Happy New Year - from our woodworking group to your home!

Our annual holiday bash lived up to expectations this year,

 with a nice crowd of wood lovers and a much better turnout for our woodworking contest on Boxmaking. This is the time of year that spouses and significant others show up to see what we've been up to the last eleven months. 

The boxes were distributed around the room, and everyone had a chance to inspect them before voting on their favorites.  

More on that later, but a HUGE thank you to Andrew and Nic Moore of Reclaimed Secrets, who donated this amazing live edge slab of Beetle Kill Pine for us to auction off. 

 These two saleswomen handled the raffle, and ticket sales were fierce!  All funds ($200!) raised went into our Sin City Woodworker account - not bad for a last minute raffle. 

Before the award ceremony, there were lots of lively conversations and catching up, 

and finally - on to the voting...

It's getting to be an annual tradition - Lupe Nielsen won (again!) first prize for her amazing stack of Shaker boxes. Not one, but EIGHT steam bent boxes, all constructed without a drop of glue. The craftsmanship was (as always!) impeccable, and her efforts certainly deserved to win our top award. 

The entire stack measured 17.5" high. The bottom box was 10" wide x 7" on the narrow side x 4" high. The tiny box on top was 2-1/4" x 1-7/8" x 3/4" high. 

Impressive, to say the least. 

Second prize went to Denny LaRocca for his walnut CNC carved box, with an inset medallion in Zebrawood. The outer box was made fashioned with handmade moulding, again - cut on the CNC, and one thing's for sure - Denny has really upped his game on the Legacy that he bought at the last AWFS show. 

Third prize - almost no surprise here - was won (again!) by Lupe. Since we had such a disappointing turn out last year, we didn't limit our members to just one entry. Lupe's blanket chest, made in African mahogany, with ebony plugs, featured a hidden drawer underneath and a top with bread board ends.  

When she enters a contest, Lupe really gives it her all! 

Congrats to these two woodworkers. 

Here are some of our other entries... 

Since the category of "boxes" is so broad, we a really diverse batch of pieces entered in the contest. These bandsaw log boxes were terrific, 

as was this finger jointed box. I wish we had gotten a the inside tray and dividers. It was graceful and beautiful.

There were quite a few boxes turned on the lathe, like this simple, but gorgeous, box with an inlay on top. 

Once opened, it revealed a delicate lift out tray. 

Here's another example a gorgeous turn box with inlay.

 (Nice work, Mike!) 

 Other entries included this turned lidded box,

this terrific stacked lamination box, 

and much more....

Randy's stacked lamination box captivated the crowd -

 it was colorful and fun!

 And these three turned boxes featured Ann Casey's turning talents.

The wood turners really did "represent" at this contest, and their skills have grown by leaps and bounds!

 Finally, Ken Martin shared his box - a tribute to a friend that has passed away. This box featured some intricate pyrography, 

and a bottle of Jack Daniels, to boot! 

There is a small urn inside that will eventually hold ashes. This box was emblematic of the holiday season – keeping the ones we love in our hearts.

 We hope your holidays were great, and wish only the best for each and everyone of you in 2017.