Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only a week away! I'll be subbing tomorrow so I guess the kids will be getting wound up!

 

You may have noticed the new green banner at the top of the Patriot web pages. Our annual Adopt A Wounded Warrior Family Christmas Drive has started. Each year, we open our hearts and our wallets to make sure a deserving family has a memorable Christmas. Our goal, this year, is $1500 but we are only half way there with just 30 days left to make this their best Christmas ever.

To encourage you to donate, our very generous sponsors have provided some awesome prizes. The more you donate, the better your chances of picking up a really fantastic item!

 

Complete details are here- 

 

 

 

Our Patriot Turners-

With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, our turners are cranking out the ornaments!

@Ron Altier displayed some of his gorgeous creations for us.

 

Check out the members comments in his post-

 

 

@HandyDan has been in production mode with his ornaments. Actually I think he must have one of those Star Trek duplicators!

 

Dan tells us how he created this batch of beauties!

 

 

Dan also posted a great tutorial on how he created the burned lines on his lighthouses. Check out the neat devices he uses to hold the wire!

 

 

 

@Woodbutcherbynight posted a super idea for using metal letter/number stamps. His idea is a real "finger saver"!

 

In his post, he explains how he made this neat holder-

 

 

 

What’s Coming Up-

With winter coming on, not a lot of major shows/symposiums. I thought it might be nice to turn our attention to some of the regional groups/clubs.

 

 Click on the above image for the link to this club and some of its' activities.

 

 

 

For The Newbies-

Turning blank drying can be a crap shoot. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Three YouTube turners have collaborated to try and see if some of the drying factors can be related to climate/location. Sam Angelo, Mike Peace and Larry Randolf are experimenting and posting their results.

First Sam introduces us to the idea-

 

 

Then Mike Peace adds his input-

 

 

 

Expand Your Horizons-

We are still seeing lots of hybrid acrylic/wood turnings being produced. Recently, our very generous sponsor- Easy Wood Tools              ( @Jim from Easy Wood Tools ) posted a video of a "Dragon Egg" being turned using their new negative rake cutter-

 

 

 

New Turning Items-

Here's an item that might be the perfect Christmas gift-

 

Click on the image for the link to this product.

 

 

 

Everything Else-

Cindy Drozda has a new instructional DVD about her "Finial Star". Ms. Drozda, without a doubt, makes some of the most graceful finials anywhere.

 

 

 

 

Safe turning 

 

 

 

Wow another action packed post.  Have to watch some of these tomorrow got to cook dinner.  

Nice Lew . Going to be interesting how the three way drying works out.

Thanks, Lew.  Another packed day for when it rains this weekend.  I always learn so much from your posts.  

Thanks for the mention in this weeks post.  Want to be sure and watch Cindy Drozda's finial video.  Looks interesting.  I played with finials a little this past summer.

Thanks Lew - love the Christmas Ornament posts by Ron and Handy Dan.

We are pulling out the EWT Christmas tree this week.....   'tis the season! - almost

@Woodbutcherbynight Thanks! What did you make for supper?

 

@Gerald Thank You! I'm going to try and remember to follow each post from them.

 

@FlGatorwood Thanks!

 

@HandyDan Thank You! I was hoping they would show a little more of the actual process but she has to earn a living just like the rest of us.

 

@Jim from Easy Wood Tools Thanks! looking forward to seeing the tree in all its glory.

43 minutes ago, lew said:

What did you make for supper?

Onions, baked potatoes and a nice slab of beef.  

7 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Onions, baked potatoes and a nice slab of beef.  

yummmmmm