I like the natural graining of this piece, and your representation of the leaves is lovely. I really enjoyed the fact you made the leaves proportionately bigger. I love hand carving; it makes so much individual expression possible. Beautiful. Well done, you!
Hi Mike...I am currently languishing in hospital with time on my hands and am so happy to have found your wonderful site. I binge watch as your natural artistry appears from all sorts of different wood and the finished pieces are just beautiful. Thank you.
That's beautiful! I love the spikes you carved. I think the only thing you could have possibly done to save the spikes would have been to cast the bottom in epoxy. Although, I'm not sure it would have worked with as loose as the bark was. Great job, Mike! ❤
As you were turning this I noticed 2 things. The colors in the wood made it look smooth to me as if it had already been sanded. The second is that the shape was almost the same as an old glass Coca-Cola bottle. I really like the finished product.
I can't say it is my favorite piece (personal preference thing), but I love your approach, creativity, and problem solving. I always look forward to your next creations & learning new turning techniques.
Hi Mike, could you call that Turning Over a New Leaf. This interested me because my neighbour has a large Monkey Puzzle tree in her front yard. This vase really turned out to have a very interesting character all of its own and the eyes have it. Till next time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love the piece, very well done. So glad the big piece of bark did not cause injury or any damage. Close call. Good call to remove all the bark. I think the carved leaves look terrific. Dave.
😂 when you said "that's why you wear a face shield" 😂 Yep. I've a new respect for face shields after my near disaster. Won't catch me without one now. 👍
Many years ago, I inherited a monkey puzzle tree from my aunt. It was a prize possession! Several years later, I traveled to Chile And was privileged to see a monkey puzzle tree in its natural setting! It’s soared to about 50 feet tall as I recall. Through a second story picture window at the hotel we were able to see into the tree and watch birds nesting there! It was amazing to watch. A few years later, we had a disasterous freeze in Louisiana, and it died! I have wanted to replace it and keep it in a pot, but they have become very expensive. I really enjoyed watching this video to see the wood underneath that amazing bark, and I love the vase that you made with the carving!
I really love the colors in this piece of wood. It's an interesting blend of warm and cool. Great work in choosing a shape that set off the wood's best features. It's always interesting to follow your process. Thanks
Wow, that's the softest wood I've ever seen; it looked like you were carving clay! What a great learning experience, yet again. Thank you. Wish the original bark and leaves could have stayed, but then the lovely grain would have been forever hidden... Love your carving, that's really great! Beautiful piece, as always.😊
Can you even imagine how much time it would take to sand down all of those sharp pointed leave tips in resin without damaging the piece of wood? 🤯 It would (wood 😅) be stunning, though!!!!
I’ve only recently found your channel and must say how much I enjoy watching and listening. Your process is fascinating, and it’s a treat that you share your thoughts as the piece reveals to you what it needs to be and why.
The colours are really interesting on that piece. It looks like something is going on under the surface. I like the leaf engravings, they add to the story.
Loving your journey into wood carving Mike.. You have certainly attained the natural authentic beauty of Monkey Puzzle bark. I love this piece, Perfect, organic, rustic charm. I can see this vase in a gallery showing of its understated beauty. Well done Mike on yet another brilliant work of art. ❤😊 xxx
Loving that wood and your carving work. Appreciating the teaching. Love the natural colors and grain of the wood. Ty 4 not coloring the leaves, lol. So cool that you're developing products. Beautiful finish. ❤
Ive seen monkey trees being taken down & I have seen Jack Mack’s Monkey Puzzle work that he did on 19 May 2021 … he had a HUGE piece & made a very unusual display of the eyes … I believe that you would enjoy his video. I really enjoyed this and the blue bowl that you made previously … your wife was so cute when she peeked out to see how you were doing. You have a wonderful family & I look forward to your future turnings!!!
I had no idea what you were going to end up with when you started, but I agree that's a striking piece. As ever, that first set of isopropyl on the grain only hints at the beauty to be revealed
The original piece looked like something that would pop up out of the sand and clobber you during the desert level of a video game XD I've never seen a piece of monkey puzzle with the leaves still on, and the leaf scars were a nice surprise under the killer attack bark. I'm glad you went with a minimalist style because a great piece of wood like that really speaks for itself. The engraved leaves are the perfect extra touch (and thank you for not coloring them this time!)
