{"title":"The Gathering","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Gathering brings together one-of-one pieces shaped by where the material came from, the people connected to it, and what happened once it reached the shop.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSome wood was gathered by me. Some was saved, gifted, shared, or purchased. Each piece carries some part of that history into the finished work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey are also meant to be used — around a table, shared with friends, over a drink, or given to someone who comes to mind when you see it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe individual pieces tell the rest of the story.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-long-game-bigleaf-maple-burl-shot-glass","title":"The Long Game — Bigleaf Maple Burl Shot Glass","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe Long Game — Bigleaf Maple Burl Shot Glass\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome wood is won twice: first in the moment, then through patience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe larger cut behind this piece came from a live auction hosted by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rogersredwoodburl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eRogers Redwood BURL\u003c\/a\u003e. It was the second online wood-auction purchase made for the Gentry Crafted shop and the first Bigleaf Maple burl endcap added to the wood collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe winning bid required its own bit of judgment. While attending a St. Louis Battlehawks game, the auction stream appeared to be running roughly 10 to 15 seconds behind. Waiting for the visible countdown would have been too late. The bid had to be placed according to where the auction probably was rather than where the screen said it was.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe timing worked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat purchase became several earlier vessels—some given as gifts, some kept for a growing personal collection, and others offered through Gentry Crafted. This particular section remained behind, waiting for the skill and confidence needed to carry it safely through stabilization and onto the lathe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBigleaf Maple (\u003cem\u003eAcer macrophyllum\u003c\/em\u003e) earns its name. Native to the Pacific Northwest, it bears leaves that can reach approximately 12 inches across and grows into what the National Park Service identifies as North America’s tallest maple. Its scale can feel almost oversized, even among other maples. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/articles\/000\/bigleaf-maple.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eLearn more about Bigleaf Maple.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis shot glass makes the opposite journey: a small vessel carrying an unexpectedly large visual statement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDark lines of spalting travel through tightly gathered burl figure, separating fields of warm amber and brown. Nothing was added to create that contrast. The wood was personally vacuum-stabilized without dye because it had no need for embellishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarlier work with this burl also carried an important lesson. Figure alone does not make a dependable drinking vessel. The material must be sufficiently sound, properly dried, and prepared for its intended use. Rather than risk the remaining wood before the process was understood, stabilization waited until each stage—from moisture removal through vacuum treatment and curing—could be approached with confidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe form reflects the same restraint. A more elaborate interior would have consumed valuable space within an already narrow blank. There are moments to experiment and moments to trust a simple, solid plan. This was a piece worth protecting. Its traditional interior and quiet cylindrical form leave the complexity where it belongs—in the wood itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spalted Bigleaf Maple Burl (\u003cem\u003eAcer macrophyllum\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSource:\u003c\/strong\u003e Burl endcap acquired from Rogers Redwood BURL in California\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approx. 3-1\/16 inches tall × 1-7\/16 inches wide\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-turned, one of one\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Traditional shot-glass form\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWood treatment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Personally vacuum-stabilized\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural—no dye\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash only; do not soak or place in a dishwasher\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCollection:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Gathering\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49069227344127,"sku":"GCBigleafLongGameSG","price":82.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/the-long-game-bigleaf-maple-burl-shot-glass-hero-2026-09.jpg?v=1789186134"},{"product_id":"the-gathered-thread-white-mulberry-whiskey-cup","title":"The Gathered Thread — White Mulberry Whiskey Cup","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Gathered Thread\u003c\/strong\u003e is a one-of-one White Mulberry whiskey cup shaped by several kinds of gathering: wood, knowledge, process, and time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhite Mulberry has been part of another kind of gathering for centuries. Its leaves were gathered to feed silkworms, beginning a process that depended not only on the tree itself, but on accumulated human knowledge — when to gather the leaves, how to tend the silkworms, when to collect the cocoons, and how to reel their filaments into silk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA ca. 1595 work in the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt collection documents that process visually, including the gathering of mulberry leaves, feeding of silkworms, and reeling of silk. In a way, it is an early process story: a sequence of images used to preserve and communicate how something was made. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.si.edu\/object\/heating-and-preparing-cocoons-reeling-silk-above-left-drying-mulberry-leaves-below-left-gathering%3Achndm_1901-39-297\"\u003eExplore the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt sericulture study.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis White Mulberry came from wood I gathered locally, but the more important gathering behind this piece was knowledge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter watching another turner take a small log, reorient it, round it, and then turn the vessel from the side, I began experimenting with some of the wider Mulberry branches I already had on hand. That change in orientation revealed something I had not been seeing in more conventional forms: broad concentric heartwood rings on opposing faces, surrounded by dramatically lighter sapwood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe technique did not determine the final shape, but it opened up a new way of reading the wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is a personal thread in those rings as well. I am legally blind, and over time my visual field has narrowed through progressively smaller circles toward the center. It is only one thread in the story, but the rings revealed in this White Mulberry carry an unexpected resonance for me.