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​As The Yarn Bowl Turns.

"A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working."

​~ Author unknown

How Big Is That Yarn Bowl?

5/21/2022

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Our biggest marketing challenge is helping yarn lovers imagine just how big our XXL-Jumbo Yarn Bowls actually are  when just looking at tiny photos and reading dimensions. Here's a few tips to to help you make the right choice as you navigate through the five general sizes offered.

​The first dimension listed is the diameter of the bowl; measured (in inches) across the center from one side to the other out (outside edges; see photo). Depth of the bowl is the second measurement listed from the top rim to the base (where it sits on the table).

The diameter is what we usually use to determine the size/category of a #HeckathornYarnBowl. To keep things simple we use these standard bowl measurements knowing that the circumference is a much more impressive figure.
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That's why we also include circumference for our bowls. If you want to convert these measurements to circumference (or even meters) this site has a quick and easy tool: OmniCalculator.com

We may upsize an XXL (diameter), for example, to the XXXL category if the yarn bowl is unusually deep. All dimensions are outside dimensions (od) and approximate as wood has a tendency to warp making the top diameter vary slightly depending on where/when it's measured across.

The depths of our XL - Jumbo Yarn Bowls vary considerably. For that reason, depths aren't listed below on this sizing chart; however, depths are always included on each individual listing:

• MEDIUM: 5 - 6" + diameter x 4- 5" deep. This size is rarely turned; as smaller bowls start with the same size wood speciman and same amount of time/labor to produce. Medium bowls are perfect for any project accommodating a single 5 oz+ skein of worsted yarn (sometimes more). Medium bowls are perfect for sock, mitten and hat projects where smaller quanties of yarn are needed. Nice for dk, fingering and fine cotton spools.

• LARGE: 6 - 7" diameter x 5+" deep. Our classic "workhorse" yarn bowl; perfect for any project accommodating a single 5-7oz skein of worsted yarn, rolled into a ball ready to glide like silk making all yarn projects easier. Nice for "frogging" as well.

​• XL: 7+ - 9+/-" diameter (depth varies considerably depending on style of the bowl).

​• XXL: 10 - 12" diameter (depth varies considerably depending on style of the bowl).

• XXXL: 12 - 13+" diameter (depth varies considerably depending on style of the bowl).

JUMBO CUP/HUB SETS: 14" (plus!?) It's rare that Bob gets to turn a 14" Yarn Bowl. He would if more jumbo wood stock was available here, however, his XXXL yarn bowls are very close in size to Jumbo, and we usually have a few in both shops.

JUMBO is the MAXIMUM SIZE WE OFFER! 
Bob's bowls max out around 15-16"(finished). These Jumbo Yarn Bowls start with a huge log; approx. 20" diameter x 10" deep. Extremely heavy at around 40-50 lbs.; factoring age, water content, wood properties, etc. Anything bigger (ie. heavier) is difficult and dangerous to turn on the lathe.

​That said, Bob broke this rule in Sept. '21 –read about it at the end of this post.
Make sure you know exactly what you're buying.
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Looks are deceiving... In photos, our Large and XL yarn bowls appear to be the same size (or larger) than our XXL – JUMBO bowls. All our images “fill the frame” to show the finest details.
A great trick is to find a glass or ceramic bowl of similar diameter/depth to be sure it will suit your needs. It's important that you know what you're getting before the bowl arrives at your door! ​
In order to show off the distinct features of each yarn bowl it’s necessary to “fill the frame” of each photo. These close-up, tight product shots can be deceiving. When all the sizes are grouped and viewed together on our main product pages, the smaller bowls will fill more of the frame than the larger bowls because they are not as wide; thus they appear to be much taller than the larger yarn bowls.
This is why we always include one or two images of every yarn bowl, filled with yarn and tools as a reference point. We hope this helps you choose the perfect Heckathorn Yarn Bowl for your work style
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LARGE Yarn Bowl #617, 20-1/2" circumerence around middle, LOOKS same size as >
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XXXL Yarn Bowl #1119, 29-1/2" circumerence. Photos are sized to fill space & show detail, similarly proportioned bowls look same size!?
 HINT:
Make sure you know exactly what you're buying
Find a similar glass or ceramic bowl at home to be sure it's the size you want....  Know what you're getting before the bowl arrives at your door! 
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When considering a "Jumbo Yarn Bowl" XXL & UP, the bulky yarn cakes on the left, give you a good idea how much bulky yarn would fill or fit in the bowl all at once.
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P.S. We've had requests for bigger yarn bowls, but there is a limit to how big...
UPDATE: Spurred on by a couple requests for bigger (!?) yarn bowls, Bob broke his rule and turned two COLOSSAL pecan bowls last fall. While stunning, they were both a difficult make –so enormous and heavy, they are both too cost prohibitive to ship! 

The colossal spalted oak bowl (above); is a magnificent cup/hub bowl. That said, the spalting/special properties combined with heavy ship weight and massive size meant these bowls would cost around $700!

'Nuf said. For now, I'm really enjoying them both –one for huge blanket projects/backup skeins; the other is a killer fruit bowl... I don't want to let these colossal anyway. 
🫢

I still keep getting requests from yarners (who haven't read to the end of this post) requesting "bigger bowls" or "14" or bigger..." this update is here to explain why we stop at 14".
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What Makes Our LARGE YARN BOWLS So Special?

5/15/2022

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"...our LARGE "Workhorse Yarn Bowl" is the only yarn bowl you’ll ever need!"
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​THE SIZE & SHAPE
Our best-selling Large Yarn Bowls are taller and narrower than competing yarn bowls. The tall sides are designed to loosely hug a ball of yarn to prevent it from popping out when the yarn is tugged quickly. Measuring 6"-7” (diameter) x 5-6” deep; a variety of shapes is determined by the characteristics of each wood specimen as the yarn bowls are turned on the lathe. This results in a truly unique, one-of-a-kind yarn bowl that can’t be duplicated!

