June 2012

June 2012
We have a great lineup of articles in this issue. I’ve been a fan of Ed Kelle’s work for some time and was delighted when he agreed to write an article about making his mini blossoms. I sat through a demo awhile back and really enjoyed the process. Kurt Hertzog takes us Behind the Scenes to Lee Valley Tools—I’m sure that everyone has seen their catalogs! Mike Peace shows us how to make a must-have woodturning tool in his article about the Elegant Awl. And Jeff Powell tells us how to make a Cupid Pen—great for a wedding gift or looking ahead to next Valentine’s Day.

Our Shavings page has been successful, and I would like to keep the interest going by adding a new set of photos to the mix. There is a great deal of interest in “collaborations” between artists, and I would like to ask that you share some of your efforts with the readers. I suggest that you and a friend get together and do a group project. It could be a group design effort, or one person could turn the piece and the other could decorate it. Just pick a friend, do a turning together, and send us a photo along with the details of the project. Who knows? It might morph into a full-blown article?

We have gotten several e-mails (and one actual letter) commenting on the photo in Kurt Hertzog’s article (Woodturning Design February 2012) that shows one of his classes at Arrowmont. Kurt taught the first blind student ever at Arrowmont when she enrolled in one of his penmaking classes. The concern from readers hinged on the fact that it seemed that she was not wearing safety glasses and her hair was not pulled back. Actually, she did have safety glasses on; you just couldn’t see them that well, because your eye was probably drawn to her sunglasses perched on top of her head. The sunglasses were trying to hold back her long hair. The photo was “staged” and I guess we could have done a better job; however, Kurt is extremely safety conscious and regrets any confusion and concern that the photo might have caused—as am I.

Speaking of safety, I would like to address a trend that is becoming extremely popular on the Internet—the YouTube phenomenon. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of amateur and professional videos being posted there and many depict downright dangerous practices. Please check to be sure your source is reliable and get a second opinion before attempting any of the techniques you might see posted online. Most of the time (but NOT always) videos posted on reliable forums depict safe practices.

Although I never met Jan Peters, it is with a great deal of regret that I note her passing. Jan was one of the founders of the del Mano Gallery in Pasadena, California, in 1973 (del Mano has since moved to Westwood, California). As one of the premier galleries in the United States, del Mano was especially noted for expertise in wood art and represented many of the artists who grace the pages of Woodturning Design. Jan will be missed and our condolences go out to her family.

I received a suggestion from one of our readers about getting young people involved in turning. The suggestion was made to use scouting as a vehicle to interest youths in turning. The reader noted that he was working on a set of requirements that would earn scouts a merit badge based on turning or woodworking or both. I think this is a great idea and I would be willing to publish any guidelines that work toward that end. Is anyone currently doing something along these lines?

Happy turning