I like the natural graining of this piece, and your representation of the leaves is lovely. I really enjoyed the fact you made the leaves proportionately bigger. I love hand carving; it makes so much individual expression possible. Beautiful. Well done, you!
Mike you are truly an inspiration to all wood turners especially if like me you are only just beginning I have been turning for about a year and have picked up so many tips and ideas from your videos, so thank you MIke for another truly wonderfull piece of work.
Hi Mike...I am currently languishing in hospital with time on my hands and am so happy to have found your wonderful site. I binge watch as your natural artistry appears from all sorts of different wood and the finished pieces are just beautiful. Thank you.
I’ve only recently found your channel and must say how much I enjoy watching and listening. Your process is fascinating, and it’s a treat that you share your thoughts as the piece reveals to you what it needs to be and why.
It's amazing to watch your pieces evolving; all are beautiful. I appreciate the editing and comments, it keeps it so interesting and informative. Just subscribed, so look forward to your next demo 😊
I can't say it is my favorite piece (personal preference thing), but I love your approach, creativity, and problem solving. I always look forward to your next creations & learning new turning techniques.
I really love the colors in this piece of wood. It's an interesting blend of warm and cool. Great work in choosing a shape that set off the wood's best features. It's always interesting to follow your process. Thanks
Loving your journey into wood carving Mike.. You have certainly attained the natural authentic beauty of Monkey Puzzle bark. I love this piece, Perfect, organic, rustic charm. I can see this vase in a gallery showing of its understated beauty. Well done Mike on yet another brilliant work of art. ❤😊 xxx
😂 when you said "that's why you wear a face shield" 😂 Yep. I've a new respect for face shields after my near disaster. Won't catch me without one now. 👍
That vase is gorgeous. I love the bottle shape and the beautiful markings on it. The "leaves" around the bottom truly enhance the whole. ♥ Sorry I haven't been around for a few months. We moved into a motorhome and I had to move from a desktop to a laptop... so I lost a lot. But I finally found you again and can now enjoy watching you take a piece of wood and turn it into something gorgeous. ♥
Extraordinary piece of wood🤩. A fortunate that the bark didn’t want to stay on but you managed to get it ‘back on ‘ the piece by carving it out into it.. great one again.. and again congratulations on the 40.000 subs.. well done🎉..
Love the journey you take us on with each piece. Always interesting and with twists and turns, but arriving at the destination with a magnificent work of art. Thank you Mike, for sharing. I really rather like this vase, the colours and the shape especially. Great job on the carving, and looking forward to more, especially if it is fun and brings you joy. A win win all round for all of us 😊
Wow, that's the softest wood I've ever seen; it looked like you were carving clay! What a great learning experience, yet again. Thank you. Wish the original bark and leaves could have stayed, but then the lovely grain would have been forever hidden... Love your carving, that's really great! Beautiful piece, as always.😊
I had never heard of Monkey Pod Wood…but looked it up and it is a lovely looking tree. This piece is (like the others in Your videos) so unique and marvelous! Congrats on 40k subscribers!
That's beautiful! I love the spikes you carved. I think the only thing you could have possibly done to save the spikes would have been to cast the bottom in epoxy. Although, I'm not sure it would have worked with as loose as the bark was. Great job, Mike! ❤
Many years ago, I inherited a monkey puzzle tree from my aunt. It was a prize possession! Several years later, I traveled to Chile And was privileged to see a monkey puzzle tree in its natural setting! It’s soared to about 50 feet tall as I recall. Through a second story picture window at the hotel we were able to see into the tree and watch birds nesting there! It was amazing to watch. A few years later, we had a disasterous freeze in Louisiana, and it died! I have wanted to replace it and keep it in a pot, but they have become very expensive. I really enjoyed watching this video to see the wood underneath that amazing bark, and I love the vase that you made with the carving!
Excellent work Mike! Engraving the leaves back on is an imaginative way of preserving the ones from the bark. Keep working on the engraving and soon you will be very talented with it.
Classic Mike meet bark in high-speed video. Lots of pretty monkey gremlin eyes were hidden behind the bark though. Should be a great companion piece to the Kraken from some week ago. And congrats on the 40k.
Loving that wood and your carving work. Appreciating the teaching. Love the natural colors and grain of the wood. Ty 4 not coloring the leaves, lol. So cool that you're developing products. Beautiful finish. ❤
I remember seeing a Monkey Puzzle tree when I was young and remember thinking how strange it was and so unlike any other tree I had ever seen. I still think it is a very unusual tree and quite beautiful in it's own way. Congratulations on reaching and surpassing the 40,000 subscriber milestone. Many thanks for sharing your videos and allowing us to see just how much work goes into these wonderful works of art that you produce. Have a great day. Keep well and stay safe, Joe
The colours are really interesting on that piece. It looks like something is going on under the surface. I like the leaf engravings, they add to the story.
