This issue of the SPW Newsletter covers the December 2024 Christmas gathering and the January and February 2025 meetings.
The Christmas event, held December 17 at Captain Steve’s Family Seafood Restaurant in Harrisburg, brought together 30 members and guests for a festive meal and the traditional Secret Santa gift exchange, led by President Phil Goodman. Photos can be found under a separate posting.
The January 2025 meeting at the Clearwater Arts Center and Studio saw 24 in-person attendees and 5 remote participants. Phil Goodman opened with club business, emphasizing the need for a Vice President, club photographer, and mentors for open turning sessions. Annual dues ($55) were being collected, and raffle item donations were encouraged. Larry Nottingham reported on donations for Hurricane Helene victims, with February as the final collection month.
The January demonstration, presented by Christine Smith of the Carolina Mountain Woodturners and Southern Highlands Craft Guild, featured her “Peach Box” project—turning, carving, casting, and painting wooden boxes inspired by hurricane relief efforts. Christine donates part of the proceeds from box sales to help displaced artisans. Using holly wood, she demonstrated hollowing, shaping, and fitting techniques, including the use of tenons, Forstner bits, and carbide tools. She casts metal peach pits from real molds and carefully paints each box to resemble a ripe peach, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and artistry.
The February 2025 meeting featured a remote demo by Kirk DeHeer, titled “Demystifying Cuts and Catches.” Kirk demonstrated spindle roughing gouge techniques, bevel-riding cuts, and how to identify and correct catches. His detailed, two-angle teaching approach emphasized anchoring and bevel control, culminating in the quick creation of a lidded box.
Both demonstrations were highly instructive and well received by members.
