Wood Turning - Fungus! I never expected to get anything so beautiful

This chunk of wood had been lying outside under a pile of offcuts for over a year. I nearly threw it out but then thought, well - maybe? The wood was very soft and punky in places, no surprise really. But as I turned more and more away I could see some beautiful features and markings appearing.
It was quite difficult to finish due to the varying soft and harder parts, but I think the danish oil followed by lacquer works well. I hope you liked this one, thanks - Jim
Check out my ETSY shop.
wonderfulwoodnstuff.etsy.com

[@AllenOxendine]

Beautiful Piece and interesting process, thanks for sharing. Full View and Like 👍

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks Allen 👍

[@jackstrange186]

Wow, that is gorgeous.

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks Jack, much appreciated 👍

[@MASI_forging]

The good thing about old tools is that often they can be fixed.😃😃

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

👍

[@stevefromlondon9175]

It's amazing what can be pulled out of a log you have good skill Regards Steve UK London

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks Steve, much appreciated 👍

[@lyndaowen2154]

Gorgeous great job

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thank you! Cheers! 👍

[@philipcook5574]

Beautiful 👏👏👏

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks Phil 👍

[@TournageDubois]

Beautiful graining in that piece, Jim! Very well done!

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks you sir👍

[@uniqko]

Beautiful vase

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks 👍

[@debparks2034]

What a Beautiful work of art. The way the grain flows is very cool.

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks for watching and commenting Deb, much appreciated 👍

[@SilverBack.]

WOW what a save, well done 👏👏👏👏

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks Douglas - much appreciated 👍

[@colinmacdonald404]

Thanks 👍

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

No problem 👍

[@leliaguinn5307]

beautiful.

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks Lelia 👍

[@JamesCouch777]

Sometimes we surprise ourselves in a good way 👌👍 I've turned some things with mixed hard and punky wood and it is hard to get a good finish on it but I think it's awesome!

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks James - it was definitely tricky!

[@magikdust2095]

This looks beautiful, but I think it would've been really cool looking if you had done something with resin and the actual mushroom covered part. So, instead of scraping them all off the wood, maybe cast them in resin. I think that also would've looked really awesome. It still looks beautiful, though.

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Thanks - a very interesting idea!

[@sjvche7675]

Did gather all the turnings put them in a fabric bag to grow more fungus?

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

The fungus was bagged and binned! I didn’t fancy keeping it😂

[@11SillyMoose11]

I wonder if you could have added some hardener or similar to the fungus to arrange a sort of mushroom bouquet to sit in/on top of the vase? Lovely piece, and striking thumbnail!

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

I wonder if you can get silk mushrooms or fungus? I like the idea but definitely with fake stuff😀 Thanks👍

[@geoffreykail9129]

How do you choose your blanks? I have a band saw mill and have a lot of Oak , Pine and Cedar cutoffs and chunks, and some big oak burls that I hate to just chop up when there are guys like you around that can make them in to something beautiful. Don't know much about turning

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Hi Geoffrey - that’s a difficult one to explain! sometimes I know exactly what I’m planning and turn to pre determined sizes which I have drawn out. Sometimes I have no idea what I will end with and let the piece evolve. This doesn’t always work😂 I suppose experience plays a large part so I encourage you to experiment. I spend more time now looking at chunks of wood and imagining what could be inside! Good luck and thanks for your comments. Jim

[@karenmurray3098]

do you have a plan when you start turning or dose the peice just develop as you go ?

[@JimLiddiardEntertainInspire]

Hi Karen - sometimes I have a very clear plan of dimensions and form, however with this piece it really was see what’s inside and let it evolve!