ALL our LARGE yarn bowls are designed to fit the following criteria:
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THEY ALL HOLD  FULL 3.5-5 OZ SKEINS
Standard  3.5 oz – 5 oz. skeins of 4 ply medium weight yarn, rolled in a big ball fit all our large yarn bowls with room to spare. Most large bowls will fit up to 7 oz. (oversized or “super-saver” skeins) see specific dimensions listed on each bowl.
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​​THEY MAKE (Collapsing) YARN CAKES PORTABLE!
Average size yarn cakes up to 5 oz. +/-;  like Lion Brand “Mandala”, Bernat “Pop”, “Sweet Rolls” fit perfectly, keeping the cake more intact when you get down towards the end of the cake, making these yarn cakes portable and much easier to set aside.

Pop a cake in the bowl upside down and feed the tail through the groove for smooth pulling. If you like to work with larger yarn cakes, step up to an XL (Extra Large) –you’ll find a larger selection of XL’s as the Large Bowls sell quickly. 
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THEY MAKE FROGGING A BREEZE!
Need to frog several rows? Frog that yarn into your Large Yarn Bowl and it will pile or stack in a contained manner so you can set your project aside without the risk of it becoming a tangled mess. Redoing those rows will be a breeze –whenever you get to it.
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MONTHS IN THE MAKING
Every yarn bowl is made to strict gallery grade standards; an incredible value considering the hours spent to elevate each piece to “collectible” status! Each Large Yarn Bowl takes 2-3 months for the wood to dry after turning and shaping the bowl on the lathe. Then, the real work starts with lathe shaping, groove cutting, and a minimum of fifteen cycles of hand sanding, buffing and finishing –an additional 2 weeks under optimum weather conditions. Sometimes finishing takes longer when the Florida heat and humidity slows down finishing. A final coat of museum wax is applied and buffed to resist fingerprints and enhance the brilliant shine.

THE HISTORY…
We opened shop on Etsy in 2014 with large pine bowls only; made from (readily available) segmented pine. Because the pine was kiln dried, it eliminated the lengthy (2-3 month) drying process so Bob could create and finish each bowl in 2-3 weeks. Each one represented at least 10 hours of labor and was priced from $60-$90. Needless to say, they flew out the door! These were a tremendous value for our early yarners, but after two years of 40+ hr. work weeks, my retired husband "felt like a machine" and longed to spend more time expanding on his craft with finer works. 
 
With over 600 sales and a growing five-star reputation, he was getting requests for bigger (and bigger!?) yarn bowls in pricy, hard to find hardwoods (like cherry and pecan). Challenged, but spurred on by creativity, we expanded our selection to include his highly popular XL - Jumbo sizes and I designed the “tool cup/hub sets” I now can’t live without and love to share.
 
At the same time in 2016, “large” wood yarn bowls flooded the market on Etsy. These mass-produced offerings; many from endangered wood in India and China claim to be "handcrafted” while they are actually manufactured with computerized precision, quickly hand sanded; and brought to market with a single coat of finish guaranteeing snags galore.
 
Local yarn shops, big box craft stores, and Etsy yarn and craft shops started offering these mass-produced “hand-crafted” versions at rock bottom prices. Yes, they're cheap, but remember the old adage; you get what you pay for.

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I now have to push Bob to make these large yarn bowls -they take as much labor as their jumbo counterparts. Despite my stunning collection of #JumboYarnBowls I usually have our first large pine yarn bowl large at my side for my yarn on the hook. If I could have only one yarn bowl, I’d choose a large “workhorse” bowl. That’s why I say "...it’s the only yarn bowl you’ll ever need!"

​As our backlog of large pine yarn bowls dwindled to less than ten, Bob realized how much us yarners value these wonderful workhorse bowls. Sadly, it's the bigger, older trees that usually fall or succumb to disease. When this happens, wasting valuable wood to make our large hardwood bowls that should come from smaller, younger trees just doesn’t make sense ecollogically or economically. Procurring the smaller hardwood specimans for these bowls are just another reason why our large yarn bowls are months in the making.
DEDICATION TO FUNCTIONALITY
We've had a couple requests to “drill some holes in the sides of our yarn bowls for knitting needles…”   While needle holes may add interest to some competiters yarn bowls, holes don’t function properly in our large bowls because they’re so nice and deep.
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As form meets function in all of our yarn bowls, we hope to shed some light on how important ease of use is combined with the natural beauty Bob brings out in his works. We hope you make the right choice for your needs.

​For more on choosing the right size yarn bowl for your work style, find details here.
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Paw Proof!
NOTE: You'll find our best-selling Large Yarn Bowls in our Shop Section
​as well as our ETSY Shop –​Happy yarning!
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Jumbo Yarn Bowl Sets. How & Why They Were Designed.

