Archive for the ‘Lazy Susan’ Tag
I sit right by the Lazy Susans in the booth layout I’m using these days, and I’ve gotten used to the look in the eyes of customers on the prowl as they stalk them.
They’ll walk into the booth, soak in the mise en scène, and spy the Susans.
“Are those Lazy Susans?” they ask.
I don’t say a word. I just give the top one a spin. Words are not necessary.
One thing I’ve learned is that any round board is assumed to be a Lazy Susan. I did round cutting boards for a time, but I got tired of explaining that my 1-1/2″ thick round, slope-sided cutting board was not a Lazy Susan.
So, I stopped making them. If having a round board that does not spin is confusing, then I won’t have them.
Confusion is not my goal. The marketplace has spoken, and I listened.
Since I started making Lazy Susans – at the request of a client! – they have been one of my more consistent sellers. I like to make them in batches, but I had let my inventory dwindle so this latest batch is overdue. As always, I celebrated with some very unique color and grain patterns. Please, enjoy!
Lazy Susan 17 – 02. Purpleheart & Goncalo Alves. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 03. Cherry, Hard Maple, Jatoba, Honey Locust & Black Walnut. Chaos Board. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 04. Black Walnut, Cherry & Mahogany. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 05. Honey Locust, Hard Maple, Purpleheart & Yellowheart. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 06. Black Walnut, Yellowheart & Birdseye Maple. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 07. Cherry, Yellowheart, Padauk, Black Walnut, Purpleheart & Hard Maple. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 08. Quilted Hard Maple & Purpleheart. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 08. Red Oak, Padauk & Black Walnut. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 10. Black Walnut, Birdseye Maple & Bloodwood. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 11. Purpleheart & Hard Maple. 18″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 17 – 12. Padauk & Birdseye Maple. 18″ diameter.
Like this:
Like Loading...
“We have a big family,” they said.
I love doing special orders for people, so they get exactly what they want. This lady wanted a Lazy Susan.
A big Lazy Susan.
So, that’s what she got.
This Susan is 30″ across. It actually took me 6 glue-ups after a couple of mistakes that had to be fixed. The woods used are Black Walnut, Yellowheart, Hard Maple, Cherry & Purpleheart. And, as you may have surmised from seeing the pictures, this was a chaos Lazy Susan.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Since this is a really, really big Susan, I had to make a really, really big square to cut the circle out of. And, when you cut out a big circle, you leave big corners behind … and these were big enough, I just had to do something with them. In my latest batch of boards, this new cheese board was the one that everyone commented on, as it’s a new style for me.
“Make more, make more!” they all said.
Now if I can just find someone that wants to buy several large Lazy Susans….
Lazy Susan 17 – 01. Black Walnut, Yellowheart, Cherry, Hard Maple & Purpleheart. 30″ diameter. Commissioned piece.
Here’s the Susan with 12″ steel rules included in the picture to give the size of the piece some perspective.
Sometimes the need for inspiration propels the ability to have it. Doing things differently can be a very good thing!
Cheese Board 17 – 315. Purpleheart, Hard Maple, Cherry, Black Walnut & Yellowheart. Chaos board. 11″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Like this:
Like Loading...
A good story is always worth re-telling. After all, many people missed the story before, so they have the benefit of catching up. For the people that heard the story before … a good story is always a good story.
Food turntables have been around for centuries, we know, but why do we call them Lazy Susans?
No one knows.
The legends point to Monticello, to England and even to the Far East … but no one really knows. There’s a great summation of this story that ran in the LA Times a few years ago; link is at the bottom.
What we do know is that the first published instance of the term “Lazy Susan” was in a 1917 edition of Vanity Fair, where “Ovington’s $8.50 Mahogany ‘Revolving Server or Lazy Susan'” is advertised. The term is probably a 20th century invention, it appears … and they were really, really big in the ’50s & ’60s.
The trends have turned again, naturally, and Lazy Susans are a consistent seller from the Woodshop. Here are the latest … and I doubt I will make any more Lazy Susans much before Thanksgiving. Let me know if any catch your eye!
