The January 2026 meeting of Southern Piedmont Woodturners (SPW) was held on January 24 at the ClearWater Arts Center and Studios with 26 members and guests in attendance. It marked the first regular meeting since November, aside from the club’s Christmas gathering, and there was plenty of news to share.
SPW closed 2025 in reasonably good financial position, thanks in part to the outstanding donation results from the 2025 Cabarrus County Fair and a Grant from the North Carolina Grassroots Arts Program. Looking ahead to the 2026 county fair, members are encouraged to begin turning items now. The club’s supply of tops for the children has been nearly depleted, and several high-end raffle items will also be needed along with additional inventory for fundraising tables.
Recent club activities included a Christmas ornament workshop in November with eight participants turning sea urchin ornaments, and a December pen-making workshop with seven participants. SPW also participated in the ClearWater Arts Center Holiday Market, raising $260 in donations. Following the January meeting, members held a workshop on turning Ikebana Spikey Flower Bowls, with six members participating, including three new members completing safety training.
Upcoming events include a February 28 demonstration and workshop on canoe cups led by Lan Brady and a March 28 meeting featuring multiple quick-turn projects followed by a “Turn for the Fair” Turnathon. On that same day, SPW will participate in Art Walk on Union hosted by the Cabarrus Arts Council.
The January demonstration was presented by Jim Duxbury, who showcased the process for creating an Ikebana Spikey Flower Bowl and introduced an updated version of his DuxChuck. The meeting concluded with a well-attended Show and Share featuring a variety of creative member projects.
