Mike's Bowls
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PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:  The various bowls displayed here represent a sampling of my work.    If you see something that you like let me know:  I may be able to recommend or actually turn a similar bowl for you!

Click on any picture to either drill down to another level of information or to  view the bowl (enlarged) from multiple angles.
This is my very first natural edge bowl. It is made from Oak and has many distinctive features including a slightly raised rim that goes through the bark as well as the visible knot and some small cracks and even moss still on the bark! I love how it turned out. I have done several more natural edge bowls since completing this one.  WOOD: Oak.  SIZE: 6" Diameter by 4 1/2" Tall. 
ID: Oak 3  This Oak "bowl-in-a-board" is the first one I turned using Oak. Oak has more of a tendency to crack than Maple. As it dried the board edges started to warp, but no major cracks appeared other than the dark streak visible on the board. The flying edges and bark make it more of a challenge to finish. I love the results. The beveled edge at the bowl rim gives it a sleek look. The bowl is rather thick providing the piece with a solid weighty feel.  PRICE: $100.  WOOD:  Oak.  SIZE: 10" x 11" by 2 1/2" Tall.
ID: Oak 11  This large Valley Oak bowl is perfect for use as a salad bowl or a fresh fruit bowl or just to hold stuff. The rim groove was first cut into the bowl and then burned by holding a copper wire in the groove while spinning the bowl. It turned out nicely. This is one of my favorite "all purpose" bowls.  PRICE: $150.  WOOD:  Valley Oak.  SIZE: 12 1/2" Diameter by 3" Tall.

ID: Oak 16 This large Valley Oak bowl is made from the same wood harvested for the Oak 9 Bowl. Notice the common crack. A red colored epoxy was used to fill the crack and a few insect holes on this bowl. It has the same beautiful grain and spalting at Oak 9. The finish is very smooth and food safe should you choose to use this as a salad or fruit bowl. PRICE: $85 WOOD: Valley Oak SIZE: 11 1/4" Diameter by 3 1/4" Tall WEIGHT: 1 Pound 7 Ounces


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ID: Oak 20  This Valley Oak bowl has a slightly turned in rim. The rim gives it a good grip making it perfect for salads or other "mixing bowl" items. It has a food safe finish. It exhibits all of the nice grain, color, and character of Valley Oak.   PRICE: $90  WOOD: Oak  SIZE: 10 1/4" Diameter by 4 1/2" Tall  WEIGHT: 1 Pound 6 Ounces.

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ID: Oak 21  I call this Valley Oak bowl the "Dragon Fly" bowl! This is one of those undiscovered features you can only find once you start turning the bowl. Some old branch formation transformed into a beautiful dragon fly as the bowl was spinning. It has a food safe finish. Now it has a dual personality as "The Apple Bowl", too! Julie burned this apple on the inside to add some interest to it.  PRICE: $100  WOOD: Oak  SIZE: 10 3/4" Diameter by 3 5/8" Tall  WEIGHT: 1 Pound 5 Ounces.

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ID: Oak 23 The rim of this Black Oak bowl has a slight bead giving it a nice feel when you lift it. It exhibits the classic coloring of Black Oak with a deeper red core and a lighter sap wood. It developed two slight cracks in the middle as it was drying. They have been filled with epoxy and sanded smooth. This bowl has a wonderfully smooth feel. The bowl has a food safe finish. WOOD: Black Oak SIZE: 10 1/8" Diameter by 2 7/8" Tall WEIGHT: 12 Ounces.


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ID: Oak 33 -  This medium-sized Live Oak bowl was turned green to a final dimension.  An Odie's Oil finish was applied as soon as I finished sanding it to slow down the drying process and limit movement of the wood.  The piece did move a little as it dried, but the overall effect makes it look fairly rustic and interesting.  Notice the wavy top edge and the oval shape.  Julie burned some Live Oak leaves on the side.  PRICE: $90.  WOOD: Live Oak.  SIZE: 9" Diameter By 4 1/4" Tall. WEIGHT: 14 Ounces.

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ID: Oak 36 -  This lovely large Valley Oak bowl would make a perfect salad bowl. It has three decorative rings burned into the side; a wide stable base; and is fairly solid in weight.  You would be proud to serve salads in this bowl. The finish is food safe.  WOOD: Valley Oak.  SIZE: 12" Diameter By 3 1/2" Tall. WEIGHT: 1 Pound 9 Ounces.

This fairly heavy Valley Oak shallow bowl exhibits some very funky grain. It was turned from a crotch piece of wood where various forces have caused the wood grain to swirl around almost like human hairs. It was still a bit wet when turned. The final drying process caused some interesting movement in the wood. It is a joy to hold and look at the grain patterns. Julie saw a butterfly in the markings on this bowl and with a very subtle use of the wood burner made it into a beautiful butterfly!  WOOD: Valley Oak  SIZE: 9 1/4" Diameter by 1 3/4" Tall  WEIGHT: 1 Pound 1 Ounce
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This sexy little Oak bowl is very smooth to the touch. It has two decorative rings burned into the base. Julie then burned a image of a heron flying over the Laguna. It is at the gallery for sale now. The finish is food safe. It could be a nice candy dish or simply a catch all bowl. WOOD: Valley Oak. SIZE: 6 3/4" Diameter By 2 1/4" Tall. WEIGHT: 5 Ounces.

