I am pretty sure we would all agree that @Steve Krumanakeris the best at embellishing the bowl bottom. I use other tools than burning and try to h is also very good for convey the idea that the top is not all there is to a bowl. I use a Sorby Mini Spiraling tool mostly, just could not justify buying a large one. I also use the Craft Supply version of a Wagner tool and then there is the Decorating Elf which is also very effective on smaller items. Now for the challenge I will show some of mine and you show some of yours!

 

Beads can work well too and fairly simple to add with practice.

 

A bit of Sorby plus a small bead

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is some of what the Decorating Elf can do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very simple beads .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit of crosshatching with the Sorby.

 

 

 

 

 

I have some completed bottoms on my bench and will make some pics and post more tonight. Now it is your turn to show yours or get inspired to do dome embellishment.

Wow!  The finishes are awesome.  You must have one of those plates that burn a symbol on your products.  Your design is so cool.  And, I love what you do to decorate the bottom of the bowls.  I don't have any bowl gouges and will not turn anymore of them.  I broke a bowl with a spindle gouge.  Scared me so bad that I will never try it again.  But, Gerald, you have done a great job.  Thank you for sharing.  It is nice to see how talented others are.  

Wow Gerald, I'm very flattered at that compliment. I do like to give a person a little surprise when they look at the bottom of my bowls but don't consider myself any where near the "best". Embellishing the bottom is something I learned from a Cindy Drozda video who, without doubt, is the best at what she does. Enough about me. I really like your logo, is that a brand you had made? Your design? I have a couple different texturing tools but have never really used them this way, will have to rethink that now. Thanks for sharing.

Steve

14 minutes ago, Steve Krumanaker said:

 I really like your logo, is that a brand you had made? Your design?

Steve

Yes I designed the logo and ordered on Etsy . Comes from China and they say it takes a month and sure enough it was almost exactly 30 days. I ordered first a 1 inch and found that to be actually about 1.3 inch, so ordered a 3/4 inch and that is almost perfect. It is torch heated iron . Oh the cost is less than $30. They have some standard designs you can pick from also and when you look there may be 10 or 15 ads on Etsy.

I've considered a custom branding iron but the cost has been holding me back. I did find these folks on Instagram who make a carbon flame heated "iron".

 

https://www.highheatstamps.com/

 

Signing what I make is something I've always done. Just use a "Sharpie". More recently I have been decorating the bottom of the turnings with either the shop made spiraling tool or the Sorby tool. I guess I should take pictures of the all of the bottoms, too.

 

 

 

These were done this week bu no finish yet.

Used Sorby for pattern and a point tool to cut the border

 

Sorby for the pattern and cut the beads with a beading tool I made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorby with opposing directions. The Decorating Elf can also do these opposing lines but will be smaller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A better look at the pattern on the last holowform in fist post. Just using Sorby by flipping the wheel in opposite directions and going back over the same space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Same Sorby Spiral with cut lines then burned with a strip of Formica sharpened and held to spinning bowl

I like it Gerald.  Sure adds some spice to the bottoms.

Very cool, all around.

Very cool Gerald. I have never considered embellishing the bottoms. It’s a great idea and it does personalize them. How big is the brand you use ?

Paul

9 hours ago, Masonsailor said:

Very cool Gerald. I have never considered embellishing the bottoms. It’s a great idea and it does personalize them. How big is the brand you use ?

Paul

One is about 3/4 inch and the other which is too large for any but every large bowls and platters is about 1.5 inch.