Let me tell you about my mugs...
Some folks call 'em tankards or steins. I make different styles, but they all start out as a tapered octagonal shaped mug. They're made with 8 wooden staves...hence octagonal, but you'll notice that each stave may be formed with 24 individually cut pieces of wood. I call this style a "Stripey Mug".
Every mug has a wooden bottom that is meticulously fit into the sides.
Then a hand-carved wooden handle (shaped for comfort) is attached, or sometimes a deer antler. Don't worry, no deer are injured in the making of these handles. Deer shed their antlers naturally, every year, so all I have to do is wander around the woods until I find them. Finally, the mugs are completely covered, inside and out, with 3 coats of a food grade, 2-part clear epoxy. Each mug is hand sanded between coats for a silky smooth, beautiful drinking vessel. When you look inside any of my mugs, you'll see that the wood is the same all the way through. The color variation is from the different species of wood (both native & exotic) and the naturally occurring grain differences found in each tree.
No dye or stain is used so only the natural beauty shines through.
Another style is what I call a "Drippy Mug" because they look like your beverage of choice is dripping over the edge of the mug. I draw the drips freehand, so each mug is unique, then cut the drips out with a scroll saw. Next, I trace the drips out of a contrasting wood species before cutting that and fitting it into place. I follow the same steps for the bottom, handle and finishing.
This one is called an "In-Laid" mug because I trace a pattern, my own design or a popular motif, such as a pirate flag, mermaid, Kokopelli, Celtic symbol, etc onto the mug. This is the most difficult and time-consuming style because the designs are intricate and require exact precision when cutting the wood out with a scroll saw. It's then traced onto a contrasting wood species, cut out and fitted into the mug as an inlay.
For fans of the macabre, I make a "Zombie Mug" out of a single species of wood then cover it with blood, pus and boils (actually, it's food-grade epoxy mixed with food-grade dye), but it looks gruesome.
I can also create a "Picture Mug" based on a photo or drawing you send me. I edit the image to fit the mug before printing it on special paper and attach it to the mug after the first coat of finish.
I also made a wooden straw to complement your favorite drinking vessel. I surround a stainless steel straw with wood before placing it on a lathe to be shaped. It takes 18 more steps before the straw if worthy to wrap your lips around. I include a cleaning brush with every straw.
