Thread: Let's Get Started!

This will be great wendy im teaching a freinds daughter ( jess ) woodturning and she loves it . I told her about the forums and she though it was only for blokes but skew and i put her strait on that issue .She had her 15th in november and joined our club in september , she was a bit intimidated by all the guys in the club until I reminded her that she aready knew 4 of us . Now she has fun and learns at the same time . Jess will be on the internet soon so ill give you the nod when she joins wendy.PS I think shes starting to scare some of the club members ,some of her turnings are better than there's. lol

PS I think shes starting to scare some of the club members ,some of her turnings are better than there's.

That wouldn't be hard. Anyone who's had a few lessons could probably do better than a lot of the members in most clubs. She's gone the right way about it.

Cheers - Neil

I was fortunate to go to a technical high school and did woodwork classes with a very good teacher who emphasised being methodical and careful with your work. I attempted a university degree when I left school but was a bit lost and directionless and kept drifting back to woodwork. I got a job at a good solid timber furniture company as a finisher and showed enough potential to be given a trial there as a cabinetmaker. I worked pretty much 7 days a week for a couple of months trying to work out how to make furniture and was then given a permanent position as a cabinetmaker. I learnt a great deal during this time, got to work with a range of different timbers and with some very knowledgeable woodworkers, and was also given the opportunity to design some new furniture for the company which was enjoyable and a great learning experience. I decided not to do a cabinetmaking apprenticeship, mainly for financial reasons, but regret this now as I feel there was a lot I missed out on learning and also because I do not have my trade papers.

I left this company and woodworking when I developed fairly serious back problems – 3 metre long solid timber tables being too much for my 5’5” body. I re-trained in child care and barely touched a tool for the next 10 years. About 4 years ago I did some work for my parents and one of my brothers and re-discovered my love for woodworking. I decided that this was THE thing I loved doing and now I am trying to make up for lost time – so much to learn! The past few years have included voluntary maintenance work for the RSPCA, home renovations, furniture restoration and some solid timber furniture making. My goal is to be able to make a living at woodworking, hopefully working for myself. Sometimes this feels impossible!

This forum is very important to me as I learn a great deal from the experience and generosity of the members here. Also, as I mainly work alone, it gives me a sense of community which is otherwise lacking in my working life. I am also glad that a forum has been set up for women. I do not want to be treated on the basis of my gender but have found that woodworking is still very much a male dominated domain and I haven’t met many other women woodworkers.

Originally Posted by rodent

....Jess will be on the internet soon so ill give you the nod when she joins wendy.....

Thanks Rodent, I'll be watching for your Nod

Cheers
Wendy

Paws - WOW! I wish I had met you years ago. What you have done is very similar to what I wanted to do, but didn't realise this clearly enough until it was too late for me to take that path . Things may change in the future, but for the moment, I'm happy with how my woodworking life is going.

Originally Posted by Paws

.....
This forum is very important to me as I learn a great deal from the experience and generosity of the members here. Also, as I mainly work alone, it gives me a sense of community which is otherwise lacking in my working life. I am also glad that a forum has been set up for women. I do not want to be treated on the basis of my gender but have found that woodworking is still very much a male dominated domain and I haven’t met many other women woodworkers.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

cheers
Wendy

Thanks for the reply, Wendy. I feel that I have also lost a great deal of time which could have been spent learning the art of woodworking. Will need to still be working when I am 90 if I am to have any chance of catching up.

Gidday Wendy, I must be speedy today I have only just noticed this board. Even though I am not a woodworker. I turn and love it. What got me into well I was told by my doctor that I need to find a hobby to get some mum time.
bye
Toni

From a males perspective, I reckon this is a great idea for the gals to put their point of view and have virtual ownership of their own forum.

A lot of credit of course has got to go to Neil to continually promote and advance this BB to fully encompass both genders and all manner of facets of woodworking irrespective of medium.

All the best Wendy for a well thought out idea and for all that it should
ascribe to.

Cheers

It dose have merit, but the vast majority of forum members are blokes and after the initial hoo har wont view this Wood whispering thread. All the interesting topics, photos, great tips and ideas they bring will be lost to the majority if they post them here. I love the contributions from all the girls but will miss the majority of them if this is where they post them.

Personaly i want all their contributions in the main sections so i can read and enjoy. Example- Toni`s horse/swans, how many from the woodturning/pens section who love her work will get to see this one?

I love their work and input (Ruffly, Jill, Toni, Tamer, Celest and sadly Dan thats giving up, to name a few) But keep this section for boring chit chat and introductions and save your good stuff for the main sections

Wendy im taking jess and my sister over to skews tomorrow and we will reg her with the forums then since she already has an email address ,these kids are scary they know more about computers than most of us ( I said most of us skew ) it seems thats most of what they do at school .Oh well at least ive gotten her away from the computer for a while .PS great one Neil

Originally Posted by Paws

Thanks for the reply, Wendy. I feel that I have also lost a great deal of time which could have been spent learning the art of woodworking. Will need to still be working when I am 90 if I am to have any chance of catching up.

Paws, I too think I'll be learning until I'm too old to hear, look and listen and yes, I regret that I never found my passion for woodwork until recently, but it's fun making up for it

Originally Posted by lubbing5cherubs

.... Even though I am not a woodworker. I turn and love it. ..... some mum time. ....

Hi Toni, you are definitely a woodworker in my books as I think Turning comes under the wide heading of woodwork. 'Mum time' is important. I'm glad you are finding it very therapuetic

Originally Posted by John Saxton

...
A lot of credit of course has got to go to Neil ....

Thanks John. I agree totally, that the credit does indeed have to go to Neil as well

Originally Posted by rodent

....over to skews tomorrow and we will reg her with the forums then ....

Lucky you and Jess! Skew is, well, Skew Hope you all have a great time.

Cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by Lignum

It dose have merit, but the vast majority of forum members are blokes and after the initial hoo har wont view this Wood whispering thread. All the interesting topics, photos, great tips and ideas they bring will be lost to the majority if they post them here. I love the contributions from all the girls but will miss the majority of them if this is where they post them.

Personaly i want all their contributions in the main sections so i can read and enjoy. Example- Toni`s horse/swans, how many from the woodturning/pens section who love her work will get to see this one?

I love their work and input (Ruffly, Jill, Toni, Tamer, Celest and sadly Dan thats giving up, to name a few) But keep this section for boring chit chat and introductions and save your good stuff for the main sections

Thanks Lignum! Your idea is a good one. Let me work on it and get back to you all.

cheers
Wendy

hi, im jess, just joined the forums, how r u all? rodent made me join, or else he would beat me. skew chiDAMN was in on it too!!!

welcome abourd Jess, good to see another local joining.



Ok now you have registered, show us what you can do... We need pics lots of them..

I have to get my camera fixed so I can post some of my latest work...

We might have to organize a BBQ in the area (No my place inst big enough and no parking).. With Skew, Rodent and yourself all within a suburb or two. I think there is someone in Doncaster, and cant forget Sturdee in Donvale, DJstimber just up the road. We could all almost walk home, well except DJ..

As I said welcome aboard and have fun
Neil