I had a big complement to my prowess as a woodturner a few weeks ago: Woodworker's Journal contacted me and asked if they could feature some work that I did in an article they were preparing about Ambrosia Maple. I was, and am, quite flattered, and quite pleased. Here's a link to the article:
Mothers Day is the perfect chance to get the moms in your life gifts that say thanks - I mean, seriously, who do we owe more than the woman that brought us into the world, unless perhaps it's the woman who is the mother of our children. So you can wait till a few days before Mothers Day and then run to Walmart and get some token gift that doesn't really say much except that she was an afterthought (been there, done that, sorry Liz), or you can place an order with me now to make something as unique as she is, that says you appreciate her in a personal way. Plus, these things take time to make, so your forethought will be obvious too.
So here are the terms:
$10 off of any bowl, limit 10 bowls,(place order by Apr. 11 for a segmented bowl, Apr. 18 for other turnings.)
$20 off of a Salt and Pepper Grinder set (Place order by Apr. 11)
$10 off of a Salt and Pepper Shaker Set (Place order by Apr. 18)
$10 off of any pen from the "Design Your Pen" page (place order by Apr. 18)
To cash in on this offer, don't use the "Order Now" buttons on my individual items - email me with your order and I'll send you an invoice. Thanks!!
I've had a lot of fun with segmented bowls. Spirals, colorful patterns. The process is time consuming, to glue each ring together, then glue one layer on at a time, turn the bowl, etc. The results, though, have been well worth it - see these award 
winning bowls, or this set I made with Purpleh
eart, for example. But I have wanted to do more - other patterns and styles, and I've wanted to do it more efficiently.
It's never too early to think about what to get your special someone for Valentines Day. It can be too late though. Don't make my mistake and procrastinate till the day of, and then discover that the only thing you can find at the store is a bag of cookies - OK so I would have liked them, but I still hear about this epic fail every year.
So if you want to do better than I did, don't wait. I need Valentines Day orders placed by January 24th in order to make and ship them (US Only) in time. Here are some suggestions:
Gifts For Him
Manly Bling - Pens - I don't like to wear rings, watches, bracelets, or other "manly" jewelry, but a nice pen in my shirt pocket says "class." Thick pens like the cigar pen, Jr. Gentlemen Pen, and Artisan Rollerball are very masculine and classy. All pens are $5 off the listed price if you email me to place your order.
The Man Bowl - It's been said that a uterus is a homing beacon, and I take advantage of that fact daily: "have you seen my keys? Wallet? Cell Phone?" Well, give the man in your life a man bowl and give your homing beacon a vacation. Wood bowls start at $15 for a 6"x2" maple bowl and go up from there depending on choice of wood, size, and shape. $5 off the listed price if you email me to place your order.
Gifts For Her:
Spice it up with Pepper Mills: Men, it's time to pony up - say thanks for the Ipod, the GPS, the flat screen and get your babe something nice that she can enjoy every day - my hand-made pepper mills add class and distinction to the table, upping the standard for the every day dinner, and impressing guests at special occasions. Plus, spicy foods are supposed to have an aphrodasiac effect so it's win-win, right? Just don't tell her that when you give it to her, ok? Trust me - spoils the effect. All pepper mills are $10 off the listed price if you email me to place your order.
So like I said, learn from my mistake, guys - a bag of cookies just doesn't cut it, and don't wait till last minute or it will be too late. Good luck, and Happy Valentines Day!
p.s. I should mention, all of these can be laser-engraved for an additional $30, but you'll have to add another week to the time to complete the order so you'll want to order by January 17th.
