In March, the Blue Ridge Woodturners and Smith Mountain Lake Woodturners clubs co-hosted a live demonstration via Zoom from the captivating Rebecca DeGroot. Rebecca showed club members how she creates her signature “mushroom creatures.” You can find more examples of Rebecca’s work on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.degroot.
Rebecca Degroot
Samples of Rebecca’s mushroom creatures.
Details under the mushroom caps.
Turning the cap.
Using a “Rubber Ducky” chuck to hold the cap.
Parting the cap.
Comparing a finished body to the blank to be turned for a new body.
Sketch of the design showing which parts will be removed at the end with woodcarving.
Turning the body.
Drilling holes for “hips” or where the legs will be inserted later.
Comparing the turned body to the concept sketch.
Turning the three legs.
Measuring how to cut the legs and reverse-glue them back together to get the desired shape.
Marking a leg before cutting.
Woodburning details underneath the mushroom cap.
Using a wood carving burr to remove the waste portion from the turned body.
Body with contoured neck, with “hip” sockets shown.
Smoothing off the mid section with a woodcarving burr.
Fitting the legs, body and cap together.
Sample of a completed piece.
Rebecca Degroot.