What a beautiful piece. I’ve never heard of that particular tree before and this piece certainly had a beautiful grain to show off. I’m quite glad the bark came off and the engraving looks stunning.
As you were turning this I noticed 2 things. The colors in the wood made it look smooth to me as if it had already been sanded. The second is that the shape was almost the same as an old glass Coca-Cola bottle. I really like the finished product.
The original piece looked like something that would pop up out of the sand and clobber you during the desert level of a video game XD I've never seen a piece of monkey puzzle with the leaves still on, and the leaf scars were a nice surprise under the killer attack bark. I'm glad you went with a minimalist style because a great piece of wood like that really speaks for itself. The engraved leaves are the perfect extra touch (and thank you for not coloring them this time!)
Can you even imagine how much time it would take to sand down all of those sharp pointed leave tips in resin without damaging the piece of wood? 🤯 It would (wood 😅) be stunning, though!!!!
Hi there, Mike. Just watched the video of your turning of the monkey puzzle tree and it’s lovely and I really do love the finishing touch with the leaves at the bottom that really does finish it off nicely. I know what you were saying about having colour to the leaves but as they say less is more and I really believe that. I love everything about it the elegant neck and just the right amount of detail at the bottom. As always, I really do enjoy watching you work and very relaxing.
That spiky bark would look fab encased in resin!
I was thinking exactly the same thing!
Thanks, I did consider it, perhaps next time 😁
Stabilitizing resin to penetrate that thick bark
I was thinking the same thing. I'd love to see that!
I thought that too.
Any chance we would ever get a compilation video of things flying off the lathe? That's sure to go viral!
Haha, I'll have a think, not sure I can remember them all 😂
I like the natural graining of this piece, and your representation of the leaves is lovely. I really enjoyed the fact you made the leaves proportionately bigger. I love hand carving; it makes so much individual expression possible. Beautiful. Well done, you!
Thanks so much Susanna, hand carving is so much fun, still not very good at it but we all have to start somewhere 😀
@ You’re doing just fine! 😄
@susannah4Him haha thanks 😀
Mike you are truly an inspiration to all wood turners especially if like me you are only just beginning I have been turning for about a year and have picked up so many tips and ideas from your videos, so thank you MIke for another truly wonderfull piece of work.
The colours and grain is lovely! Really like what you did with this piece. Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you so much! 😀
The flute top with the eyes looks like a seahorse head😂beautiful finish ,love it well done
Yes it does! Thanks Peter 😀
Hi Mike...I am currently languishing in hospital with time on my hands and am so happy to have found your wonderful site. I binge watch as your natural artistry appears from all sorts of different wood and the finished pieces are just beautiful. Thank you.
Thanks so much Nana and I wish you a speedy recovery 🙏 😀
I’ve only recently found your channel and must say how much I enjoy watching and listening. Your process is fascinating, and it’s a treat that you share your thoughts as the piece reveals to you what it needs to be and why.
Welcome aboard and thanks Don 😊
It's really quite gorgeous Mike, the color of the grain is just beautiful and the carving is great.
Glad you like it Rena 😁
Excellent showcase for your creativity, well done! I do enjoy how you articulate your thought processes for us as you work. Thank you.
You're welcome Rhiannon 😁
Have so enjoyed this & all the amazing videos.I think the leaf carving balanced this vase beautifully. ❤
Thanks so much 😊
Came out beautifully! I always appreciate you sharing your creative process and being able to change and pivot with the wood. thank you
You are so welcome Danielle
Another beautiful creation! I love the way the carving turned out.
thanks Joanna, I still have a lot to learn but we will get there 😀
Another beautiful piece. The colours in the wood and leaf shapes remind me of flames. Stunning vase
Thank you very much John ☺️
It's amazing to watch your pieces evolving; all are beautiful. I appreciate the editing and comments, it keeps it so interesting and informative. Just subscribed, so look forward to your next demo 😊
Thank you so much Dawn an welcome 😀
Love the way. Your brave enough to try a new skills live on video. Thank you for your time in making these videos. I fine them so relaxing.
You are very welcome Jonathan and thanks 😀
Looks great. They don’t always go as planned and can turn into pleasant surprises.
So true, thanks 😁
This is a nice piece. Love the eyes around the center. The carving is a good learning experience.
