Freedom Pens!

I met a gentleman online that is collecting pens to send to our troops currently at war. I know it is not a lot, but it is my little way of doing something for them. Apparently they really need pens and love seeing the ones made by pen turners. These three pens are going to be shipped out today. All are made from American Black Walnut.

Green Pen/Knife Set

One of my co-workers is purchasing some items from me to give to her boyfriend on Christmas. This pen/knife set is one thing that she is going to be getting. She is also buying a duck call and goose call (her boyfriend is a hunter, can you tell). Anyway, these are not made from wood, but acrylic. It is a pain to work with because you have to be very careful not to get it too hot and melt the blanks. I have not had any big problems like that yet, but I'm sure I will some day.

Knife Closed:

Kife Opened:

Ring Box

Last weekend I got to spend some good time in the shop playing around with some wood that I had been given b0th by my Dad and my Father-in-law. This piece is from a branch of poplar my Father-in-law gave me a couple of weeks ago. When I was looking through some books on woodturning, Sabrina saw a ring box project and mentioned that she would like one of those. So this weekend I played around and made this. The top is not a choclolate chip like my sis-in-law thought at first sight. It is out of a small srap of African Ebony wood. Let me know what you think!