I have just returned from a trip to Scotland...
I met up with some of my carving and smithing friends and spent a week in the foothills of the Cairngorms.
We had a great time practising our bushcraft, but to be honest we spent a great deal of time sitting, carving and chatting...
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| John Arthur, Sean Mulhall and Chris Grant. |
Being a chap who usually spends time in mountains or moorland, I usually sleep on the ground. However on this trip my good friend Chris Grant lent me his hammock...
I had the most comfortable nights sleep. This hammock is super large, just right for a long fella like myself, and weighs next to nothing. Chris bought it from Lakelandbushcraft I will be calling them soon to place an order...
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| John Arthur snapping away whilst Chris heads into the forest. |
We trekked in with all sorts of heavy equipment for a long stay, including our carving tools and a cast iron cooking pot...
We ate very well....
Tired after a long and busy day I prepared a grand supper of beef stew.
It went down well.
I think the lads were pleased they bought a good chef.
We also managed to fit in some time with Chris at his workshop...
Tired after a long and busy day I prepared a grand supper of beef stew.
It went down well.
I think the lads were pleased they bought a good chef.
We also managed to fit in some time with Chris at his workshop...
So...Now I am back home in Devon. I have been working hard with a couple of jobs...
I have been carving a knife handle to fit a Grant utility blade for a friend of mine...
Here's how it should look...
And I have finished carving one of the burrs...
A departure from my normal style, I enjoyed carving this Kuksa very much...
And it will serve to remind me of a splendid time with good friends...
I have soaked it in Tung oil and will repeat the soakings until I am satisfied with the finish...
Hopefully I will get to visit again in the not too distant future...
Thanks Chris Grant for guiding us.
Sean for driving us.
And John Arthur ........
ENJOY...
Fantastic looking kuksa that is :)
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Martijn
Great to hear from you Martijn...
ReplyDeleteNice wood; nice work. I grew up around the family sawmill and enjoy such wood. My mother, however, thinks such grain looks "messy" (along with curly maple and any other figured wood)!
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to live near an old fashioned saw mill. I enjoyed working with the Birch burr very much...J
ReplyDeletegreat pics joh,sorry i couldnt get there.
ReplyDeleteHi hi Grimbo...We'll do it again soon. Plenty to talk about...J
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful trip you had, Jon. The birch burr Kuksa is beautiful...luv the new style too. In Canada we call these tree formations "burls". They make the most beautiful carvings and woodturnings, yes? Thanks for sharing your photos and story. :)
ReplyDeleteLeslie
My pleasure Leslie...Thoroughly enjoyed both the visit and writing the story...J
ReplyDeletethats pukka Jon
ReplyDeleteHi Jarmez...I'll be ready at 6...J
ReplyDeleteThe kuksa, and most all of your carving, Jon; magical! Now, the Kelly Kettle: my fantasy is to brew up in the rain, in a small rowboat or canoe, in the middle of some water, the shorelines hidden in mist, while fishing, cloud hidden, whereabouts unknown. That would be a trick in Arizona, but the Kelly Kettle works fine out in the back yard, too.
ReplyDeleteHi hi Bill. That sounds like a great "Day Out". I haven't been fishing for quite a while. Well perhaps one day we can get you fishing either here in Devon...Plenty of mist...Or up in Scotland...Plenty of mist...Thanks for dropping in...All the best...J
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