4/22/2022

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After our first few months of success with our Large Yarn Bowls in 2014, Bob started getting requests for "BIGGER" yarn bowls. While he was excited to go bigger, this presented several design challenges for both of us; as Bob searched for choice hardwoods from felled local trees, and I started testing the functionality of the bowls at work.
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Bob's new #JumboYarnBowl line grew rapidly as he created XL, XXL, XXXL yarn bowls suited to different yarning styles and works in progress. Testing these bigger bowls, I found they worked best with just two balls of yarn fed through the yarn groove even though there was tons of extra space in the vessel... More than two balls of yarn would inevitably tangle in the bowl before the groove; something I vowed to work out... As fellow yarn enthusiasts snapped up Bob's new hardwood artisan yarn bowls, we were encouraged by lots of reviews from happy yarners who enjoyed "room for everything!"
One day, as Bob chucked up a huge piece of cherry on the lathe, he commented on what a massive, beautiful yarn bowl it would make. However, at only 3 1/2" in depth, a yarn groove wouldn't fit properly with the lower profile. I took one look and visualized a giant cherry bowl filled with all the yarn I needed for a single project. So, I asked him to finish it without a groove –for me. That was my first #JumboYarnBowl and I was hooked.
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Our first Jumbo Yarn Bowl Set #1105 (SOLD) in 2016
"What I really wanted was a wheel of yarn that I could spin around at my side, seamlessly switching colors as needed..."
Instantly, it became my favorite yarn bowl –I could load it up with a ton of yarn, but I still wanted to pull multiple balls simultaneously (or a couple together) from the top of the bowl without the yarn balls tangling.  What I really wanted was a wheel of yarn that I could spin around at my side, seamlessly switching colors as needed.

Finally, I popped a jelly jar in the middle of my "wheel" and our first jumbo cup/hub yarn bowl was made! It worked like a dream, every ball rolled without tangling, but then I really wanted a matching cherry tool cup/hub...
😳
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Labor intensive! Bob's cherry tool cup/hubs take as much wood and more finish time than his large yarn bowls which are 2-3 times larger in size.
When I asked Bob to make this small cherry cup to complete my new Jumbo Yarn Bowl Set, he groaned. Turning a small cup is easy he explained, but fitting his big man hands inside for twelve+ coats of hand sanding and silky finishing is not only difficult but the repetition generates a lot of hand cramps. For this reason, I understood why it took a few months of nagging before I was rewarded with two prototype tool cup/hubs (an extra one for our PA friend/tester Donnamarie).​

Those first tool cup/hubs were larger then we wanted, so I begged for "just one more" (and smaller, please, honey). After a bit of grumbling, Bob completed the perfectly sized hub for our first Jumbo Bowl Set. I was thrilled, then the set sold right away and I couldn't get Bob to make any more tool cup/hubs come hell or high water!
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Over a year later, I got a request from Sherry. She had purchased a (deeper) Jumbo bowl, saw the picture of the set we had sold a year previously and emailed asking if Bob would make one. I laughed, then replied "good luck, I have been asking for a year... sorry but..." Then I told him Sherry asked for a hub, and Bob said yes!? I suppose, if I want something like this from Bob in the future, I'll get it quicker if I ask my friend Sherry in Oklahoma to ask him for me. 🤣😂😂 Isn't it amazing how the "process" works?

UPDATE!

Bonus Glass Cup Hubs now included with all XXL, XXXL & JUMBO Sized yarn bowls.
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Turning, Drying & Wabi-Sabi

4/20/2022

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Fresh hardwoods are not always available here, and while Florida live oak is plentiful, premium hardwoods like cherry, pecan, cedar and camphor; to name a few are a rare find. Recently, Bob found a reliable source for prime cherry hardwood; a particular favorite for its minimal warping, stunning tones and a very hard durable finish that resists dents and dings.

Turning fresh hardwood into yarn bowls is a lengthy process spanning several months. Each bowl starts after a fresh log is cut into blanks. Each log is stripped of bark and trimmed with a chainsaw. Next the blank is mounted on the lathe for a rough turning, shaping and hollowing.

​After roughing out, each bowl is set aside for a drying period of one to four months time depending on weather conditions (humidity, barometric pressure and temperature). 
Heckathorn Yarn Bowls Drying
Rough turned yarn bowls, drying over time. Notice how the front left and top front right bowls are dramatically warped and cracked! All the other yarn bowls are cherry, with minimal warping and cracking.
The drying period is the most critical stage for fresh turned wood. A stretch of dry, cool weather for example can cause the bowls to warp and crack. Some hardwoods (like cherry) are less prone to warping and cracking, other hardwoods gently warp, while many crack considerably, or warp and crack. Nature determines the condition of the bowl when it’s dry enough; as interesting wood patterns and challenges emerge. The choicest bowls are finished first. 

Most wood turners reject cracked and warped bowls; discarding them to focus on more pristine specimens. Bob sets these nature challenged bowls aside until his supply of hardwood gets low, and he has the necessary hours to rescue these gifts from nature. This is when the real magic begins –with restoration techniques that result in his most artful offerings. 
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Here's an example of natural cracking during the drying process. These bowls are extreme examples of how a combination of certain weather conditions can crack and warp bowls.
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​Bob has several techniques to prevent drastic warping, however, when nature takes its course, the wood can have a mind of its own!

The larger cracks are filled with our proprietary sparkle inlay; in custom colors mixed to complement the bowl. Fine cracks are filled to match the wood tones. Bob’s process follows the ancient Japanese philosophy “Wabi-Sabi” using ancient "Kintsugi" techniques, embracing the flawed or imperfect; highlighting the cracks and repairs to honor the life of an object rather than allowing its service to end at the time of its damage or breakage. 
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Large yarn bowl #644 (SOLD) had 2 dramatic cracks on it's east and west sides, Wabi-Sabi makes gives it life!
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Large yarn bowl #690 (SOLD) had 2 dramatic cracks on it's north and south sides, Wabi-Sabi adds interest.
For more examples of this ancient technique, see "Wood Wabi-Sabi Trending Home Decor"
Drying Jumbo yarn bowls is Bob’s biggest challenge to date. These HUGE hardwoods usually crack considerably -even before they are removed from the lathe!
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This colossal oak bowl developed multiple cracks on its east/west sides and valued black line spalting on the north/south sides. Fine cracks were painstakingly filled to match the darker grains, Larger cracks were filled with custom matched inlay –a tricky process as wood and fill colors will change when the piece is finally inished.

