The Wooden Bowl

The first authoritative account of the history of the wooden bowl.

Long ago in Japan, Lily promises her dying grandmother that she will never remove the lacquered bowl the old woman placed on her head to protect her from those who would take advantage of her beauty. But Lily faces a life of hardship as a servant to a wealthy farmer whose hateful wife is determined to be rid of her. When their son falls in love with Lily, she must perform an impossible task to find her happiness, in this dramatic adaptation of a Japanese folktale.

This craftsman's companion celebrates 31 of the woodturners and innovative artists from around the world who have taken bowl-making to a higher level of aesthetic form. Each artist’s profile includes full-color, studio-quality photographs of their most spectacular work, along with insights on their design ideas and objectives.

The Handcarved Bowl provides step-by-step photos and directions for every stage of the bowlcarving process that will appeal to everyone from beginning woodworkers to seasoned carvers. Carving wooden bowls by hand may appear to be just a romantic notion (don't worry, it's that too), but there's also lots to learn about this natural material and unique process that will be undoubtedly serve you for every future woodworking project, no matter the tools or methods used. Bowl carving gives unparalleled insight to the basic properties of wood behavior, intimate knowledge of how tool edges interact with different grain, and the importance of learning to reframe failure as one of the keys of building deep understanding. The Handcarved Bowl is the beginning of many projects, not just the three designs outlined here in step-by-step instructions, and both seasoned woodworkers and beginners alike will find the inherent value of carving using these methods. Along the way you'll learn tips and tricks that will keep you safe, help you make informed decisions about your own designs, and give you the confidence to take your work in any direction you'd like.

Written directly from transcribed audiotapes recorded during a week-long interview with the master woodworker, this tribute to Bob Stocksdale reveals his life experiences, philosophies, and often replicated turning methods, all in his own words. A private artist who lived quietly and was not widely written about, Stocksdale's lifelong quest for the perfect bowl is chronicled, while select step-by-step, how-to tips for fellow craftsmen are detailed. Featuring a gallery of beautiful, never-before-seen photographs sure to inspire artists, this unique biography provides the master's advice on tools-including lathes, band saws, and jointers-sharpening devices, and wood selection, as well as his business tips for pricing, selling, and shipping finished pieces. A portrait of a beloved and respected artisan, this guide offers the first in-depth look at the man behind the perfect wooden bowl. Ron Roszkiewicz is the author of The Woodturner's Art and Woodturner's Companion. He lives in Encinitas, California.

Travis gets to eat whatever he wants, and he only likes junk food. Because his mother is always busy, Travis often eats colorful foods from packages and take-out from his favorite restaurants. He never eats freshly cooked meals-not until he has to spend the summer with his grandparents, that is. Grandma and Grandpa live on a ranch far from any restaurants, and Grandma loves spending hours in the kitchen making nutritious, wholesome meals. On his first night, Grandma prepares a big, healthy meal from scratch. Yuck! This isn't anything like what Travis is used to eating, but there's nothing else to eat. Determined not to give in and eat his grandparents' food, Travis decides to go to bed without eating. Lulled to sleep by the rumbling of an empty tummy, Travis has an amazing dream. Transported through time, Travis dreams of Benjamin, a young Judean shepherd boy who shares his simple food with a very large group of people; Abigail, a young girl who lives during the time of the American Revolutionary War; Rylee, a hungry little girl who has to eat green beans day after day in a house full of sand; and many others. What's more, with each of children in his dreams, he sees a little wooden bowl. With the help of the little wooden bowl and stories of these children from the past, Travis may yet learn to be thankful for good, healthy food.

The Wooden Bowl is a lovely story which talks about family ties and the respect which should be given to elders. It is the story of a lonely old man who seeks love and affection from his only son. An interesting read for young and adult readers alike.