November 2009     Issue # 29

In my "other life" (outside woodworking and LumberJocks.com) I do consulting, helping people evaluate aspects of their lives and set goals. One day this month I decided that it was time to do just that regarding the eMag. How is it working? What was the original intention? Where can it go from here?

Because this is your eMag I would like your input on what you use it for and what you would like to see in it. I already have some ideas and have implemented some of them in this issue and I have some other changes in mind - but first I want to hear from you. Take a couple minutes of your day and share your ideas here in my forum discussion. I'm really excited about the possibilities! Thanks, as always, for your support.

~Debbie

Hold Onto Your Britches!
The plans are in the works for our Winter Woodworking Awards 2010!
The anticipation is mounting, the excitement is filling the air........... you just have to be patient and get those tools cleaned, sharpened and ready to go.

LJ "Meet-Ups"

• NS/SC Picnic: sounds like this was a wonderful time! Read about this picnic, here.
• BarbS and Autumn visited each other's shops and both came away with little bits of envy. And better than that some words of wisdom were shared and Barb has passed them along to us. Check out BarbS' blog about the shop tours and wise words.
• The Alvarado LJ's have 100% turn-out at their local meetings. 100% attendance. That's impressive isn't it :) That's what the members, Tim and Jay think, too. Check out the blog here.

Checking The Calendar

I checked the LumberJock Event Calendar and saw that we have two LJ get-togethers coming up this month. Will you be attending?

• Nov. 7: Arizona
• Nov. 14: Northern California

Are you planning an event? Let us know so we can add it to the calendar!

Rumblings about Future Events

• Texas, anyone? Join in the fun and add your name to the list of those interested in a LumberJock Picnic - Texas-Style! 
• Tennessee Picnic? The idea has been put forward! Check it out.

LumberJocks Shops
Have you ever wondered what your fellow LumberJocks' shops looked like? You can check out the "workshop" links, of course -- and, now, there's a little summary of our shops, compiled by dbhost. Thanks to dbhost for the research and compiling the data. It is a fascinating bit of information!
Read his findings here.

