December – Christmas Party

SantaIt is time again for our annual Christmas Party. We have changed the format a little this year. There will be prizes for everyone and drawings for some of the items our fantastic vendors have provided to us.

This year we will have a sit down potluck dinner. Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite side dish or hot dish. If you are confused, check Wikipedia for a definition of side dish.

All of the desserts will be provided by our own wonderful Beth Hauge. Several people have asked me what to bring, including Beth. In her words, “What is your favorite dessert?” This will explain the deviled eggs with sprinkles on them.

Bring your significant other. (That is as politically correct as I get.) This is a PARTY!

We will be having Show & Tell at each table, so bring one of your favorite items. (I am still short a few Christmas presents, so if they are not your favorites, you can always donate them to my cause.)

No matter what, show up. The doors open at six.

Membership Meeting

International Woodturning Exchange Auction

Guilio Marcolongo
Donated turning by Guilio Marcolongo
Internationally renowned artists from the world-wide woodturning community have generously donated their work for an EBay auction to support a unique and exciting International Woodturners Exchange (IWX) program. This will be an unprecedented opportunity to purchase beautiful wood art, while at the same time supporting cultural, educational and inspirational exchange programs for the international woodturning community. These programs will fund: (1) future two-way exchanges, (2) recognizing individuals who have promoted and fostered international cooperation, and (3) developing educational programs to celebrate how our cultural differences influence how we view, interpret and share our woodturning passion. These goals are currently being discussed by members of the American Association of Woodturners from the USA, Britain, France, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Germany. The name of this discussion group is Turners Without Borders (TWB).

Artists that are donating works for this cause include:

  • Eli Avisera
  • Kip Christiansen
  • Jack Devos
  • Sharon Doughtie
  • Bonnie Klein
  • Binh Pho
  • Al Stirt
  • Andi Wolfe

As of now these items have not yet been listed in the IWX store on eBay, but they should be there shortly. You can see some on the items on the IWX webpage.

Your generosity will help foster the spirit of cooperation and friendship in the global community of woodturners.

AAW / woodturning events

SPSW Member Profile – Eric Lofstrom

Eric Lofstrom Hollow Vessel

How long have you been turning and what interested you in wood turning to start with?
I have been turning since January 2002. I saw a demonstration at the Sumner Woodworker Store on how to turn a pen & letter opener set and couldn’t believe how fast a finished product could come from a raw chunk of wood. My wife bought me a lathe for Christmas and that is all it took to completely hook me!

Do you have a particular type of turning you prefer over another? Bowls, pens, spindle etc…

I like ALL types of turning. I feel like I’m still searching for my turning niche. I find a huge amount of satisfaction in just making shavings no matter what project is in front of me! I also prefer smooth flowing curves and a sense of balance in whatever I am turning.

What is your favorite wood to turn?

I really don’t have a single favorite wood because it depends on the project. Currently, my favorite woods to turn are: Maple, Madrone, Alder, and Cherry because they are readily available and cut nicely with a sharp tool.

Eric LofstromWhat was your inspiration for the hollow vessels you brought to the meeting…?

My parents. My mom is an avid quilter and also weaves, my dad is a song-writer and musician. The vessels have elements to honor both of them; basket weave style texture with quilt squares and the glowing of light from the guilded inners.

How long did it take you to make the hollow vessel (above)?

It’s hard for me to say exactly, as I get so involved in the process that I typically lose all track of time. I would guess that the larger vessel took about 1 hour on the lathe and approx. 12 hrs. off the lathe with embellishments.

members / woodturner profile

Woodturning Fundamentals

The AAW has just announced a new program called Woodturning Fundamentals. This program will focus on skill building for turners by providing information and resources on safety, basic turning techniques, and reference materials for equipment. The Woodturning Fundamentals web page is available to anyone with an interest in woodturning!

AAW members will be able to subscribe at no cost to a bi-monthly e-newsletter that will feature how-to projects, instructional videos, and tips to get you started! There will also be a Q&A section that will feature questions submitted by e-newsletter subscribers.

The Woodturning Fundamentals Committee is made up of teachers and experienced turners who are eager to share their expertise: Kurt Hertzog (Chair), Nick Cook, Joe Herrmann, Beth Ireland, Linda Ferber, Mark Knierim, Keith Tompkins, and Rob Wallace

AAW / techniques

SPSW Continues to Grow

Membership Director Jarred Hoffpauir reported at the SPSW Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday that membership has now passed the 200 member mark! This is a reflection of the outstanding lineup of quality demonstrators, the willingness of our mentors to share, the opportunity to get hand-on practice with a mentor at the monthly sawdust sessions and the many volunteers that bring it all together.

Membership

What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Inland Northwest Woodturners in Spokane Valley will be having their traditional Holiday Social at their next meeting on December 1st.

The Northwest Woodturners in Tigard, Oregon will not be having a regular membership meeting, but will have a Christmas party on December 3rd at Jerry Keller’s. There will be a catered dinner, spouse’s gift exchange, tool swap and door prizes.

The Seattle Woodturners will be meeting on December 8th for a holiday party. This will also be the last meeting at the current location in Kenmore. Beginning with the January meeting the chapter meetings will be at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building in Redmond. Also, on December 3rd, the chapter will host a tour of three different shops – Jack Wayne, Jim Jaskovsky and Vern Tator.

The Cascade Woodturners in Portland, Oregon, are taking a holiday break and have no meeting scheduled for December.

The Northwest Washington Woodturners in Mount Vernon, WA also are taking a holiday break with no meeting scheduled for December.

The Island Woodturners Guild on Vancouver Island will be having their annual social and discussing ornaments at their next meeting on December 17th.

The Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild are also taking a break for the holiday. However, I highly recommend that you check out the GVWG November newsletter. They have some great Tech Talk items including restoring a segmented lamp, rules around importing wood, automating your dust collection, when is it firewood and more. There are also other interesting articles and great photos from their instant gallery.

The Olympic Peninsula Woodturners in Bremerton will be holding their annual Christmas Party on December 17th.

AAW / chapter profile