Rachel Hollis Woodworkery

09/10/2026

The pilot on our TUI flight yesterday cheerfully advised passengers that Christmas is not far away and stick up on duty free booze! It suddenly hit me that I was already taking orders for personal tree baubles, Christmas folk families and Gonks last year!

Better start turning all the bits of Devon wood I’ve stashed!

What to make first?

26/09/2026

Returned to my lathe. Made this for a friend. Spalted beech, original sixpence inserted (1966 mint) to celebrate 60 years old.

26/05/2026

Back to little bowls. This lump of wood dried and split while I was turning it as a large bowl. I cut it down to 3 smaller pieces and reworked to create little bowls. This one is only 6cm diameter, but beautiful grain, demonstrating how wood can grow in all directions.

22/05/2026

Mango wood releases its fruity scent when you work with it! Soft to touch and lovely golden grain. Finished with danish oil.

20/05/2026

Piece of driftwood salty and dry given life again as a small lidded pot. Mineral oils to finish.

It stands about 10cm tall and whispers of tales of the sea on my bedside table as I sleep.

28/04/2026

27/04/2026

After nearly 5 months of waiting, leaving my lathe, moving house, setting up and discover broken lathe, researched and fixed lathe and enlisted the help of a lovely chap from my new woodturning club to put a very tight spring back in a very small space!

I have rediscovered the art of creating wood shavings!

Pic - My first bowl of 2026. Mango wood, sanded to 400 grit with microcrystalline wax to finish.

23/04/2026

Lathe set up ready to create new shavings in its new temporary home! …..Small technical hitch and an inquisitive mind has forced a delay!

It’ll be back together soon!