This particular set is too big to sell/ship and the yarn fanatic loves it… 💭🧶👍🏻❤️
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Star Groove Yarn Bowls? Bob Invented Them!

4/13/2022

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In 2014, Bob designed our first  "Shooting Star Groove"  and over the years has created many Large - Jumbo's with these functional star grooves (when motivated). Every time Bob’s workflow gets faster than mine and I can't catch up, I "motivate" him to to slow down and craft some long-awaited star groove bowls.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Such artistry and workmanship!
"Beautiful to look at and a joy to use. Thank you!"
–K. Bauer, July 6, 2020
Finishing the points alone is a daunting addition to the hours he spends on each heirloom yarn bowl. And, while star grooves aren’t a necessity  (you can just turn any yarn bowl right/left to lock your yarn into its groove, right?), these special  pieces sell out quickly.
Lately, I've noticed Bob’s developed a new spin on his stars by tilting them into a graceful fibonacci spiral. It's these little things that make his functional, collectible yarn bowls so much fun to work with and​ beautiful to look at.

​❤️💭🧶👌🏻

Smooth as silk.​​
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Warping Adds Character And Beauty To Wood Yarn Bowls.

3/17/2022

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Many turned wood pieces are not perfectly symmetrical in shape. Even with controlled slow drying, the wood may "twist and turn" in response to the speed of moisture loss and relative humidity. Some species of wood move more than others during drying, but many develop charming irregular twists and bends. This process adds to the beauty and character of your unique one-of-a-kind piece!
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Green wood directly from the log of a felled tree contains more than 50% water. This “free water” is eliminated during the turning process, often giving the operator a cool shower. Bound water is what remains in the cells after the wood is turned. The outside surface dries first and becomes hard while the inner cells are still releasing water. This is what causes movement or cracking in the wood and is predominately tangential or diagonal to the direction of the grain thus causing the wood to twist. You can even find this in kiln dried building lumber at big box stores.
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Some wood turners will rough turn a bowl thick, let it dry then re-turn it at a later date to try to get the perfect round bowl. I try to work with nature preferring to turn my bowls once paying more attention to adjusting drying conditions in order to achieve the best outcome. This includes monitoring high and low weather fronts; temperatures, humidity, etc. that often cause uneven moisture loss and a more dramatic reaction in the wood.
All wood even after finishing is hygroscopic in that it will constantly release or absorb moisture to be in equilibrium with surrounding air for the life of the piece. Yes, all your wood furniture is doing this as well. That is why we always caution our buyers that wooden bowls don't like prolonged exposure to water or direct heat.
Editors Note: I love the beautiful shape of a warped yarn bowl however, I've noticed all the north/south views of our "warped" yarn bowls, look oddly exaggerated (see pics 2 and 3 below), sometimes even distorted in photos. With better imaging skills, I might do better... nonetheless, I include every view so you can admire the grains and unique properties of each dimensional piece. –PTH
Top L: Front (north/south view). Top R: Side (west view). Bottom L: Side (east view). Bottom  R: Front.
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Wood Wabi-Sabi Trending Home Decor

3/4/2022

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Weeping Bottlebrush bowl, enhanced by “Kintsugi”
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Weeping Bottlebrush Log.
​A few months ago a neighbor offered me wood from a Bottlebrush tree felled in his yard. I took a small log because the grain was interesting and I had never turned Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis).
​When I prepared (two) bowl blanks from the log I discovered the wood was in advanced stages of decay and decided to persevere because decay often produces interesting spalted patterns. This was the perfect specimen to practice the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi; embracing the flaws as a natural event, while giving wood further life by enhancing weak spots with inlay, similar to “Kintsugi” The Japanese Art of Repair.
​One blank I had to discard because it was too soft to safely turn. The other I mounted up and took a chance that it wouldn’t disintegrate. What emerged was a fascinating bowl with a blend of decay interspersed with sound wood. In some spots it was very spongy with colorful decay. Other spots completely rotted through; indicating hours of work to come.
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Rough turned and stabilized.
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Filled with inlay, rough sanded.
I stabilized the piece with wood hardener, which petrified the decay, making it stable enough to work through the sanding and finishing stages. The blue inlay is where the wood was rotted through; the golden tones are various stages of decay while the rust areas are sound wood, unaffected by decay bacteria.
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After twenty sanding and finishing cycles, I was rewarded with a finish like glass, interesting spalting and grains enhanced by pools and veins of our proprietary inlay. This bowl was so much fun to work with, I'm saving it to my personal collection as inspiration for future wood Wabi-Sabi.
​
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The Value In Spalted Wood

8/17/2020

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#1202 XXXL Spalted Pecan Yarn Bowl Set with Star Groove & Bonus Cup Hub
Spalted Wood Makes Beautiful Yarn Bowls; but what makes spalting in wood so special to wood enthusiasts? Spalting is the beginning of decay in wood due to natural invasion of fungal spores. These spores start colonies and grow in the wood forming interesting discolorations as the wood fibers begin to decay. If caught at the right time and stabilized, spalting can result in various stunning effects; enhancing the value of the piece.
'Getting spalted (wood) is like ‘finding truffles in the forest’.
–J. Hicks, Woodshopnews.com
Some spalting forms  "zone lines" –sharply defined black lines, often called "black-line spalting". Zone lines may appear as single or double lines. This is the result of the spore colonies creating a protective barrier either around themselves (single-line spalting) or in what is basically a "war" with a neighboring colony (double-line spalting).
In some trees, such as oak or maple, spalting is rarely black-line often resulting in vague, amorphous, blotchy black or dark-gray areas. On rare occasions, spalting may cause colorful changes other than black. ​​
When nature gifts Bob with an interesting piece of wood that nature has spalted, it makes a rare and particulary beautiful yarn bowl. He usually sets these specimens aside for up to a year to encourage more spalting. Then, when his wood supply is depleted and with no fresh wood on the horizon, Bob will turn 2-4 highly spalted  bowls at one time. Once these uncommon yarn bowls are finished, the spalting process stops, embedding artful designs into the wood.
Spalted Maple. Heckathorn Turned Wood.
XL Spalted Pecan Yarn Bowl #1186
These rare offerings are usually snapped up quickly by collectors! So, on the rare occasions we list a couple spalted bowls at one time; it's a clue that Bob's wood is in short supply!
For more on spalting, please visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalting
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/spalted-wood-trend
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Fibonacci Spiral Yarn Bowls

