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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social

@squirreltreestudio.bsky.social
64 followers 78 following 263 posts

Seattle based artisan working in wood, leather and fiber.

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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 20h
Ok, my solution to the problem of "how will anyone know this is an egg cup" is to make some eggs that are durable enough to take to the market. Is that a joke or a real attempt to solve the problem? Hard to say. But the eggs were fun. From some cherry branches. #woodturning #woodworking
A set of wooden egg cups two of which have wooden eggs in them, as is appropriate.
2101
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 22h
Doing QA on a set of experimental egg cups. I like this design but I'm not sure anyone will recognize that it is an egg cup unless I tell them. #woodworking #woodturning #kitchenware #pocillovy
A slightly undercooked soft boiled egg sits in a modernist looking wooden egg cup on a small birch plate. Seven more matching egg cups sit in the background.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
In my ongoing quest to understand why I like boxes with flamboyant, oversized lids I have made the most flamboyant and oversized box lid in my personal history. Could be more flamboyant. Could be more oversized. But I love it anyway. Elm, tung oil, beeswax. #woodworking #woodturning #box #biglids
A wooden box made of elm with a slightly silly bell shaped lid.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
More elm spurtles. Since I'm thinking about this utensil I decided to try making a different style. I like these better than the last set. Especially the one on the right. #woodworking #woodturning #kitchenutensil #spurtle
Two flat bladed spurtles made of elm.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Elm spurtles. A friend of mine was describing her ideal spurtle and I realized that I, despite being a lover of porridge, had never used one. So I made a set. One for her, one for me and three for the market stand. #woodturning #woodworking #kitchenutensil #spurtle #kitchen
A set of five wooden spurtles.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Had a pretty pleasant spot next to the fountain. And I managed to catch most of the spoon carving debris so I didn't leave a mess in the park.
040
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Managed to do the rough carving on a couple of rhododendron spoons while I tended the market stall today. A really beautiful day, maybe as slightly silly spoon. #woodworking #carving #spooncarving
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Rhododendron box with a tall lid. I like small boxes with flamboyantly tall lids so I want to explore that space. Made with wood a very kind landscaper friend brought me from one of her jobs. #woodturning #woodworking #box #crafts #handmade
A small but tall box made of rhododendron wood.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Elm box with a tung oil and beeswax finish. I love elm, it's so pretty. #woodturning #woodworking #box #crafts #handmade
Shallow round box made of elm.Shallow round box made of elm with the lid propped open.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Blanks for boot lasts. This is the beginning of a monster project. I've made simple turn shoes before and some costume shoes that you couldn't really walk in. But now my boots are wearing out and I want to try to make real, usable shoes to replace them. #woodworking #shoemaking #diy
Two wooden blocks cut into the rough shape of feet.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Yesterday was a good day for wood scavenging. Got three small pieces of hawthorn I can use for boxes and a couple of larger chunk which I don't have an ID for. Maybe some kind of cherry and ash? A bit of checking and rot but I think there's sound wood in all of them. #woodworking #salvage
020
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Alder with a char and wax finish. This was pale, featureless alder so I decided to try charing it, came out kind of interesting. It really just looks like paint until you are up close, then you start to see the structure of the wood. I like the knife finish bottom. #woodturning #woodworking #vase
Alder wood vase with a dark char finish on the outer surface.The bottom of an alder wood vase showing a carved knife finish texture.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Made a little camp stool to use at markets. Based on a design from Lost Art Press except that I stitched the seat rather than riveting it. I learned a lot from this one. I'll probably make a second one eventually. #woodworking #leatherworking #stool #furnituremaking
A small three legged stool with a leather seat.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
A little set of spalted american elm boxes (and one bowl because I screwed up the lid for that one). Finished with tung oil and beeswax. I was going to try to make a little puzzle box today but that went very poorly so I did this instead. #woodturning #woodworking #crafts #box
Four elm boxes, one without a lid.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
My first attempt at making and using a supported spindle. It's too light and the cup is too shallow. But I like this style of cup that you hold between your knees. I was able to spin some thread with it but it felt very clumsy. Next one will be a lot heavier. #woodturning #spinning #fiberarts
An oak spindle with some thread wrapped on to it along side a long cherry support bowl for spinning in.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Rough turned alder blank. This is the first time I'm trying to dry a rough bowl like this with the intention of turning it to final dimension later. This alder has been cracking, we'll see if this helps. I'm pretty sure this is the largest thing I've ever turned by enclosed volume. #woodturning
Rough, thick walled alder wood bowl blank held in the chuck of a lathe.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I recently got some tool upgrades that let me do larger diameter pieces so I'm experimenting with these larger platters and shallow bowls. And some smaller bowls to use up scraps. All sapele with tung oil. #woodworking #woodturning #kitchenware #bowl #platter
A hand holding a stack of wooden dishes made of sapele wood against a background of overgrown herbs. The dishes are two plates, a large shallow bowl and two smaller bowls with wire burnt decorations on the outside.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A pretty little bubinga box out of some scrap. Finished with tung oil. This piece was mostly an exercise in work holding. Using mortises (visible in the second picture showing the underside) rather than tenons, which is what I usually do. I like the mortise approach. #woodturning #woodworking
A small wooden boxThe undersides of the lid and body of a small wooden box.
