“I love the Woodworker’s Challenge! I am always surprised by some new pieces never shown by our members! ”
The SWWA Board of Directors launched the Woodworker’s Challenge in 2006 as a Creative Design Project with very strict rules – the project could use no more than 16 board feet of wood or 16 square feet of sheet goods but no less than 10. Participation was limited so in 2008, the restrictions were removed. In 2010, we separated entries into broad categories. This change dramatically increased participation. In 2014, we added the Carved & Sculpted category and a Best in Show award. Participation is increasing each year with 53 projects from 34 members in 2015!
Members may entered one project in each of six categories:
Furniture
Accessories
Turned Projects
Scrolled Projects
Carved & Sculpted Projects
Toys
What-Not
Ribbons are awarded to each participant in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and honorable mention based on votes from those in attendance at the November meeting. Starting in 2014, the attendees also vote on a Best in Show award. As available, prizes from various vendors are also awarded to participants.
The SWWA 10th annual Woodworker’s Challenge was held at the club’s November meeting. We had 53 projects entered, with 34 members entering projects – the most ever! Two members entered 5 projects, 1 entered 4, 1 entered 3, 6entered 2, and 24 entered 1. Another great group of projects were shown in all seven categories – furniture, accessories, scrolled projects, turned projects, carved & sculpted projects, toys, and what-not!! The vendors were very generous with prizes this year. 23 vendors provided nearly $1800 in prizes! Thanks to everyone who participated.
Best in Show – Bruce Meissner for his veneered drop leaf game table.
Furniture – 6 entries – 1st place to Bruce Meissner with with his cherry veneered drop leaf table designed based on his wife’s jigsaw puzzle size requirements.
Accessories – 5 entries – 1st place to Terry Dote for his miniature mahogany Bombay jewelry box
Scrolled Projects – 7 entries – 1st place to Bob Henry for his clock of oak, walnut, aspen and cedar.
Turned Projects – 11 entries – 1st place to Larry Prunotto for his pair of segmented funeral urns of maple and padauk and maple and purpleheart.
Carved & Sculpted Projects – 4 entries – 1st place to Barbara Raymond-LaPrease for her walnut, maple, and redwood intarsia depicting a mouse riding on a leaf.
Toys – 11 entries – 1st place to Wilbur Chatterton for his walnut, cherry, and maple fire truck.
What-Not – 9 entries – A 3 way tie for first place! “Two Old Crows” hanging sign from John DeWane; “Bird Haven” from Charlie LaPrease; and the painted tool chest from Kevin Rawlings.
Read about it here.