Catawba Medley

Our Chapter Collaborative Challenge, the Catawba Medley, is on its way to Albuquerque for display at the AAW Symposium next week.   Many thanks to all who participated in this amazing project, with special thanks to Jerry Measimer for the final “crowning” piece – the cowboy hat! 

Our June 18 meeting will feature Beth Ireland with a demonstration of “Turning Outside the Box.” 

Beth is a 1979 graduate of State University College at Buffalo, where she received a Bachelors degree in Art Education. She has run Beth Ireland Woodworking since 1982. The Company specializes in architectural woodturning, furniture and cabinetry. Beth Ireland has lectured, taught and demonstrated all over the country including Massachusetts College of Art, Arrowmont, Peters Valley, Anderson Ranch, and The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship. She was the director of the Wood Program at Worcester Center for Crafts two years. Her work has been seen in publications such as ,Design Book 7, Bead and Button, Woodshop News and the Boston Globe. Beth’s video Turning Outside the Box came out in 2005. She resides and works in Boston Massachusetts.

Beth’s website is:  www.bethireland.net

The collaborative challenge crew has put together a an amazing Indian Vest for submission at the American Woodturners Association Symposium in Albuquerque this year. Here are a couple of shots previewing their work.  Come to the next meeting to see it in person.

The first meeting of the New Year kicked off with a superb presentation of their Rose Engine lathe by Roland Hege and Fred Connell. Roland presented an informative slide show on the history of ornamental turning, ornamental lathes, rose engine lathes, and the aristocracy who created and used them. Fred then demonstrated the Rambling Rose, the traveling rose engine lathe he and Roland have built. He decorated a couple of scratch awls, showing the variations he could produce with a single cutter. Roland and Fred generously donated the awls for the raffle.

At the end of the raffle, a final drawing was held for the first featured item turned for the 2009 monthly meetings. Congratulations, Jack, on winning the beautiful walnut and brass vase turned by Bruce Lacy. Thanks to Bruce for leading the way this year with such a beautiful contribution for the raffle.

Next month we look forward to Bruce’s demonstration using his jig to turn a sphere, a beautiful sample of which he shared during the show and tell.