If your order is $40 or more, we will ship it free of charge to a domestic U.S. address. Orders under $40 will be charged a nominal shipping and handling fee of $8.00 for U.S. shipping. Customers in Canada and U.S. Territories will pay a shipping fee based on real-time USPS calculations. International customers: Currently, we do not sell and ship outside the U.S., its territories and Canada via this website. However, if you see something you like, please email me at ghostriverwoodart@gmail.com. I may be able to post the item for you to purchase on Etsy.

We do not add sales tax to your purchase. (Our low volume of sales means we are not required to collect sales tax for U.S. states or Canada.) If you live in Vermont, Colorado, or Puerto Rico we are required to direct you to the following Transactional Notices. Ghost River Wood Art does not collect sales and use tax. The purchase is not exempt from sales and use tax. Your state or jurisdiction may require you to report this purchase and pay any sales or use tax that is due.

Our goal is to respond to any inquiry within 24 hours of receipt and to ship orders within 2 business days of payment verification. Please note that as this is a small business with limited personnel (i.e. one), occasionally there may be delays in order fulfillment due to obligations in the studio or traveling to source raw materials. If a significant delay is anticipated, we will notify customers in the information banner at the top of each page, on the checkout page, and/or by email after the order is placed. If you learn of a delay after ordering and would like to cancel your order, email us before we ship and we will provide a full refund to the original payment method. For any shipping concerns, please contact us at GhostRiverWoodArt@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at ghostriverwoodart@gmail.com. If you prefer a callback, please email your number and the best times to call within the next 24-48 hours. You'll receive a call from 901 area code.

Much of the wood we use still has natural moisture content as we complete the piece. Even wood that seems fully dry has been naturally dried, not kiln dried, and may retain some internal moisture. As moisture evaporates from the wood fibers, it does so unevenly. Areas around the bowl where the grain cuts across the rim and wood fibers are short dry quickly; whereas, areas where the grain runs along the rim and fibers are long dry more slowly. Uneven drying often causes the bowl to warp. The amount of warping in our products varies a good deal, from virtually none to enough to add significant character to the work. The product photos and descriptions should give a good indication of the condition of each piece. While most products will be stable when you receive them, some warping may still occur and it is possible that small cracks can develop in the wood. These should not be considered defects but simply dynamic variation in a natural material. Nevertheless, if you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may return it within 14 days of receipt per our Returns Policy.

Almost all the wood used in the studio is "rescued." We recover wood from the street side where it is stacked awaiting pickup following landscaping work or cleanup after storms. This use reduces the amount of wood that makes it to a landfill. We also obtain wood that is a byproduct of sustainable timber harvesting operations. All timberland from which we source wood is Certified under the American Tree Farm System to meet its Standards of Sustainability Occasionally, for species we cannot acquire from the local environment, we purchase wood from a lumber supplier. In all cases, we use wood native to North America or various landscape species that have been introduced to North America. We do not use any wood harvested from rainforest habitats.

Yes! Annually, a portion of proceeds from the sale of our wood art goes to support the Wolf River Conservancy.

Gary Lindquester, the owner and artist of Ghost River Wood Art, LLC, has been a woodworking enthusiast for over 50 years. He learned the fundamentals of the craft while sitting on the basement steps watching his dad when he was 11 years old and developed his self-taught skills on home improvement and furniture projects throughout his life. As he finished his 34-year career as a college professor, administrator and molecular biologist, he focused on the art of turning bowls for practical and aesthetic purposes. He is grateful for the opportunity to share his work in the galleries on this site. Other Woodworking Projects (not for sale): Bassinet. Ash and walnut veneer. The ash for this project came from a tree my second son planted when he was in fourth grade. Storm damaged the tree in 2023 and I dried and processed the wood to create the bassinet for his first born son. Bowls from this ash tree are available on the products page. Lamp base. Walnut and brass wire inlay. The globe came from the market in Marrakesh, Morocco. Kitchen accessories. Bradford pear (2), Water oak (2), maple (left to right). Mid-century Modern style lamp and credenza. The lamp was turned from four 2"x2" lengths of mahogany that were laminated into one block, its shape inspired by a lava lamp. The shade was assembled from a kit purchased on Etsy. The credenza casework is birch plywood with solid mahogany doors, drawer fronts, and legs. The vinyl tolex and grill cloth accents match the 1959 Gibson GA-5 guitar amplifier housed in the center section as seen in the image below. Cigar box guitar and two mini amplifiers. Adjustable shoe rack.