1/8/2020

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The Fibonacci spiral is a geometric pattern which includes of a spiral made by linking the corners of neighboring squares such that the latest length of the geometric square is the sum of the previous two. This pattern is repeated over and over in all forms of nature.
​In the beginning, creating functional yarn grooves that are pleasing to the eye was a challenge. In the final step prior to finishing every yarn bowl, Bob hand draws the groove on the bowl as a guide to hand cutting.
Drawing this perfectly proportioned, graceful yarn groove was a trial at the outset. Unhappy with first results Bob would seek my advice; usually getting a response from me like “not graceful enough…” or “too big and clunky” or “can’t you get the center to curl in on itself…?” Nothing seemed right until he realized, forming a perfectly pleasing groove relates to nature – the next step after visualizing the shape of each vessel as it emerges from a log of fresh hardwood.
​Bob’s problem was solved when he started thinking about the (Leonardo) Fibonacci series and the Golden Ratio; something that has intrigued artists, scientists, designers and of course mathematicians for centuries. The Fibonacci spiral repeats its perfect “golden spiral” in a mathematical pattern found in a nautilus shell, the eye of a hurricane or the perfect spiral of petals in a flower for example. Bob realized that the blueprint is there; the artist must learn to see it.
"...the blueprint is there; the artist must learn to see it."
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In nature.
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In architecture.
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In Heckathorn Yarn Bowls.
​After five plus years of practice, Bob’s pencil flows easily when marking his yarn grooves, the centerpiece of most of his yarn bowls. And, while his spirals are more freeform versions of this precise geometric formula found in nature, his Fibonacci yarn grooves are not only pretty; they all capture the yarn nicely in its silky, hand finished golden spiral!
I occasionally do a Google search to see the mass-produced offerings flooding the market and always noticing how patience and an eye for nature makes his yarn bowls stand out in the crowd. Check it out and see if you agree.
Sources/Details: 
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-Fibonacci-Spiral
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spiral
https://io9.gizmodo.com/15-uncanny-examples-of-the-golden-ratio-in-nature-5985588
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Sorry, We Don't Ship Internationally... Here's Why:

7/31/2019

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We only ship Bob's heirloom yarn bowls to locations in the US.
However, If you're visiting someone soon in the US, or know someone traveling from the US to visit you in your country, you can easily purchase a Heckathorn Yarn Bowl in our Etsy shop or our shop here. We'll ship it to the US address for transfer to you by a third party (see instructions below).*
Here are just three reasons why we can't ship outside the US:

1. Due to the value and size of our yarn bowls, international shipping is cost prohibitive as compared to smaller items purchased and shipped from/to the USA at more affordable rates. 

2. Inflated shipping costs mean we are unable to offer free shipping internationally. In the event a yarn bowl is lost/damaged in transit, it incurs a large financial loss to our business for circumstances beyond our control:
Our policy is to credit the lost/damaged item as soon as evidence of mishap is provided; immediately shipping a new similar replacement at no charge to our customer. We then pay (a third) shipping fee for return of the damaged piece back to us in order to restore the bowl; adding it to our own collection.

3. Past attempts to bill international buyers directly (because our website does not calculate international shipping charges with accuracy) has brought losses on US $ conversion plus a tremendous amount of time spent researching the lowest cost options for shipping to our customers outside the US to save them money if possible!
Bob's Artisan Yarn Bowls are priced far below actual value, which is why we can't risk financial loss or damage to our our reputation over disputes that are hard to resolve outside the US.
We hope the future holds more affordable international shipping options, until then, come visit the US and bring a Heckathorn Yarn Bowl home with you; or ask a US family member or friend to bring one next time they come visit. Happy yarning!
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*Using the Bill To/Ship To field in the cart, simply enter the US recipients name/address after confirming their CORRECT US shipping/delivery address in the provided SHIPPING LOCTION at checkout. Then using one of the many alternative payment options, enter your billing address and payment info. Your Heckathorn Yarn Bowl will be shipped USPS for receipt at the US shipping location you provided within 3-5 days. 
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Yarn Care Tags FREE Download

12/18/2018

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Don't forget to add care instructions when gifting your yarn works!
Just in time for craft fair season, these yarn care hang tags are perfect for craft show selling or a quick and easy addition to any yarn gift for a professional look. You can use the blank back side for a special message or gift tag.

Simply download and print the pdf using a light card stock on your home printer. Cut lines are printed in light grey as a cutting guide.
​
Happy Yarning & Gifting!!
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Download your choice of two formats below description:

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Handmade_Trim_Sheep.pdf is ready to trim, check off correct bubble for washing, punch a hole and add string or yarn to hang.
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Handmade_Trim_Blank.pdf is for those that have the desire and know-how to add their logo or message to the bottom; blank space (sheep removed for customization).
handmade_trim_sheep.pdf
File Size: 2922 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

handmade_trim_blank.pdf
File Size: 2561 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Power Carved Yarn Bowls

8/17/2018

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Bob has always wanted to carve elegant embellishments on yarn bowls. That’s why when he got a pneumatic power (dental) drill in January, I wondered where he was going to find the time to develop this new skill along with his 40 hr. week turning habit...
In April he suggested I give his new toy try (in my free ? time). I got the thing out and started carving and had to admit it was quite fun. Then I realized I needed to learn what all those burrs did,  start with basics and draft something simple on the computer as a template to start honing my technique.

