Pen Master Loren Christensen with pen competition winners Bob Hestes, Victoria Hutchins, and Lorraine Wilson
Lorraine Wilson
As the calendar turns to fall, the Woodworkers Club is busy with activity, preparing for the much-anticipated Holiday Market on Oct. 12. Members of the club are hard at work crafting a wide array of beautiful, handmade items, highlighting the impressive skills and creativity of local artisans.
This year’s market promises an exceptional selection of handcrafted goods, perfect for holiday gift-giving. Among the items crafted so far are exquisite sofa tables, intricately CNC-carved toys, and elegantly designed book holders. Shoppers will also find geometric cutting boards, handcrafted pens, and turned bowls made from a variety of woods, each piece reflecting the unique talents of the artisans.
In addition to these items, the market will feature samba boards, Mexican train sets, Texas-themed cutting boards, charcuterie boards, ornaments, and coasters, ensuring there is something for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
As the holidays approach, the Oct. 12 Holiday Market offers the perfect opportunity to find meaningful, handmade gifts for friends and family. Whether you are searching for a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture or a small, intricately crafted trinket, the Woodworkers Club’s Holiday Market is the place to discover it.
Pen Club contest participants
Pen Club Hosts Pen Competition
The Pen Club issued a challenge to its members: Craft a one-of-a-kind pen using a slimline style kit. The competition, announced via email, encouraged members to let their “creative juices” flow. All entries were to be submitted before the meeting, with the winner selected by an independent judge.
At the Aug. 7 meeting, a total of 17 pens were submitted, each highlighting the skill and imagination of club members Rick Bidne, Frank Castelluccio, Loren Christensen, Bruce Drury, Greg Hennings, Bob Hestes, Victoria Hutchins, Doreen Scheulin, and Lorraine Wilson. Sue Wells, a board member, was entrusted with the task of selecting the winning pens. To ensure a fair and unbiased decision, judging was conducted in a separate room.
While judging was underway, Pen Master Loren Christensen delivered an informative presentation on 8 mm pens, highlighting the slimline pro. Assembly of a slimline pro pen was demonstrated, showing the complexities involved.
The competition was friendly, with every participant hoping their pen would stand out. The high quality and creativity of the submissions made judging difficult. In the end, there was a three-way tie:
• Bob Hestes: A beautifully crafted cocobolo pen with inlaid turquoise inlay and silver hardware
• Victoria Hutchins: A spectacularly designed pen with stabilized burled maple dyed blue with maple sections with silver hardware
• Lorraine Wilson: A unique honeycomb pen made from Pacific Yew with black hardware
To belong to the Pen Club, woodshop members must first go through one of the quarterly pen training classes. Woodshop members can check the calendar for the next scheduled pen class. For any non-members interested in learning to turn a pen, membership and completion of a safety class is required. Annual dues to belong to the Woodworkers Club are $50 with quarterly reductions in cost.