Thanks, I'm slowly starting to understand it 😀
Congrats on 40000 subs that's amazing sir. Well done. We're all loving this channel
Thank you so much Stephen😀
Really interesting piece. That grey running through is really pretty. The carving does look like fun!! Look forward to seeing more.
Thank you very much Lisa 😊
You never cease to amaze me mike , your not afraid to try new things and ideas and push boundaries this piece is absolutely brilliant well done .
Thanks Robert, I really just love trying new things 😄
I loved how this piece turned out. Well done, keep up the great work 👏
Thank you! Will do my best Richard 😄
Have turned a lot of monkey puzzle, but never a vase out of it . looks like it would make a great lamp stand. Brilliant as usual.
Thank you! Cheers.John, it may yet end up as a lamp 😁
I can't say it is my favorite piece (personal preference thing), but I love your approach, creativity, and problem solving. I always look forward to your next creations & learning new turning techniques.
That's OK, it would be a sad world if we all liked the same things, all the best and thanks, Mike 😀
You make some of the coolest projects out there Mike.
Thanks my friend 😊
Very nice piece, Mike! Congratulations on 40k!!
Thank you so much Peter😀
Love the result…your decision to do the engraving was spot on…subtle details…love it….👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you very much Loraine 😀
I'm in love with the gray hues that look almost blue. I'd never seen monkey puzzle before but it looks like a great word for carving. Very nice!
Thanks, it's a softwood not sot idea but we got it to work 😀
I really love the colors in this piece of wood. It's an interesting blend of warm and cool. Great work in choosing a shape that set off the wood's best features. It's always interesting to follow your process. Thanks
Thanks so much Tom 😁
Another lovely piece, the carving really sets the whole thing off.
Thank you very much Simon, still lots of practice needed but we are getting there 😀
Loving your journey into wood carving Mike.. You have certainly attained the natural authentic beauty of Monkey Puzzle bark. I love this piece, Perfect, organic, rustic charm. I can see this vase in a gallery showing of its understated beauty. Well done Mike on yet another brilliant work of art. ❤😊 xxx
You are so kind Shelley x
@ Just being honest. x
😂 when you said "that's why you wear a face shield" 😂
Yep. I've a new respect for face shields after my near disaster. Won't catch me without one now. 👍
Haha I bet!! lol 😀
Again great video showing your design process, resulting in a dream looking vase
Thank you very much Paul 😀
Absolutely amazing vase. Especially from such a difficult wood. Love the carving…. ❤
Thank you very much Vincent 😀
A great looking vase Mike! Love the shape and your carving at the base. Love those knots and all the different colour variations in the wood. Cheers
Glad you like it 😁
Glad you like it 😄
Lovely vase , just getting more into wood carving and whittling myself. You get a real sense of achievement. Great work 🍻
Thank you! Cheers Geoff, I need to watch a few tool sharpening videos lol 😀
Always amazes me how you make something so beautiful.
Wow, thank you Jeff 😊
You did a great job on the leaf carvings. Lovely piece Mike!
Thank you very much, lots still to learn but we all start at the bottom 😁
I love the mysteries you solve and the problems you resolve
Thanks, I hope by sharing others learn how to face and deal with issues 😊
That vase is gorgeous. I love the bottle shape and the beautiful markings on it. The "leaves" around the bottom truly enhance the whole. ♥
Sorry I haven't been around for a few months. We moved into a motorhome and I had to move from a desktop to a laptop... so I lost a lot. But I finally found you again and can now enjoy watching you take a piece of wood and turn it into something gorgeous. ♥
Thanks so much and great to see you again. Hope everything is ok now ❤️
Extraordinary piece of wood🤩. A fortunate that the bark didn’t want to stay on but you managed to get it ‘back on ‘ the piece by carving it out into it.. great one again.. and again congratulations on the 40.000 subs.. well done🎉..
Thanks so much Wendy 😁
Shows what picking the right piece of wood, having a great imagination and great skill can make the perfect piece. Love it.
Thank you very much Elizabeth 😀
Love the journey you take us on with each piece.
Always interesting and with twists and turns, but arriving at the destination with a magnificent work of art.
Thank you Mike, for sharing.
I really rather like this vase, the colours and the shape especially.
