Wood Grain Wednesday - Squinting Eyes

I squint my eyes at you!

Wood Grain Wednesday - Beautiful in our Differences

I often wonder what these trees go through....what is the story.

And, while I was sanding this one, I became so curious.

Just like humans, they are beautiful in their differences.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Eye of a Storm

With all the bad weather situations around these days, I couldn't help but see an eye of a storm in this one.

Wood Grain Wednesday: Ripple

This one I saw as I was about to cut the edges of the board to the right size.

As if a droplet of water fell, and created a ripple cascading outwards.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Faces

I always see lots of faces in wood.

And most of them look like aliens to me.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Rock Biter

Have you ever seen The Neverending Story?

I just cannot wait until my son is old enough to be able to handle the scarier parts of the movie.

This edition reminds me of the Rock Biter.

If I ever find one that looks like Falkor, that'll just make my day.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Shocked!

Maybe he was electrocuted?  Or he's just shocked.

Or, he's a ghost!

Wood Grain Wednesday - Spots

I love these pieces of pine that have awesome spots on it.  Like an animal.  

Especially once they're stained.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Lines

I was sanding out in the workshop this morning, and I ran across this piece of wood.  I have never seen straighter lines, and I thought it was quite beautiful.

Sometimes I wonder what these little trees go through in life to make the patterns in the wood.  It would be an interesting story, I'm sure.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Curly Maple

The thing about curly maple is it's a bit like a sandy shoreline, just waiting for the tide to come in.

Which I could really use today.  Because it's been one of those kinds of days.

Wood Grain Wednesday - I see you!

"I see you!" was the first thing I thought when I saw this piece of wood.

And, now, all I see are two little eyes staring at me, with those nostrils beneath.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Bat

This one, I didn't see, until I got through staining the back of a client's custom order.

Bat

Well, at least his eyes and nose.

Wood Grain Wednesday: Happy Face

Some Wednesdays need a little bit of happy.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Scars

I'm going to divert from my usual "hey this wood grain looks like something" post, because I recently sold this piece, that I made as an inspiration after my accident.

I find wood grain and knots so beautiful in their natural state.  I can see so many images in them, and sometimes wonder what happened to the tree to create this "scar" in it's core.

I didn't pick this piece of wood specifically because of this knot, but after putting the wording onto it, "My scars are badges of honor I carry through life, to show the world I lived", the knot all of a sudden reflected a scar to me, and the words I carved onto this piece came to life.

That's when I started to believe that scars can be beautiful, too.  Because if this piece of wood could be beautiful with a knot, then my scar lends character to my face, and makes it all the more beautiful, too.

Wood Grain Wednesday: Tiger

We were at a friend's house one weekend, and we spotted a little gem.

Do you know what we found?

Tiger stripes!

This particular piece was probably made out of Tiger Maple, also known as Flame Maple, which is a type of wood that features these "flames" or "stripes".

Interesting side note: Tiger Maple is used in well-known guitars such as the Gibson Les Paul.

Wood Grain Wednesday: Birdie

I was outside, minding my own business, when I saw this hole in the fence.  Normal people would probably just pass it by.  Not me.  I started just staring at it's intricacies.

Then, turned my head, and saw a bird!

That's nature in nature, folks.  Love it.

Wood Grain Wednesday: Aliens Among Us?

You would not believe how many aliens I see in wood, and it really creeps me out.  Because, I'm scared of them.

In the movies, they are almost always trying to destroy us.  And, I don't really care for that type of behavior.

I suppose, instead of an alien, I can see a praying mantis, but I really don't.

Alien!

Wood Grain Wednesday - The Sloth Edition

Sid, from Ice Age, right?

I may need to get out of the shop every once in a while.  Breathe some fresh air.

Seriously, though.  Sid, right?

Wood Grain Wednesday - Is it a bird?

Like an ostrich?  

With one big eye?  

Turn it counterclockwise 90 degrees, and it looks like an elf's hat to me.  But, it's not really the season for elves.

Wood Grain Wednesday - Polar Bear

When you work with wood a whole lot, you begin to focus on its characteristics.  I thought it would be fun to have a regular "Wood Grain Wednesday" post to showcase the cool I find in wood.

Some may look like animals, or objects, others may just be really awesome natural grain lines.  Who knows what I'll find!

Like the polar bear face, in this piece of pine:

It was a piece of wood paneling, in the cabin we stayed at, on our honeymoon years ago.  We saw a lot of alien faces, too.  Those were creepy.  ::shiver::