Lazy Susan 16 – 023. Jatoba, Mahogany & Cherry. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 029. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Padauk & Cherry. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 025. Black Walnut, Canarywood & Hard Maple. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 026. Chaos board. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Purpleheart, Cherry, Yellowheart & Jatoba. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 027. Cherry, Padauk, Hard Maple & Yellowheart. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 028. Black Walnut, Mahogany & Jatoba. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 024. Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Cherry & Bloodwood. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 030. Black Walnut, Cherry & Mahogany. 17″ diameter.
More
LA Times: Back Story: Who Was Susan, And Was She Truly Lazy?
Wikipedia: Lazy Susan
Like this:
Like Loading...
It’s summer. Thank goodness.
The Spring Fling is but a memory, and now we’re moving on to one of our few summer events.
Very few summer events. Thank goodness.
This week, we’re going to Lompoc (never been there!) for the Lompoc Flower Festival. No clue what awaits us, but Lompoc has been considered a key source of flower seeds for the world, I’m told. So, they have a Flower Festival, and we’re going.
After all, it’s forecast to be 30* cooler there than it is in Santa Clarita this weekend, and we are SO in.
As is my tradition, a few boards got finished just in time for this grand event. Some are off cuts. Some are special orders, and a few are actually added to my constantly shrinking inventory for this event.
After this weekend, we’re back in SoCal for next weekend to make more stuff … for the July 4th event in downtown Ventura. Hope to see you soon!
Medium Surfboard 16 – 08. Padauk, Black Walnut, Yellowheart & Birds Eye Maple. 8″ x 20″ x 3/4″.
Medium Surfboard 16 – 05. Black Walnut, Jatoba & Hard Maple. 8″ x 20″ x 3/4″.
Clipboard 16 – 013. Cherry, Canarywood, Yellowheart & Purpleheart. 1/2″ clip, letter size.
Medium Surfboard 16 – 06. Canarywood, Jatoba & Hard Maple. 8″ x 20″ x 3/4″.
Cutting Board 16 – Edge 017. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Purpleheart & Jatoba. 14″ x 14″ x 3/4″. Commissioned pieces.
Medium Surfboard 16 – 07. Canarywood & Hard Maple. 8″ x 20″ x 3/4″.
Small Surfboard 16 – 09. Purpleheart, Canarywood & Hard Maple. 6-1/2″ x 16″ x 3/4″.
Clipboard 16 – 015. Padauk, Red Oak, Yellowheart, Cherry & Canarywood. Legal size, 1″ clip.
Lazy Susan 16 – 022. Black Walnut, Cherry, Purpleheart & Hard Maple. 17″ diameter. Commissioned piece.
Cheese Board 16 – 026. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Purpleheart & Jatoba. 8″ x 14″ x 3/4″.
Engraved 16 – 13. 14″ x 8″ x 3/4″. Recipe board – of the world’s greatest pie.
Clipboard 16 – 014. Purpleheart, Quilted Black Walnut, Red Oak, & Canarywood. Legal size, 1/2″ clip. Commissioned piece.
Engraved 16 – 07. Black Walnut, Hard Maple & Cherry. 12″ x 15″ x 3/4″. Commissioned piece.
Like this:
Like Loading...
“I’ve got a fever, and the only cure is more cowbell.”
- The Real Bruce Dickinson, as played by Christopher Walken on Saturday Night Live, April 8, 2000.
In this case, it’s about the wood, not the cowbell. Although I have played cowbell in my time, so I do understand that cure as well.
But back to the wood. This collection of 5 Lazy Susans was just completed for this weekend’s big event, the California Strawberry Festival.
Three of the Susans have Mahogany in them, which I was able to buy inexpensively because somebody made a big mistake. The lumberyard got an order for 2″ rough stock flooring, and they cut the order – 7 pallets of order – using Mahogany.
But the buyer didn’t want Mahogany.