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Gathered Thread is hand-turned from White Mulberry (\u003cem\u003eMorus alba\u003c\/em\u003e) and measures approximately \u003cstrong\u003e3-1\/4 inches tall by 3-1\/2 inches wide\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike the more rounded whiskey cups I have made using this method, this piece was given a broader, more squared profile. That shape gives the concentric growth rings room to become a dominant visual feature while allowing the lighter sapwood to sweep around the remaining sides.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeen from one direction, the heartwood reads almost like a series of expanding circles. Turn the cup, and those rings give way to pale sapwood, darker boundaries, and irregular natural markings that make each face feel different from the last.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe three making videos included with this piece show the turning process in sequence — a modern counterpart, in a small way, to the centuries-old visual process record linked above.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHand-turned White Mulberry (\u003cem\u003eMorus alba\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003cbr\u003eApprox. 3-1\/4\" tall × 3-1\/2\" wide\u003cbr\u003eOne of one\u003cbr\u003eNatural heartwood and sapwood contrast\u003cbr\u003ePart of \u003cstrong\u003eThe Gathering\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49069265486079,"sku":"GCMulberryGatheredThreadWC","price":78.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/The-Gathered-Thread-IMG_03510-final.jpg?v=1789062702"},{"product_id":"the-second-amber-sweetgum-whiskey-cup","title":"The Second Amber — Sweetgum Whiskey Cup","description":"\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong before Sweetgum became this vessel, the tree was known for another liquid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts botanical name, \u003cem\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua\u003c\/em\u003e, evokes the aromatic resin historically known as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ufi.mgcafe.uky.edu\/treetalk\/ecobot-sweetgum\"\u003eliquid amber\u003c\/a\u003e. The resin traveled through centuries of ceremony, fragrance, and traditional use. In Appalachia, it was even combined with whiskey—an unexpected connection between this species and the spirit this cup was made to hold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Sweetgum grew much closer to home, at a place where knowledge is shared. I gathered the wood there and allowed it to season with its bark intact for more than two years before returning to it at the lathe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finished cup carries a quiet echo of the tree’s name and history. Dark redgum heartwood now surrounds a modified Glencairn-inspired interior shaped for whiskey—another liquid amber, held within the wood rather than drawn from it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tree first carried the name. The vessel gives it another meaning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Second Amber is a one-of-one whiskey cup hand-turned from locally gathered Sweetgum (\u003cem\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua\u003c\/em\u003e). Its broad, substantial form places visual weight near the base, while its modified Glencairn-inspired interior creates a fuller lower chamber beneath a more restricted opening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cup is composed primarily of the species’ darker reddish-brown heartwood, commonly called redgum. Its character is quieter than the more strongly figured Sweetgum bowl made from the same tree: restrained color movement, fine texture, natural luster, and visible checks carried forward from seasoning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exterior checks remain part of the wood’s history. They do not pass through the vessel, and the walls were deliberately left substantial around them. They should be understood as naturally occurring features of this particular piece rather than decorative marks added afterward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wood was not stabilized or dyed. In my own workshop testing, the wood performs well with distilled spirits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approx. 4⅛ inches wide × 3¼ inches tall\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sweetgum\/Redgum (\u003cem\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Personally gathered from a local tree\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-turned\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Modified Glencairn-inspired profile\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStabilization:\u003c\/strong\u003e None\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural—no dye\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSurface Character:\u003c\/strong\u003e Naturally occurring exterior checks\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSanding and Finish Process:\u003c\/strong\u003e Walnut-oil sanding slurry\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of one\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash only. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49069317587199,"sku":"GCSweetgumWC1","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/The-Second-Amber-Sweetgum-Whiskey-Cup-IMG_6221.jpg?v=1788667786"},{"product_id":"eolas-mulberry-whisky-shot-glass","title":"Eòlas — Mulberry Tall Shot Glass","description":"\u003cp\u003eEòlas (roughly pronounced YOH-luss) is the Scottish Gaelic word for knowledge. The name connects White Mulberry found at a place where knowledge is shared with Scotland’s whisky tradition—and with what I have learned through the continuing evolution of my craft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece begins with a learned assessment of what the individual wood may yield. Its grain, dimensions, character, and natural limitations help determine the vessel it can become. That is why my work will continue to include traditional shot glasses, pieces with a modified internal Glencairn profile, and taller or wider forms that invite other possibilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEòlas represents one step in that continuing evolution: learning from the wood while refining vessels made for enjoying distilled spirits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCreated in Scotland and introduced in 2001, the Glencairn was designed specifically for appreciating whisky. Its broad bowl gives the spirit room to open, while its narrowing mouth concentrates aromas for nosing. That combination of form and function has made it one of the most recognizable vessels for enjoying whisky. