The magic is in that block of wood and sooner or later, I’ll find it.” Bud Rogers Doll furniture. "The girls would need bunk beds for their dolls, or a tiny fireplace, or a table and chairs. They kept me busy with their little projects.” When he retired from the paper mill, Bud finally had more time to devote to woodworking. He looked for a way to use the small scraps of wood scattered around the shop. One day an article and photos in a woodworking magazine gave Bud an idea. He would make ornaments. He began experimenting by creating wooden shapes and painting them. “It was a long process, using different colors of paint and waiting on one coat to dry before I could apply the next one. Then I decided if I used different types of woods, the colors and designs would just come naturally from the wood.” So, Bud glued several pieces of wood together, put it in the lathe, and that is how it all began. The tried-and-true process takes a couple of days to complete. First, Bud selects the wood - both domestic and exotic woods species - with an assortment of colors and grain patterns. Next, he glues the small pieces of varying thicknesses into a solid block of wood that will fit into his lathe. “I like to find woods with unusual or contrasting colors and grains,” Bud explains, “The domestic woods like pine, oak, walnut, cedar, and maple are relatively easy to obtain, but for the more exotic woods like mahogany, purple heart, and others, I have to get from specialty shops.” Here, the artisan's imagination takes over. Spinning the wooden block on his Delta lathe, Bud uses a variety of hand-held chisels to transform a block wood into a decorative ornament, a miniature Christmas tree, a wine stopper, a fan pulls or some other creation that magically takes shape in his hand. Finishing is the last step. Some pieces are left natural, so the grain can be seen; others are stained or even painted and lightly sanded. All are sprayed with a clear coat of high-gloss lacquer and sent to quality control. 98 EAST ALABAMA LIVING
Blanche Lazzell (American, 1878–1956), Landscape, Woodwork, ca. 1917, oil on canvas. Museum purchase with funds provided by Gerald and Emily Leischuck @TheJuleMuseum EAST ALABAMA LIVING 99