So, I got the opportunity to buy a few pieces for pennies on the dollar. Wish I had more, but this is the end of my mistaken Mahogany.
The other 2 Susans both have Padauk in them, which is freshly surfaced in these pictures. And, yes, when Padauk is fresh, its color is pumpkin orange, just as these pictures show. Over time, though, that color will fade to a nice warm brown. Not as spectacular, perhaps, but more in keeping with most decors, I believe.
So, Mahogany may not always be cheap, and Padauk may not always be orange … but when you’ve got a fever, more cowbell is the only cure. Just sayin’.
Lazy Susan 16 – 009. Jatoba, Mahogany & Black Walnut. 18″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan 16 – 010. Mahogany, Black Walnut & Bloodwood. 18″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 16 – 010. Mahogany, Jatoba & Black Walnut. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan 16 – 012. Cherry, Bloodwood, Padauk & Black Walnut. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan 16 – 013. Padauk, Hard Maple, Black Walnut & Yellowheart. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Like this:
Like Loading...
I was recently reminded that any board can be used as a serving piece … cutting boards, Lazy Susans, cheese boards, whatever.
I love it when people teach me how they want to use the board, and it’s not a traditional way!
Here are some serving pieces. Maybe. How would you use them?
Cutting Board 16 – End 021. Chaos board. Goncalo Alves, Cherry, Hard Maple, Hickory, Purpleheart, Yellowheart, Padauk, Jatoba & Black Walnut. End Grain. 10″ x 14″ x 1″.
Lazy Susan 16 – 001. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Teak, Yellowheart & Canarywood. 15-3/4″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 002. Mahogany & Black Walnut. 17-1/2″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 003. Mahogany, Black Walnut, Cherry. 17-1/2″ diameter.
Cheese Board 16 – 003. Hard Maple. 10″ x 11″ x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan 16 – 004. Jatoba, Hard Maple, Purpleheart, Black Walnut & Honey Locust. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 005. Purpleheart, Cherry & Hard Maple. 17-1/2″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 16 – 006. Bloodwood & Hard Maple. 17-1/2″ diameter.
Cutting Board 16 – End 020. Hard Maple, Jatoba & Yellowheart. End grain. 12″ x 15″ x 1-1/8″.
Cheese Board 16 – 002. Hard Maple. 9″ x 12″ oval, 3/4″ thick.
Like this:
Like Loading...
I know I’ve been working in the garage woodshop a lot this year. After all, I’ve got the bags and bags of sawdust to prove it.
And bags.
Still, it does make me stop when I realize that with this post, I’ve now published pictures of 50 Lazy Susans that I’ve built this year. Two thoughts:
- People often see my work, and with appreciation, tell me that woodcraft is almost a lost art … but clearly, there’s a need for it.
- I’m doing nothing to help the reputations of the Susans of the world.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 038. Black Walnut, Cherry, Hard Maple & Purpleheart. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 039. Cherry, Black Walnut, & Hard Maple. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 040. Jatoba, Black Walnut, Jarrah & Caribbean Rosewood. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 041. Black Walnut & Goncalo Alves. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 042. Cherry, Black Walnut & Caribbean Rosewood. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 043. Jatoba, Purpleheart & Canarywood. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 044. Teak, Yellowheart & Black Walnut. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 045. Black Walnut & Cherry. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 046. Black Walnut. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 047. Black Walnut, Cherry & Honey Locust. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 048. Cherry, Hard Maple & Purpleheart. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 049. Purpleheart & Red Oak. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 050. Black Walnut, Hard Maple & Cherry. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Like this:
Like Loading...
She must still be lazy, because people keep loving these Lazy Susans!
Lots of innovative wood selections here. I dug to the back of the rolling wood cart and found some Mahogany and some interesting Birdseye Maple. Woodworkers are pack rats, and hold on to interesting pieces of wood until they find just the right use for them.
I hope you’ll agree I used this wood for a good purpose.
