Playing with Poplar

[Kathy Marshall]

After getting home from our club meeting yesterday, I was looking for something quick to turn.
I've had fun turning rainbow poplar before, and I had a blank so I mounted it up and started turning.
I went with my typical heart shaped form and carved a simple line on each side to give a slight suggestion of a heart (not sure that it worked that well). I also applied some wine red dye and boy does poplar take dye well! Finished with spray on lacquer.
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It's 3" x 3" and here's a pic for perspective.
I hollowed it using my little allen wrench tool that I use for ornaments.
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Thanks for looking!
Comments and critiques are welcome.

[Steve bellinger]

Kathy that's a cute little HF. I know you said heart, but the first thng i thought of, was a apple.Ether way looks good.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Kathy that is a nice looking little HF. Color really makes it stand out.

[Eric Gourieux]

I thought apple, too. It is a cute little HF, Kathy. I like the dye

[Kathy Marshall]

Thanks guys!
I also think it more resembles an apple. I should have tapered it in more at the base. But whatever it looks like, it was still fun to turn.

[Don Nicholas]

Stunning piece, I am struck by "quick to turn" piece. That would take me all day and it would be far less than yours.
Keep up your fine work.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Looks pretty cool! All you need now is a finial in the shape and color of a stem!

[Paul Singer]

Kathy,

Really like the shape and color.

Could you post a picture of your allen wrench tool and also what kind of dye did you use?

Thanks

[Prashun Patel]

I love this one. That carved line is perfect. Something sensual about it.

[Kathy Marshall]

Thanks guys!
Since the consensus seems to see an apple, I've started working on filling up a fruit bowl.
Turned a pear tonight. Still needs a lacquer finish and a stem lid. Dyed with golden yellow with just a teeny pinch of blue.

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Kathy,

Really like the shape and color.

Could you post a picture of your allen wrench tool and also what kind of dye did you use?

Thanks
Paul, these are easy to make and work great for ornaments. I shortened up the short leg of the wrench, then opened the bend (these were small enough that a clamp and vise grips was enough, but you could also heat them to bend) then ground the top flat and shaped the cutting edge. I also ground the bottom flat so it would be a little more stable.
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I also included the tool I made tonight. The bar is 1/2" rolled steel. I drilled a hole in the end to hold the cutter (3/16"), then drilled a hole in the top for a set screw to hold the cutter. The 1/2" bar fits in one of my Thompson handles so I didn't need to make one.

[Paul Singer]

Kathy,

Thank you for the pictures. Love your new pear also. I am really looking forward to the banana.