080
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Someone down the street took out a big alder. So that became my afternoon: hauling as much salvage wood as I could on my homemade hand cart. Really not sure where this is all going to go but I'm excited to try working with it.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Set up at the market yesterday. The ridiculous homemade cart in the background got all this stuff, the table, chairs and canopy the two miles from my place to the park with surprisingly little trouble. #woodworking #woodturning #craftmarket #carfree
A market table with woodworking on it.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Oak dishes with carbonized exteriors. Finished with loads of paste wax to fix the char. I wanted to try this finish and I'm quite pleased with the results though there is clearly a technique there I need to work on, a bit uneven some minor cracking. #woodturning #woodworking #bowl
Three small oak bowls with a black, carbonized finish on the exterior.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Cottonwood salt pigs. I ended up making several variants, with and without lids and one with a cutout for a little pinch spoon which is an elaboration I've never done before. The cottonwood is pretty but difficult to work with, very soft and tear out prone. #woodturning #kitchenware #woodworking
A salt pot made of cottonwood with a lid and a hand carved maple pinch spoonA salt pot made of cottonwood with a lid.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Building a lightweight trestle table for taking to markets. First part that isn't just a sheet of plywood is this skirt made from shipworm eaten planks milled out of some old pilings. Not the most structurally sound wood but it's cool looking and I think it'll be fine. #woodworking #furnituremaking
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Working on some spindles. I literally just realized today that spindle turning is called spindle turning because it's how you turn spindles. Not sure how that had never occurred to me. Cherry whorls with birch sticks. #woodworking #woodturning #crafts #fiberarts #spinning
A hand holding several wooden drop spindles
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Another bubinga bowl. This time with a fancier base and a friction polish finish with paste wax top coat. This is the last of these medium sized bowls I'll get out of the small slab I bought. What's left will turn in to finials or knobs or something. #woodturning #woodworking #crafts #bowl
080
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Bubinga bowl. This is straight off the lathe, no oil or finish. Takes an amazing polish. #woodturning #woodworking #bowls
Wooden bowl.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Broke a couple of rings figuring it out but now I think I have a reliable technique down for making these goblets. I don't think the silly rings bouncing around after they are cut free will ever get old. #woodworking #woodturning #crafts #goblet
0120
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Some recent bowls oiled and ready to go. Top two are spalted maple and the bottom one is cherry. Finished with tung oil. #woodworking #woodturning #bowl #crafts
Three wooden bowls
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Captive ring goblet. I've been wanting to make one of these since the first time I saw a picture of one, before I even started turning. Shame the wood turned out kind of grungy, just a cherry stick. #woodworking #woodturning #goblet
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Today I am struggling with tagua. The white lid in the center with the little nob is salvageable with some pigmented epoxy fill, which I don't normally like to do. Some of the others I'll reglue and try again but some other day, today I need to move on. #woodworking #woodturning #tagua #crafts
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Second iteration of my fancy dice box design. Cherry, white oak, tagua, leather. Finished with linseed oil, shellac and paste wax. #woodworking #woodturning #crafts #box #d&d
Small wooden box with a leather thong closure.Small wooden box with a leather thong closure with the lid open.