Great job on the carving, and looking forward to more, especially if it is fun and brings you joy. A win win all round for all of us 😊
Glad you enjoy it Fiona, carving is so satisfying,.I really want to do more 😁
Another job well done mate, the grain looks great,really enjoying your videos,keep up the great work 👍
Thanks so much Brent 😁
Wow, that's the softest wood I've ever seen; it looked like you were carving clay! What a great learning experience, yet again. Thank you. Wish the original bark and leaves could have stayed, but then the lovely grain would have been forever hidden... Love your carving, that's really great! Beautiful piece, as always.😊
Thank you very much Shelley 😊
I had never heard of Monkey Pod Wood…but looked it up and it is a lovely looking tree. This piece is (like the others in Your videos) so unique and marvelous! Congrats on 40k subscribers!
Thanks so much Kathleen 😀
That's beautiful! I love the spikes you carved. I think the only thing you could have possibly done to save the spikes would have been to cast the bottom in epoxy. Although, I'm not sure it would have worked with as loose as the bark was. Great job, Mike! ❤
Thank you Matilda, I did consider casting it in resin but I really did not think I would get the desired effect 😊
Love that you’re getting the hand tools in and the results are great!
Thanks Louis, I'm trying and having a lot of fun in the process 😀
Beautiful... i would never have thought that wood would come out that pretty!
Thank you very much Carol 😀
Love monkey puzzle, it's rarely boring. You made a beautiful vase and definitely deserve the 40k subscribers. Well done !
Thank you so much 😀
I love how it turned out. Very beautiful.
Thanks so much Mary 😀
@ You’re very welcome Mike.
Many years ago, I inherited a monkey puzzle tree from my aunt. It was a prize possession! Several years later, I traveled to Chile And was privileged to see a monkey puzzle tree in its natural setting! It’s soared to about 50 feet tall as I recall. Through a second story picture window at the hotel we were able to see into the tree and watch birds nesting there! It was amazing to watch. A few years later, we had a disasterous freeze in Louisiana, and it died! I have wanted to replace it and keep it in a pot, but they have become very expensive. I really enjoyed watching this video to see the wood underneath that amazing bark, and I love the vase that you made with the carving!
Thanks so much Deborah, I would love to see one in it's native home 😁
Such interesting wood!!! I love the result ❤❤❤ the branches look like flowers. It’s so interesting!
Thank you so much 😊
Always the true artist. Love this vase. ☺️
Thanks Cynthia, you are always so kind 😀
Very nice, I like the different colors. Thanks for sharing your work.
You're welcome Ron 😀
Braw job Mike ......and a wee preview of the interesting looking log next to the fire extinguisher at the end !.... thanks for sharing
Excellent work Mike! Engraving the leaves back on is an imaginative way of preserving the ones from the bark. Keep working on the engraving and soon you will be very talented with it.
Thanks Andrew, that's an interesting piece of cherry I've been contemplating for quite a while now 😄
Thanks so much Nikkie 🙂
Very nice, Mike. Good thinking and execution.
Glad you liked it Dan 😁
You figured out that puzzle very nicely indeed, Mike! Another lovely piece.
Thank you! Cheers Peter and great pun 😀
Classic Mike meet bark in high-speed video.
Lots of pretty monkey gremlin eyes were hidden behind the bark though. Should be a great companion piece to the Kraken from some week ago.
And congrats on the 40k.
Haha love it, thanks 😀
I Loved this piece of wood on first sight!! Spectacular as is!! It turned (no pun intended) out very nice!! So glad you were wearing a face shield!!!
Thank you! Cheers Bonita, the face should has saved me a few times 😁
Great job, as always. Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure and thank you Luann 😄
I'm amazed at how isopropyl brings out the characteristics of the wood so brilliantly. Love the Monkey Puzzle in its natural and returned glory.
Thanks Gail, water would do the same job but it could also stain the wood and of course would take a lot longer to dry 😀
Yay, Araucaria! I LOVE your monkey puzzle pieces - the patterns and colours are gorgeous.
Thanks, I have another nice piece in my shed 😜
Very interesting watching it evolve and plans changing. Like the finished shape.
Glad you enjoyed it 😀
Loving that wood and your carving work. Appreciating the teaching. Love the natural colors and grain of the wood. Ty 4 not coloring the leaves, lol. So cool that you're developing products. Beautiful finish. ❤
Thanks Lori, I really appreciate it 😀
Lovely bottle shape and the colour is quite surprising.
Thanks Edward 😀
Very nice! Monkey puzzle wood is so interesting ! Congratulations on making it to your goal 👏.
Thank you Kirsti 😃
40k+ subscribers when I watched, congratulations Mike!
Thank you Aaron 😊
I love the idea of carving the leaf shapes back into the wood. Brilliant idea! Great job!
Thanks so much Shawn 😊
I remember seeing a Monkey Puzzle tree when I was young and remember thinking how strange it was and so unlike any other tree I had ever seen. I still think it is a very unusual tree and quite beautiful in it's own way.
