Craft Fairs

Do you participate in craft fairs? Do you have an interest in craft fairs but aren’t sure how to find them or if they are worth your effort?

There are several places on the web to get information, but you may not have thought about LinkedIn, the business networking site.

There is a Woodturning group on LinkedIn that has quite a bit of activity. One of the discussions is titled: Craft Fairs – are they dying out? Some of the comments seem to indicate the indeed, craft fairs are dying out. But other comments show that you can still do well at a craft fair, but people’s tastes are changing and what you offer needs to change as well. There was lots of great discussion here.

Another discussion is titled: First Craft Fair this season. This discussion includes times of the year that seem to be best and a discussion of Etsy as a platform for selling your work.

So there you go. Don’t limit your research to the woodturning sites. There are great discussions elsewhere.

craft shows

April Membership Meeting – Mini Symposium

This month we having this year’s first Mini Symposium of the year. We have a
great line up of demonstrators. There is always something that each of us can learn
from our other members. This is a very popular event.

Here is this month’s list of demonstrators:

DSC0646-LCarol Zandell – Something Fun (what else would you expect from Carol.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

pat mccartPat McCart – Stone Inlay

 

 

 

 

 

 

william benderBill Bender – Finials

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crabtree1Paul Crabtree – Hollowing

 

 

 

 

 

 

bob sieversBob Sievers – Rose Engine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy FirpoAndy Firpo – Safety

 

 

 

 

 

 

dave schweitzer CBN sharpeningDave Schweitzer – Sharpening (if he can make it and we hope he can)

 

 

 

 

 

And, perhaps, a surprise demonstrator or two.

Don’t forget to bring your dull tools. This is your opportunity to get them
sharpened by an expert. When you get home, you will be amazed at what is like to
turn with sharp tools.

demonstrator / Membership Meeting / symposiums / woodturning events

AAW’s 28th Annual International Symposium

unnamed (2)You’ll want to attend AAW’s 28th Annual International Symposium June 13 to 15 when members and demonstrators from around the world will converge on Phoenix to learn, share and celebrate a passion for woodturning.

Learn from the world’s top woodturners. Our symposium packs in more high-quality learning opportunities than any other event. (For a complete list of demonstrators, see the bottom of this post.) With more than 59 woodturning aficionados and more than 130 sessions, you’ll:

  • Expand your knowledge and expertise with the help of experts David Ellsworth, Nick Cook, Bonnie Klein, Clay Foster and Todd Hoyer.
  • Learn innovative techniques and new tricks for woodturning success from pros including Derek Weidman, John Beaver, Steve Kennard, Patrick & Peggy Bookey, and Jason Schneider.
  • There will be something for everyone regardless of your woodturning expertise. From presentations on strengthening fundamental woodturning skills by Jimmy Clewes and Michael Mocho, to demos on innovative carving and design techniques by Neil Scobie and Douglas Fisher. We’ll have options for varied interests and experience levels.

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Spark your creative inspiration and imagine the possibilities. Our symposium features a broad selection of work displayed in our enormous Instant Gallery and juried international exhibitions are sure to invigorate and feed your creativity. You’ll be able to connect and socialize with colleagues that share your passion for woodturning, as well as observe and rub elbows with professional turners like J. Paul Fennell, Christoff Nancey and Douglas Fisher.

unnamed (3)See and test the latest woodturning products. You’ll be able to explore of the largest array of state-of-the-art woodturning products under one roof including tool and lathe manufacturers, wood suppliers and others in our tradeshow. With more than 30,000 square feet of exhibitor space, you’ll observe an assortment of ongoing demonstrations that let you see tools and machinery up close and in action. Many of the exhibitors will also offer special symposium deals you won’t want to miss.

unnamed (4)Join us. No other conference packs in more high-quality learning opportunities like AAW’s 28th Annual International Symposium. We hope you’ll be part of the convergence on Phoenix to learn, share and celebrate your passion for woodturning.

Register today.
Learn more here.

AAW / demonstrator / symposiums / techniques / tools / woodturning events

March Demonstrator – Donald Derry

Don DerryDonald Derry was born in 1956 in Othello, Washington and educated at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. His works are in many collections throughout the USA. He has exhibited extensively and has won numerous awards. Don is a member of the AAW and demonstrated at the AAW National Symposiums in 2004 in Orlando, Florida and in 2005 in Overland Park, Kansas.

don derry woodturningDonald has been a woodworker for 35 years. Initially he produced fine furniture, cabinets and guitars. In 1993 he began to teach himself the craft of woodturning. In 1994 he attended the AAW Symposium and after viewing the Instant Gallery he noted that two artistic areas were not represented. These were vibrant colors and optical quality finishing which he explored and quite successfully mastered. More often than not his pieces are thought to be Fine Art Glass and not finely crafted wood.

don derry vesselPresently Don is working with Chinese Elm because the open grain structure and neutral wood tones lend well to the coloring process he is developing. The colors used are aniline dyes and metallic pigments. Don states that “coloring, finishing and polishing easily take more time than the woodturning.”

demonstrator / finishing / Membership Meeting / techniques

What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Northwest Woodturners in Beaverton, Oregon are meeting on March 6th. Jim Hall will be demonstrating carving.

The Inland Northwest Woodturners in Spokane Valley are meeting on March 6th. Bob Schmidt will be demonstrating the design, layout, construction and use of the Longworth chuck for finishing the bottom of bowls and platters.

The Southwest Idaho Woodturners are meeting on March 11th. Susan McCoy will be demonstrating threading.

The Seattle Woodturners will be meeting next on March 13th. This month’s meeting will feature a tool swap and panel discussion.

The Fraser Valley Woodturners Guild in Abbotsford, B.C. are meeting on March 13th. Molly Winton will be demonstrating surface enhancements.

The Willamette Valley Woodturners in Salem, Oregon will be meeting on March 13th. Sara Robinson will be sharing information on spalting techniques.

The Northwest Washington Woodturners are meeting on March 20th. Cindy Drozda will be discussing maximizing burl figure.

The Cascade Woodturners are meeting on March 20th. Dale Larson will be demonstrating bowl turning.

The Island Woodturners Guild on Vancouver Island will be meeting next on March 22nd. Duncan Morrison and Barrie Baptie will be talking about trees and wood, and Wayne Anaka will be demonstrating his “Thin Turning” techniques.

The Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild in Vancouver, B.C. are meeting next on March 26th. John Beaver will be presenting a demo and class.

The Woodturners of Olympia are meeting on March 27th. Reed Gray will be presenting “Your Finish Cut”.

The Olympic Peninsula Woodturners will be meeting on March 27th. Reed Gray will be presenting “The Final Cut”. On March 9th SPSW member Eric Lofstrom will be conducting a class on multi-axis turning.

AAW / chapter profile / demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques / woodturning events