A Club for Carvers, Scrollers and Woodworkers

Woodworkers Club News

 January 2022

Woodworkers club officers:  Sandy McKinnis: President, Vice President: Jim Powell; Secretary/Treasurer-open, Bill Poole: Board Member, Chris Gullet: Board Member, and Bob Lackey, Board Member

NOTICE: Monthly Meetings; Time and Day has changed: The 2nd Tues of the month from 5-7. We meet at the new AIH at 8801 Old Seward Hwy.  It’s in the mall at the corner of the Old Seward Hwy and Diamond Blvd. We’ll have the meeting in their training center.  Please wear a mask.

The topic of our next meeting will be: “Bandsaw Tune Up”.

ARTISTRY IN WOOD Needs YOU!: Please come and help out.

1. Set up on February 19.  Robert Pelno will drive the UHAUL truck and will be at the DMV Building (1300 W. Benson Blvd.) at 9 a.m. to load up with the first load. He will unload at the Midtown Mall and head back for a second load.
2. Submission of entries will take place on February 19 in the afternoon and on February 20 from 12 to 6 pm.
3. Judging will take place on February 21.
4. The event opens to the public on February 22 at 10:00 am. We will close at 6:00 pm.

5.  March 5 will be the last day of the event.  March 6 will be pick up and take down day from noon to 6:00. This day will be closed to the public. Again, Robert Pelno will have a truck available for transporting displays back to DMV.

We need members available to sit for security and demonstrations during AIW. Please contact: James Massey, Cindy McDowell or Robert Pelno to schedule.  

New Website Format: 

Our website: www.alaskacreativewoodworkersassociation.org will now be used for all three clubs.  Each will have it’s own drop down menu.  Classes registration and membership dues can be paid through Paypal.

INSTRUCTORS NEEDED for weekend classes. 

Openings Feb through May.  Share your knowledge and expertise with others by teaching a class.

Instructors needed for the following classes:  Hall shoe storage, stool with curved seat, rocking chair, outdoor furniture, flower boxes…..OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TEACH!!!  Contact: Sandy McKinnis @ 562-3994 or akspeech@mtaonline.net.  

HELP NEEDED FOR NEW PROGRAM: 

Jim Powell and Gino DelFrate have volunteered to staff our shop area one time per month to help folks with projects. We would like to have more open shop times available so members can bring their own projects to work on/or those they need help with.  Shop monitors/instructors/mentors needed.  We are hoping to hold the open shop weekly if we get enough members to help out.  Please contact: Sandy McKinnis @907-562-3994 or akspeech@mtaonline.net. 

Upcoming Classes

Held Saturdays, and some Sundays, from 10-4p.m. at the Alaska Industrial Hardware Store at 5655 Old Seward Hwy. in Anchorage

1. February 19th.  Polar Bear Cutting Board.  Instructor:  Sandy McKinnis
2. March 12th and 13th.  Cabinet/display case.  Instructor: Bob Lackey
3. March 19th: Hexagonal Box.  Instructor: Sandy McKinnis
4. April 16th.  Band Saw jewelry box:  Instructor: Sandy McKinnis    
5. April 30th and May 1st.  Bow Saw Construction:  Instructor: Martin Glaves

Master woodworker, furniture designer and owner of Blackstone Designs, Mark Wedekind, will be teaching a class this spring.  He was recently featured in the Jan/Feb 2022 issue of  “Woodworker West” magazine.  Time and project to be announced soon.  Check the website, our Facebook page and/or Instragram for updates

Recent Class. 

Scroll Saw puzzle class.

Thank You Scrollers for a fun time!

Woodworking: the act, process, or occupation of working wood into a useful or desired form

From the Wood Scrollers

Wood Chip Article

The first meeting of the year was moved to the old AIH building. The woodworkers were holding a scrolling class so we changed the location. We apologize if we missed anyone. There were four students who were eager to learn the craft. Thank you to John Lime for teaching the class. Hopefully these new scrollers will join us after Artistry In Wood. 

We hope everyone is excited and ready for Artistry In Wood. It's amazing to see all the wonderful projects you have been working on all year. Entries for this year's show are to be brought to the MidTown Mall on February 19th & 20th from 12-6 each day. Judging is on the 21st. The show opens on the 22nd and runs through March 5th. You can pick up your projects on March 6th before 6 pm. During the show we will have members demonstrating our craft. If you'd like to be a part of the activities please contact Dave Vasek at 907-351-6860.

The Alaska Creative Woodworkers Association has asked each club to donate a piece of artwork to be used in a silent auction to raise money for Artistry In Wood. If you are interested in donating please bring your item/items to the MidTown Mall on the 19th.

Our next club meeting will be on March 19th from 10-2. Everyone bring your saws and let's make some dust. For those who don't have a saw please come and join us. We'll be glad to share and show you how it's done. We'll even provide the supplies. Hope to see everyone in Marchke action.

Scrollers Club Description

The Alaska Creative Scrollers are a group who just love to make sawdust. We meet monthly from September through May. During our club meetings we share about our current projects while we are scrolling. We also share all the tricks and tips we've learned along the way and hold classes. Throughout the year club members work on making puzzles and toys for the children in the hospital. These toys and puzzles are given out by Santa at Christmas. It's a great joy to provide these gifts to the children. In August we set up our saws at the State Fair. As we demonstrate the techniques we are making simple stand-up puzzles to give to the children while they watch. The children have great fun playing with puzzles and toys. 

The scroll saw is a fairly safe tool that can be used by all ages. Children as young as ten are enjoying the hobby. The scroll saw can be used to make decorative art pieces, clocks, bowls and even helpful household tools just to mention a few. The scroll saw can be used to cut wood, thin metal, plastic, paper and even solid surface counter material. There are  many sources of patterns to cut or you can design your own. It does make dust, but not as much as the larger shop tools so it can be used in a smaller space. This hobby requires very few tools. We welcome anyone to come and try this creative art form.

An article about unique wood pens made by Woodcraft Turn volunteers for active duty and recovering members of the US military.  To read the article clean the link below.

Artistry in Wood

Artistry in Wood is on the schedule for February and March.

Set up on February 19.

Robert Pelno will drive the UHaul truck and will be at the DMV Building .... 1300 W. Benson Blvd. at 9am to load up with the first load. He will unload at the Midtown Mall and head back for a second load.

Submission of entries will take place on February 19 afternoon and on February 20 from 12 to 6pm.

Judging will take place on February 21 (club Presidents please pick judges and let us know who and what time they want to judge.

The event opens to the public on February 22 at 10:00 am. We will close at 6:00 pm. Again, Presidents please have members available to sit for security and demonstrations.

March 5 will be the last day of the event.

March 6 will be pick up and take down day from noon to 6:00. This day will be closed to the public.

Again, Robert Pelno will have a big truck available for transporting things back to DMV.