This small Oak platter was turned from a cutoff piece of wood while it was still wet.  As it dried it warped a little.  Julie decided that it needed something to spruce it up so she burned "her two cents" into it!  I love it!  The finish is food safe.  WOOD: Oak; SIZE: 8 3/4" Diameter by 1 3/4" Tall; WEIGHT: 6 Ounces.
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A friend and fellow wood turner brought over a small piece of fresh Cedar for me to turn. The Cedar chips made the shop smell great for days! The bright red wood (almost purple in this specimen) is the heart wood.  WOOD: Cedar  SIZE: 6 1/4" Diameter by 2 1/8" Tall  WEIGHT: 3 Ounces
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This large Liquidambar (Sweet Gum) bowl is very light and could be used as a nice salad bowl.  Julie decided to burn an intricate leaf patter on the outside including the Sweet Gum seed pods. It should make for an interesting conversation piece with guests. The bowl has a food safe finish.  WOOD: Liquidambar (Sweet Gum).  SIZE: 12 7/8" Diameter By 3 1/4" Tall. WEIGHT: 1 Pound 2 Ounces.
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This large Liquidambar (Sweet Gum) dried with a discoloration along the sides. Although it added interest I thought the bowl needed something more and I went to my resident artist. Julie decided to burn an Indian basket pattern on the sides highlighted with a wheat symbol.  We both love how the burning enhanced the bowl. It should make for an interesting conversation piece with guests. The bowl has a food safe finish.  WOOD: Liquidambar (Sweet Gum).  SIZE: 10 3/4"" Diameter By 6 5/8" Tall. WEIGHT: 1 Pound 2 Ounces.
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ID Monkey Pod 1 - NFS - Made from Hawaiian Monkey Pod wood.  Although Monkey Pod is rather common in Hawaii it is pretty rare in California.  My neighbor shipped a log back to me while on vacation there.  I turned two bowls and gave him one.  I am keeping this one.

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This lovely Liquid Amber bowl (also known as Sweetgum) was turned with a broad rim to allow Julie to burn a design.  She chose to to do a grape theme to express our love for living in Wine Country.  This is one of my favorite bowls done by Julie.  WOOD: Liquidambar  SIZE: 10 1/2" Diameter by 3 3/8" Tall  WEIGHT: 1 Pound 1 Ounce.
 IPE is a very hard wood.  It is used as flooring or decking because of its durability and hardness.  I am pleased with how this one turned out.  More to come!  WOOD: IPE; SIZE: 5" Diameter by 2 1/2" Height.  WEIGHT: 10 Ounces.
Here is an example of a piece of wood that I almost threw away because it was so funky.  It was 9/11/17 and I decided to turn something as an experiment.  As the wood revealed itself I knew I had a keeper.  It is turned rather thick (almost 1/2") because of the many defects.  It is somewhat of a Phoenix rising from the ashes.  I hope you like it.  WOOD: Mulberry; SIZE: 8 3/4" Diameter by 4 1/4" Tall; WEIGHT: 1 Pound 9 Ounces.
This nice Black Locust platter has two distinctive black rings on the bottom side.  It was an experiment with wider colored rings that seems to have worked out OK.  It has a food safe finish. WOOD: Black Locust; SIZE: 8 1/2" Diameter by 1 3/4" Tall; WEIGHT: 10 Ounces.


This lovely Black Locust bowl has a lot going on.  The rim is tipped in with two accent rings burned into it.  Black Locust is a very hard and durable wood.  It would make a nice salad bowl with the ability to hold just about anything you would like.  The finish is food safe.  WOOD: Black Locust; SIZE: 10" Diameter by 4" Tall; WEIGHT: 1 Pound 6 Ounces.

This large Pear bowl had an interesting bark inclusion.  Julie stared at it for a couple of days and decided it was an alligator!  Here results are amazing.  The finish is food safe and the bowl could be used as a salad bowl. Any self-respecting "Florida Gator" must own this bowl!  WOOD" Pear; SIZE: 10 1/2" Diameter by 4 1/4" Tall; WEIGHT: 1 Pound 3 Ounces.
This large Pear bowl has some wonderful wood burning designs created by Julie.  She had done other "Feather Bowls", but this is probably the largest and most extensive one so far.  There are five feathers on the inside and some creative border patterns on the outside.  It could be used for food as it has a food safe finish.  WOOD: Pear; SIZE: 12" Diameter by 3 3/4" Tall; WEIGHT: 1 Pound 7 Ounces.
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Private Collections

Oak 3 - "Bowl in a Board"
BLACK LOCUST 2 - "Sea Gull Bowl"
SYCAMORE 1
WALNUT 25
WALNUT 57


 
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  • Welcome
  • About
  • Bowls
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  • Search By...
  • How to Order
  • Contact
  • Private Collections