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/glencairn.com\/news\/10-greatest-whisky-innovations-of-all-time\/\"\u003eRead more about the Glencairn’s design and history.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand-turned from locally found White Mulberry (\u003cem\u003eMorus alba\u003c\/em\u003e), Eòlas interprets that idea in wood rather than attempting to reproduce the glass itself. Its upper two-thirds follow a Glencairn-inspired profile—inside and out—while the wider, straighter lower section leaves additional wood beneath its 3-3\/4-inch-deep bore and gives the vessel a substantial base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 4-9\/16 inches tall and 2-1\/16 inches wide, Eòlas is considerably taller than a traditional shot glass. Its proportions, deep vessel and Glencairn influence make it a distinctive one-of-one piece for enjoying distilled spirits—shaped first by the possibilities of the individual piece of wood and then by the knowledge gained in making it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49069362086143,"sku":"GCMulberryEolasSG","price":78.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/Eolas-Mulberry-Tall-Shot-Glass-IMG_03546.jpg?v=1789183559"},{"product_id":"the-eddy-plains-cottonwood-shot-glass","title":"The Eddy — Plains Cottonwood Shot Glass","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Eddy — Plains Cottonwood Shot Glass\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDimensions: Approx. 5-1\/16\" tall × 2-1\/16\" diameter\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlains Cottonwood is not usually treated as precious wood. It grows fast, its grain can be soft and porous, and in many places it is dismissed as little more than a trash tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat is part of why I like it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI gathered this wood myself along Cherry Creek in Colorado, where massive cottonwoods line the trails and creek banks. In winter, stripped of their leaves, the trees become something entirely different—rugged, twisted silhouettes against the Western sky. Their knots, scars, and irregular growth aren't hidden. They become part of the character of the landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe same thing happened in this piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts knots and grain interrupt the otherwise simple form, curling and changing direction like water folding back along the edge of a creek. That movement led to the name The Eddy—a small current formed when flowing water meets something that refuses to simply move with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCottonwood's open, porous grain makes stabilization particularly useful for a vessel like this. The wood was stabilized without dye before turning, reinforcing the material while preserving the natural color, knots, and grain that made me want to work with it in the first place.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInside, I turned a modified Glencairn-inspired profile. Because Plains Cottonwood is a comparatively soft and porous wood, I intentionally stopped the bore at approximately 3½ inches deep rather than pushing farther toward the base. The extra material beneath the vessel provides a little more margin while still preserving the tall proportions of the piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor me, this wood carries more than the place where I found it. Walking Cherry Creek connects me to Colorado, to the Western landscape, and to generations of family history throughout Colorado and the American West. It is a landscape I associate with simplicity, resilience, self-reliance, and a kind of beauty that doesn't depend on being polished or perfect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stabilized Plains Cottonwood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Personally harvested along Cherry Creek, Colorado\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approx. 5-1\/16\" tall × 2-1\/16\" diameter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Modified Glencairn-inspired profile, approx. 3½\" deep\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCraft:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-turned\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural — no dye\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash only. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074084086015,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/The-Eddy-Plains-Cottonwood-Shot-Glass-IMG-03543.jpg?v=1789181662"},{"product_id":"the-gator-florida-spalted-live-oak-shot-glass","title":"The Gator — Florida Spalted Live Oak Shot Glass","description":"\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLongtime friends gathered this Florida Live Oak near St. Augustine while vacationing there. After being asked to watch for an interesting piece of Florida wood, she made finding one part of the mission. The wood appeared recently cut when collected and traveled several hours home with them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt remained in a plastic grocery bag through at least a month or two of Florida summer heat and was eventually mailed in that same bag. When it reached the shop, the retained moisture was palpable and the spalting appeared unusually advanced for such recently cut wood. Based on experience with other woods, the enclosed heat and moisture seem to have hastened the process, although the exact progression cannot be known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrevious pieces made from this batch stayed with the friends who gathered it or with the maker. The Gator is the first piece from the wood offered for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFounded in 1565, St. Augustine is recognized as the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African American origin in the United States. Spanish, British and American authority have each shaped the city during its long history. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.citystaug.com\/693\/Our-History\"\u003eExplore St. Augustine’s history.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeep brown lines and forms move through the lighter amber and honey-colored wood. One dark natural figure can be seen abstractly as a gator making its way upstream, inspiring the name. It is solid wood—not an open inclusion—and remains smooth and level with the surrounding surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLive Oak also has a deep connection to Florida’s maritime history. Its dense, strong timber was prized for wooden ship construction, including \u003cem\u003eUSS Constitution\u003c\/em\u003e. In 1828, the United States established the Naval Live Oak Reservation near Pensacola to preserve the species for future naval use. The National Park Service also tells this story at Fort Matanzas, just south of St. Augustine, giving the wood’s history a meaningful connection to the place where this piece began. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/foma\/learn\/nature\/oak.htm\"\u003eLearn about Southern Live Oak at Fort Matanzas.