What a beautiful piece. I’ve never heard of that particular tree before and this piece certainly had a beautiful grain to show off. I’m quite glad the bark came off and the engraving looks stunning.
...beautiful result...very well done! I'm sittin' here thinkin' that I may have drilled an angled hole down into each eye for small dried flowers...but then I'm also thinkin' I should think about that for a while...I'm thinkin' maybe that's why my projects take so long???...what do 'ya think?...🤔 Matt
Thanks Matt, that would have been a wonderful idea but it would have added a lot of hours to the project. One day I will get another piece like this and give it a go 😀
“I’m making all this up as I go along!” Would make a great T-shirt! Or shop sign? It was a brave and courageous decision to first time carve into a “finished” piece. I guess you could have turned it away if it wasn’t working. But, it turned(X) carved out great! As always, nice work Mike! Cheers! Joe CA
Extraordinary piece of wood🤩. A fortunate that the bark didn’t want to stay on but you managed to get it ‘back on ‘ the piece by carving it out into it.. great one again.. and again congratulations on the 40.000 subs.. well done🎉..
At the start I thought it was fighting you. Your engraving served you well because you enjoyed it so well. As for the finish I would have put premium danish oil on which I have found much smoother and lighter than standard danish oil. I really enjoyed this video with your standard turning with the caring being the highlight. Great work Mike.
That vase is gorgeous. I love the bottle shape and the beautiful markings on it. The "leaves" around the bottom truly enhance the whole. ♥ Sorry I haven't been around for a few months. We moved into a motorhome and I had to move from a desktop to a laptop... so I lost a lot. But I finally found you again and can now enjoy watching you take a piece of wood and turn it into something gorgeous. ♥
Nice colours , with the loose bark i hold a hacksaw over whilst its turning to get down the wood it saves the chisel chipping it out , then seringe warmed up resin on the inside gaps to glue it back to the wood , its a bugger to do but like some bark on the bttom of a lamp like elm and black walnut , nice work Mike ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m sure I’ve seen a piece of raw monkey puzzle before, but I don’t remember the bark being so spiky. Seeing it causes the name to make all sorts of sense. Your piece is great. Love the shape and the carving you did.
As you were describing your original vision, I was thinking, that's going to be a dramatic piece, but it'll be a bear to keep clean. How would you dust it? Watching your creative process is what keeps me coming back. It feels like spending time with a friend 😊❤
That clip at the end was nice. I know we saw it earlier, but in slow motion, it's much better. I made a cherry bowl last month that wasnt really dry enough, and I was being lazy. I left it overnight. The next day, I saw it had cracked a bit, but it looked fine to continue. As soon as I resumed hollowing, it split completely in half and flew in 2 directions at once. The only thing keeping it together had been the chuck jaws. That woke me up a bit. First time I've ever seen that happen before.
Any chance we would ever get a compilation video of things flying off the lathe? That's sure to go viral!
Haha, I'll have a think, not sure I can remember them all 😂
That spiky bark would look fab encased in resin!
I was thinking exactly the same thing!
Thanks, I did consider it, perhaps next time 😁
Stabilitizing resin to penetrate that thick bark
I was thinking the same thing. I'd love to see that!
I like the natural graining of this piece, and your representation of the leaves is lovely. I really enjoyed the fact you made the leaves proportionately bigger. I love hand carving; it makes so much individual expression possible. Beautiful. Well done, you!
Thanks so much Susanna, hand carving is so much fun, still not very good at it but we all have to start somewhere 😀
@ You’re doing just fine! 😄
@susannah4Him haha thanks 😀
Have turned a lot of monkey puzzle, but never a vase out of it . looks like it would make a great lamp stand. Brilliant as usual.
Thank you! Cheers.John, it may yet end up as a lamp 😁
The flute top with the eyes looks like a seahorse head😂beautiful finish ,love it well done
Yes it does! Thanks Peter 😀
Hi Mike...I am currently languishing in hospital with time on my hands and am so happy to have found your wonderful site. I binge watch as your natural artistry appears from all sorts of different wood and the finished pieces are just beautiful. Thank you.
