What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Inland Northwest chapter in Spokane Valley has their membership meeting on the 5th of May featuring SPSW Board member Jack Wayne as their demonstrator. Jack will be demonstrating making a bowl from a board. Jack is also conducting an all-day workshop the next day.

Inland Northwest is also conducting The Great Russ Fairfield Memorial Tool Sale at Russ’ shop in Post Falls, Idaho.

The Northwest Woodturners is moving to their new meeting location at the Rockler Woodworking and Hardware store in Beaverton, Oregon. Their May meeting is scheduled for the 8th and their demonstrator will be Don Derry who will be the demonstrator at the May SPSW meeting.

The Seattle Woodturners membership meeting is scheduled for May 12th where John Schrader will demonstrate metal inlay.

The Cascade Woodturners in Portland, Oregon will hold their regular membership meeting on May 19th with Merryll Saylan as their demonstrator. Merryll will be conducting an all-day demonstration for the members of the SPSW on May 26th at Nancy Sweazey’s shop.

The Olympic Peninsula Chapter will be holding their membership meeting on May 25th. Their featured demonstrator will be SPSW Vice President Eric Lofstrom.

Membership Meeting / woodturners

Message From SPSW President

[note]The following is a message to members of the South Puget Sound Woodturners from SPSW President Dan Stromstad[/note]

powermatic 3520b latheLast Thursday, April 21st, we took a vote and the vast majority of those in attendance wanted the club to improve our lathe and sound system. At the board meeting on Tuesday evening, April 26th, it was approved to purchase both items. Your board of directors donated enough to purchase the sound system which totals $1500.00. Jack Wayne was authorized to finalize the purchase of a Powermatic lathe. We were assured that transporting the new lathe would not be a major problem and we already have a power source at the Fife meeting hall. We will no longer be embarrassed by malfunctioning lathe issues. We will no longer have complaints from our demonstrators regarding the sound system or the lathe. We also saved around $2000.00 off of normal retail on these two purchases. We are working hard to improve the club experience for everyone.

Last Thursday it was mentioned that we would like to have you consider donating to the club so that we can make all the improvements to enhance our meetings. Now is the time for you to step up to the plate and help the club. All donations are tax deductible. Any amount will help, whether it is $20.00, $50.00 or hundreds. We are taking bold steps to improve our meetings.

Our next area of improvement is the video system so that all will be able to see the demonstrators much better. We hope to improve the lighting as well as the projector and camera system. We are planning / hoping to test systems before we buy.

We also have many items for raffling including the signed egg made by Bonnie Klein at our last meeting. All raffle proceeds will help us improve your meeting experience. We are giving to ourselves.

Dan Stromstad

Send donations payable to SPSW to:

Les Johnson
915 Milton Way
Milton, WA 98354

Message

Be A Reality TV Star

If you are a woodturner who lives in Ireland (I know, but we actually get visitors from Ireland) you have an opportunity to be in a reality TV show. Big Mountain Productions, along with the Craft Council of Ireland, is creating a 6 show series to find the Mastercrafter of 2011.

The first five shows will feature fifteen apprentices in an intensive two-week residential course in the craft discipline of their choice. The disciplines are ceramics, glass, metal (blacksmithing), textiles (weaving) or wood (woodturning). The apprentices will be under the guidance of a relevant Master of Craft.

The efforts of the apprentices will be adjudicated by a panel to narrow down the contestants to just one in each discipline. The sixth, and final, show will be recorded in Dublin on July 26th and 27th with the winner of the title Mastercrafter of 2011 announced the afternoon of the 27th.

So if you meet the elegibility requirements to enter, you could be the next Mastercrafter. You can find information and the application form on the Big Mountain Productions website, www.bigmountainproductions.com.

woodturning events

Great Falls Turners Symposium

jimmy clewesThe members of the AAW chapter in Great Falls, Montana have been hard at work planning for a symposium in September. They have just announced that they are bringing in Jimmy Clewes as their demonstrator and they are very excited about the opportunity. And they are willing to share that opportunity with you.

Jimmy Clewes is an internationally acclaimed woodturning artist and instructor. Originally from England, he now makes his home in the United States and, when not travelling to give demonstrations, offers woodturning instruction in his new, fully-equipped workshop in Las Vegas, Nevada. When asked what drives him, Jimmy Says:

“My energy comes from those around me. When I can stir the creativity of one’s mind, that for me is very satisfying. As with any artform, expression is only limited as one’s mind and I want to ‘raise the bar’ and create an awareness of the artform that has been virtually unknown to most people.”

The Great Falls Turners Symposium is scheduled for two days, September 24th and 25th, 2011 at the Hilton Garden Inn. Registration is $95 for the symposium with a $15 discount for registration before August 15th. Information, including hotel discounts, and the registration form can be found here.

chapter profile / demonstrator

Chatter Tool Video

If you were in attendance at last night’s membership meeting you were treated to a great demo by Bonnie Klein. Bonnie took us through making an Easter egg box with a threaded lid.

One of the tools that Bonnie used for decorating the egg was a chatter tool. There were lots of questions about this tool and as it happens, Woodworkers Journal recently released a video on how to use a chatter tool.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eSFWMJaP6c

demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques / tools

AAW Educational Opportunity Grant Auction

The following is a message from AAW Board Member Binh Pho

binh phoYears ago when I was fairly new to the field of woodturning, I was at an AAW symposium and witnessed an amazing event at the Educational Opportunity Grant (EOG) auction. People were bidding on what had been written on a napkin! David Ellsworth had simply written, I owe you a piece about six inches in diameter, then signed it, D.E. I recall the high bid was around $4,000. All I could think was, “Wow! Four grand for some writing on a napkin.”

The following year, I was tempted to put one of my creations in the auction, but I was concerned that no one would bid on my donation because I wasn’t a well-known artist. Nevertheless, I donated one of my works and it brought in $250. I was tickled pink.

Each year the auction grows as more pieces are donated and the AAW often generates more money than the previous year. This is the beauty and the strength of the AAW and its members: It doesn’t matter who we are or where we are with our skills, we all have a willingness to chip in and help the organization grow and prosper. That spirit has and will continue to build a strong foundation for the AAW.

aaw 25th anniversaryThe EOG auction is one of the highlights of the symposium; all the donated pieces are auctioned either silently or live. This year the live auction promises to be the most successful one ever because many major collectors will join us to celebrate our 25th anniversary as the Collectors of Wood Art forum is being held in conjunction with the AAW symposium. This is a great opportunity to get exposure for your work. Donations of quality work and enthusiastic bidding allow us to achieve a successful auction.

Many top turners and past demonstrators from all over the world will attend this event, joined by new demonstrators, many local to the Saint Paul area. To name a few who have already donated to the auction: David Ellsworth, Trent Bosch, Jacques Vesery, Tim Heil, John Jordan, John Wessel, Ray Key, Joey Richardson, Bill Pottorf, J Paul Fennell, and Michael Hosaluk.

Consider donating something to this year’s EOG auction-it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional-or bidding on a great piece of art. Tables in the Instant Gallery will be set up to accept your work and bidding sheets will be available.

Best wishes and see you in Saint Paul!

Binh Pho, EOG Auction Committee

AAW / Message