Active Again

Well, I am back and hoping to be more active entering items in this blog. I am trying to get back to my wood turning on a more consistent basis. After a 4 month hiatus I am trying to build up my inventory of turnings, and with the help of Cam my webmaster, get them posted on my website ( www. herbsalter.com ). I have partially completed 3 new items and will post them when completed. I have always been a casual turner so I have never been very prolific even though the work sells well and seems popular with viewers.

For those interested in artistic and usable wood turnings, The Kingston Woodturners club will be offering turning demonstrations during the summer months at the McLaughlan Woodworking Museum in Kingston, Ontario, Canada again this year. They will also have items for sale through the Museum shop. The grounds of the museum are ideal for picnics and family fun, so plan on spending some time with the family to visit this great attraction. Visitors to the area should think about adding a visit to their itinerary.

Readers are encouraged to comment on all items in the blog or on my website. All ideas and comments are welcome. Ideas for relevant entries for the blog are also encouraged.

Fall Fair, Kingston, Ontario

Members of the Kingston Woodturners' Club will again be demonstrating their skills, this time at the Fall Fair in Kingston, Ontario . The Fair runs from September 17 through 20 with demonstrations happening very regularly. Fine wood turnings designed and crafted by members of the Club will be for sale as well.

So, come out and enjoy the Fair, and drop by the Woodturners' booth to see the demonstrations and talk with the skilled practitioners of wood turning

Wood Turning Demonstration

For anyone interested, I will be demonstrating the woodturning process this Sunday, August 30 between 1:00 and 3:00 pm at the McLaughlan Woodworking Museum. This is the last of a summer series of demonstrations offered by members of the Kingston Woodturners' Club in conjunction with the museum.

The museum is located on Hwy 2 about 10 kilometers East of Kingston Ontario in Grass Creek Park on th St. Lawrence River.

There will also be a small display of turned objects which illustrate some of the project designs which can be produced on a woodturning lathe.

So, come on out and enjoy the demonstration, the museum, and the park.

Demos at Grass Creek Park

The "Sheep Dog Trials" weekend starts tomorrow, Friday August 7, at Grass Creek Park. Details can be found in my earlier blog entries. Kingston Woodturners will be there to demonstrate their design and turning skills, and other artists and artisans will be displaying wares. Logging contests and other activities will round out the Dogs herding skills, so come on out and enjoy the fun.

Walnut

I will be picking up a few short pieces of freshly cut Walnut log tomorrow or Saturday. The pieces are 6" - 8" in diameter. Any wood turner living close to Kingston ON is welcome to a piece at no cost. The pieces may be picked up after a brief response to this posting, or a note to my email.

Sheep Dog Trials

As promised in my last blog, members of the Kingston Woodturners Club will be demonstrating their design and wood turning skills at Grass Creek Park throughout the 3 days of the Sheep Dog Trials. A number of fine turnings will be available for sale.

Besides the usual sheep dog exercises, there will be a series of lumberjack demonstrations and contests. This is an added feature at this years festivities which will delight visitors of all ages. Many artists and artisans will also be on hand to display and sell their fine work.

Come out and enjoy the activities; bring the kids, enjoy a picnic, and visit the McLaghlan woodworking Museum on the grounds of the park. There will be fun for everyone. The action begins at 8:00 a.m. and lasts until 8:00 p.m. each day; August 7, 8, and 9. The park is located on the St. Lawrence river. Follow Hwy. 2 East between Kingston and Gananoque Ontario.

Binh Pho Demo/presentation

I spent a day watching and listening to Binh Pho give an enlightening and excellent woodturning workshop. The topics covered were based upon his fantastic creations, and included; thin wall turning, design, the use and application of colour, and piercing designs and techniques. Binh used an historical treatment of his background to provide an excellent pictorial illustration of many of his designs and their relationship to his life.

The workshop was sponsored by the Woodturners' Guild in Peterborough Ontario, Canada. My friends and I from the Kingston Woodturners appreciated the invitation to attend the workshop and wish more of our group could have taken part.

Binh is a great presenter using clear descriptions of his key points. He manages to relate to the needs of his audience through the use of good answers to all questions. His wise use of relevant humour, and his ability to intersperse his presentations with interesting personal experiences kept the audience interested all day.

I was fortunate to have him sit at a table with two friends and I during the lunch break. The discussion during this time spanned the gamut form turning, through comparing personal notes about design, and even politics of the day. Binh is clearly a personable and a widely knowledgeable and intelligent person. It was a privilege being a member of the audience and I would encourage all turners to take in any of his presentations whenever the opportunity arises.