The Haitian Art Company’s wood carving page

Based out of Key West, Florida, the Haitian Art Company was opened in 1977 and showcases the works from artists in Haiti. The owner Bruce Kravitz, deals directly with the artists in the island nation, buying their paintings, paper mache, metal work and wood carvings.

The Haitian Art Company has maintained close ties with many of Haiti’s best-known artists, and has been instrumental in supporting emerging talent.

Tragically, those ties are totally in question after this week’s catastrophic earthquake struck this impoverished island nation.

After viewing the gorgeous works and thinking about the terrible plight of those suffering through one of the worst tragedies seen in the western hemisphere, if you feel moved to make a donation, here are a few links to agencies you might want to consider:

• The Salvation Army
• The American Red Cross
• UNICEF

Custom Engraving by Catharine Kennedy

A woodworking tool is often just that – a utilitarian item that does a particular task in the shop.

But, sometimes you want your tool to make a statement.  If that’s the case, how about having one of your hand planes custom engraved?  Catharine Kennedy is a talented engraver who has extensive experience both engraving and using hand tools.

Designs can be as simple or complex as you would like. Monograms, acanthus leaves and other classic elements are some of the mainstays of her work, carved crisply into the tool’s metal sides.

Sure, the plane, knife or other tools may not work any better after it is engraved, but it will look so good.

Greco Woodcrafting

Woodworkers have a wide range of talents. Some are gifted turners, others can make gorgeous inlaid and veneer panels.

And, then, there are the folks who are exceptional toy builders.  John Greco is one of those woodworkers.

His creations run from the plain and functional to the intricate and ornate.  John’s talent can easily be seen in his attention to detail in items such as this hand-crafted biplane.  These toys make great stocking stuffers, just in case you were looking for a last-minute tip!

Even if you are just young-at-heart, John’s storefront site is worth a visit.

Ancient Egyptian Woodworking

Woodworking is a very ancient art.  How old?  Well, nearly 4,500 years ago, while stone workers were building the pyramids, Egyptian woodworkers were known as the best craftsmen to the world.

Using some local and many imported woods, these imaginative woodworkers created the mortise and tenon, dovetail and many other joints we use today.  They were using hide glue extensively in their work, building some impressive projects.

Once you read about the Egyptian woodworkers and their craft, you’ll understand what real throwback woodworking is all about.

Naturally Wood

Why should all of our holiday building be geared toward Christmas alone?  There are many Jewish woodworkers and woodworkers with friends who celebrate Hanukkah – why not consider building a craft-made wooden Menorah to help celebrate the holidays?

Woodworker Gary Markow creates some interesting, whimsical and unique Menorahs to light up the eight nights of celebration.

They are available to buy, but, if you would like to build your own to use for your family or to give as a gift, the Wikipedia entry on Menorahs gives a description you should keep in mind when building.

For instance, the eight candles – representing the eight nights that the lamp burned in the Temple during the purification – should all be on the same level, and a ninth called the shamash (sometimes called the  ‘helper candle’) should be mounted higher.

Pyrography.net

Over the past dozen years, I have made plenty of mistakes while woodworking.  Usually, those miscut  pieces of wood end up in a friend’s chimenea, never to be seen again.

But, what if I told you that some woodworkers intentionally burn their projects as an art form?  This process, called pyrography, is a very popular craft that can produce some breathtaking images on wood or leather.

Through the careful application of a heated ‘pen’, the artist can control the intensity of the line, the amount of shading and even how deep the char from the tool travels into the wood.  The results can be spectacular, looking like a pen and ink or charcoal drawing.

Pyrography.net offers a primer on the process, reviews the tools you will need to do the craft, provides examples from other skilled artists and a host of additional information on the craft.