2025 Projects and visits
Sixth Form Trophies
Posted 19 December 2025
A collection of trophies for Sixth Formers commissioned by Malton School. Individual trophies were presented at a Celebration Evening on 19 December 2025; perpetual versions of the trophy are on display in the School entrance hall. Have a look at more detailed photos of the Sixth Form trophies
Trophy plinths
Posted 19 December 2025
Oliver in Shrophire requested two trophy plinths for his running club, to mount some sculptures of a local mountain. The Morning After Race refers to a race to be run by brave souls on New Year's Day. Have a look at more trophy plinths
Yarn bowl
Posted 8 December 2025
Clive in Colchester requested a yarn bowl. This one is 8 inches in diameter, 4 inches high, and is turned from a lively piece of cherry. Have a look at more bowls, other yarn bowls, and textiles related turning.
Swimming trophies
Posted 8 December 2025
Annual swimming trophies made for Bridlington Swimming Club. Based on our popular disc design with a plinth added, and text and club logo pyrographed onto the wood. Have a look at more disc trophies, and trophies in general.
School subject trophies
Posted 20 November 2025
Three more perpetual trophies for Malton School, this time Information Technology, Religion and Design Technology. Also some individual trophies to be presented to students in Key Stage this week. The request from the school is to have a trophy in school for each subject at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. We are nearly there!
Cheeseboard or cakestand
Posted 20 November 2025
Tom in Harrogate requested a large cakestand which would double up as a breadboard and cheeseboard as well. He wanted a simple design, easy to pick up from a table, preferably in beech. This 13" diameter board is the result.
Fungi
Posted 10 November 2025
A particularly good year for fungi. With lots spotted on recent visits to woodlands and gardens, I have updated and expanded the pages on Fungi, though many of my efforts to name the 50 or so examples is only educated guesswork. All corrections welcomed.
Trees: Scottish Borders and Belsay
Posted 9 November 2025
More tree photos from my travels have been added to the ever growing tree gallery and database, this time from around the Scottish Borders, including Belsay (not quite in Scotland, but close by), Dawyck, Floors, Mellerstain, Melrose and Mertoun. Over 750 species and 2000+ photos are now in the collection.
Chinese Lion Head eyes
Posted 9 November 2025
We had a request from Scott in Cheam to make 'eyes' for a Chinese lion dance head, initially 5 pairs. These are made in beech, but are to be painted by Scott as part of the decorative mask. Quite small at only 3 cm diameter, but quite specific in the dimensions and shape.
Dutch woodturner magazine
Posted 24 October 2025
Back in June a Dutch woodturner, Flip van de Waerdt, visited me with his wife Yvonne, and dog Skot. He asked if he could do an interview for his woodturning magazine back in the Netherlands. I showed him round the workshop and store, with a few pieces in progress at the time, and around the garden. The result is a four-page article printed this month in AktieRadius, number 127. A copy of the article, Bijzondere Houtdraaiers, Ambacht en gastvrijheid (Special woodturners: craftsmanship and hospitality) is available - it is in Dutch, but there is a translation provided!
School subject trophies
24 October 2025
Malton School requested a set of 15 perpetual trophies to mark success in subjects across the curriculum at Key Stage 3. These will stay in school and be displayed with annual winners' names on them. In addition they commissioned individual trophies to be presented to the winning students to keep. A trophy gallery and further information for all these trophies is available.
Pillar base repair and restoration
23 October 2025
One of our larger requests - to turn a pillar base to repair a rotten section of an 8 foot long hollow wooden pillar for Wydale Hall. The request came from Stockill's joiners in Snainton, who put together blocks of sapele ready to turn. At 17 inches diameter, this just fitted on one of our lathes with half an inch clearance. We are looking forward to seeing the finished article back in situ at the hall.
Christmas ornaments
6 October 2025
Three items made recently at a woodturning demonstration for Ryedale Woodturners. The sausage dog is perhaps not Christmassy, and similar robins have appeared on this site before, but the reindeers are new - the outside two are to hang on a tree, the middle one is free standing. A video of the demonstration exists on YouTube.
Have a look at more Christmas ornaments
Teddy bear stool
25 September 2025
Denise asked if we could replicate a gift from 30 years ago, a small teddy bear stool. This is only 7 inches in diameter, with 6 inch legs, so is probably for a teddy bear rather than for a child - unlike the stools we usually make. We duly obliged, with a stool made from oak and pyrographed with teddy and inscription.
Clock hood columns
2 September 2025
Russell in Scarborough asked if we could make two hood columns for a clock he was restoring. These are the pillars that go either side of the clock face, in this case to fit between brass capitals and bases. They are slightly tapered, and turned in oak to match the clock case.
Clocks
5 August 2025
Mandy in Stamford Bridge asked if we had any mantel clocks, so we made 3 for her to choose from. She opted for the burr elm version, so the other two are for sale. The taller one is a natural edge oak with a wide seam of creamy sapwood. The "bedside" version is oak, spherical shape, with an oiled matt finish. All three have quartz movement inserts.