The creation of a bowl essentially begins by taking a section of a tree trunk and splitting it down the middle. A circle is cut from the half-log, and the piece is mounted on a lathe. The bottom surface is cut and sanded first, and the bowl is reversed on the lathe while the interior is hollowed. If the wood is fresh and green, the bowl is left an inch or more thick in the first turning and the wood is left to dry for several months or more before the turning process is repeated to shape a bowl to its final thickness. Finally, the bowl is sanded, and the finish is applied in multiple coats and allowed to cure. Turning techniques vary by artist, wood species and the desired outcome, but if you're interested in a rather thorough introduction to the basic process, see the video below posted by a fellow wood turner. ,

Our studio is located less than a mile from the Wolf River in West Tennessee. Not far to the east lies a 2,306 acre section of the Wolf known as the Ghost River, an extensive area of swamp where the river seems to lose its course and come to a standstill below the bald cypress and Tupelo gum tree canopy. The Ghost River has long evoked stories of mystery, and the mystery of what lies within is the inspiration for our studio work. A portion of proceeds from the sale of our wood art goes to support the Wolf River Conservancy.

Branch wood, otherwise known as crotch wood, comes from the area of a tree where a tree trunk branches. A tree's adaptation to increase the strength of the branch point is to interlace the wood fibers. This process often yields interesting feathered patterns in the grain. As the tree continues to grow after branching, bark sometimes gets trapped in the crotch as well and can influence the final shape of a bowl or plate.

Live edge is a term that refers to crafting a bowl so that the surface of the log with the bark or the wood surface just under the bark appears on the rim of the bowl. This process involves inverting the section of log on the lathe relative to how a normal bowl is made. A live edge often gives a rustic look to the bowl and can add character and interest to the design.

We use a variety of finishes on our work with the main intent of bringing out the beauty of the wood, and the product page for each piece indicates the finish used on that product. We cannot make any claims to the "food-safe" nature of the finished product beyond what the manufacturers of the finishes themselves make. That would require specific testing and FDA approval processes that are beyond our scope. The topic of the safety of finishes is a common thread on woodworking forums. It is often stated that all modern finishes are safe for contact with food when the finish is fully cured. This claim has its basis in the FDA Federal Code Title 21. All of our work is fully cured before it is posted for sale. Works finished only mineral oil, beeswax and/or carnauba wax, ingredients found in Howard Butcher Block Conditioner, will provide the best assurance of food safety. Other finishes we use are Watco Danish Oil, General Finishes Bowl Finish and Minwax Tung Oil Finish.

With proper care, wood products can be used daily and will last many lifetimes. Bowls can be used to hold liquids, but do not expose them to liquids for extended periods. After a bowl is used, wash, rinse and dry it promptly. When cleaning, use water and detergents sparingly and dry the wood thoroughly. When the wood of your bowl or utensil fails to repel water and begins to look dried out, refresh and protect the wood with mineral oil (sold as a laxative in many retail pharmacies) or a food-safe wood conditioner such as Howard Butcher Block Conditioner (sold in many home improvement stores).

The best way to care for your bowl or similar wood item after use is to wipe it clean with a damp cloth or wash it with a mild, dilute detergent and then rinse and dry thoroughly. While the bowl will not be harmed when used for liquids (e.g. soup or cereal with milk) do not let it stand in water or other liquid for an extended time. Dishwashers use strong detergents and heat which would limit the life of the finish and the bowl itself, so dishwashers are not recommended. See our FAQ, "How do I care for the wood?" to learn how to maintain or replenish the finish.

No! As flammable wood products, our bowls and other works should not be subjected to excessive heat including microwave, oven or stove top cooking.