Author: fitz

I’ll be in Anchorage, Alaska – at least hope to be – from Feb. 28-March 6 to give a presentation on Western Shaker furniture, then teach two hand-tool woodworking classes.

It’s expensive not only to fly folks in to teach, but to have the wood shipped in – so I need a few more students than usual to make it viable for the club.

The first class – the Boarded Bookshelf from Christopher Schwarz’s “Anarchist’s Design Book” – is a two-day: Feb. 29-March 1 ($425). The second class – the Dutch Tool Chest – is a three-day: March 4-6 ($450).

So if you’re in the Anchorage area, or want to take a trip that could involve not only woodworking, but the start of the Iditarod, please consider signing up! Note that the registration fees include the wood – which makes these incredibly inexpensive in comparison to classes in our shop (I dropped my cut to a crazy low rate because, well, Alaska! Iditarod!). For more information and to register, visit the Alaska Creative Woodworkers Association website.

—Fitz

A reminder that the deadline – January 15 – is almost upon us for our True Woodworking Tales Contest to celebrate celebrate the release of Nancy Hiller’s second edition of “Making things Work: Tales from a Cabinetmaker’s Life.” The writer of the best tale – as selected by Nancy, Christopher Schwarz and me – will win a $100 gift certificate to the Lost Art Press store (usable online or in person at the storefront). Plus, we’ll serve up the winning tale here, along with our other favorites.

Details:
• Your tale must be true (though you can change names to protect the innocent – and not so innocent).
• It can be no longer than 1,000 words.
• Make sure your name, email address and phone number are atop your entry (Pages, Word, PDF…whatever type of file you like, as long as I can open it on a Mac).
• Send your tales to fitz@lostartpress.com, with “Tale Entry” in the subject line.
• While not required, an accompanying image would be swell, so that we’ve appropriate art to go with the tales we share on the blog. (It’s either that, or you get a picture of one of the cats to go with it.)

— Fitz

Peter Follansbee is wrapping up his carved box class here tonight, but has decided to stay through tomorrow so that he can be here for the last open house of the year (and anyway, it might take until tomorrow morning to clean up…). We have his two books – “Joiner’s Work” and “Make a Joint Stool from a Tree” (co-authored with Jennie Alexander) – in stock here, and he’ll be happy to sign them.

And a special offer: During a rare fit of cleaning and organizing my home office, I found an extra copy of “Joint Stool” with a book plate in the front signed by both Peter and Jennie (who is no longer with us), and I’m giving it away to one lucky winner from among tomorrow’s open house attendees. We’ll have slips to fill out, and Peter will draw the winner from amongst the entries at 4 p.m. (You needn’t stick around until 4 p.m. unless you want to – I’ll mail the book to the winner if need be).

I’m also pleased to announce that Nancy Hiller is planning to visit from Bloomington – barring inclement weather, she’ll be here at around 11 a.m.! We have plenty of the new edition of her “Making Things Work: Tales from a Cabinetmaker’s Life” on hand, and she, too, will be happy to sign them, for as long as she’s able to stay.

Also: Ask to see the clock, eat cookies (made by professional cook Terry West, aka Chris’ mom), ask woodworking questions and try out tools.

Doors open at 10 a.m. (and close at 5 p.m.): 837 Willard St., Covington, Ky., 41011.

— Fitz

p.s. A reminder that this is the last Lost Art Press open house until June 2020.

A reminder that tickets are now on sale for John Porritt’s April 6-10 Welsh backstool class. Click here to register.