I am remaking one of my older boxes – the “Birthing Box” and these two photos show me turning one of the ‘pearls’ from Tagua nut, a vegetable substitute for ivory. The first photo in the gallery linked below shows an older “Birthing” box made for another collector a few years ago. You can click to view enlarged. The interior of the box contains loose tagua nut pearls.
This may be bad news for the vole, but it’s good news for the young fox! Although we don’t see the foxes as much as we used to, they are still around and making their presence known now and again. This is always a cheering moment as they seem to be such happy creatures trotting across the field. I have a young friend who particularly likes foxes and this is for her and her family.
Happy Fox Friday to all! This little one and his siblings are on my animals gallery here: https://stevenkennard.com/blog/skgallery/animals
Our fox family seems to have dispersed, though one young one is still hanging around in the evenings. We think she took shelter under our house in the torrential rain we have had recently. This photo of the siblings was taken back when they were all playing around us. By popular demand, I will share this last photograph, unless I get more of the remaining youngster. We hope that the vixen will feel comfortable to come back and have her litter here next spring.
All the animal photos, including the foxes are featured full size on my “Animals” gallery which you can view here: https://stevenkennard.com/blog/skgallery/animals
This is the first box that I’ve turned in what seems like a really long time. It was an order from a collector in the US who asked me to make a box for him that got me to pick up my tools and get into the shop. I have been turning, just not creating. And for artists, the act of creation is vital as without it you find yourself losing motivation and joy in your work and your life as this is such an integral part of it. This is where I found myself. Circumstances have been so limiting lately for so many of us and mine have made it very difficult to devote the time and focus to see my way out of the emotional darkness that can overtake us all. I just wasn’t feeling it, which made it worse.
So, thanks to this email out of the blue from down South, I have found the desire to be once again making, with new ideas and the excitement to get back in my studio. This simple beaded box is African Blackwood, which you will know is my favourite for boxes, lined with a lovely warm golden Thuya burl and decorated with a surface embellishment of texturing and a subtle red tint on the textured areas.
This box is part of my Turned Art Gallery you can view here: https://stevenkennard.com/blog/skgallery/turned-art
One of the young foxes was hunting a vole just when I happened to be looking out of the
French windows with my camera nearby. The glass, though clean, has softened the images somewhat, but we get an idea of the energy and excitement of the hunt. Clicking on any of the images takes you to the full gallery of foxes and other animals.
Here he’s spotted his prey:
*For those who are concerned, foxes don’t play with their prey when it’s live, like cats. So the vole is already dead when we see the play.
We’ve had a busy spring and early summer and I want to share some photos of the family of foxes we have living with us on our property. The litter must have been born in the bushes or woods close to our house, and in the past few weeks we have been watching the young ones enjoying life, playing and tumbling around like all young animals do, in the grass and among the trees and bushes. They are beautiful and so fun to watch.
Three of the fox cubs looking at me (well mostly).
And more foxes. What do you do when they keep playing in your garden? You have to take pictures! These were all taken in very low light, in the late evening, and at quite a distance, so it’s amazing that they came out at all!
Have a great summer, friends!
Happy World Turtle Day to all who celebrate (and who wouldn’t?)! This is a painted turtle taken in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia.
Pigeon spotting in Buhl Baden, Germany. Happy Sunday, all.
My animal and bird photos are all on my gallery
We had observed this little bird hanging out on the yew tree outside for some time. I set up the camera and flash close to the bush with the radio remote control inside the house and waited for him to appear. It was a picture of patience as the other 93 taken will attest! Happy Wildlife Wednesday friends.
He is on my Animals Gallery
I’ve only ever seen a flying squirrel once, in Kejimkujik Park in Nova Scotia. It was ‘flying’ around the campsite one night, moving so quickly it was hard to catch sight of where it was each time. This time it stopped to pick up something to eat before taking off again. They spread these flaps of skin between the front and back paws to glide between trees. Happy Squirrel Saturday!
Click to view My Animals Gallery