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Welcome to the June 2008 issue of the LumberJocks eMag:
From the Editor
It's been one year since the publication of our first LJ eMag! Hard to believe, isn't it? Yes, back in June, 2007, our first eMag was sent out and at that time we had 927 members and were celebrating the soon-to-be-reached "1000" membership milestone.
Last year at this time we had 1529 projects, 1129 blog entries and 480 forum topics posted and commented on. Just one year later, here we are at almost 4600 members, over 7800 projects, 4700+ blogs, and over 3500 forum topics.
We also recognized, in June of last year, our two most active bloggers, Frank with 129 blogs, and Dusty with his 42 chapter blog series. Frank is now at 300 blog entries and Dusty's series not only ended up at 48 chapters but he started a second series, walking us through yet another house transformation. That's quite a contribution they have made to our LJ Shop.
I'd like to thank each and every one of our 4,550 members for their part in making LumberJocks.com the best workshop there is!
~Debbie
LJ Awards & Challenges
Woodworking Safety Video Challenge Results
Last month, in cooperation with The Wood Whisperer, a challenge was presented to post a woodworking safety video. Six videos were created by our LumberJocks and three random entries were selected and each received an LJ shirt, TWW shirt, TWW Finishing DVD and $50 gift certificate to Cooper Safety.
Congratulations to: the Teenage Woodworker, Woodshopfreak, and Eric!
LumberJocks' Woodworking Awards Summer 2008
What is this Award event, you ask? It is an amazing event held each year, here at LumberJocks.com. Not only are there wonderful gifts for the award winners but, also,:
- it's fun!
- it's an opportunity for you to challenge yourself, skill-wise and creatively
- it's a chance to cast a vote, helping to select the best of the best
- it's a chance to say "I'm a LumberJock. This is what we love to do!"
This year, the two categories for our Summer Awards are:
- One Man's Junk.... is a LumberJock's treasure! We're testing your creativity on this one. So, put your woodworking caps on and think of an innovative way to reuse some old hardware, reclaimed wood and/or recycled junk and turn it into something unique and special. In the description of your entry give us a bit of history on the "junk" and how it inspired you to create the end product.
- Serve It Up With Class... Summer is the time to take your meals and refreshments outside. Use your woodworking skills to create a serving tray using at least 2 different varieties of wood. Use inlay, marquetry, carving, and/or stains to turn your serving tray into a piece of art!
The details for the event have not yet been finalized but there is no time like the present to start planning and building your entries. (Last year's deadline for entries was July 31st).
I hope to see everyone participating in the fun by creating at least one entry for the Awards event. Happy building!
Other LJ Events
Pen Swaps
Round #1 of our worldwide pen swap was a big success and plans for a second adventure are in the works! Congratulations to the organizers of this event and, on behalf of all the members, thank you for all the work put into the pen swaps. We look forward to following the travels of Round #2.
LumberJocks' Picnics
Throughout the year many LumberJocks get together for what have become known as "LumberJock Picnics". The following are in the plans. If you'd like to arrange a picnic in your area, just let me know and I'll post the information in the eMag. (The more notice you can give, the more opportunities people have to make arrangements.)
- Washington State: June 14 or 21, 2008. Host: chamoruboy
- Lee Jesberger's Shop: June 21 (Contact Lee for directions)
- Brant County, Ontario: July 13, 2008. Host: MsDebbieP
- Mid-America: (to be determined).
- Oregon/Idado/Nevada: to be determined (depends on number of people interested). Host: Peter O
- your picnic listed here
Sister Sites
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GardenTenders
GardenTenders currently has over 200 members and the members have been busy not only tending their gardens but their site blogs as well. Have a question about gardening? Be sure to stop by!
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GT just completed a "Greener Gardens" challenge and Catspaw and Scott Hildenbrand were the winners of the challenge. Congratulations guys!
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HomeRefurbers
HomeRefurbers has over 150 members, all busily building and renovating something in their homes. If you renovate, decorate, or create living spaces then this site is for you! |
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| The first challenge is in the works and suggestions for Awards categories are welcome! Just sign up, sign in and share your ideas here: http://homerefurbers.com/members/mbulla/blog/54 |
Feature Article: The Not-So-Common Bowl
The Not-So-Common Bowl
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Picture Oliver Twist standing infront of his keeper, holding his little food bowl, saying the famous words "Please, sir. I want some more."
Now, picture him with one of the stunning bowls created by our members, such as this cherry bowl by JockMike2, shown to the right! Doesn't that just put a new twist (pardon the pun) on the story?
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| With 177 projects tagged with "bowl", Oliver would have quite a time choosing which bowl would be his prefered vessel. There are large bowls, small bowls, and inbetween-sized bowls; there are bowls made of native woods, exotic woods, and mixtures of odds and ends; there are bowls with holes and bowls with carved designs; there are bowls from burls and bowls that are segmented; and there is just so much more! |
| The creativity used to create the bowls on display here at LumberJocks.com is awe-inspiring. Some bowls seem to defy physics, such as Alin Dobra's "Demoed Goblet"... |
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| ...and some have been influenced by physics, guiding the woodworker to even greater creative measures, as described in the development of this bowl by YorkshireStewart. |
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Your next (or first bowl) is waiting for you to pick up a chunk of wood, embrace your creativity, and chip away the wood that is surrounding the beauty within.
For inspiration be sure to check out the projects tagged with "bowl".
Need some technical help? Perhaps someone has already posted the information in the blogs tagged with "bowl".
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Where In The World Is MsDebbieP
Tour Manager, Writer, Designer: Douglas Bordner
Host: MsDebbieP
Shop Tour: MrWoody - Pass!
Isn't it time you invited us to your shop for an inspection? It's painless and takes no time at all! Really!! Simply send Douglas a message and he'll do the rest.
Tutorials & Other "How To's"
As usual, the LumberJocks have been busy over the past month sharing woodworking tips, tricks, and plans with others. Here are some discussions and blogs:
Forum Talk:
We Blogged It:
It's Very STAT-isfying
Look at us!
We are 4,550 woodworkers making 218,299 comments on 7,847 projects, 4,682 blogs, 342 reviews and 3,472 forum topics.
Promoting LumberJocks
Why Promote?
- more activity means more advertising potential
- more advertising = site maintenance fees covered
- more advertising = more "perks" and services for the members
How To Help
- word of mouth: talk about the site with woodworkers and woodworking companies' managers/employees
- distribute press releases, flyers, etc as they are provided, for special events
- place a link to LJ.com on your personal websites/blogs
- use your LJ profile as part of your business website
- use the badges and widgets provided, on your sites
- let potential advertisers know about our advertising information
- take the time to check out the company interviews posted
- make a personal donation to the site
- purchase items through the LJ Store
- and of course, don't forget to wear your LJ t-shirt or LJ Hat!
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