Thanks so much Nana and I wish you a speedy recovery 🙏 😀
Shows what picking the right piece of wood, having a great imagination and great skill can make the perfect piece. Love it.
Thank you very much Elizabeth 😀
Excellent showcase for your creativity, well done! I do enjoy how you articulate your thought processes for us as you work. Thank you.
You're welcome Rhiannon 😁
That's beautiful! I love the spikes you carved. I think the only thing you could have possibly done to save the spikes would have been to cast the bottom in epoxy. Although, I'm not sure it would have worked with as loose as the bark was. Great job, Mike! ❤
Thank you Matilda, I did consider casting it in resin but I really did not think I would get the desired effect 😊
It's really quite gorgeous Mike, the color of the grain is just beautiful and the carving is great.
Glad you like it Rena 😁
Came out beautifully! I always appreciate you sharing your creative process and being able to change and pivot with the wood. thank you
You are so welcome Danielle
The colours and grain is lovely! Really like what you did with this piece. Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you so much! 😀
Love the result…your decision to do the engraving was spot on…subtle details…love it….👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you very much Loraine 😀
Lovely bottle shape and the colour is quite surprising.
Thanks Edward 😀
As you were turning this I noticed 2 things. The colors in the wood made it look smooth to me as if it had already been sanded. The second is that the shape was almost the same as an old glass Coca-Cola bottle. I really like the finished product.
Thanks Dana, I know what you mean about the shape 😁
Absolutely amazing vase. Especially from such a difficult wood. Love the carving…. ❤
Thank you very much Vincent 😀
I love the mysteries you solve and the problems you resolve
Thanks, I hope by sharing others learn how to face and deal with issues 😊
Have so enjoyed this & all the amazing videos.I think the leaf carving balanced this vase beautifully. ❤
Thanks so much 😊
I can't say it is my favorite piece (personal preference thing), but I love your approach, creativity, and problem solving. I always look forward to your next creations & learning new turning techniques.
That's OK, it would be a sad world if we all liked the same things, all the best and thanks, Mike 😀
Hi Mike, could you call that Turning Over a New Leaf. This interested me because my neighbour has a large Monkey Puzzle tree in her front yard. This vase really turned out to have a very interesting character all of its own and the eyes have it. Till next time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks Roy, your neighbour had better be careful, those trees can get huge 😁
I'm amazed at how isopropyl brings out the characteristics of the wood so brilliantly. Love the Monkey Puzzle in its natural and returned glory.
Thanks Gail, water would do the same job but it could also stain the wood and of course would take a lot longer to dry 😀
I'm in love with the gray hues that look almost blue. I'd never seen monkey puzzle before but it looks like a great word for carving. Very nice!
Thanks, it's a softwood not sot idea but we got it to work 😀
Always amazes me how you make something so beautiful.
Wow, thank you Jeff 😊
I love the piece, very well done. So glad the big piece of bark did not cause injury or any damage. Close call.
Good call to remove all the bark. I think the carved leaves look terrific.
Dave.
Thanks Dave, the carving is so much fun, I'm not very good yet but I'm determined to get better 😀
Minimalist magnificence. The leaf outlines are amazing.
Thanks so much, really appreciate it 😀
😂 when you said "that's why you wear a face shield" 😂
Yep. I've a new respect for face shields after my near disaster. Won't catch me without one now. 👍
Haha I bet!! lol 😀
Many years ago, I inherited a monkey puzzle tree from my aunt. It was a prize possession! Several years later, I traveled to Chile And was privileged to see a monkey puzzle tree in its natural setting! It’s soared to about 50 feet tall as I recall. Through a second story picture window at the hotel we were able to see into the tree and watch birds nesting there! It was amazing to watch. A few years later, we had a disasterous freeze in Louisiana, and it died! I have wanted to replace it and keep it in a pot, but they have become very expensive. I really enjoyed watching this video to see the wood underneath that amazing bark, and I love the vase that you made with the carving!
