I had this little burl laying around my garage for so long, I forgot what it was and where I got it.  I thought I needed more experience before I tackled something like this.  Then I decided it wasn't doing anything just laying there, so I cut it sort of round, flattened one side, and glued it to an auxiliary faceplate.  Not much later, it was spinning and the shavings were flying.

More free wood - a piece of elm from a friend.  I decided to try a natural edge end-grain-turned.  In other words, it's the whole diameter of the log, about 6 inches.  The wood, although cut a year ago and not really preserved was still quite green.  I turned it to about an1/8 inch thick.  It's just over 3 inches deep.  There is no finish on it in this photo.  I've been spraying it with Deft, but the weather won't cooperate (I like to do my spraying outside) so it will be a while until it's done.

 

More found wood...  There were a few dead or dying trees at the edge of a parking lot where I work (I mean at my second job).  Anyway, limbs were beginning to fall on cars in the lot, so they had to come down.  One was a buckeye (the Ohio State Tree) and, unfortunately, I wasn't there when it came down.  All that was left was a small branch (about 4 inches in diameter).  The rest was likely taken to the dump, ground up for mulch, or (I hope) picked up by some knowing woodworker.  Buckeye is the prized wood of carvers, but also excellent for turning, especially when spalted as this piece obviously was.

One thing that makes turning so enjoyable is the instant gratification part.  The "bowl" was done in less than an hour.  Well, I should say it was ready to sand and finish.  I've started "signing" my work by woodburning.  The SWT is for Santa's Wood-working and Toyshop.  The finish is Danish Oil with no tint.  The grain in a burl is most amazing.  One of the mysteries of life, I think.

As you can see, this log was mostly sapwood.  In lumber, this is not desireable, but it turning it allows the striking elm grain present in both the  sapwood and heartwood to show.

 

Buckeye is pretty soft and sharp tools are a must, but when it's done, it can be sanded smooth easily to 600 grit.  As the elm bowl above, this also has no finish.  It was still a little damp (green) and I didn't want anything to change the black and blue lines running through it. or even the slightly orange areas on the left side and in the bottom.  It developed a crack near the center (bottom) shortly after I took it off the lathe, but it has since closed.  Hopefully, the Deft finish will prevent a recurrence if we ever have a good day to apply it.