Its been a crazy week. Ive spent two days at work past midnight and another two at Christmas parties. As the year draws to a close, the to do pile on my desk isnt shrinking quite fast enough.
Im sorry that means this has to pass as my post for 12/21. Im also sorry I had to miss this weeks +Modern Woodworkers Association podcast recording. +Christopher Adkins was able to talk with +Tom Fidgen about his woodworking, his books and much more. Chris is still working on editing, but it will be out soon.
Until next post, I hope youre having a productive holiday and are a bit more on top of your work than I am.
By the choice, here is the state of the project Id hoped to have done for my wife by Christmas. Alas, it will not be.
Im sorry that means this has to pass as my post for 12/21. Im also sorry I had to miss this weeks +Modern Woodworkers Association podcast recording. +Christopher Adkins was able to talk with +Tom Fidgen about his woodworking, his books and much more. Chris is still working on editing, but it will be out soon.
Until next post, I hope youre having a productive holiday and are a bit more on top of your work than I am.
By the choice, here is the state of the project Id hoped to have done for my wife by Christmas. Alas, it will not be.
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| Some day, this will be a picture frame. |
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| Here we are! |
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| Entering the show. |
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| The wonderful timber framed barn that houses the show. |
The show itself is made up of member exhibits, vendors and special interest displays. The Long Island Woodworking Club’s special interest groups are the L.I. Scrollsaw Association, the L.I. Woodturner’s Guild, the L.I. Cabinet & Furniture Makers and the Secret Society of Woodcarvers. Each special interest group (at least is seems like each, but I didn’t check) has a corner of the building where they give live demonstrations and talk up their craft.
While I spent a good deal of my time chasing my kids around and trying to get them enthusiastic about this joint or that finish, the highlight was the wonderful chat I had with Robert of the Long Island Woodworker’s Club. He let my boys draw a raffle winner, and as I learned in Saratoga, he’s a great guy to talk too.
Unfortunately, I missed seeing Fine Woodworking’s Tom McKenna. Matt Kenney gave me a heads up that Tom was visiting the show, and it looks like he had a good time too. Check out his post about the Long Island Woodworkers Show here.
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| Whats a woodworking show without Woodmizer? |
The vendors aren’t the boutique shops you’ll see at Woodworking in America or the generic guys you’ll see at the Woodworking & D.I.Y. Shows. They were all medium sized and somewhat local. The ones I spend the most time with were Lakeshore Hardwoods and the member used tool sale.
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| A great photo, taken by Tom McKenna of Robert having Toms son draw a raffle winner. |
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| This cookbook rack was my favorite of the member gallery. |
You can see my entire Long Island Woodworkers 16th Annual Woodworking Show Picasa gallery here.
Have you found your local woodworking show and discovered who you need to talk to there?
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Rabu, 30 Maret 2016
The Long Island Woodworkers Show
For the past few years my Dad has been bugging me to join the Long Island Woodworkers Club. While I’ve not been avoiding it, it hasn’t worked out either. Their monthly meetings are on Wednesdays, the same night of the week a bunch of woodworking talking heads record their podcast. Also, while my wife has made a reluctant peace with the fact that I’ busy on Wednesday nights, the fact that I’m down in the basement recording (instead of off at a meeting) means I’m still around to help with dinner and put the kids to bed (especially on the Wednesday nights she works).
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| This wonderfully decorated bench welcomes visitors to the show. |
Last week I finally filled out my application and gave in. I’m now a full-fledged member of the Long Island Woodworkers Club.
My first (and so far only) act as a member has been to participate in the member showcase at the 2013 Long Island Woodworkers Show. The show, held this past weekend at the Nassau County Old Bethpage Village Restoration (a poor man’s Williamsburg) was a great experience. Similar to years past the center of each aisle in the cross shaped timber framed barn the event is held in was filled with tables displaying the member’s pieces. As proud as I was to have my quilt rack, book stand and glue gun rack on display my work pales next to pieces submitted by other members. There were many outstanding pieces, such as t Frank Pace’s Music Stand, Adam Fisher’s Rocker and Daryl Rosenblatt’s Fortune No. 1 Chair.