Thanks so much Deborah, I would love to see one in it's native home 😁
Love the different colors in this monkey puzzle wood. Well done!
Glad you like it! Suzy, thanks 😀
I really love the colors in this piece of wood. It's an interesting blend of warm and cool. Great work in choosing a shape that set off the wood's best features. It's always interesting to follow your process. Thanks
Thanks so much Tom 😁
I love the eyes and the shape they gave.
Thanks Terry 😀
that monkey puzzle wood is beautiful and the trees are stunning. looks like a tree from another planet.
Thanks Kathryn, it really does 😀
Looks great. They don’t always go as planned and can turn into pleasant surprises.
So true, thanks 😁
Wow, that's the softest wood I've ever seen; it looked like you were carving clay! What a great learning experience, yet again. Thank you. Wish the original bark and leaves could have stayed, but then the lovely grain would have been forever hidden... Love your carving, that's really great! Beautiful piece, as always.😊
Thank you very much Shelley 😊
Another beautiful creation! I love the way the carving turned out.
thanks Joanna, I still have a lot to learn but we will get there 😀
Very unique vase. It would look amazing with the bark on and encased in resin.
Can you even imagine how much time it would take to sand down all of those sharp pointed leave tips in resin without damaging the piece of wood? 🤯 It would (wood 😅) be stunning, though!!!!
Thanks Debra, if I can get another I will give it a go 😀
Some thing are hopefully worth the effort 😀
Beautiful... i would never have thought that wood would come out that pretty!
Thank you very much Carol 😀
Love the way. Your brave enough to try a new skills live on video. Thank you for your time in making these videos. I fine them so relaxing.
You are very welcome Jonathan and thanks 😀
I’ve only recently found your channel and must say how much I enjoy watching and listening. Your process is fascinating, and it’s a treat that you share your thoughts as the piece reveals to you what it needs to be and why.
Welcome aboard and thanks Don 😊
Wonderful what a beautiful vase. Amazing what you can do with a piece of wood ❤
Thank you very much 😀
Another beautiful piece. The colours in the wood and leaf shapes remind me of flames. Stunning vase
Thank you very much John ☺️
The monkey puzzle wood is lovely! Your carving is also!
Thank you very much, more practice needed but I'm getting there 😀
Great job, as always. Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure and thank you Luann 😄
That's some interesting wood. I like your carving! 😊 You should carve a whole piece of wood that speaks to you - after you turn it, I mean. 😊
Thanks Andrea, I am thinking of doing just that 😀
Another lovely piece, the carving really sets the whole thing off.
Thank you very much Simon, still lots of practice needed but we are getting there 😀
The colours are really interesting on that piece. It looks like something is going on under the surface. I like the leaf engravings, they add to the story.
Thanks I appreciate it 😊
Love the monkey puzzle thanks for sharing cheers Ray
Glad you enjoyed it Ray, thanks 😀
Always the true artist. Love this vase. ☺️
Thanks Cynthia, you are always so kind 😀
Such interesting wood!!! I love the result ❤❤❤ the branches look like flowers. It’s so interesting!
Thank you so much 😊
You never cease to amaze me mike , your not afraid to try new things and ideas and push boundaries this piece is absolutely brilliant well done .
Thanks Robert, I really just love trying new things 😄
I like the posh bottle. The grain pattern and color makes it worth the extra effort to remove the bark worth the hard work.
I totally agree, thanks Aleta 😁
I admire your patience with the hand carving!
Thank you very much Cheryl 🙂
Loving your journey into wood carving Mike.. You have certainly attained the natural authentic beauty of Monkey Puzzle bark. I love this piece, Perfect, organic, rustic charm. I can see this vase in a gallery showing of its understated beauty. Well done Mike on yet another brilliant work of art. ❤😊 xxx
You are so kind Shelley x
@ Just being honest. x
This is a nice piece. Love the eyes around the center. The carving is a good learning experience.
Thanks, I'm slowly starting to understand it 😀
Very interesting watching it evolve and plans changing. Like the finished shape.
Glad you enjoyed it 😀
Lovely vase , just getting more into wood carving and whittling myself. You get a real sense of achievement. Great work 🍻
Thank you! Cheers Geoff, I need to watch a few tool sharpening videos lol 😀
I love how it turned out. Very beautiful.