In years past, I've always had a sale in the end of November for those who want stuff for Christmas, to drum up business and so that I don't get swamped with last-minute orders. Well, I usually get swamped anyway after the sale, but it does give early shoppers particularly good deals. This year, however, I already have enough to do - lots of orders to fill. However, out of a sense of duty to my loyal customers and Facebook fans, I'm going to go for it anyway, but with some twists:
My waiting list is long enough that there is no longer time for custom orders to be finished y Christmas. I have a bunch of stuff from the Farmers Market that I'm offering at a discount - see my Virtual Farmers Market Sale - and I have a bunch of wizard wands that didn't sell at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie opening at the Ogden Junction Megaplex Theater. These will be for sale till they're gone - see www.MuggleWandmaker.com.
Thanks to all who have made this last year a success, and Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!!
Maybe you've been looking for the perfect gift for your employees to say thank you for a job well done - with your company logo or project acronym on it. Or you want to have a unique, one-of-a-kind gift for someone special, engraved with a meaningful line or phrase that will make it that much more meaningful for the recipient. Well, I've offered woodburning services for a while now. Woodburning is much less precise than laser-engraving, giving the result an obviously hand-made look, if that's what you're after. Woodburning adds to the cost of a project, and depends on the complexity of the design to be burned.
If you want something crisp-edged, with machine precision, you'd need to stick with laser engraving. Until now I've not had access to a laser engraver. I have recently struck up a relationship with a trophy firm that provides this service, so I'm extending the offer to you. Individual items can be engraved starting at $30, and multiple items can be engraved for a $40 set-up fee and $10 per item starting cost.
The opportunity is now yours to come up with your ideas - be it pens, wands, gift boxes, keyrings - really just about anything I make can be enhanced with pyrography or laser engraving to create truly unique and treasured gifts. Email me with your idea and we'll go from there.
Well, the Ogden Farmers and Art Market for 2010 is over now. I have mixed feelings - it was fun to be a part of, but it was also a lot of work. Now comes what my Facebook group and page fans loved last year - the Virtual Farmers Market Sale where I offer my inventory to my loyal customers at discounted prices. If you're looking for a unique Christmas gift at a great price, well, now's your chance.
You can buy them one of two ways: Email me with what you want and I'll send you an invoice through Paypal for the reduced price, or buy them off the "order now" button on their respective pages, and ask for the Farmers Market price. Thing is, once they're sold, it's back to business as usual, so if you want something, snatch it up quickly. I'll keep this page updated as things sell. Click on the images to enlarge. Also, I have a few items to add as soon as I get them posted, so keep checking back.
European Pen and Letter Opener Set - Padauk and Maple
State Fair First Place. Regular price $110, Farmers Market price: $75
Americana Roller Ball Pen - Padauk, Maple & Blackwood;
County and State Fair First Place. Regular price: $65.00. Farmers Market Price: $45.00
Blackwood and Yellowheart Spiral Segmented Pen
Black Chrome. Regular Price $50.00. Farmers Market Price: $40.00
Black and White Ebony and Chrome Slimline Pencil (0.5mm)
Regular Price $35.00. Farmers Market Price $10.00
Cocobolo European Pen and Pencil Set (0.7mm)
Regular Price $100.00, Farmers Market price $50.00
Segmented Walnut and Maple European Pen
Regular Price: $ 60.00, Farmers Market Price: $45.00
