A couple of years ago, a friend’s house burned down mysteriously. He would eventually sell the property it sat on, but not before cutting down a few trees that had been damaged in the fire. This Holly (Ilex …?, one of 600 or so species – your guess is as good as mine!) was right in front of the house and dying. He gave me several pieces about six feet long and around 8-10″ in diameter. What I didn’t realize when I went out to pick it up was how heavy it was going to be. It was a bit of a grunt getting all the pieces up into my truck, but I finally did.Holly is really nice to work with. It’s very hard, and machines almost like metal, taking a very fine finish right from the knife and doesn’t require a lot of sanding. I made this particular pen for my friend as a thank you & birthday gift. I’m looking forward to making many more things from the Holly he gave me.
Mechanism: The mechanism is Cross style and refills are readily available in most office supply stores.
Finish: The pen was sanded up to 400 grit, then burnished with 0000 steel wool to bring up a smooth surface. It was then finished with mineral oil, bee’s & carnauba wax and a final polish with paraffin wax.
Price: US$35
Item Ref No: HSP0007
Status: Gifted but a similar pen may be available. Click here to inquire.
Photo by Jennifer Tai Photo Artistry
Unique Treen 