The Great Christmas Turnathon: Tales of Trees, Mushrooms, and Mild Panic
It’s that time of year again — the air is crisp, the carols are playing, and every woodturner I know is in full-blown Christmas Craft Show Mode.
That means one thing: the Great Turning Frenzy has begun.
Suddenly, every spare log in the shop is destined to become a Christmas tree, a whimsical mushroom, or — if the grain behaves — a festive ornament.
Somewhere around early October, my workshop transforms from a peaceful space into a scene that looks like Santa’s elves went rogue with a lathe.
🌲 The Hunt for the Perfect Wood
Finding good wood this time of year is like searching for parking at the mall on Christmas Eve.
Pine? Too soft. Oak? Too hard. Maple? Perfect — if I can find any that isn’t already earmarked for someone else’s reindeer.
Then there’s the eternal question:
“Can I turn this fallen branch into a mushroom, or will it explode at 1200 RPM?”
(Spoiler: sometimes both.)
💰 The Pricing Puzzlement
Once the trees and mushrooms are ready, I face the next challenge — pricing them.
I spend an hour hand-turning a piece, sanding it to perfection, applying finish, and photographing it — only for someone to say, “Wow, $25? My cousin’s friend makes these for $10.”
Yes… but your cousin’s friend probably still has fingerprints.
Handmade isn’t just about the final product — it’s the time, the experience, the years of practice, and the fact that we artists occasionally need to eat something other than sawdust.
🧠 Why Handmade Costs More (and Why It Should)
Every handmade item carries:
The artist’s time and skill — not just in making, but in learning how not to make the same mistake twice.
The uniqueness — no two pieces are exactly alike.
The materials — quality wood, finishes, tools, and yes, sometimes Band-Aids.
The heart — every curve, groove, and grain tells a story.
When you buy handmade, you’re not just buying an object — you’re buying hours of experimentation, joy, and a few muttered words the artist hopes you didn’t hear.
❤️ Why Shop Small This Season
Shopping small isn’t just trendy — it’s transformative.
When you buy from a local maker or artist, you:
Support someone’s dream, not a corporation’s stock price.
Help keep traditional skills alive.
Get something authentic and one-of-a-kind — not mass-produced.
Know your purchase made someone do a small happy dance in their workshop.
✨ Final Thoughts from the Lathe
So if you see a slightly frazzled person at a holiday craft fair covered in sawdust and smelling faintly of Danish oil — say hi.
They’ve probably been up late turning tiny wooden trees and mushrooms by the dozen, powered by coffee, carols, and the sheer joy of making.
And if you take one of those creations home?
You’re not just buying wood.
You’re buying a piece of someone’s Christmas spirit — lovingly turned, sanded, and finished by hand.