A very loved sugar maple tree, that grew directly outside the front door of our 200 year old house had to be cut down.  My brother and I used to climb it, John's and my kids climbed it and our grandchildren enjoyed sitting in it and swinging from it.  It started to show signs of decay at the base of the trunk.  We were advised by a good friend and tree surgeon that it should be cut down.

We sent our tree to friends and asked them to create something from the wood and in return, send us a nice image of the piece that they had created.  That way, we could see the wonderful work my tree became.

My tree ended up being shipped to all corners of the US and is also represented in England, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada, Denmark and New Zealand, over 150 artists!  I have humorously thought of it as scattering the ashes of a loved one.  The post office (and my credit card company) thought I had gone nuts.

I am really enjoying the energy that is being shared.

Let it be known how much I love and appreciate John for sawing and packing the wood for each of the boxes.

Participating Artist’s link to their vessel and more images of their work in progress and if available, their individual websites: 

Brad Adams, Tim Aley, Sally Ault, Dan Bailey, Richard Baker, George Balock,

Skip Beardsley, Bill Beck, Joel Benson, Dixie Biggs, Dennis Bilevich, Kurt Bird,

Melissa Bishop, Bill Blasic, Jim Bliss, Sharon Bohannon, Chet Brisco, Dr Dave Bryant,

Keith Burns, Jim Burrowes, Hugh Buttrum, Marilyn Campbell, Laura Carter,

Dinyar Chavda, Jim Christiansen, Rick Crawford, Barbara Crockett, Christian Delhon,

Wally Dickerman, Andy Dipietro, Jamie Donaldson, Sharon Doughtie, Cindy Drozda,

Deryl Duer, Gorst Duplessis, Barry Elder, David Ellsworth, Harvey Fein,

J Paul Fennel, Jordan Ferr, Doug Fisher, Carol Floate, Clay Foster, Satoshi Fujinuma,

Ken Gaidos, Mark Gardner, Dewey Garrett, Dick Gerard, Michael and Cynthia Gibson,

Giles Gilson, Marshall Gorrow, Merv Graham, Mitch Gray, Joe Herrmann,

Julie Heryet, Robert Hill, Robyn Horn, Michael Hosaluk, Todd Hoyer, Roman Hruska,

Jamie Huling, Bill Hunter, Lyle Jamieson, John Jordan, John K Jordan, Sam Jordan,

Vicki Jordan, Morton Kasdan, Pete Kekel, Ed Kelle, Judy Kingery, Bonnie Klein,

Ed Koenig, Pat Kramer, Steve Kubien, Stoney Lamar, Peter Lamb, Dave Lancaster,

Joe Landon, John Lannom, Merete Larsen, Dale Larson, Marianne Lee,

Jean Legwin, Simon Levy, Art Liestmann, Mark Lindquist, Rudy Lopez, John Lucas,

Bill Luce, Elizabeth Lundberg, Michael Mahoney, David Marks, Pat Matranga,

Mason McBrien, Johannes Michelsen, Paul Miller, Jack Mincey, Dale Miner,

Michael Mocho, William Moore, Joe Moran, Ray Morgan, Ray Morton, Bill Neddow,

Ruth Niles, David Nittmann, Craig Nutt, Don Orr, Myra Orton, Matt Overton,

George Paes, Colin Parkinson, Dennis Paullus, Dave Peebles, Michael Peterson,

Binh Pho, Paul Porter, Bill Pottorf, Graeme Priddle, Steve Pritchard, Tania Radda,

Richard Raffan, Monte Richards, Bill Rubenstein, David Rush, Avelino Samuel,

Gary Sanders, Ray Sandusky, David Sapp, Norm Sartorius, Betty Scarpino,

Jeff Schnell, Jeff Schrader, Terry Scott, Mark Sfirri, Jennifer Shirley, Jack Slentz,

Hayley Smith, Mark St Leger, Brenda Stein, Al Stirt, Phil Stoner, Johnny Tolly,

Keith Tompkins, Carole Valentine, John  P Van Domelen, Jacques Vesery, David Wahl,

Ellis Walentine, Charles Watson, Hans Weissflog, Don Wilcut, Helga Winter, Molly Winton, Andi Wolfe, Mark Wollschlager, Steve Worchester, Mike Zinser