Carving templates are usually the biggest challenge for new wood carvers. However, I once had a job designing  similar graphics for engraving machines, making this part a breeze.  Realizing I needed to design some templates before could start to carve, the power carver went back in the boxalong with my free time!
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Similar to writing with a pen, carving wood at up to a max speed of 500,000 RPM; offers amazing control –once you get the hang of it!
I finally got in a few practice sessions carving the words knit, crochet, yarn, etc., on wood samples and was ready to start something simple. Bob was a bit concerned when I asked for three segmented pine yarn bowls to carve words big on bowl in order to practice accurate curves, straight lines and removal. After carving, I filled the grooves with our sparkle inlay making three very blingy yarn bowls. He thinks they’re a bit tacky, I think they’re fun and festive –what do you think?
This was a fun exercise to learn the basics, but I plan to do more intricate carvings (no inlay) in future works. Find these three at our Etsy Shop –like all our bowls, definitely one-of-a-kind!
Now I’m hooked. Yesterday, Bob roughed out a XXL Cherry Yarn Bowl that’s begging for a nice carved relief border around the rim. I’ll certainly need get to work on carving technique in the next few weeks while the bowl cures.

Power carving is fun and relaxing when I have this 500,000 RPM tool in my hand. However, I was recently paralyzed with fear when my hygienist used a similar drill to clean my teeth on my last dental visit. I was suddenly struck by the trust I was putting in my dentist, with this high powered tool
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Best Wax For Artisan Crafted Hardwood Yarn Bowls.

7/27/2018

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Caring for your Heckathorn Yarn Bowl is as easy as an occasional buffing with whatever furniture wax you use at home. However, many of our yarn bowl enthusiasts ask what we use.

Before we ship each yarn bowl, Bob applies a fine coat of Renaissance™ Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish and gives the piece a vigorous hand buff with a soft cloth. This wax adds brilliance and resists fingerprints and serves well for a multitude of other household polishing purposes.
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Renaissance™ Wax is a mix of "refined waxes blended to a formula used by the British Museum and restoration specialists internationally to revive and protect valuable furniture, leather, paintings metals, marble, ivory, etc..." Although it's a bit pricey (currently $15.95 on Amazon.com) it's well worth it. The small 200 ml can should last a lifetime unless you decide to restore your leather couch or polish your marble countertops with it!

The origins of Renaissance Wax are interesting. Find out what makes this wax so different at http://picreator.co.uk/renaissance-wax/
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Magnificent Cedar Yarn Bowls.

4/26/2018

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Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a lovely Florida native that adds year-round greenery and texture to our landscape. While Cedar is classified as a soft wood, it is a particularly strong soft wood that is not prone to warping or sagging. The contrasting red and butter tones make stunning, interesting bowls with a color pop that’s nicely enhanced by Bob's signature silky smooth, brilliant finish.
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Juniperus virginiana; Eastern Red Cedar.
While his lengthy finishing process hardens the wood (and sadly masks its nice scent); Bob notes that cedar yarn bowls are more prone to small dents and dings over time, which give personality to your heirloom bowl for future generations.​
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Cedar yarn bowls can be more prone to small dents and dings over time, which give personality to your heirloom bowl for future generations.
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Place your Yarn Bowl on a round cutout of non-skid fabric or crocheted mandala.
Harder woods (like cherry, oak and pecan), are more resistant to dents and marks with continued use; although if you love the look of our cedar yarn bowls like we do, place it on a round cutout of non-skid fabric or crocheted mandala and give it a little extra TLC! Your magnificent and functional cedar bowl will turn your #wip into a conversation piece wherever it rests.
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2 Pointed Star Crochet Tablecloth

11/17/2017

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Paula's #MindlessCrochet, 12 Pointed Star Tablecloth
​In August I started looking for a round crochet tablecloth pattern. Google searches produced lots of vintage (white and ecru) lace tablecloth patterns. Some were beautifully intricate, most comprised of circle motifs. And, while I love crocheting hundreds of little circles to relax, joining circles into a giant circle was daunting to me... not the long relaxing #MindlessCrochet project I was looking for.
12 Pointed Star Crochet Tablecloth
Varying 1, 2 or 3 rows of each color gives a 3D effect when shot from above.
Round pointed afghan projects gaining popularity on Instagram inspired me to bust out my stash of ultra fine cotton and a small hook. I kept increasing a "12 Pointed Star Crochet Throw" pattern (lots of free ones on www.ravelry.com) to a 74" diameter tablecloth. These patterns adapt well to finer crochet cottons with a smaller hook. 
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Lucky find. Found some cool matching fabric for seat covers/valance.
Materials
  • 28+/- Skeins, assorted colors Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine Sport Weight 100% Cotton*
  • 3mm Crochet Hook
  • 12 Tassels (DIY!) for each point
  • 12 Large Beads or Jewelry findings for tassels
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Embellish each point with a tassel. I add a little bling, but it looks nice without.
I can't figure out why there aren't many newer style round tablecloth patterns to be found. If you have one please share. Tag me if you make one!

Paula

 
*I purchased most of this cotton from www.loveknitting.com -they stock almost 60 gorgeous colors, have fast shipping, pack in those sweet organdy bags, and offer sales frequently.
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Versatile, Jumbo Yarn Project Bowl holds a lot. Add the innovative Tool Cup/Hub and pull from the top –no tangles!
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Drake Elm #JumboYarnBowls

7/26/2017

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​The drake elm (also called Chinese elm or lacebark elm) is a quick-growing elm tree that naturally develops a dense, rounded, umbrella shaped canopy. Native to eastern Asia, including China, India, Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, and Vietnam; it has been described as "one of the most splendid elms, having poise and grace. 

