Remember a couple of weeks ago when I told you about the wood turner we saw in our nearby Grote Kerk at the end of our Summer Festival here in Gorinchem:
His name is Adrie Bezemer and this is his hobby after retirement. He's 72.
After that post, Astrid sent him the link to these above collages.
He responded by inviting us to visit him at his home shop for a personal demonstration.
WE ARE NOT DUMB! We did it a week ago, on November 3, 2012!
Adrie and his wife bought a huge farmhouse 30 years ago
and remodeled it themselves over 16 years in the evenings and weekends.
In the back of the house, the former cow stable, is now Adrie's display studio and workshop.
Because we arrived by 10 a.m., and true to Dutch custom, we first had koffie break.
Adrie's lovely wife made sure we had plenty to eat and drink.
More Dutch you cannot get!
The wood-turning shop, adjacent to the studio, was a photo op for both of us!
You know how they say it's all about having the right tools!
When Astrid strings tennis rackets, she says she goes into her own zone.
Adrie said the same thing! He truly was in his own zone.
And what did he make, you might ask?
He actually made TWO different goblets out of goudenregen (golden rain) wood.
The one on the right is mine, of which the Vimeo video below is made.
The one on the left is Astrid's, who chose the same wood but different design.
After the demonstration, Adrie burned the name of the wood
and his signature into the bottoms of both goblets.
See the A3? That's his signature. A (ah) plus Drie (Dutch word for 3) = Adrie.
But A3 also looks like AB for Adrie Bezemer. How clever is that!
Those 2 goblets were gratis, by the way!
My gift to Adrie in return is the following video, which he plans to add to his website.
Adrie Bezemer: The Wood Turner from Ginnie Hart on Vimeo.
And just before we left, after all our oohs and aahs, I bought a wood ballpoint pen that Adrie had on display in his studio. Just call me a sucker for any writing utensils! Totally worth €15.
And yes, Adrie inscribed my name on the pen!
I picked out the pen that looked the most like oak wood, my favorite.
Guess what wood it was: goudenregen. Golden Rain.
The same wood as our goblets!
THANK YOU, Adrie Bezemer. THANK YOU.