Lazy Susan 15 – 026. Birdseye Maple (which is a uniquely figured Hard Maple) & Teak. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 027. Black Walnut, Mahogany, Yellowheart & Hard Maple. 17″ diameter x 3/4″. The Mahogany has a hint of turquoise in it!
Lazy Susan # 15 – 028. Cherry and Hard Maple. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 029. Goncalo Alves & Black Walnut. 17″ diameter x 3/4″. Sold in its first showing.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 030. Birdseye Maple (a uniquely figured Hard Maple) and Teak. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 031. Hard Maple, Black Walnut, Yellowheart, Padauk and Canarywood. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 032. Teak, Yellowheart and Birdseye Maple. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Suan 15 – 033. Cherry, Black Walnut, Jarrah … and the center piece of Black Walnut is quilted. 17″ diameter x 3/4″
Lazy Susan # 15 – 034. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Birdseye Maple and Cherry. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 035. Black Walnut. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 036. Jarrah & Canarywood. 17″ diameter x 3/4″. The colors are just about perfect in this photo: this piece is colorful!
Lazy Susan # 15 – 037. Black Walnut & Padauk. 17″ diameter x 3/4″. Please note that the Padauk will transition from this bright orange to a more warm brown color with UV exposure.
Like this:
Like Loading...
I was asked to make a large Lazy Susan for a lady that needed one 20″ in diameter.
That’s a big Lazy Susan.
I made 2 big ones for that customer to choose from (#16 & 17).
Needing to make a couple means I might as well make a bunch … so I made a new set of Lazy Susans. I got creative, and used some Canarywood that I bought very recently. I seldom get to work with that expensive exotic, but it is a gorgeous wood. That Lazy Susan (#23) is really unique
Another totally unique piece is the one with the quilted Black Walnut in the center (#18).
I love it when I can find a unique piece of wood, and then find the perfect home for it.
We’ll see if anyone with such a perfect home wants these at today’s Agua Dulce Country Fair!
Lazy Susan # 15 – 016. Red Oak,x Teak, Black Walnut & Hard Maple. 19″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 017. Red Oak, Walnut, Hard Maple & Cherry. 21″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 018. Black Walnut, Cherry, & Jarrah. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 019. Red Oak, Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Cherry & Hard Maple. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 020. Black Walnut & Hard Maple. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 021. Red Oak & Purpleheart. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 022. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Cherry & Yellowheart. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 023. Jarrah & Canarywood. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 024. Black Walnut & Yellowheart. 17″ x 3/4″.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 025. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Cherry & Yellowheart. 17″ diameter x 3/4″.
Like this:
Like Loading...
The Lazy Susans are back!
With all due apologies to the Susans of the world, here’s the latest batch of Lazy Susans. I was out of them for a while, and hope to keep them in stock going forward. Come to find out, a lot of people want this increasingly rare serving piece on their table.
I’ll do my best to help.
All are 17″ in diameter and about 1″ thick, with the turntable hardware underneath. Adhesive wool bumpers will protect your table from the metal turntable.
For the story of how these serving pieces first came to be in use (Thomas Jefferson loved his!) and forever branded Susan as lazy, click the link below for “The Cleverest Waitress In The World.”
Lazy Susan 15 – 010. Black Walnut. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 15 – 011. Cherry & Black Walnut. That’s curly cherry sapwood in the center; when you spin this lazy susan, it goes psychedelic! 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 15 – 012. A rare asymmetrical design. Cherry, Hard Maple & Black Walnut. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 15 – 013. Hard Maple, Yellowheart, Teak and Black Walnut. Lovely grain on this one – this dark brown Hard Maple came from a single plank, and the grain is matched across the piece. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan 15 – 014. Cherry … in many colors. 17″ diameter.
Lazy Susan # 15 – 015. Cherry, Black Walnut & Hard Maple.
More
The Cleverest Waitress In The World
Like this:
Like Loading...
I sit right by the Lazy Susans in the booth layout I’m using these days, and I’ve gotten used to the look in the eyes of customers on the prowl as they stalk them.
