Mother’s Day is a couple of days away and Father’s Day is just around the corner, so astute woodturners are probably thinking about what they might make for these special people in their lives. After all, what better way to celebrate someone than to make them something by hand?
But…what to make? If you’re raring to go but stumped on what items might make the best gifts, read on for some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
One of the first things you might consider making for your mom (or any special lady in your life) is home décor. There are so many decorative things you can make on a lathe, whether you are just starting out or if you’ve been woodturning for years. Below are some specific ideas for decorations your mom might love!
Candlestick holders are a popular item to turn if you are doing some spindle work, as we mentioned in our earlier blog post. Candlestick holders are perfect for beginners, as they can be made very simply, giving you a chance to practice smoothing and finishing a piece to bring out its natural beauty.
However, even advanced woodturners might find making candlestick holders a fun challenge, as the columns can be made in many shapes with different sizes of knops or decorative bumps.
Vases are gifts that can be both practical and beautiful. An added bonus is that you get to practice your hollowing technique. Vases can be broader and shallower or taller and deeper, depending on Mom’s tastes.
A wood-turned vase is a perfect place to keep dried or fake flower arrangements, but if you want to experiment with new finishes, try coating the inside of the vase in epoxy to make the wood waterproof. This way, you’ll be able to include some real flowers along with the one-of-a-kind vase.
Ornaments are not just for Christmas! Beautifully turned wooden ornaments can be used as decorations all year round. When creating non-Christmas ornaments, consider your subject; make something with a spring or summer theme so that it is clear that this item is meant to be displayed on a shelf, in a curio cabinet, or as part of a centerpiece rather than on a Christmas tree.
Nature always makes a good subject for these types of ornaments. Bird figurines, standing, nesting, or swooping, can bring some interest to a spring or summer display. Flowers and tree figurines might add some simple beauty to your mother’s entryway or table. You might also consider making a neutral ornament, something with smooth curves or clear geometric lines to add a vintage or modern flair to your mom’s furnishings.
Kitchen items make great gifts for Mother’s Day, and many mothers love unique kitchenware designed just for them. Just remember: while kitchen gifts can be useful and lovely, some women would rather receive items that promote relaxation rather than implying that she should be in the kitchen. Give responsibly and respectfully!
The first kitchen items a woodturner might think of making are bowls and plates. Bowls and plates can make wonderful gifts, whether you are creating a one-of-a-kind vessel or a whole set of dishes.
Because these are the first items most woodturners learn to make, they are perfect for those who have just started turning. But, like vases, they can be made more complex and interesting when you experiment with different techniques like beading, embellishment, and finishes. Bowls, plates, and platters can also double as decorative items depending on the size and shape of the piece(s) you create.
If turning wooden dishes isn’t of interest to you, you might make items for the kitchen that are more unique. One such item is a mortar and pestle. A mortar and pestle is used for grinding things, especially whole spices. A cook places the spice in the bowl, or mortar, and then uses the specially shaped wooden stick, or pestle, to grind them into a powder or paste. Many people use their mortar and pestles to grind garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and more.
If your mom is interested in leveling up her cooking game, it might be time to make her a striking and sturdy mortar and pestle.
One other unusual item a woodturner could make for the kitchen is a scoop. A scoop could be used for things like flour, sugar, salt, coffee beans…the list goes on.
Scoops require a woodturner to use different techniques for the bowl and the handle of the scoop, so this might be a fun challenge for those who want to show off their woodturning abilities. The back of the bowl of the scoop needs to be wider than the diameter of the bowl, and this portion needs to be hollowed out. For the handle, you will need to turn the scoop around and use spindle turning techniques and tools like a skew chisel.
Another good way to show your mom how much you love her is to give her gifts that promote wellness and relaxation. Wood-turned wellness gifts may not spring immediately to mind, but that doesn’t mean that the creative woodturner can’t make something special for a mom who needs some pampering.
The first spa-type gift a woodturner might create is a massage roller or a set of massage balls. A massage roller can come in many shapes and sizes, but the basic idea is that it is a cylindrical tool that helps promote muscle relaxation. Massage rollers can be used on oneself or another person.
There are many different kinds of massage rollers; some are straight and some are curved, but they usually include bumps or knobs that help reach specific pressure points or knead out knots from stubborn muscles. Alternatively, several balls or small plates can be hollowed out like beads to fit onto a crosspiece to provide pressure perpendicular to the handle of the roller.
A massage comb is another unique gift a woodturner can make for Mother’s Day. Massage combs are made from wood, and unlike normal detangling combs, they have wide wooden teeth, often ending in small knobs that massage the scalp and increase blood flow.
These combs can be made in many shapes and sizes; like the massage rollers, some are curved and some are straight. Sometimes, the handle or back of the comb is lightly embellished to provide a softer massage than the teeth themselves would. For an added flair, you might consider making a comb that looks like a cute caterpillar or other legged creature by adding some etching or engraving to the finished product.
This gift might sound counter-intuitive – who wants to rest their head on a piece of wood? A wooden pillow, however, is not usually meant for sleeping. Instead, it is a piece of wood turned and smoothed into a silky half-cylinder that fits well under a person’s neck. This kind of pillow can help release head, neck, and jaw tension when a person places it flat on the floor and uses it as a massage tool.
