On Cherry-kuksas, France, and birchwood.

After the cracked alebowl of two weeks ago I started to work on a kuksa from the same cherrywood that the bowl was from. And while that one was drying and I had to wait before I could finish it without discoulouring (the cherrywood dries to a deep orange if you carve it this wet) I figured I`d start another one in the meantime. My sexy new axe makes such short work of hewing end-grain that shaping the cups has become much easier for me. And I enjoy that a lot. Combined with my adze I can now carve a kuksa over two days, where before it would take me many more. Also, the shape of my cups has improved a bit. I used to have a chunky bit of wall under the handle that I couldn`t seem to get rid of, but I can now hew it away nicely. When the cups had dried a bit in a box with shavings I oiled them wilth coleseed-oil and put them away for more drying.

These cups are rather large. The smaller one is nearing 2.5 deciliters, and the large one with chipcarving detail is around 4 deciliters. I am pleased with the colours of the wood, and with how the cups fall in my hand. The tooled finish could be better though. I`d like to be able to carve the inside smoother, with smaller toolmarks. That might come with more practice. 

Besides carving, I have been busy with what other people like to refer to as "the real life" as well. I have been working daily at my internship in the IBL MCB research group where I work on a project that focusses on developping a new method for single-molecule imaging and tracking in live cells. While I enjoy this work very much I am very happy that a few days ago, my summerholiday finally started! Right at the first day I went away from Life, the Universe and Everything and travelled to France where I met up with my parents and sister. In France I spent a few lovely days walking, eating cheeses, drinking wine, and most of all: carving besides the fire. I made a few things that trip.  A two-handled whisky cup (Quaich), a small kuksa-style cup and two spoons.

I have really enjoyed carving freshly felled birchwood. It carves so easily and it dries out so nice and hard. I hope to carve more of it in the time to come, when I get to swing my axe in Northern Europe again.