Thanks so much Mary 😀
@ You’re very welcome Mike.
Loved how you amended this on the fly.
Thanks Gerald 😀
Loving that wood and your carving work. Appreciating the teaching. Love the natural colors and grain of the wood. Ty 4 not coloring the leaves, lol. So cool that you're developing products. Beautiful finish. ❤
Thanks Lori, I really appreciate it 😀
You figured out that puzzle very nicely indeed, Mike! Another lovely piece.
Thank you! Cheers Peter and great pun 😀
Very nice, I like the different colors. Thanks for sharing your work.
You're welcome Ron 😀
I would love to see that with a beautiful shade on as a lamp. Lighting up the wood would be so pretty!
Thanks, there is a good chance it will become a lamp 😀
Really interesting piece. That grey running through is really pretty. The carving does look like fun!! Look forward to seeing more.
Thank you very much Lisa 😊
I love the idea of carving the leaf shapes back into the wood. Brilliant idea! Great job!
Thanks so much Shawn 😊
Again great video showing your design process, resulting in a dream looking vase
Thank you very much Paul 😀
Ive seen monkey trees being taken down & I have seen Jack Mack’s Monkey Puzzle work that he did on 19 May 2021 … he had a HUGE piece & made a very unusual display of the eyes … I believe that you would enjoy his video.
I really enjoyed this and the blue bowl that you made previously … your wife was so cute when she peeked out to see how you were doing. You have a wonderful family & I look forward to your future turnings!!!
Thanks so much, I really appreciate it 😊
I had no idea what you were going to end up with when you started, but I agree that's a striking piece. As ever, that first set of isopropyl on the grain only hints at the beauty to be revealed
Thanks so much Tim 😊
Very nice vase. Really unique. Love watching you do what you do.
I love listening to what he does
Thank you very much! 😊
I Loved this piece of wood on first sight!! Spectacular as is!! It turned (no pun intended) out very nice!! So glad you were wearing a face shield!!!
Thank you! Cheers Bonita, the face should has saved me a few times 😁
The original piece looked like something that would pop up out of the sand and clobber you during the desert level of a video game XD I've never seen a piece of monkey puzzle with the leaves still on, and the leaf scars were a nice surprise under the killer attack bark.
I'm glad you went with a minimalist style because a great piece of wood like that really speaks for itself. The engraved leaves are the perfect extra touch (and thank you for not coloring them this time!)
Thanks so much although next time colouring may happen 😂
I loved how this piece turned out. Well done, keep up the great work 👏
Thank you! Will do my best Richard 😄
Yay, Araucaria! I LOVE your monkey puzzle pieces - the patterns and colours are gorgeous.
Thanks, I have another nice piece in my shed 😜
What a beautiful piece. I’ve never heard of that particular tree before and this piece certainly had a beautiful grain to show off. I’m quite glad the bark came off and the engraving looks stunning.
Thanks Sylvia 😊
...beautiful result...very well done!
I'm sittin' here thinkin' that I may have drilled an angled hole down into each eye for small dried flowers...but then I'm also thinkin' I should think about that for a while...I'm thinkin' maybe that's why my projects take so long???...what do 'ya think?...🤔
Matt
😂
Thanks Matt, that would have been a wonderful idea but it would have added a lot of hours to the project. One day I will get another piece like this and give it a go 😀
Lol...to much thinking 😂😂
@@chrischambers5466 ...'ya think???...😅
That was a great vase lots of character in the wood grain the craving was a nice touch
Thanks Wendy 😀
You did a great job on the leaf carvings. Lovely piece Mike!
Thank you very much, lots still to learn but we all start at the bottom 😁
“I’m making all this up as I go along!” Would make a great T-shirt! Or shop sign? It was a brave and courageous decision to first time carve into a “finished” piece. I guess you could have turned it away if it wasn’t working. But, it turned(X) carved out great! As always, nice work Mike! Cheers!
Joe CA
Thanks Joe, love the T shirt idea 😂
Very nice! Monkey puzzle wood is so interesting ! Congratulations on making it to your goal 👏.