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgainst that history, the dark natural figure that suggested a gator moving through lighter wood feels particularly at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tall cylindrical form measures 5½ inches high by 1¾ inches in diameter. Its traditional interior bore extends approximately 3⅞ inches. A slight inset about one-third of the way down the interior wall records a correction made while turning. Smoothing that localized area preserved the surrounding wall thickness. It is structurally sound and should not be mistaken for an internal Glencairn profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wood was personally stabilized without dye, preserving its natural color. Polymerizing walnut oil and microcrystalline wax give the piece a smooth, distinctive feel while helping reduce visible fingerprints.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies:\u003c\/strong\u003e Florida Live Oak (\u003cem\u003eQuercus virginiana\u003c\/em\u003e) — spalted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gathered near St. Augustine, Florida\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCharacter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Naturally dark gator-like figure with varied spalting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5½\" H × 1¾\" diameter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBore depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 3⅞\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Traditional shot-glass bore with a slight localized inset\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStabilized:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDyed:\u003c\/strong\u003e No; natural color\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Polymerizing walnut oil and microcrystalline wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash only. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher. Follow the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gentrycrafted.com\/pages\/faq\"\u003eGentry Crafted FAQ\u003c\/a\u003e before applying any additional finish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne of one:\u003c\/strong\u003e This exact piece only\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074244550911,"sku":"GC-SG-FLO-GATOR-001","price":82.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/the-gator-florida-live-oak-hero_efbdc7fd-ed25-4a69-9cab-2c6c9c08b122.jpg?v=1789102856"},{"product_id":"the-witness-west-virginia-white-oak-turnabout-shot-glass","title":"The Witness — West Virginia White Oak Turnabout Shot Glass","description":"\u003ch2\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhite Oak once stood among the trees used to witness boundaries in the forests of what became West Virginia—living markers of place, recorded because they endured.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis piece carries its own kind of record.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe wood came from a West Virginia source who gathered Oak, Walnut, and Hickory from the region. Somewhere in the middle of this unusually tall blank, however, a substantial section was missing. Removing the entire damaged portion would also have meant giving up much of the sound wood around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo the void became part of the design.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRather than shortening the blank, I turned through the interruption and followed what remained. A narrow waist emerged where the missing wood had been, leaving a vessel at either end.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhite Oak was the most frequently recorded witness-tree species in a U.S. Forest Service study of early surveys from land that later became the Monongahela National Forest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe larger end is the natural home for a pour of whiskey. Turn \u003cstrong\u003eThe Witness\u003c\/strong\u003e over and the smaller end offers another possibility—a tasting pour, aperitif, digestif, or simply the unexpected second vessel left behind by the making.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe knot still crosses the transition around the narrowed center, almost marking where the original blank changed course.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd then there is the grain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBroad oak rays sweep through the piece with spectacular figure, catching the light differently as the vessel turns. In a wood once used to mark boundaries and place, those visible lines feel especially appropriate: another record held in the material.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Witness\u003c\/strong\u003e belongs to \u003cem\u003eThe Gathering\u003c\/em\u003e because its story is not simply about where the wood came from. It is about what was gathered, what was lost, and what was worth keeping.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDetails\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWood:\u003c\/strong\u003e White Oak, white-oak group (\u003cem\u003eQuercus\u003c\/em\u003e spp.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e West Virginia\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approx. 5-1\/4\" tall × 2\" diameter\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-turned, one of one\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eForm:\u003c\/strong\u003e Turnabout vessel with drinking chambers at both ends\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWood treatment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stabilized\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCollection:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Gathering\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074418483455,"sku":"GCWhiteOakWitnessSG","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/the-witness-white-oak-turnabout-img-03554.jpg?v=1789184620"},{"product_id":"the-patient-grain-illinois-pecan-candy-bowl","title":"The Patient Grain — Illinois Pecan Candy Bowl","description":"\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Patient Grain was turned from Illinois-harvested pecan purchased directly from a local harvester. The wood came from a wide board approximately two inches thick, and that available thickness helped determine the bowl’s low, open form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePecan can demand patience at the lathe. Even with sharp tools and a light touch, the quarter-sawn portions required considerable follow-up sanding to achieve the bowl’s smooth, uniform surface. That finishing experience gave The Patient Grain its name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fitting botanical detail: pecan’s scientific name is \u003cem\u003eCarya illinoinensis\u003c\/em\u003e. The \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/plantfinder.mobot.org\/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a852\"\u003eMissouri Botanical Garden\u003c\/a\u003e notes that the species name \u003cem\u003eillinoinensis\u003c\/em\u003e means “of Illinois”—especially appropriate for a bowl turned nearby from Illinois-harvested pecan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one-of-one bowl has a shallow, accessible form suited to candy, nuts, wrapped treats, and other small snacks. Its warm golden-brown color and flowing grain also allow it to stand on its own as a small decorative dish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bowl was hand-turned and finished with walnut oil followed by a paste wax containing walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWood: Illinois Pecan (\u003cem\u003eCarya illinoinensis\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCraft: Hand-turned\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: Approximately 6½ inches wide × 1½ inches high\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBare weight: 6.8 ounces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFinish: Walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntended use: Candy, nuts, and small snacks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCare: Hand wash and dry promptly. