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Notes From the Shop - Issue 18
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The Weekend Woodworker
 

Issue 18, December 2021

Hi ,

 December can be a mixed bag for woodworkers. Some people go into full Santa’s Workshop Mode, cranking out gift projects and decorations right up until December 24th, then take January to relax and regroup, planning for the new year. For others, December is a time to take a break from woodworking and just spend time with family, heading into January fully refreshed and ready to hit the shop hard.

For those of you reading this who just began your woodworking journey this year, welcome! There’s so much for you to explore and so many paths you might take. If you started woodworking because of The Weekend Woodworker, I’m honored that I could be your entry point into a lifelong hobby. Get ready to attack 2022!

If you're looking for a little more inspiration over the holidays, I’d like to recommend listening to The Woodworking Talk Show. Whether it’s Jonathan Katz-Moses discussing cutting-edge robots in woodworking or Roy Underhill talking about the value of building projects using traditional human-powered hand tools, the common theme in every episode is how passionate all of these people are about their craft. If you haven’t listened yet, I hope you’ll give it a shot! I’ve learned so much from everyone on this podcast and I think you’ll find it entertaining.

Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments and improvements over this past year. No matter how many years (or months) you’ve been making things, woodworking offers endless opportunities for personal growth. I'm looking forward to seeing what you make next year!

Happy Holidays!

Steve

Extra-Fancy Fun
My elevated game set
If you're in gift-making mode, perhaps a sleek Connect Four set could be a good fit for someone on your list. I recently had fun revisiting a project I made 11 years ago, this time adding a few upgrades.

Looking for project inspiration? Try elevating one of your own projects!
Learning from the past

One of my favorite series of videos on YouTube is Rex Krueger’s Furniture Forensics.

In this series of three videos, Rex finds an old piece of furniture and uncovers telltale signs of how (and why) it was built. It’s an enlightening look into the history of woodworking and how much we can learn from the past if we just take the time to look closely.
Community Highlight
Course project creativity
One thing I love about my online courses is getting to see all of the ways members make course projects their own. From wood types and finishing styles to additions and modifications, course members continue to impress me with the ways they add their personal touches to projects.

Here's a look at the fun customizations members of The Weekend Woodworker have made for the California Patio Side Table, the first project of the course.
Join us in The Weekend Woodworker and show off your unique style!
This Month’s Member Projects
Check out these great gift ideas built by a few of our Weekend Workshop and Weekend Woodworker members!
 
Project 1
Festive Decor

 I hope those of you in the U.S. had a happy Thanksgiving! When I saw this turkey decoration from Joe P., I just had to show it off. So cute!
Project 2
Praiseworthy Parrots

And staying with a bird theme, I love these colorful parrots from Mike M., a member of The Weekend Woodworker.
Project 2
Decorative Dovetails
And keeping with a colorful theme, check out this soda bottle centerpiece Lee D. made for his wife. Complete with dovetail joinery and bottles from her favorite beverage!
Thanks for reading,

- Steve

P.S. If you are new this month, you can read last month’s issue of Notes From the Shop here.
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