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Welcome to the September 2009 issue of the LumberJocks eMag:
September, 2009 Issue #27 The weather, here in Ontario Canada, is definitely reminding me that summer is wrapping up and fall is just around the corner. Although it saddens me to say good-bye to the warm weather (what we had of it) I am excited about what is waiting around the corner! As the weather changes my gardening activities come to an end and that means more time for woodworking! With the discovery of the enjoyment my lathe brings I'm sure that I will start progressing from pens and mice to... well.. one never knows! Regardless of "what" I make, I know that I shall be enjoying the cooler months as I get lost in the world of wood. And so, with mixed feelings, I welcome September and the change of seasons! What does September hold for you? ~Debbie 
Summer Awards Results Our 3rd Annual Summer Awards was another very successful event, here at LumberJocks.com. This year, we had one category, The Garden Bench, with 54 entries. The variety of benches entered is amazing and each one deserves recognition. In the end, after our members voted, we did get our top 10.
Congratulations to all of our Award Winners and to aurora, the random draw winner. You will find all the entries and results listed here. Online connections and support are great but you just can't beat meeting a fellow LumberJock in person! The following are a couple of opportunities for our members:
Fox Chapel Publishing has provided several books for review as well a copy of each for a free book draw for our LumberJocks' members. In the following review you will find out how to enter your name in the free draw. This Month's Book Review: American Country Furniture. This second of the set of books provided by Fox Chapel Publishing is quite interesting. Not only do you get 50 plans but also a little history on American country furniture, as well as tips regarding wood, hardware and finishing techniques. I really enjoyed reading the information provided about the wood selection and design elements that are used to create that authentic American Country look. The introductory pages talk about types of hardware that were used during different eras, tools that would have been used, and construction techniques. One element that I found particularly interesting was the way pieces were put together to stay together. A simple example is the bench that I made for the Summer Awards. The legs were not only nailed onto the bench, but glued as well and cut so that the pieces fit together. If one element fails there are two back-up components to keep it together.
Each of the plans comes with a story - a little history, some rationale behind certain elements, and other tidbits of interest that add to the understanding of the construction and the use of the piece of furniture. For example, with the Five-Board Bench, above, I learned that it is based on a stool from the Middle Ages and was built for multiple purposes and was used for working on as well as for sitting. Intriguing little facts! Then, there is the section on finishing. We all know that a great project can be made or ruined by the finishing process. This section of the book discusses techniques to make or copy the look of authentic American country furniture. Again, the information is very interesting as well as helpful in understanding how to make our projects extraordinary. If you like American country furniture, then this book is a great resource for you, not only for the many plans but also for understanding what you are building and how to make it look American Country. My Ratings of The Book Win A Free Copy Again, a big thank-you to Fox Chapel for the donations. Focus On Guitars My family is currently busy preparing for a BlueGrass Jamboree that my brother is hosting and, so, guitars are on mind. Guitars, banjos, mandolins -- I wish I could play one. But, alas, I'll have to leave it up to the musically inclined to do the entertaining! And as for building one, well, I wish I could do that too! But, again, I think I'll just leave that up to those who have the gift of patience, woodworking skills and know-how. The variations of this stringed instrument seems to be endless and the history dates back to ancient times, as shown in a 3,300 year old carving depicting such an instrument, according to Wikipedia information. Today, the guitar and its cousins play an intrical part of our society, as a major component of bands, orchestras, social gatherings and individual expression. Here, at our LJ Shop, we have seen a wide variety of guitars (and the instrument relatives). We've seen:
Now, you don't have to be musically inclined to appreciate the beauty of the guitar and to incorporate the design into one of your projects. As you know, LumberJocks are very creative and here are just some of the non-instrument guitar projects. Check these out:
Are you like me and have the itch to build one but, unlike me, are ready to take on the challenge? Check out these blogs and forum discussions, and this bit of encouragement and you will be on your way! Oh, and be sure to post the progress and the final project of course.
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