Introduced to Europe at the end of the 18th century as an ornamental; it is found in many botanical gardens and arboreta. In the United States, it appeared in the middle of the 19th century, and has proved very popular in recent years as a replacement for American elms killed by Dutch elm disease.

Drake Elm heartwood ranges in tone from reddish brown to light tan or flesh colored, while the sapwood approaches off-white. The grain is often handsome and dramatic; perfect for turning interesting #JumboYarnBowls. Unlike other Elms, freshly cut Drake Elm has a peppery or spicy odor. It turns easily, takes a nice polish off the lathe without any finish, and holds detail well. 
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What The Heck Is Hackberry?

5/31/2017

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Why the hackberry is not a more well known tree is a mystery to many. Well known by tree experts to be “one tough tree” hackberry trees produce a quality hardwood found on a wide range of soils east of the Rockies from southern Canada to Florida. They thrive in a broad span of temperatures and sites that vary from 14 to 60" of annual rainfall. With a growth pattern that resembles the elm –without the susceptibility to disease; they can even stand up to strong winds and tolerate air pollution. The bark and berries are striking, and they make excellent shade and street specimens.

All of this hardiness adds up to a good landscape choice, especially for those seeking energy-conserving shade tree that doesn’t require watering. The fruit of the hackberry is popular with winter birds, and also attracts many butterfly species.

In earlier years, its tough, flexible wood was used for barrel hoops, and many a pioneer cabin was equipped with durable hackberry wood flooring. The tree was first cultivated in 1636. Other common names given to the hackberry include common hackberry, sugarberry, nettletree, beaverwood, northern hackberry and American hackberry.

Bob enjoyed seeing the coffee colored grains that come to life through the finishing process. Special properties include some desirable spalting and subtle earthy green undertone when compared to the warmer tones found in other lighter toned woods like Pecan or Maple.
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Interesting Hackberry Bark.
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Striking Hackberry fruit is popular with winter birds and attracts many butterfly species.
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#1019 Hackberry Yarn Project Bowl
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Committing Reclaimed Wood Back To The Earth.

4/22/2017

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Rough turning a Jumbo Yarn Bowls produce a massive quantities wood shavings. As a result reclaiming and recommitting the wood, has become a very large part of Bob’s natural work process.

Every time a Jumbo bowl is designed and rough turned, it produces a 30 gallon (plus) yard bag packed full of beautiful wood shavings. Storing and transferring dozens of bags to the landfill on a weekly basis seemed wasteful, and our community gardens had their fill. When Bob found out his boxing Trainer/Master Gardening buddy; Luis Camacho needed an endless supply of mulch for his large tropical gardens at home, the problem was solved. 
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The best thing is that Bob’s commitment to turning the shavings back to the earth isn’t only the green way; but a way for him to stay healthy as well. As long as he’s turning, Bob has to continue his rigorous boxing sessions twice a week so Luis can recycle them back to mother nature. Heck of a good thing.


Savings from one Jumbo Yarn Bowl
Pecan shavings from one Jumbo Yarn Bowl
30 Gallons of Pecan Shavings
...packs a 30 gallon yard bag, with more to spare!
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Six New White Mulberry Yarn Bowls

2/22/2017

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Wood Yarn Bowl, XXL White Mulberry, Heckathorn Turned WoodWhite Mulberry Yarn Bowls
When friends have an ailing or unruly tree they call me, knowing how I enjoy creating oversized yarn bowls from reclaimed wood. Occasionally one of these trees might turn out to be a hardwood that will morph into a couple stunning pieces. After the wood is cut, hauled, prepped and blanks are made, the real fun begins with lathe work and hand finishing.

These six yarn bowls are from the wood of a White Mulberry freshly cut last fall. Their lobed, alternate leaves and abundant, edible fruits distinguish these deciduous trees. Known as Morus alba, the White Mulberry tree is a fast-growing small to medium sized tree, growing 30 – 50’ tall, with a lifespan comparable to humans.   

The leaves of the White Mulberry have been used in China since at least 2600 BC as the primary diet for silkworms. The tree was introduced into North America in colonial times in efforts to establish a silk industry. Although the industry never took hold here, the trees did take hold and, over time has naturalized in fields, forest margins and along roads throughout much of the US.

​I enjoy seeing what magic nature has hidden inside each particular species. This Mulberry didn’t disappoint with its buttery tones and grains from creamy beige to soft greys, in six unique shapes dried to a natural soft warp. This select group of XL - XXL Yarn bowls is composed of mid-range sizes I can never seem to make enough of!

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Kudos To The Artist!

9/12/2016

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Large wood yarn bowl, unfinished on lathe.
I spend a lot of time sharing photos of finished yarn bowls on our Facebook page and Instagram feed, but rarely share shop pics with a glimpse of how they're made. With the big light on Bob's lathe, flying wood chips, wood dust and debris, it's not what you'd call glamorous and it's a challenge to show what can often be grueling and repetitious hard work!

If you're working in extreme heat, hydrate!
Today, as I brought him his daily hydrating tea at 11 o'clock, I thought about the work he does every day in a shop with no climate control. Although Bob has always enjoyed working in the heat (?) I constantly marvel about what he accomplishes in the 95-105 degree humid heat of Central FL early June into October. Now that his northern body has acclimated to the climate here, he says he prefers it to the (temperate 60 - 70 degree) "winter" weather I enjoy late Dec. - March. After suffering from my summer version of cabin fever I say "bring it on!"