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne of one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074445582591,"sku":"PecanBowl5","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/The-Patient-Grain-IMG-6212.jpg?v=1788665763"},{"product_id":"small-rescued-wood-bowl","title":"Small Rescued Wood Bowl","description":"\u003cp\u003e4-1\/4 x 3 inches\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074462458111,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/Small-Rescued-Wood-Bowl-IMG-6195.jpg?v=1788583265"},{"product_id":"the-space-between-american-sycamore-bowl","title":"The Space Between — American Sycamore Bowl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Space Between\u003c\/strong\u003e began with something that was not part of the plan: openings hidden inside a very wet piece of Sycamore that only revealed themselves as the bowl was rough-turned.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe wood came from a massive Sycamore on a rural Illinois property. The tree had grown near an old farmhouse and was eventually removed because its size and location had made it a hazard to the house. Some of that wood was shared with Gentry Crafted, beginning a path that would eventually send finished pieces back to the person who provided it and leave this piece waiting in the shop for its own answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen this bowl was first rough-turned in spring 2026, the natural through-voids appeared as material was removed. They were substantial enough to change what the bowl could become, but the remaining wood was sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne possibility was resin. Instead, the rough bowl was set aside while the best way forward was considered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe decision came sooner than the final turning did.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy mother-in-law has worked with wood herself, making spoons and other pieces, and she and my wife were among the people who first drew me toward woodworking. When she saw this bowl in person during the rough-turning stage, her advice was simple: \u003cstrong\u003eleave the openings open.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI trusted her judgment and immediately knew she was right.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe bowl was dried over the following months and returned to the lathe in August. Its rough form had already established the general proportions, but the final cuts still had to respond to what the wood had revealed. The walls were refined without chasing maximum thinness, and the rim was shaped so the existing openings remained within the wall rather than being cut through the top.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is a larger woodturning tradition behind that decision. The American Association of Woodturners has documented makers who deliberately incorporate cracks, inclusions, holes and other irregularities as sources of texture, focal interest and negative space. The Smithsonian American Art Museum describes pioneering turner Melvin Lindquist as deliberately working with natural cracks, holes and uneven edges, helping establish a way of seeing characteristics once treated as defects as part of the beauty of contemporary turned wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Space Between\u003c\/strong\u003e belongs to that idea in its own quieter way. Nothing was repaired or filled. The openings that appeared in the wood were simply allowed to remain part of the finished form.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Space Between is hand-turned from American Sycamore (\u003cem\u003ePlatanus occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e) and measures approximately \u003cstrong\u003e5-5\/8 inches in diameter × 2-1\/2 inches high\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSycamore itself can carry another kind of visual surprise. Its broad rays can create distinctive flecking on appropriately oriented surfaces, and American Sycamore is sometimes referred to as “lacewood” because of that lace-like figure. Here, pale and warmer-toned grain moves around the bowl while the natural through-voids introduce literal negative space through the wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe openings are smooth and firm, with no loose or fragile wood at their edges. The bowl sits flat and stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause the voids pass completely through the wall, this piece is best suited to \u003cstrong\u003edisplay or dry contents\u003c\/strong\u003e such as wrapped candy, larger candies, nuts or similar snacks rather than liquids or very small loose foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is finished with walnut finishing oil followed by a separate microcrystalline wax finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHand-turned American Sycamore (\u003cem\u003ePlatanus occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003cbr\u003eApprox. 5-5\/8\" diameter × 2-1\/2\" high\u003cbr\u003eFinal weight: 8.9 oz\u003cbr\u003eNatural through-voids intentionally left open\u003cbr\u003eWalnut finishing oil and microcrystalline wax finish\u003cbr\u003eFor decorative use and suitable dry contents\u003cbr\u003eOne of one\u003cbr\u003ePart of \u003cstrong\u003eThe Gathering\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074517606655,"sku":"SycamoreBowl3","price":72.