Thank you Kirsti 😃
I love watching you learn!
Thank you! Cheers! 😁
Love monkey puzzle, it's rarely boring. You made a beautiful vase and definitely deserve the 40k subscribers. Well done !
Thank you so much 😀
Extraordinary piece of wood🤩. A fortunate that the bark didn’t want to stay on but you managed to get it ‘back on ‘ the piece by carving it out into it.. great one again.. and again congratulations on the 40.000 subs.. well done🎉..
Thanks so much Wendy 😁
I had no idea monkey puzzle was such interesting wood. Just discovered you today, and LOVE your videos! Thank you, and keep it going!!❤
Welcome aboard, and thanks so much Mary 😀
At the start I thought it was fighting you. Your engraving served you well because you enjoyed it so well. As for the finish I would have put premium danish oil on which I have found much smoother and lighter than standard danish oil. I really enjoyed this video with your standard turning with the caring being the highlight. Great work Mike.
Thanks so much my friend 😊
Beautiful job on the turning and carving. Would you be able to capture the bark in epoxy and have it hold to the piece?
Thanks Eric, yes that would have been a possibility, next time 😀
That vase is gorgeous. I love the bottle shape and the beautiful markings on it. The "leaves" around the bottom truly enhance the whole. ♥
Sorry I haven't been around for a few months. We moved into a motorhome and I had to move from a desktop to a laptop... so I lost a lot. But I finally found you again and can now enjoy watching you take a piece of wood and turn it into something gorgeous. ♥
Thanks so much and great to see you again. Hope everything is ok now ❤️
You make some of the coolest projects out there Mike.
Thanks my friend 😊
that was a good idea I have tried soaking ca into fibers wood and it takes a lot and don't always work
I know Ben, I don't think I would have had enough CA lol 😂
Congrats on 40000 subs that's amazing sir. Well done. We're all loving this channel
Thank you so much Stephen😀
Love that you’re getting the hand tools in and the results are great!
Thanks Louis, I'm trying and having a lot of fun in the process 😀
Nice colours , with the loose bark i hold a hacksaw over whilst its turning to get down the wood it saves the chisel chipping it out , then seringe warmed up resin on the inside gaps to glue it back to the wood , its a bugger to do but like some bark on the bttom of a lamp like elm and black walnut , nice work Mike ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks Vini, that's a great idea ☺️
When this was on the lathe the eyes and shape reminded me of Pingu the penguin when he toots! 😂 love it!
Haha thanks Ellery, completely agree 😂
Noot noot!
You are a true artist.
Thanks Rhonda 😀
Very nice piece, Mike! Congratulations on 40k!!
Thank you so much Peter😀
I’m sure I’ve seen a piece of raw monkey puzzle before, but I don’t remember the bark being so spiky. Seeing it causes the name to make all sorts of sense. Your piece is great. Love the shape and the carving you did.
Thanks so much Doug 😁
As you were describing your original vision, I was thinking, that's going to be a dramatic piece, but it'll be a bear to keep clean. How would you dust it?
Watching your creative process is what keeps me coming back. It feels like spending time with a friend 😊❤
Thanks so much I really appreciate that!!! "How would you dust it?" I have absolutely no idea lol 😀
That's absolutely gorgeous and such nice wood.❤❤❤😊
Thank you very much Karen 😀
The eyes are charming with the grain and the leaves make this a handsome vase.
Thanks Margaret 😀
That clip at the end was nice. I know we saw it earlier, but in slow motion, it's much better. I made a cherry bowl last month that wasnt really dry enough, and I was being lazy. I left it overnight. The next day, I saw it had cracked a bit, but it looked fine to continue. As soon as I resumed hollowing, it split completely in half and flew in 2 directions at once. The only thing keeping it together had been the chuck jaws. That woke me up a bit. First time I've ever seen that happen before.
I've had that happen to me as well, an interesting experience 😂
Very nice, Mike. Good thinking and execution.
Glad you liked it Dan 😁
I love watching what you make
Thanks! I appreciate it 😀
40k+ subscribers when I watched, congratulations Mike!
Thank you Aaron 😊