Christmas Pipes 2021
Several years ago I started a tradition of making Christmas pipes for my sons. They all three smoke, one a little less than the others, but all three enjoy the tradition, or at least humor me with it! The top secret 2021 Christmas projects are all delivered, so I can share them on-line, but first the history in reverse order:
The 2020 Christmas Projects were contrast blasted 1/8 bent eggs, a smaller, more traditional shape. And I made a checker board for my grandson with locally sourced hard maple and walnut. The 2019 Christmas Projects were tan blasted Volcanos with ebonite stems and cars made from locally sourced wood for my grandson. The 2018 Christmas Projects were 1/8 bent Freehand Dublins with smooth tops for my sons, and a working sailboat and rubber band powered motor boats for the bath. The 2017 Christmas pipes are Cherry Woods again, but smooth this time. And my Grandson, Calvin, who was 2 1/2 years old gots Dump Truck from various scrap, reclaimed, and repurposed woods I had in the shop. The 2016 Christmas Pipes were blasted Cherry Woods with natural plateaux tops, 2015 Christmas pipes were bent bulldogs, mostly blasted, but with smooth tops, 2014 Christmas pipes were contrast blasted bent eggs w/celluloid, 2013 Christmas pipes were Blasted Lovats, 2012 Christmas pipes were blasted straight bulldogs, 2011 Christmas Pipes were smooth Lovats, and Christmas 2010 was the first year of making the boys pipes for Christmas. They were different shapes for each. The very first 2006 Christmas pipe for for my middle son, John, who loves Bulldogs and loves Christmas, and was the only son smoking pipes at the time.
Drumroll please! This idea for this years Christmas Pipes started as a failed attempt at one of my Opus 2 Bent Bulldogs. While chasing what turned out to be a catastrophic flaw the pipe morphed into altogether different shape. The flaw went completely through the chamber, making it impossible to sell, but I was able to salvage to kept for myself (you may see it in the group photo). The more I looked over at this pipe, the more I liked it, so I recreated 3 of them for Christmas Pipes! I’ve named Opus 3, a Doggish Dublin. And the briar gods smiled upon my efforts with three smooths! I also made a tic tack toe set for my grandson out of locally sourced hard maple and walnut.