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/The-Space-Between-IMG-6199.jpg?v=1788668290"},{"product_id":"the-final-pass-maple-bowl","title":"The Final Pass — Maple Bowl","description":"\u003ch2\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe final operation on this Maple bowl carried its own risk. To finish the underside, the nearly completed piece had to be held from the outside by large jaws designed for that stage of the turning process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Facebook post made while the bowl was still in progress recorded the concern plainly: the final touches could not be taken for granted, and cleaning up the back side made the maker nervous. If the bowl shifted or came away from the jaws, the work already invested in it could be lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat moment gives \u003cem\u003eThe Final Pass\u003c\/em\u003e its name. It is a modest part of the bowl’s history, but an honest one—the piece was not complete until one last uncertain operation succeeded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNearly six inches wide and three inches deep, this compact bowl has proportions suited to an individual salad, snacks, dry foods, or decorative use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNatural grain and color variation move through the walls and interior. A closed, firm knot on the exterior is nearly flush with the surrounding wood and does not pass through the wall. A much smaller knot remnant on the underside leaves a slight localized recess without affecting how steadily the bowl sits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exact Maple species and original source are no longer documented, so the wood is identified simply and accurately as Maple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDetails\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne-of-one hand-turned Maple bowl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately 5-15\/16 inches wide × 3 inches high\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBare weight: just under 11 oz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFinished with Mahoney’s walnut oil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFinal paste wax contains walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntended for individual salads, snacks, dry foods, or decorative use\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNot intended for soup or holding liquids\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand wash and dry promptly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not soak or place in a dishwasher\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFinished but unsigned underside\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074661097727,"sku":"MapleBowl3","price":58.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/the-final-pass-maple-bowl-img-6208-minimal-edit.jpg?v=1788633317"},{"product_id":"the-first-lesson-eastern-redbud-shot-glass","title":"The First Lesson — Eastern Redbud Shot Glass","description":"\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore I began harvesting much of my own wood, I was buying figured burls through online wood auctions and purchasing premium and exotic species from contacts as far away as Indonesia. Their beauty was immediate and unmistakable—but so was the amount I was spending.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy wife began nudging me to look closer to home. She has since found or helped arrange several of the wood harvests that became part of Gentry Crafted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Eastern redbud came from a declining Illinois tree that had to be removed after suffering from natural pests and other issues. I was already making wooden shot glasses when we gathered it, but Redbud was one of the earliest locally harvested species I set aside to dry and eventually explore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most striking section was an extraordinary crotch where the tree divided. I wanted to save it, but the decline had progressed too far. There was not enough sound wood left to use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat loss became part of the lesson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorking with this tree taught me to look for the figure created where trunks divide and branches converge—not only the dramatic burl figure I had been purchasing. Other harvested woods continued that education: knots in Plains Cottonwood, unexpected grain in species that are rarely treated as precious, and beauty that does not announce itself until the wood is cut and turned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Redbud aged for more than two years before this piece was made. Its story marks a change in how I began looking at wood: less attention to what a species was supposed to be worth, and more attention to what an individual tree might reveal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand-turned from Eastern redbud (\u003cem\u003eCercis canadensis\u003c\/em\u003e), The First Lesson carries deep reddish-brown heartwood with narrow orange-red streaks running vertically through its taller form. On one side, the dark grain rises into a flame-like figure framed by brighter natural color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wood was stabilized without dye before turning. Stabilization made the aged Redbud cut more predictably while preserving the natural contrast that first made me want to understand the species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth tapers are intentional. The exterior narrows gently from its broader base toward the rounded rim. Inside, a Glencairn-inspired profile creates a fuller lower chamber with a more restricted opening. Together, the inner and outer forms reflect a later and more deliberate stage in my shot-glass making—even though the wood itself came from one of my earliest local harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe First Lesson is not made from the remarkable crotch section I once hoped to save. Instead, it represents what that lost section taught me to notice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approx. 3½ inches tall × 1⅞ inches diameter\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eastern redbud (\u003cem\u003eCercis canadensis\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Personally harvested in Illinois\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-turned and stabilized without dye\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glencairn-inspired internal profile\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural—no dye\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of one\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash only. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074694226175,"sku":"GCRedbudSG1","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/The_First_Lesson_Eastern_Redbud_IMG_6243.jpg?v=1788661195"},{"product_id":"walnut-shot-glass-1","title":"The Find — Walnut Shot Glass","description":"\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI found and recovered this piece of walnut myself, saving a small section of the wood for the shop. Its warm color and broad, vertical grain give this one-of-one shot glass a quiet but distinctive character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Find was turned from natural-color walnut (\u003cem\u003eJuglans\u003c\/em\u003e sp.). The exact walnut species is unidentified, so the listing does not claim Black Walnut. The wood was stabilized without dye, then shaped on the lathe with an internal Glencairn-inspired profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stabilized walnut (\u003cem\u003eJuglans\u003c\/em\u003e sp.