In the spirit of sharing, I thought I'd take a moment to say how much admiration I have for my hard working husband/lathe artist. He does a lot of amazing work under some pretty harsh conditions. So here's to you Bob, I'm your biggest fan; knowing that along with the heart and soul you put into all these yarn bowls there's a heck of a lot of sweat, too!

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Translucent Qualities in Wooden Yarn Bowls

8/21/2016

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Translucent Qualities in Heckathorn Turned Wood Yarn Bowls
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Translucence in Heckathorn Turned Wood Large Yarn Bowls
Many of our segmented pine yarn bowls mention “translucent qualities” in the wood, usually indicated by dark brown markings in wood grains. When held up to a strong light, these areas are transformed to a beautiful, rich translucent gold color. This is due to the heavy concentration of resin or sap, a natural secretion of the wood, which glows a reddish amber color when it collects in high concentration.
Amber is a result of fossilization of this sticky sap resulting in varnishes and many other by-products made from it throughout history. Some wood turners enhance the effect by many soakings in solutions of their choice. I prefer to achieve this effect naturally and let nature take its course by simply hand-buffing each pine bowl as usual with several layers of finish. However, when resin laden spots occur naturally, it’s a nice bonus; enhancing that bowl even more.
Usually, you need to hold the bowl over a bright light to see the translucent areas. Or, if placed in bright sunlight* will light the bowl up naturally. So, look for these features if you want a little “hidden surprise” when choosing your yarn bowl!

*Note: Any wood product can suffer damage if subjected to excessive heat. Never display/store your yarn bowl in direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time!


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What The Heck Are “Perfectly Imperfect” Yarn Bowls?

8/15/2016

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Perfectly Imperfect Yarn Bowls at Special Pricing from Heckathorn Turned Wood Yarn Bowls.
​On rare occasions Bob finds some fresh “green” hardwood (Cherry, Pecan and Maple to name a few) from a fallen tree or local tree trimmer. And, although turning green wood bowls on a lathe is easier because it’s in a soft state, the necessary drying process that ensues is risky!
 
After a fresh wood yarn bowl is turned, it is set aside to dry. Depending on the current weather conditions (like relative humidity, barometric pressure and temperature to name a few) the drying process takes one to three months. As the hardwood dries, it has a tendency to warp and crack. Warping usually adds nice character to the yarn bowls; however, Bob feels that cracking; which is easily repaired in the finishing process, is an undesirable feature in some of his collectible art bowls. As his partner, I try to respect those high standards while at the same time viewing the cracks that ensue as the final word from nature!
 
Too often, I’ve watched Bob throw a beautiful yarn bowl into the recycling bin and felt that his lack of control over a few small cracks deprived a fellow yarn crafter of a unique and naturally beautiful piece. After some whining on my part, Finally, Bob acquiesced and started finishing these natural wonders when the occasion arises. Now, I’m able to offer a distinctive piece at deeply discounted price.
 
There’s a lot of value in our “Perfectly Imperfect” Yarn Bowls. Each one takes ten to twenty hours (at the least) to make –the same amount of time it takes to create a first quality bowl. For those who may not be able to invest in our first quality yarn bowls, I consider these pieces to be a special offering from Heckathorn Turned Wood as they are all authentic gifts of nature!

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Custom Sparkle Inlay

11/23/2015

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Some #HeckathornYarnBowls feature our proprietary "Inlay" or "Sparkle Inlay" enhancing a knot or set into the rim of the bowl for added appeal.

In 2014, with no real colorful options for inlays, we developed a special process of mixing custom colors and textures to match or compliment the style/color tones of each individual its intended for.

When so inspired, Bob will add a channel to the rim of a bowl, a few orbits or a star to the sides for those that like a little bling. Sometimes he uses this special inlay to restore/repair natures damage to a piece which can occur when it dries; using age old "Kintsugi" techniques.

Custom Sparkle Inlay set into the rim. Large Wood Yarn Bowl; Heckathorn Turned Wood.
This eye-catching element raises the bowl value and collector status -a one of the kind yarn bowl with a bit of glitz that will never be duplicated.
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A Rare Find! Queensland Kauri Wood Yarn Bowls.

6/2/2015

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Queensland Kauri Logs to be prepped for the lathe. Heckathorn Tuned Wood Yarn Bowls.
Kauri Cones
A giant Queensland Kauri Tree
Last week I received a call from a tree cutter friend who was contracted to remove a special tree, which was growing too close to a building. Not recognizing the species, he had contacted an Arborist who correctly identified the tree as Agathis robusta, commonly know as “Queensland Kauri”.

Native to Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand, this species has a history that goes back to the age of the dinosaurs. A coniferous evergreen reaching massive heights of 200 plus, Kauri has been heavily logged over time, although New Zealand controls harvesting.

A few Kauri’s grow in warmer U.S. states like California and Florida from zone nine south. The wood is highly favored by woodworkers crafting cabinets, furniture, guitars and violins.

I rescued a few choice specimens of this exotic wood from a big dumpster, and I’m turning some fine XXL Yarn Bowls. It’s fitting that the word Agathis is Greek “for a ball of thread (or yarn!), an allusion to the spherical female cone…” 
After a few months of curing, I’ll be able to start the finishing process and I anticipate a magnificent sheen, exquisite tones and grains in this beautiful wood. Snap one up –these go fast!

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New Jumbo Yarn Bowls!

9/21/2014

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After many requests, we've added a few Extra Large to Jumbo Yarn Bowls to our lineup. Look for more of these oversized bowls soon, sized from XL to a whopping Jumbo topping 14" in diameter.

#JumboYarnBowls make all your yarn projects portable and pretty whenever your work is set aside. From projects with several colors to very large balls of blanket or rug yarn, these big yarn bowls will accommodate with plenty of room to store your extras.

Details on how we size our small - jumbo yarn bowls here.
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