0111
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Went a bit thin on the bottom this time. But it's ok other than that I think I'll try cutting it out and gluing in a plug in a contrasting color. No one will know it was a mistake except me and you. #woodworking #woodturning #woops
Turned wooden box with such a thin bottom that light shines through.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
My second hand made, hand drawn brush. This time a scrubber with a back to cover up the wire stitching that holds the bristles in. Oak, sapele, tampico fiber, brass wire and some glue. #woodworking #brushmaking #historicalcrafts #crafts #brush #kitchenware
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
My first finished brush. I guess it's a bench brush. What could it be useful for? Maybe cut the bristles shorter and it would be a hair brush? Sapele, tampico fiber, brass wire, boiled linseed oil #woodworking #brushmaking #historicalcrafts #crafts #brush #naturalfiber
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
First experiment with brush drawing, which is evidently what this process of securing bristles in place with wire is called. Hand carved sapele body with tampico bristles stitched in place with brass wire. No glue. Very pleased so far. #woodworing #brushmaking #historicalcrafts
A hand carved wooden brush with the holes where bristles will go drilled but no bristles in place yet.A hand carved wooden brush with some of the bristle tufts installed. Showing the over length bristles and the loops of brass wire holding them into the handle.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I was feeling sad that I didn't get more willow wood from that branch that fell. But then I turned this out of the stuff I did get and I'm no longer sad. The wood is sort of pretty but it tears out worse than anything I've experienced. Like trying to turn a paintbrush. #woodturning #goblet
A small goblet made of willow wood.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I was sitting and looking at this little tagua vase and wondering what I was ever going to do with such a silly thing and at that very moment an order of tampico fiber showed up so now it's a deluxe brush of some sort. #brushmaking #tampico #tagua #crafts
Small tampico fiber brush with a tagua nut handle.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I bought a big sack of tagua nuts (aka. vegetable ivory) from an pipe maker who was cleaning out their workshop. I'm excited to try working with this material. Here's my very first test, a teeny little vase. I'll probably actually use it for finials, knobs, maybe buttons. #woodturning #tagua
Three whole tagua nuts next to one which has been turned on a lathe into a small vase.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
A big willow lost a branch near my house. This is a tiny fraction of the wood that came down but it was the only part I could get off without a chainsaw. Not thick enough to make any big bowls but maybe some more egg cups or even goblets. #wood
A pile of willow wood
030
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Egg cups. I love this wood but I don't know what it is. Came out of a bin. My best guess is either mock orange or honeysuckle. we'll see how well it dries. #woodworking #woodturning #eggcup #kitchenware
Three wooden egg cups, one with an egg in it.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I know that as wood goes this stuff isn't that spectacular but I don't normally work with wood that is at all spalted so to me it's remarkable. Weird, cloud like volumes of color in the material. #woodworking #wood
A chunk of maple wood with spalting patterns
040
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I'm already pleased with this and it doesn't even have oil on it yet. Needs to finish drying, it'll go slightly oval. From a very diseased maple branch pruned off a tree near my partner's place, perfectly spalted. #woodturning #woodworking #crafts #vessel #bowl
Wooden bowl
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
This is a project from a few years ago. Ceramic shell cast aluminum. Originally intended as the enclosure for a weird MIDI controller but that didn't work out very well so I repurposed some of the casts as other things, including this one as a pencil holder. #metalcasting
010
squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
More spoons, smaller ones this time. These are ready for sanding and finishing and if I'm good I'll get them done tonight. #woodworking #spooncarving #artsprocess #crafts
Wooden spoons and carving tools.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
More spoons in slightly spalted big leaf maple. Continuing to experiment with shapes and practice the basic skills. Progress. Some of these I quite like. #woodworking #spooncarving #crafts #kitchenware
Several wooden spoons
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
This is an older piece that has served me well as a dice box for a good while now. Still one of my favorite boxes. #woodworking #woodturning #d&d #ttrpg
a wooden box full of dice
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
More needle cases. This time in what I think is holly but I'm honestly not sure. It could be a particularly white maple? Came out of the offcuts bin at the lumber yard. #woodworking #woodturning
Wooden needle cases
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Small needle cases in sapele. It's nice to be making something that doesn't have to be food contact safe and washable so I can use my trusty linseed oil and shellac friction polish. #woodturning #woodworking
Two wooden needle cases, one open with pins spilling out.
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Finishing up some spoons. These are improving. #spooncarving #woodworking #crafts
Three wooden spoons
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squirreltreestudio.bsky.social @squirreltreestudio.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Slightly better still photo. I'm finding this very difficult to photograph.
020