Congratulations on reaching and surpassing the 40,000 subscriber milestone. Many thanks for sharing your videos and allowing us to see just how much work goes into these wonderful works of art that you produce. Have a great day.
Keep well and stay safe,
Joe
You too Joe and thanks 😄
You are always so inspiring Mike - well done once again.
Wow, thank you Gavin 🙂
Wonderful what a beautiful vase. Amazing what you can do with a piece of wood ❤
Thank you very much 😀
The colours are really interesting on that piece. It looks like something is going on under the surface. I like the leaf engravings, they add to the story.
Thanks I appreciate it 😊
What a beautiful piece. I’ve never heard of that particular tree before and this piece certainly had a beautiful grain to show off. I’m quite glad the bark came off and the engraving looks stunning.
Thanks Sylvia 😊
As you were turning this I noticed 2 things. The colors in the wood made it look smooth to me as if it had already been sanded. The second is that the shape was almost the same as an old glass Coca-Cola bottle. I really like the finished product.
Thanks Dana, I know what you mean about the shape 😁
Love the different colors in this monkey puzzle wood. Well done!
Glad you like it! Suzy, thanks 😀
Very nice piece Mike. Love the hand carving.
Thanks Antony 😁
The original piece looked like something that would pop up out of the sand and clobber you during the desert level of a video game XD I've never seen a piece of monkey puzzle with the leaves still on, and the leaf scars were a nice surprise under the killer attack bark.
I'm glad you went with a minimalist style because a great piece of wood like that really speaks for itself. The engraved leaves are the perfect extra touch (and thank you for not coloring them this time!)
Thanks so much although next time colouring may happen 😂
You are great And seeing the potential in a piece of wood Mike, another great result
Thanks so much Mike 😄
Loved how you amended this on the fly.
Thanks Gerald 😀
You rescued the beautiful Vase that was in the belly of that monster🤣 Love what you do! 💕
Thanks so much I really appreciate it 😀
The monkey puzzle wood is lovely! Your carving is also!
Thank you very much, more practice needed but I'm getting there 😀
Looks great, Mike. That's a very unusual type of wood. The way the branches grow makes it perfect for that type of piece.
Thanks, I think so too! 😊
Awesome Mike, i really like that shape, good job
Glad you like it Jamie, thanks 😀 and thanks for the visit 😀
I had no idea monkey puzzle was such interesting wood. Just discovered you today, and LOVE your videos! Thank you, and keep it going!!❤
Welcome aboard, and thanks so much Mary 😀
I admire your patience with the hand carving!
Thank you very much Cheryl 🙂
I love the eyes and the shape they gave.
Thanks Terry 😀
Very unique vase. It would look amazing with the bark on and encased in resin.
Can you even imagine how much time it would take to sand down all of those sharp pointed leave tips in resin without damaging the piece of wood? 🤯 It would (wood 😅) be stunning, though!!!!
Thanks Debra, if I can get another I will give it a go 😀
Some thing are hopefully worth the effort 😀
Looks fab love the colours in the wood
Thanks Linda, me too 😄
Incredible work Mike! I wish I had half this talent
All comes from just having a go, I'm nothing special, just not afraid to fail 😁
I love watching you learn!
Thank you! Cheers! 😁
Very nice vase. Really unique. Love watching you do what you do.
I love listening to what he does
Thank you very much! 😊
I love the way you like to use all kinds of wood. I really love this peice, so different and cool. Just like me... ❤❤
Haha thanks so much Mary 😀
That was a great vase lots of character in the wood grain the craving was a nice touch
Thanks Wendy 😀
Amazing work! Totally enjoy your channel!
Thanks Steve! 😀
Love the monkey puzzle thanks for sharing cheers Ray
Glad you enjoyed it Ray, thanks 😀
Lovely vase, congratulations on the 40k!
Thank you very much! 😊
Hi there, Mike. Just watched the video of your turning of the monkey puzzle tree and it’s lovely and I really do love the finishing touch with the leaves at the bottom that really does finish it off nicely. I know what you were saying about having colour to the leaves but as they say less is more and I really believe that. I love everything about it the elegant neck and just the right amount of detail at the bottom. As always, I really do enjoy watching you work and very relaxing.
Glad you enjoyed it Martin 😁
Just had your channel recommended and it is fascinating, what an interesting tree. Watching from Australia.
Hi Hilary and welcome, so glad you came along to take a look and hope you will be back again, all the best, Mike 😀
What a beautiful finished item and great video
Thank you so much Paul 🙂