Biographical Information on Texas Wood Artist Bryan Tyler Nelson

Here I'm cutting a large Cocobolo Cant

I was first exposed to woodworking in my Junior High School years. It was just a class I took with my friends. I did turn a bowl, which I still have, but it was one of the scariest thing I ever done at that age.
That was really the extent of it till around the year 1998, I was given 45 solid oak church pews, thus it began. With the purchase of a surface planer, a second hand radial arm saw and a few hand tools I built bookcases, beds, benches and tables for friends and family. I found that I have a knack. I acquired all my knowledge and skill through trial and error and many hours of reading.
Over the years I did big and small projects. It was about this time I started doing items that required "turned items" mainly legs. I didn't own a lathe so I had to have them turned for me, and it wasn't cheap. But I found my true love (well second) when I purchased my first lathe a 14” Jet. It sat in the box for 6 month while I relived the Jr High years and the fears I guess I still had. I did eventually get it out of the box and set up and I never looked back. After a year I bought a bigger lathe, Oneway 2436 and started pushing the limits. A day usually doesn't go by with out something being turned. On a normal day (after my full time job) I’ll produce 3-10 turned items. I have over 7,500 bowls sold to customers all over the world (I do sign, date and number each bowl). Wood turning is what I spend most of my woodworking time on. I have a great respect and love of wood; if you were to look in my storage buildings and workshop you'd see well over a hundred species of wood , you got to love the stuff to keep this much around!

To jump forward in time around 2014. I'm now working full time as a wood turner/woodworker. I have a niece who wanted a crochet hook and asked if I had ever done any. Well I hadn't so after a few attempts I came up with a crochet hook. I have a background in manufacturing and was always dealing with the wrist and arm problem from repetitive moment in my employees. So I was always seeking and ergonomically solution to each job in my plant. So when I designed the crochet hook I had this in mind and from the reviews I believe I got it right. My hook has a large diameter handle which is key to "opening up" the hand and expanding the hand joints. Once this is done and your not fighting the hand pain the wrist and arm follow. Now I don't claim I found the cure, just that my hook is helping some folks with their discomfort through it's ergonomic design.
Once I had the design, I thought now lets do something more pleasing for the eyes, with years of experience with exotic woods I expanded the line to about every wood you could think of. If I don't have it ask, I can probably get it.
I've also incorporated a cast product that I use for the crochet hook body which allows me to use many non wood colors, pine cones and flowers to a really stunning effect.
I've also expanded the options on my website, nelsonwood.net, so that when you purchase a hook you can really make it your own!

Large Pomelle Sapele Platter

Wood is the most perfect of God's creations. A living treasure of hidden beauty that remains hidden till it's death. I am humbled to be able to reveal to all, some of this hidden beauty. To help the trees live again, to be resurrected and shine again.
I find great satisfaction in saving some of the local wood in my area from their final resting place, fire pit or dump. Some of the largest and greatest bowls have come from local woods in my own neighborhood.
If we, the human race, would put aside our greed and think clearly of how to use our forest, there would be no danger to our forest and jungles. The trees and people could live in harmony. Trees live long, then when their life force is spent they could live again with help of man.
We just have to find a balance.............