Wood’nturnings by

Donna Zils Banfield

It started with refinishing old furniture that I inherited from my grandfather, who worked as a furniture finisher in Grand Rapids, Michigan until age 96.  Ironically, like the cobblers’ kids who have no shoes, he slapped coats of paint on his furniture. 

Working at that time with chemical strippers, I was restricted to the outdoors  during the warmer weather.  I began to strip the layers of paint, restoring the furniture to its original beauty.  A lawyer by day, I found myself rushing home from the office just to spend a few hours each night to work with the wood. 

During this time, my husband and I annually attended the Sunapee Craft Fair, a showcase for some of the finest artists in New Hampshire.  I was hypnotized by the curls of wood flying in the air as the woodturners made a bowl. 
   
Fast forward a few years to 2001…my husband thought I would enjoy woodturning, so he surprised me with my first lathe and some tools for Christmas.  It was a pretty good guess on his part; I was immediately hooked. 

Many people come to a crossroad in their lives.  This was mine; I made the leap.  I closed my private law practice at the end of 2003, and turn full-time.  But I still keep my hand in the law, teaching part-time at UMass Lowell. 

I now live a life less ordinary.  But my web address reflects not just my life.  It also refers to my turnings.  Most of them are created from trees that have fallen in storms or a result of insect damage.  I take what nature has nearly destroyed and give it a new life....a life less ordinary.