Source of olive wood?

[MALLYMAL]

Here in the UK I've recently started woodturning classes which is fascinating.
A much prized (and expensive) wood in the UK is olive wood.

Anybody know of a good source in the Algarve (cheap or even free?). NExt time I visit our holiday home in Lagos, I could get some to carry home.

Here's a tea light holder I designed and made, after only a few lessons...

http://picasaweb.google.com/purealgarve ... 3382424130

Hope you like it, and will be inspired to help me find some nice wood to work with.

The chap who is teaching me also sells items at craft fairs in the UK, and says people just aren't prepared to pay for craftsmanship. An item like the tealight holder would be lucky to fetch £4!!!

So when you consider it took about 4 hours to make, you can see why I don't want to have to pay much for the wood as well! Even if the wood was free, I'd be earning £1 an hour!!!! Of course it's not about the money, I'm doing this as a hobby for the love of it, and the joy of producing something by hand in this mass produced imported from China age we live in.

Sorry... end of rant!

[Lesley Jean]

That looks very professional, well done you. A lovely hobby as you say to have something as nice as that from a simple piece of wood is amazing.... I will look around our land next time we are there and see if I can pick up some pieces of wood, what sort of sizes are you looking at???

[MALLYMAL]

Thanks so much for your kind feedback and offer of wood. Any size really... the piece to make the tealight was a section from a branch about 7" diameter and about 5" long. For bowls, you need something a little bigger.

Thanks again

Mal

[EMM]

THe wood yard on the road to the Silves golf course has Olive and other woods in abundance.

[MALLYMAL]

Thanks EMM.. another good idea.