Depending on the height of the wooden pillow, it can also be used to relieve tension in a person’s legs or back when placed under the ankle, knee, or small of the back. Mom will be comfortable and stress-free in no time!
Deciding what to make for Dad can be difficult; there are many fathers who don’t get excited about gifts or who want very specific things (that they often end up buying themselves!) However, a wood-turned caddy or container is the perfect balance between useful and beautiful, and it is sure to elicit your father’s admiration.
A box is one container you might consider making for your dad this coming Father’s Day. Boxes are a great project for any woodturner because, like the vase or candlestick holder you’re making for Mom, a box can be made as simple or complex as you would like.
A small, lidded box might be the perfect place for your dad to store his cufflinks on his dresser, while a larger box might be the perfect addition to the entryway table so that he always knows where to find his keys. The possibilities are endless!
Another useful caddy a woodturner might make for Dad could be a pen or pencil holder. What dad doesn’t need a way to keep his desk, workbench, or countertop more organized?
This sort of container is similar to a bowl or cup in that it needs to be a hollowed-out cylinder, but you don’t have to be as worried about the thickness of the sides or the symmetry of the lip. In fact, you might purposefully make this pen or pencil holder a bit asymmetrical to add some artistry to your father’s desk or shelf.
Everyone knows that the most difficult – but most important! – household device to keep track of is the TV remote. One plausible solution to the problem of the missing remote is a remote holder or couch sleeve. While you can find fabric versions of these sold online and in department stores, a handmade, wood-turned one makes a much better gift, and it can be made specifically for your dad’s tastes.
A remote holder could sit on the coffee table, if that is useful for your dad, or it could be attached to the inside or outside of a wooden couch sleeve. Creating a couch sleeve might take a bit more expertise, as it would need to fit the exact dimensions of your father’s favorite armrest, but it will be worth it to help your dad keep track of his TV remote. Bonus if your dad can also keep his phone or other items close at hand!
There are many things around the house that you may not think of making as gifts for Dad but that will actually make wonderful presents! These few ideas for household items may come in handy for the special guy in your life. And because these things are used daily, you can ensure that you’ll always be in his thoughts.
The first kind of household item you might make for your father is a handle. There are so many things around the house that could use a custom-made, one-of-a-kind wood handle: knives, spoons, ice cream scoops, screwdrivers, paintbrushes, shaving brushes…just about anything your father picks up could be adorned with a new, wood-turned handle.
Round or oval handles are best to make on a lathe, and it is a good idea to get a feel for your dad’s hand-size. That way, you can make handles that are balanced for his specific grip.
Another kind of household item that might impress Dad is a knob or pull. While you can buy metal knobs and drawer-pulls for cabinets and drawers around the house, wooden ones—made well and with love—will be sturdier and more appreciated in the long run. Like many other wood-turned items, these knobs or pulls can be made as simple or complex as you like, depending on your skill level and your father’s tastes.
If you are making a whole set for, say, the kitchen cabinets, this might be a good time to hone your technique for making identical items. On the other hand, maybe you want each one to be a bit different to show off your creativity and skill.
One last item you could make for Father’s Day is a coat rack. This is a larger item, but everyone needs a place to hang their coats and other outdoor gear. While factory-made ones can be purchased from stores, this is a chance to make something that matches your dad’s lifestyle. Does he need a place to hang hats? Place umbrellas? Or maybe he needs one that is shorter or taller than average.
A coat rack is also a good time to practice fitting multiple wood-turned pieces together, as you will need to separately craft the main pole, the legs, and the arms from which to hang things, and then join them together to create the finished product.
What dad doesn’t appreciate a good gadget? The word “gadget” refers to an interesting or novel tool or small implement. A good gadget can be both practical and a talking point, a chance for your dad to get things done and brag about you at the same time.
Bottle stoppers make great gifts, as they can be made in many different shapes and sizes and be finished with unique designs. They can also be made from small pieces of wood, giving the savvy woodturner a chance to use wood from his or her scrap bin, and they can be turned quite quickly.
You could make a small, simple stopper, or a more elaborate one that even requires some carving to finish. For example, if your father is a hunter, you could make one with a duck’s head or one that looks like an antler. If your father likes more sleek or understated items, consider playing with the grain or type of wood to add some interesting designs to a clean, smooth bottle stopper.
Game pieces may not be the first thing in your mind when you think about woodturning, but these small implements can be turned easily on a lathe.
A good set of game pieces can make playing a game— whether chess or Sorry! —that much more enjoyable. Game pieces will also give you the chance to use some scrap wood, perhaps, and to hone your craft when it comes to small, intricate details.
Pens are the final “gadget” you might want to make for Dad, and while pens are not particularly ingenious or novel in themselves, you can make them as interesting as you desire. Many beginning woodturners start out by making pen casings and gradually make them more complex as they become more advanced.
If your dad appreciates fountain pens, making a pen handle is your chance to craft something that will become your dad’s go-to writing instrument. You could even make a case to go along with it.
Whatever you choose to make for your parents (or other special people you’d like to celebrate this spring), you can be sure that they will love the fact that you put your time and energy into creating unique wood-turned items just for them.
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