Upcoming May 4th Demo

dixie biggsWe have a fantastic all day demo scheduled for Friday, May 4th, beginning at 9:00. The demonstrator is Dixie Biggs.

windswept by dixie biggs
Windswept
Dixie Biggs lives in Gainesville, Florida, and has been a full-time studio woodturner/artist since 1989. Having a background in biology from the University of Florida and a love of gardening, much of her work incorporates a botanical theme. She has exhibited her work in such notable venues as del Mano Gallery, Smithsonian Craft Show, American Craft Exposition and Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. Her work is in many public and private collections worldwide. She has demonstrated at regional and national symposiums, including Australia, the Utah Woodturning Symposium and the American Association of Woodturners.

The woodturnings of Dixie Biggs combine the highest craftsmanship in both her selection of materials and in their shaping on Dixie’s lathe. The intricate carvings that cover the surfaces of many of her pieces are inspired by nature and are not mere embellishments but seem an integral part of the particular piece of wood she is focused on as she works, unlocking classic, balanced forms from rough logs which she seems able to see into from the first time she touches them.

Surrender Dorothy by Dixie Biggs
Surrender Dorothy
She will begin the demo by demonstrating several easy surface embellishments using tools many already have; such as dremel and engraver. She will then show how to enhance pieces with the use of dyes, grain fillers and colored waxes.

She will then progress to rotary power relief carving techniques. She will take you step by step through her process from layout to detail carving.

It is not often we get someone with Dixie’s talent for a demonstration to our club members. This is truly a onetime opportunity.

The cost for this demonstration is only $30. The only way we can continue to offer these types of demonstrators at these prices is for our membership to participate. We need you to sign up for this demo. Usually we have a meeting scheduled right before the demo. This time we are short that advertising opportunity.

If you would like to attend, please notify Eric Lofstrom or Dan Stromstad.

You can see more of her work on her website dixibiggs.com. Again, this demo is scheduled for Friday, May 4th.

demonstrator / techniques / woodturner profile / woodturning events

Wood Reference

ncsu librariesHave you been looking for a good reference to help identify that log in your pile? Here is a reference in the Special Collections Research Center of the NCSU Libraries. It includes radial, tangential, and cross-sections of 350 North American woods from the 14-volume rare book The American Woods, published between 1888 and 1910 by the author, Romeyn Beck Hough. The images can be accessed by volume number or by the scientific or common name of each tree.

http://lib.ncsu.edu/specialcollections/forestry/hough/index.html

Uncategorized / wood

2nd Annual Woodturning Rendezvous

northwest washington woodturners logoThe Northwest Washington Woodturners held their first Camping and Turning Rendezvous in Ellensburg, Washington last year and they are doing it again this year.

This unstructured camping and outdoor turning get-together is scheduled for July 16th – 18th at the Ellensburg Rodeo grounds North RV lot (Kittitas Valley Event Center). You are invited to bring your own mini lathe and to come early and stay late. The fee for camping last year was $13 per rig for power and water hookup, $8 per rig for tent for dry camping. There is a dumpsite nearby.

You will also be entertained by professional woodturner Don Derry on the 17th.

To make your reservations contact Julian Lee – julian.s @ Comcast.net, 360 299 2900.

woodturning events

What’s New on the SPSW Website

March Mini-symposium Photos

march mini-symposiumWe had an outstanding turnout for last month’s mini-symposium with a great line-up of demonstrators. Photos have been posted in the gallery under Club Events.

April Newsletter

In case you missed it, you can find the April newsletter posted under the Newsletters link.

Oldfield Show and Sale

fred oldfield showThis year marked the inaugural Fred Oldfield Center Woodturning Show and Sale. There were several SPSW members who submitted work and the big winner was our own Bill Bender. Newsletter editor Bill Wood took lots of pictures and they are posted in the gallery under Club Events.

March Board Minutes

For SPSW members who want to be in the know, the minutes of the March Board of Directors meeting is posted under the For Members link.

Membership / Message / woodturning events

April Demonstrator – John Beaver

1

john beaverWhile the focus of my demonstration is on my unique “wave” technique, my goal is for the audience to see a lot of tips and tricks that can be applied to their own designs. The genesis of my work comes from the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct a turned vessel in a number of different ways while maintaining grain and wall alignment. The advantage of my technique is it allows the turner to begin with wet logs and still build constructed turnings.

John Beaver Holly Ebony wave bowl
3.5 x 5.5 Holly / Ebony Niche Awards Finalist AAW Symposium Recognition
1. Introduction

Powerpoint presentation showing the evolution of my work and talk about design.

2. Creating The Wave

From a small block of dry wood I show the basic technique behind my “wave” design. I mark and freehand cut the block on a bandsaw, glue one layer “wave” into it, and then turn it into a bowl.

Additional Tips and Tricks:

  • steam bending with a microwave
  • tips for keeping the block aligned when reassembling
  • importance of grain direction

3. Protruding Wave

From a rough turned and dried bowl, I show the jig I made and demonstrate the steps I use to turn a bowl with a protruding wave from one piece of wood. The jig can also be used for many other applications that might not include my wave design. This is followed by discussion on how I accomplish some of the other implementations of my “wave” design.

Additional Tips and Tricks:

  • how to keep a deconstructed bowl aligned for reassembling
  • how to set depth stops for turning part of a bowl smaller
  • how to clamp and glue a deconstructed bowl back together
  • cleaning up glue squeeze out
  • cutting curves in non backed veneer with no splitting

4. Flying Rib Vase

From a rough turned end grain vase, I show how I use my jig to cut the vase apart, add the protruding ribs and reassemble the vase.

Additional Tips and Tricks.

  • clamping and gluing a round object
  • how to achieve perfect joints for gluing

To see photos of my work, please visit www.johnbeaver.net

demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques

You Could Be a Winner

aawDid you know that as a member of the AAW you are automatically entered into a monthly drawing for several nice prizes? The prizes include tuition scholarships, $100 gift certificates, sanding supplies, DVDs, chucks, grinding jigs and lathes. There have been 29 winners this year alone.

At the end of the year one lucky AAW member will win a Powermatic 3520B lathe and their designated chapter will receive a Jet 1642 or 5 Jet mini-lathes.

Is this a great benefit? Just ask John Rebman from Washington state who won the Powermatic 3520B and his club, the Woodturners of Olympia who received the Jet lathes.

Find out more about AAW membership at http://www.woodturner.org/org/mbrship/

AAW / Membership