Source for thick figured wood

Goosebay has birds-eye and curly maple in sizes up to 12/4

Stock varies, probably best to call them and find out if they've got something you can use.

Lacewood is fun, but I don't think it'd look real good with walnut. Bird's eye maple is kind of a crapshoot, though- I've turned it in the past, only to discover that I turned all the figure off and was left with a couple of little spots to remind me of what it was I had wrecked... Couldn't tell you about the quilted maple, as I haven't been able to find any to date.

The Bird's eyes will look the same on an half round piece, the lacewood's flecks will strech out- though that is an appealing look as well.

The stuff that holds it's figure the best in my experience is the wood from right under a large branch. It tends to be good and curly, and the figure goes deep into the trunk. Doesn't give you that hollow look, but it is nice.

Maple looks great with Walnut, and is readily availible in figured varieties. Butternut looks really nice with it as well, though I've used a lot of it and haven't seen much figure in the stuff- it's also a lot softer, so you'd need to take some care when sanding if you want a seamless joint line. Something like Zebrawood might be spiffy as well.

The red woods (Lacewood, cedar, cherry, etc.) don't give much contrast, and you've got to be careful when you pick them. Best example is walnut and cherry- the walnut fades, the cherry darkens with age. Pretty soon your sharp contrast is a thing of the past.

This guy has some nice stuff for sale, and he's in this group.

Only place I've run across with blanks that size, but others may have better sources.