LJ Interview "Way back when", Martin interviewed some of our LJ friends and posted them on our site. These interviews were well-received but somewhere along the line they became a thing of the past. In January of this year I posted an interview with Karson and now I plan to make this a regular feature in our eMag. Our first guest is "Trifern".
Trifern Trifern has been a member of LumberJocks.com for almost two years. Since the time he became a member here, he has posted over 200 projects and a dozen blogs. Although he has posted some furniture pieces he is most famous for his hollow forms. The following is the interview: 1) When did you get started in woodworking and why?
I started my woodworking journey in high school shop class. The projects I built were a magazine rack, love seat, dining room table, and a bed. I designed the dining room table and bed, both featuring turned legs. I did not do any woodworking again until about two years ago.
My daughter wanted to use the maple bed I made in high school. I decided to purchase a table saw, router and a few other hand tools in order to make her a desk and bookcase to match the bed. My next project was to create a cabinet to hold our television and other related electronics and the next project on my list was a nightstand for my daughter’s room. I decided to purchase a lathe in order to turn legs that would match the bed legs. Once the lathe arrived in March of 2008, I decided to turn a few bowls in order to refresh my skills prior to starting the nightstand. I joined the local chapter of AAW (American Association of Woodturners) the same month.
My AAW membership was a valuable tool that springboarded my knowledge and skills as a turner. The club features demonstrations at their monthly meetings, a mentoring program (LJ Terry is my mentor), a library of books, videos and dvds, and an experienced membership eager to share their knowledge and skills.
My local AAW club, CIW (Central Illinois Woodturners), sponsored world renowned Trent Bosch for a two day seminar in the fall of 2008. Day one was demonstrations of hollow forms and carving techniques. Day two was hands-on training. This is where I learned how to make hollow form vessels. My daughter’s night stand has yet to be designed or made. It is still on my list of things to do.
2) What inspires you / motivates you? I am inspired and motivated by the many master craftsmen and artists throughout the world. I am an internet junkie, constantly searching articles and photographs of the world’s best.
I also get inspiration from nature. I enjoy walking through the woods observing shapes, form, texture, and color. Seeing God’s creations is humbling, inspiring and motivating. Inspiration also comes from viewing other forms of art displayed in galleries, museums and public places. I am always in awe of the magnificent work that has been created for thousands of years. I often chuckle when someone comes up with a “new” concept. In reality, that concept was probably done hundreds or thousands of years ago with primitive tools. 3) What are your favourite type of projects (and why)? My favorite projects currently are colored hollow form vessels. This type of work allows me to creatively express myself through wood. My vessels are a journey in search of the “perfect” form. They stand up proud, as if they have inhaled a new breath of life. They are created from wood destined for the burn pile or land fill. Wood is similar to people, the more you carve off the surface, the closer you get to the true character of its soul. My vessels attempt to reveal the inner beauty of the tree. The small opening allows the viewer a mysterious peak inside; leaving them to ponder what other stories are hidden within. I also enjoy utilizing color. At first my use of color may appear unnatural and perhaps just plain wrong. I believe that if used correctly, color can be a great asset. Color can be an enhancement that evokes emotions not normally associated with wood. From a distance, my vessels may be deceiving. Are they glass or ceramic? How do they stand on such small feet? How heavy are they? How are they colored? Upon closer inspection, they are recognizable as wood. 4) What challenges have you encountered during your woodworking journey? Some of the many challenges I have encountered include limitations of tools and machinery, lack of skill and knowledge, lack of focus, and lack of time.
I have learned that although quality tools and machinery are important, they cannot be the driving factor. It is more important and productive to improve your skills and techniques, than to collect all the latest and greatest tools and machines. Skill and knowledge can be gained by learning from others and applying it to your own applications.
Lumberjocks has played a vital role in my development. Others sources include books, trade publications, videos and dvds, mentors, clubs and associations, and the internet. I try to overcome my lack of focus by working on a series. I want to try everything; every technique, every project, every species of wood, every finish… Picking a single type of project forces me to concentrate on the various components: form, color, and finish. It allows me to hone the skills necessary to not only create the piece, but to do it well. 5) What tips do you have for people interested in your type of woodworking? Gain as much knowledge as you can. Lumberjocks is a great resource for this. View the projects, read the forums and blogs, watch the videos, ask questions, and enter the contests. Join your local and national clubs. They are a great resource for networking and hands on training. Share your knowledge. Teaching not only helps others, but it forces you to examine why you do things the way you do, allowing you to learn in the process. Keep an open mind and ask for critiques. Advice given by others helps me see things in a different perspective. I may not always agree with the advice, but I always ponder it. Do not take critiques personal or as an attack on you and your work. They are merely suggestions for you to consider. Most importantly – have fun!
6) Do you have a website? I do not currently have a website. This is on my list of things to do this winter. I post my projects on Lumberjocks, AAW, and World of Woodturners.
Oh.. and what is your real name. I only know you as Trifern. My name is Joe Landon and my business is Trifern Studio. The name Trifern comes from a piece of pottery. I grew up in Abingdon, Illinois. It is a small rural community whose main employer was Abingdon Pottery. The primary products they manufactured were toilets and urinals. They employed a lot of Italian immigrants. They ran a fine art pottery division in the mid 30’s through 1960 as a means to save the plant and tap into the talent of the Italian immigrants. They manufactured vases, candlesticks, platters, cookie jars, sculptures, bowls, and wall pockets. I have an extensive collection of their art ware. My favorite series was the fern leaf pattern. My favorite piece from this series is a wall pocket called “Trifern.”
8) Any other tidbits that you'd like to share? I have been fortunate in my short tenure to receive some recognition. I won first place in Fine Craft at the Sugar Creek Arts Festival, first place for best form in the AAW’s summer contest, and honorable mention in Woodcentral.com’s elegant forms contest.
My work has been featured on the cover of AAW and World of Woodtuners homepages numerous times. I have a piece in the “Spirit of Southwest” exhibition sponsored by AAW. This exhibition started in Albuquerque, NM and currently is at The Gallery of Wood Art in St. Paul, MN. It will conclude in Santa Fe, NM. I am currently represented by Vale Craft Gallery – Chicago, IL, Main Gallery 404 – Bloomington, IL, Heartland Gallery – Urbana, IL, and Fourth Street Gallery – Covington, IN. 9) Who is biggest inspiration? There are too many to name. 10) When is your favourite time to work? My favorite time to work is while my teenage daughter is at swim practice and on weekends. Typically this affords me 2-3 hours per day. I listen to classical, jazz and blues while working in my studio. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'd like to thank Trifern for taking time from his busy schedule to answer the above questions. It is an inspiring story to go along with his inspiring work!

