full process, including the turning, wet sanding and finishing, the complete video is available on my YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/shorts/eOH2A5k2Dro?is=VWT_ItoNgXcBaYjB

Please let me know what you think of Mark Baker’s beautiful design.

Father’s Day is just 4 days away…

If you’re struggling to think of a gift for the dad who already has everything, why not give him an experience instead?

A woodturning course is the chance to step away from screens, learn a new skill and create something with his own hands. Whether he’s completely new to woodworking or has always fancied having a go, my beginner-friendly courses are designed to be welcoming, practical and fun.

Choose from a 2-hour Taster Session or a full Beginner Woodturning Day, with all tools, materials and refreshments provided.

Gift vouchers are available as:
🎁 Beautiful printed vouchers by post
📧 Instant e-vouchers for last-minute gifts

Who knows? You might just be introducing him to a hobby he’ll enjoy for years to come.

Visit https://www.loveheartwood.co.uk/product-category/gift-vouchers/ or send me a message to arrange a voucher.