"My Story"
My name is Vin DeMaio and I've been making hand-turned wooden bowls on a lathe for the past few years. The wood is salvaged from my burn pile at home and turned into something beautiful and unique, holding to my conviction that conservation and good stewardship of our natural resources is important. Where another person might see firewood, I see the potential for beautiful, wooden bowls and other unique projects. All of my wooden bowls are unique because they are hand turned individually and not mass produced.
BOWL CARE FOR UTILITARIAN BOWLS:
Here is the old adage for polishing wooden bowls; every day for a month, every week for a year, then every month thereafter.
1.) Wash your bowl after each use, with warm soapy water and a sponge or cloth to remove food oils. Rinse, then towel dry the bowl completely. Avoid soaking your bowl and NEVER put your bowl in the dishwasher!
2.) Occasionally, every couple of months or anytime your bowl looks or feels dry, lightly oil it with olive oil or peanut oil. Spread the oil over the entire surface of the bowl, being sure to get it in the nooks and crannies of knots and decorative beads. Let the oil stand for a few minutes and then wipe and buff your bowl with a cotton cloth (paper towels work well). Let the oil cure for 24-48 hours before reusing it. Over time, oiling will be necessary less frequently.
3.) Oiled bowls, which are exposed to air and sunlight, will darken over the years. (Lighter colored bowls will darken more dramatically).