Author Archives: Dennis

‘Tis the season…

For 2010, Dennis has chosen a colorful roof, perch, and finial to highlight this simple bird house turned from Colorado Aspen.  A variety of colors creates a luscious mixture  in bright candy colors. The birdhouses are a limited production run, which will be available at the LoMere coffee house in Monument, or from Dennis: 719-481-8754. […]

Spiral Revival

Photo:  One of Stuart Mortimer’s classes on cutting twists and spirals, September 2010

Stuart Mortimer returns to Colorado

Stuart Mortimer returned to Colorado in September with woodturning demonstrations and classes in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Ft. Collins, and five sessions for the Rocky Mountain Woodturners Symposium.  Stuart’s visit coincided with a renewal of interest in spindle turning, as well as end-grain forms such as traditional boxes and hollow forms. In the photo, he […]

A Visit with Doc

A few months ago, Doc Thode celebrated his 90th birthday with many of his woodturning friends.  Dennis heard about the birthday party from Lee Carter, and realized that it was time to place his order for a 1/3 scale high chair for his youngest grandchild. Doc called Dennis last week to invite us up to […]

Natural Edge Bowls — where and when to get one!

Some folks have inquired about purchasing one of the natural edge bowls.   Dennis makes them in batches from freshly-cut trees, so the inventory of bowls depends upon the availability of good trees.  For this winter, bowls from cherry and ash are for sale in the M.A. Doran Gallery in Tulsa, OK, during the Holiday […]

Merry Christmas!

For 2009, Dennis has made a traditional icycle ornament with sea urchin shells and holly. The urchins are a delicate seashell that has been stabilized and painted with iridescent paints.  The finials are turned in three pieces  too conserve holly, which is a very white, and relatively scarce wood.  The ornaments are 6″ tall, with […]

November visit with Stuart Mortimer

Dennis returned to Grateley, England with his new (woodturner) wife, Kay, to spend a week with his mentor, Stuart Mortimer.  It was the Mortimer goblet with the twisted stem that first lured Dennis into the mysteries of the woodturning craft.   Stuart has continued to invent, refine, and hone the skills of working with spiral […]

Twistwork in Furniture Show

Dennis will have three pieces in the ‘Quilts and Fine Woodworking’ Show at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, opening September 25th.  This is the 24th year for one of the Museum’s most popular shows.   The Cherry Server and Goblet with laminated twisted stem represent traditional uses of twistwork.   Dennis will also exhibit the […]

Corporate Gift Items

How do you commemorate an up-and-down year like 2009?   The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals chose the yoyo as the perfect gift.  Dennis turned the yoyo’s from face-grain cocobolo, using a special jig developed by Nick Cook.  The boxes were made by Jim McCord of Excelsior Springs, MO, and laser-engraved with the organization’s […]

Pepper Mill

    Dennis makes an English-style pepper mill learned from Allan Batty.  This shape allows a good grip for grinding when held either vertically, or perpendicularly to the food.   Maple is a good choice for tableware because of its hardness and durability, as well as its non-aromatic character.  This is a lovely piece of […]