Site Upgrades
Martin, the founder of LumberJocks.com, has been at it again - improving the site and making it an even better place to learn about and share woodworking skills and projects. This past month, Martin changed the layout of the "favourites" page. If you have some items marked as favourites and you haven't been back in to look at them, well now is the time. I know you will be thrilled with the change!
Read more about the changes here.

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. (NOTE: to enter, you have to be a member –and that is a quick, easy, and FREE process. A big thank you to Fox Chapel for this opportunity!

October's Book Review: Great Book of Wooden Toys by Norm Marshall Free Draw: We had 68 LumberJocks enter their names for the free draw. Congratulations papabear will be receiving a free copy. This Month's Review: To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl by Ron Roszkiewicz When I picked this book for the book review this month I wasn't sure what I was going find. I don't do much on a lathe (pens and mice, actually) and I have never attempted to make a bowl. I wasn't 100% sure that this was going to be a great book for me. What a pleasant surprise I received! Right from the start the author had my interest - and I mean from the start! The foreword, the behind the book story, was just as fascinating as the book itself. Once I started reading I simply didn't want to put it down. To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl  is basically an interview with Bob Stocksdale, one of the bowl-turning gurus of all times. Within the pages of the book, we get to know Bob almost on a personal level. We are painted the picture of his childhood, his relationship with wood, and, for those bowl-turners out there, his tips and tricks to turn that perfect bowl. In one of the quotes, Mr. Stocksdale says that he tries to bring out the inner beauty of the wood. Perhaps this is what makes him an exceptional artist. Throughout the pages of the book, we see one example after another where he seems to be connected with the wood, knowing what lies within the outer layers. As I read the book I was reminded of Michelangelo saying that, with his statue of David, he just chipped away anything that wasn't David! That special connection that an artist has with the material he is working with takes a beautiful piece of work and makes it exceptional. Here at LumberJocks.com our members share their personal journeys of attaining this level of connection with wood. Some of us may never reach that pinnacle but will definitely enjoy the journey, especially when we are inspired by such work as that of Bob Stocksdale and books such as To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl. My Ratings of The Book Layout and Appearance: Wonderful balance of photographs, interview questions, and quotes from letters and news clippings. Thumbs Up! Instructions: Lots of tidbits of information tucked away in the interview. Thumbs Up! Inspiration: "in leaps and bounds".  Thumbs Up! Overall: Thumbs Up! Win A Free Copy To enter your name in the random draw for a copy of this book, click here and answer the two easy questions. (Hint: the answer to the first question can be found at the book's link, posted above.) Again, a big thank-you to Fox Chapel for the donations.