Segmented Walnut and Maple Slimline Pen
Regular Price: $50.00, Farmers Market Price: $40.00
Segmented Spiral Walnut and Maple Americana Pen
Regular Price: $60.00 Farmers Market Price: $30.00
Segmented Spiral Walnut and Maple Cigar Pen
Regular Price: $70.00 Farmers Market Price: $50.00
Celtic Knot Padauk and Holly Slimline Pen
Regular Price: $50.00 Farmers Market Price: $40.00
Figured Cocobolo Cigar Pen
Regular Price: $40.00Farmers Market Price: $30.00
Bubinga Beaded Slimline Pen
Regular Price: $35.00 Farmers Market Price: $20.00
Black Titanium and "Holstien" Acrylic Slimline Pen
Regular Price: $45.00 Farmers Market Price: $30.00
Blue 
Acrylic and Canarywood Euorpean Pen
Regular Price: $45.00 Farmers Market Price $25.00
Olive and Gold Titanium Slimline Pen
Regular price $35.00, Farmers Market Price $20.00
Padauk and Black Titanium Slimline Pen
Regular Price$ $35.00, Farmers Market Price $20.00
Padauk and Black Titanium European Pen
Regular Price $40.00, Farmers Market Price $25.00
Ebony Laser Pointer
Regular Price $65.00, Farmers Market Price $45.00
Bloodwood Laser Pointer
Regular Price $65.00, Farmers Market Price $45.00
Bocote Magnifying Glass
Regular Price $35.00, Farmers Market Price $25.00
8" Celtic Knot Padauk and Maple Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker
State Fair First Place Ribbon
Regular Price 200.00, Farmers Market Price $175.00
6" Ambrosia Maple Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker
Regular Price: $100.00, Farmers Market Price $80.00 SOLD
Honey Pots Peg Rack
Regular Price $60.00, Farmers Market Price $10.00
Sycamore Goblets
Regular Price $100.00, Farmers Market Price $60.00
Segmented Serving Bowl Set
First Place in Weber County and Utah State Fair
Regular Price $200.00, Farmers Market Price :180.00
Laminated Recessed "Bar" sized Cutting Board
Regular Price $30.00, Farmers Market price: $20.00
2 available.
36" Distressed White Faux Drawer Shelf
Regular Price $60.00, Farmers Market price: $45.00
18" Distressed White Faux Drawer Shelf
Regular Price $40.00, Farmers Market price: $25.00
18" Distressed Black Faux Drawer Shelf
Regular Price $40.00, Farmers Market price: $25.00
Sycamore Mortar and Pestle
Regular Price $45.00, Farmers Market Price $35.00
Ambrosia Maple bowl - 6"
Regular Price $25.00, Farmers Market Price $20.00
7" Square Maple Bowl
Regular Price $30.00, Farmers Market Price $25.00
7" Square Purpleheart BOwl
Regular Price $35.00, Farmers Market Price :35.00
6" Figured Walnut Bowl
Regular Price $12.50, Farmers Market Price: $10.00
12.5" African Mahogany Platter
Regular Price $75.00, Farmers Market Price $55.00
7"x4" Ambrosia Maple Bowl
Regular Price $67.00, Farmers Market Price $40.00
Oregon Myrtlewood Bowl - 8"x4"
Regular Price $75.00, Farmers Market Price $40.00
8" Zebrawood Bowl/Sushi Hangiri
Regular Price: $62.00, Farmers Market price: $35.00
Spalted Maple bowl, 8"x4"
Regular Price $73.00, Farmers Market Price: $30.00
6"x3.5" Sycamore Bowl
Regular price $41.50, Farmers Market Price $20.00
Purpleheart Bowl, 7"
Regular Price $37.00, Farmers Market Price $25.00
Aromatic Cedar Bowl - 6"
Sold.
Padauk and Chrome Consecrated Oil Vial - SOLD
Regular Price $25.00, Farmers Market Price $15.00
(Wood has darkened slightly since photo)
Convex Laminated Oil Vial
Regular Price: $34.95, Farmers Market Price $20.00 SOLD
Straight Laminated Oil Vial
Regular Price: $34.95, Farmers Market Price $20.00
Walnut and Gold Consecrated Oil Vial
Regular Price $25.00, Farmers Market Price $15.00
Purpleheart and Gold Consecrated Oil Vial
Regular Price $25.00, Farmers Market Price $15.00
Blue Box Elder Burl Consecrated Oil Vial
Regular Price $25.00, Farmers Market Price $15.00
Osage Orange and Chrome Consecrated Oil Vial
Regular Price $25.00, Farmers Market Price $15.00
Bubble "Magic" wands
$3.00 each, bubbles not included
And stuff by Jamie Neff that was at my booth:
Adult-size aprons (waist down) $10.00
Youth-sized apron(waist down)$6.00
Youth-sized full apron $8.00
