Before it was yours

Stanley Park Maple Burl
Maple
Stanley Park — the woodworker's collection
This wood came from the personal collection of a local woodworker who had done arborist work in Stanley Park. He saved pieces from trees that came down and kept them in his garage for over forty years. After he passed away, that collection came to me. The pieces include yew, cedar and maple burls. Each has its own grain and its own journey through the workshop, but they share this beginning.
Stanley Park Maple Burl
This maple grew in Stanley Park. When the tree came down, a local woodworker kept the burl rather than let it go to the chipper. It sat in his collection for over forty years before it came to me as slabs. Maple burl keeps its secret on the outside. Once cut, the face opened into a dense field of eyes and swirling grain. I marked out the bowls directly on the slab and cut them out on the bandsaw.
Looking after it
A wipe with a damp cloth, never the dishwasher, and a little food-safe oil when the wood looks dry. Don't overthink it - wood is hardy and resilient, and everything I make is meant to be used.