A Lathe By Any Other Name... A lathe by any other name is still a lathe -- but what can you do with it? Well, LumberJocks  definitely know what to make!  In our woodworking showcase, we have bowls (and not just any bowls -- these are pieces of art!); we have birdhouses, candlesticks, pens and, of course, hollow forms. In our project pages tagged with "lathe" we have awls and spindles, bottle stoppers , gavels and mallets.
Creations made on the lathe include nutcrackers and tree ornaments. We also have goblets and dowels , bats and mushrooms, rocketships and Nostepindes (bet you had to look!). Not finished yet -- there are salt and pepper mills , rattles , lamps, and vases. Phew. Then there are handles and rolling pins, all kinds of jewelry , including rings, eggs, and plates. And, of course, we can't forget the bowler hat! Inspired yet? With 83 pages of projects tagged with "lathe", you just have to be tempted to making something!
	Now that you are inspired - are you ready to tackle that next (or first project)? Perhaps you need a few tips or a refresher course.
Checking the blogs, there are about 160 blogs tagged with "lathe", including this one by Gary Fixler.  In the blogs, you will find tips for what to do and what not to do when turning wood. There are also some videos and great photo-sequence tutorials providing tips and strategies. If you are still searching for something specific , check out our forum discussions tagged as "lathe". And if all else fails - post your question and I'm sure you will get the help you are lookng for. And --- to quote "Trifern" from our interview: "Share your knowledge. Teaching not only helps others, but it forces you to examine why you do things the way you do, allowing you to learn in the process." Speaking for myself, I know that I learn just as much from the "oops" postings as I do from the "here's how" tutorials. Now it is your turn -- show us your first or latest turned projects and share your bits of wisdom that you learned while working on your lathe.

Looking for feedback! Is this section of the eMag a valuable resource for you or do you use other methods (such as "search" and "tags"  to find the "how to" information on the site? Take a couple minutes and let us know what you think, here at this forum discussion. As always, LumberJocks.com is "THE" place to look when seeking tips and inspiration.  Check out these tidbits, posted this past month: Building Tips Card Scraping Revisited Double-sided tape Business Tips Advertising - some experiences Finishing Cabinet Trim Dyeing Wood Tung Oil Tips Joinery Mortise & Tenon Mortise (Hand-Chopped) Wooden Hinges Miscellaneous Unfinished Projects Sawdust Uses Tips & Jigs (Series) Projects Bed (Platform) Bookshelf /Alcove Bookshelves Burl Furniture Checkerboard Clock (Craftsman Style) and here Coffee Table Cradle Hanging Cupboard Sofa Table (Asian Inspired) Toy Chest Workbench and here Tools & Equipment Bandsaw Blades Batteries Sharpening Hand Planes Sharpening Tips Maintenance: Don't forget to check and clean your equipment THINK SAFETY! Turning Tips Hollow Turning Segment Turning Looking for something specific? Use our "tags" tool and check out previous eMag issues!

Some LJ Projects Rocking "Horses"  Birdhouses Cutting Boards Furniture Pens Carvings Trucks  Scrollsaw Work Drums

Look at what you are a part of! 
We are 13,325 woodworkers making 590,335 comments on 22,535 projects, 10,684 blogs, 972 reviews and 11,061 forum topics.

Reviews: Just 30 more reviews and we reach 1000. Have you been thinking about posting a review? Now would be a great time!

A Year Ago...we had  6,032 members, 293,903 comments, 10,709 projects, 6,133 blogs, 476 reviews and 5,061 forum topics.

HomeRefurbers.com Not all building projects include wood -- just check out this big undertaking posted by a1Jim.
GardenTenders.com Look at a tree and what does a LumberJock see?? A woodworking project or two. What does a GardenTender see? Food for the table! Check out this posting on the Heartnut / Juglans ailantifolia tree.

Why Promote? * more activity means more advertising potential * more advertising = site maintenance fees covered * more advertising = more "perks" and services How To Help * word of mouth: talk about the site * 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 * 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! "Sweats are Sweet!" Do you have yours? Are you stylin'?

Just a reminder that donations are always appreciated. Martin has made the donation process just as easy to use as our LumberJocks site itself! See the donation page, here for more info. Think of it as a really great deal on a subscription to the best woodworking magazine in town!

What better way to promote your business to 12,000 woodworkers than to advertise on the LumberJocks' site. Check out the deals being offered for the remainder of 2009 and our standard advertising page. Time is running out for this extraordinary opportunity!

LJ Celebrities
What LJ's Do For A Living
You're a LJ When...Part II
                   (and Part 1)

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