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSource:\u003c\/strong\u003e Personally found and recovered wood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 3 inches tall × 2 inches wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Internal Glencairn-inspired profile\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCraft:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-turned\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural — no dye\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash only. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grain changes subtly around the full circumference, making each view of this exact piece a little different.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074698420479,"sku":"GCWalnutFind","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/The-Find-Walnut-Shot-Glass-IMG_03579.jpg?v=1789188357"},{"product_id":"the-next-turn-sweetgum-bowl","title":"The Next Turn — Sweetgum Bowl","description":"\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSome pieces arrive at the lathe with a plan. Others become important because of when they are turned.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis Sweetgum had already been prepared and was waiting its turn. The wood came from a locally gathered tree at a place where knowledge is shared and had seasoned with its bark intact for more than two years. An earlier bowl from the same large section had already shown how much character Sweetgum could carry, especially around knots and irregular grain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen another bowl changed the context.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA large Silver Maple blank from a family tree came apart during turning after hidden weaknesses, lathe problems, and too much speed combined in a way that could have caused serious injury. The experience forced a much harder look at how large, imperfect blanks were being approached.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis Sweetgum became the next turn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was not chosen as a symbolic test. It was already in the queue. But the timing mattered. The blank contained a visible knot, and after the previous failure, the knot demanded a more deliberate approach. When the original lathe failed shortly afterward, the bowl waited again. By the time the work resumed on a more capable lathe, the approach had changed: slower speed, more control, and greater attention to what the wood itself was asking for.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Sweetgum made that patience necessary. After more than two years of seasoning, it had become exceptionally hard, at times feeling closer to shaping stone than cutting wood. The knot became the center of the piece rather than something to remove. More material was left through the bottom where strength mattered. Where the knot continued toward the rim, a narrow section of the interior edge was worked by hand instead of forcing perfect uniformity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result carries those decisions visibly. Darker grain gathers around the knot and moves outward through amber and reddish-brown figure. The variation is not something the bowl survived. It is what gives the bowl much of its presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is another layer to Sweetgum that is easy to miss. Its heartwood was historically known in the lumber trade as redgum, and figured redgum once held a more prominent place in furniture, cabinetry, veneer, and millwork than Sweetgum’s modern reputation suggests. Particularly attractive material was even sold under the name “satin walnut.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat history feels appropriate here. This is a bowl made from a wood that can be underestimated, turned at a moment when the value of slowing down, looking more closely, and responding to what is actually there had become impossible to ignore.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Next Turn\u003c\/em\u003e is both literal and earned.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Next Turn is a one-of-one bowl turned from Sweetgum (\u003cem\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua\u003c\/em\u003e) gathered locally and seasoned for more than two years before turning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe natural knot visible in the interior continues through the lower portion of the bowl and toward the rim. Rather than remove it, the form was developed around it. Additional thickness was retained through the bottom, while a narrow section of the upper interior wall was shaped by hand where the knot met the rim. That localized variation is part of the finished piece and one of the reasons no second bowl will look quite like this one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe bowl was finished with Doctor’s Woodshop walnut finishing oil, followed by a separate microcrystalline wax finish. The surface was reworked and refinished during the process rather than accepting an earlier result that was not where it needed to be.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable for salad and serving use with normal wooden-bowl care, or simply as a decorative piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWood: Sweetgum \/ Redgum (\u003cem\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: approximately 9-3\/4\" diameter × 3-5\/8\" high\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstruction: hand-turned, one of one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeasoning: more than two years before turning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNatural feature: prominent knot retained through the interior and toward the rim\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForm: localized hand-shaped variation at the upper interior wall where the knot meets the rim\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFinish: Doctor’s Woodshop walnut finishing oil + microcrystalline wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse: salad bowl, serving bowl, or decorative display\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074743410943,"sku":"SweetgumBowl1","price":165.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/the-next-turn-sweetgum-bowl-img-6183.jpg?v=1788665075"},{"product_id":"thuya-burl-shot-glass","title":"The Scented Testament — Thuya Burl Shot Glass","description":"\u003ch2\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome woods carry their history quietly. Thuya Burl carries it in its figure, its fragrance, and a written record extending back thousands of years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wood of \u003cem\u003eTetraclinis articulata\u003c\/em\u003e was highly prized in the ancient Mediterranean for its richly figured grain and distinctive aroma. It is commonly identified with the “thyine wood” listed among the costly goods in Revelation 18:12—rendered by some translations as citron wood and by others as scented or fragrant wood. The reference is not to modern citrus wood, but to the prized North African timber the Romans knew as \u003cem\u003ecitrum\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy connection to this particular wood began much closer to home. A friend introduced me to a trusted local wood source, where a helpful salesperson connected me with the Thuya Burl blank. That path through