Woodworker, Door Handle Artist, Glass Artist

Vermont Woodworker Alan Stirt

Off the beaten path and down a country road in Enosburg Falls, Vt., woodworker Al Stirt turns what others see as plain wood into something beautiful. He turns a block of wood into an elegant platter. He starts on the lathe by trimming a large chunk of maple into a large round form.

With the base of the platter finished, Stirt turns his attention to adornments. It starts with solid black paint, then he spins a fine line near the center of the platter. A bowl gouge strips away the paint and reveals the light wood beneath, creating a dramatic contrast.

Michigan Door Handle Artist Steven Goodman

Over the centuries, fossilized ivory has developed an earthy mystique which Berkley, Mich., artist Steven Goodman uses to open doors. He selects ancient ivory for a pair of African wenge door handles, using a cousin of coal, called jet, as the inlay that will offset the light ivory.

Washington Glass Artist Doug Hansen

The glass of Seattle artist Doug Hansen is often inspired by the colors of the sea, both from his life on Puget Sound and his childhood on the shores of New Zealand. He works on a kitchen backsplash that brings in the shifting colors of the four seasons. He fuses clear glass with colored glass and bits of brass and copper; the metal causes bubbles in the finished glass.