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| Franks Great Music Stand. |
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| Adams awesome rocker. |
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| Daryls amazing Fortune No. 1. |
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| Hey, look! Someone actually likes this idiots quilt rack. |
I’ll feature photos of many great pieces at the bottom of this post. You can also check out my full album on Picasa here.
Besides the pride of displaying among such a talented group of woodworkers, the show was enjoyable for the reason any long time reader knows I’m getting to: the Community. Is there any better choice to spend a day than among woodworkers talking about woodworking? Though my conversations were brief, it was wonderful to speak with everyone about the craft we all love. Joining a local club and participating in a local event is something every woodworkers should do.
I’m hoping our every other week podcasting schedule will allow me to make some upcoming Long Island Woodworkers Club meetings. I’m certainly excited to make it when I can.
Senin, 14 Maret 2016
A Class Act
Buying used books on amazon has been a great choice to expand your library. Since last summer I’ve been using it to expand my design library. For as little as $5.00 per book (with shipping) I’m able to pick up used copies of books ranging from Fine Woodworking to Sam Maloof to Jeff Miller on Amazon.
 You need this book. Its fantastic. |
It was an low used price which first led me to buy Jeff Miller’s Chairmaking & Design book. When I bought it, I can’t say I had too much interest in chair making, but it was reviewed well and was quite affordable.
Once it arrived, I knew it was a masterwork when I first flipped through it at my office. Now, having read it I know it’s a brilliant reference and instructional guide for beginning chair makers. It has been my goal to make a chair this year, and Jeff Miller’s book is the reason.
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| My finished version of the Jeff Miller Benchtop Bench. |
When I was researching designs for benchtop benches before Father’s Day, I ran across Jeff Miller’s Benchtop Bench and ended up making a version for my Dad as a Father’s Day gift. After Chairmaking & Design the Benchtop Bench cement Jeff Miller as a master of instructional woodworking. His work has made him a master of woodworking itself.
Given my esteem of Jeff, it was with great excitement that I learned he would be teaching a class, Designing and Building Chairs with Jeff Miller, at Highland Woodworking. When I realized that the class was only two (2) days, on a weekend and only $195.00 I immediately signed up.
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| These are some of Millers wonderful Chairs to be discussed in the class. |
The added bonus for me is that it means I’ll be making my first trip to Atlanta where I’ll not only get to experience Highland Woodworking first hand, I’ll also get to hang out with my good friends of the Atlanta Modern Woodworkers Association (some of which have been kind enough to put me up for the weekend).There are only 25 spots available for the class, and I’m not sure how many are left or how long they’ll last, but if you’re anything like me, this class will scratch many woodworking itches and should provide a wonderful weekend with a knowledgeable instructor and good friends. I can’t think of a better choice to enjoy my first formal woodworking class.Dont forget about the +Modern Woodworkers Association Podcast. We talk woodworking with Guests from around the world of woodworking every other week. Subscribe to the RSS feed or iTunes today.
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Minggu, 13 Maret 2016
The Modern Woodworkers Association on Shop Talk Live
Last week fellow +Modern Woodworkers Association member +Rob Bois and I headed up to Newtown, Connecticut to meet up with the +Fine Woodworking crew and represent the MWA on their podcast, Shop Talk Live.
We had a great time and really appreciate the invitation.
On the podcast we joined +Asa Christiana, +Matthew Kenney & +Ed Pirnik to talk woodworking. The specific topics discussed ranged from the pro & cons of sliding compound miter saws (Im on the Pro side) to the dangers of drinking shellac. |
| Publishers, and just all around nice guys who love woodworking. |
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| Matt Kenney sits down in their decked out podcasting studio |
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| Yours truly, behind the mic. |
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| Ed Pirnik made this decked out mic stand just to accommodate us. |
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| Rob & Matt talk shop. |
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| Yes, Rob, jointers do come that big (By the choice, he won a Bad Axe Tenon saw). |
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