friendship, local relationships, and a shared appreciation for unusual wood makes The Scented Testament part of The Gathering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI first worked with Thuya Burl before acquiring my lathe, shaping an earlier shot glass with the tools and processes available to me at the time. The remaining wood then waited for nearly two years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart of that pause came from uncertainty about its pronounced natural fragrance and whether it belonged in a drinking vessel. By the time I returned to it, additional turning experience had sharpened both my process and my instincts for responding to unfamiliar wood. Its aroma no longer seemed to take away from the piece. Instead, it felt like another expression of the material and its long history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThuya is dense and naturally oily. Based on how this particular blank presented and responded while being worked, I chose to leave it unstabilized and undyed. Its amber, reddish-brown color and tightly patterned burl figure are entirely natural.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe oily, irregular grain also responded differently to my usual hollowing tool. I completed the traditional interior with a Robust Negative Rake Box Scraper. I found the tool through Tod at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodturningtoolstore.com\/product\/robust-negative-rake-box-scraper-unhandled\/\"\u003eWoodturning Tool Store\u003c\/a\u003e, whose straightforward advice has helped shape parts of my woodturning journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe restrained exterior form allows the burl figure, natural color, and distinctive fragrance to define the finished piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDetails\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eName:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Scented Testament\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thuya Burl\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eTetraclinis articulata\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 3-1\/4 inches tall × 1-7\/8 inches at the widest outside diameter\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Traditional shot-glass profile\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural; no dye used\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStabilization:\u003c\/strong\u003e Unstabilized\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Polymerizing walnut oil and microcrystalline wax\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCraft:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-turned\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCollection:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Gathering\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuantity:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of one\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNatural variations in grain, color, figure, and fragrance are inherent characteristics of the wood. The aroma may soften with time and use.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49124655890687,"sku":"GC-SG-THU-TESTAMENT-001","price":92.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/the-scented-testament-thuya-burl-shot-glass-03582.jpg?v=1789190069"},{"product_id":"the-gathering-grapevine-wine-red-resin-shot-glass","title":"The Gathering — Grapevine and Wine-Red Resin Shot Glass","description":"\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis grapevine-and-resin blank came from a small woodworking supplier who dealt primarily in pen blanks. He was also the person from whom I purchased my first professional-grade stabilizing chamber, used, while developing that part of my work. The blank was included in a larger purchase made before he closed his online store.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the third shot glass to come from that material. The first two found buyers quickly, both chosen as gifts. This piece was turned from half of the second blank I had kept, with enough remaining for one more shot glass if the wood and the turning cooperate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrapevine is familiar for what it produces, but much less familiar as a wood for turning. Once the fruiting years and seasonal pruning are over, the cut vine is often burned or treated as a material of little consequence. In this blank, its knots, branching grain, and irregular cross sections were instead held within wine-red resin, preserving a part of the vine that would usually be overlooked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne face is dominated by the grapevine itself, with broad knots and twisting wood figure visible through the translucent red resin. Around the rest of the glass, the vine breaks into smaller sections that appear and recede as the piece turns in the light. The bottom offers another view of the material: a fan-shaped section of radial grain surrounded by deep red.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRounding the blank required a more deliberate approach than wood alone. A skew is my usual tool for this stage because it removes wood quickly while still allowing a light touch when needed. The resin did not slice as readily under the skew, so bringing the blank into round took more patience and control than usual. That contrast between familiar tool and unfamiliar material became part of the making of this piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grapevine was stabilized before being encapsulated in a wine-red, pressure-cast resin blank. That preparation supported the vine’s irregular knots and branching sections while preserving them as visible features throughout the finished piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeparated by resin but still visibly connected, the gathered sections of vine give the piece its name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stabilized grapevine and wine-red resin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2⅝\" high × 2\" diameter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-turned, one of one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlank preparation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stabilized grapevine encapsulated in pressure-cast wine-red resin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterior finish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Doctor Wood’s Walnut Finishing Oil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExterior finish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Doctor Wood’s Walnut Finishing Oil and Microcrystal Wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash only. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCollection:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Gathering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49177199968511,"sku":"GCGrapeVineSG3","price":82.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/grapevine-wine-red-resin-shot-glass-03354-bright.jpg?v=1789003899"}],"url":"https:\/\/gentrycrafted.com\/collections\/the-gathering.oembed","provider":"Gentry Crafted","version":"1.0","type":"link"}