September 2010

Welcome to this issue of Creative Woodworks & Crafts! There are lots of fun, unique, and good-looking projects in this edition. Don Calhoun's Leopard (page 24) is quite the piece—the pattern and cutting are definitely noteworthy, but above all, I am awed by how his use of the Big Leaf Maple burl transforms a good project into a great one. Wood is surely one of nature's treasures and, in the case of burls, the beauty can be "off the charts," as it is with the specimen Don chose for this outstanding piece.

And then there is Roy King's Round Basket. This elegant little basket is made from only two pieces of wood, so it's economical to build; it also adds a new twist to the tried-and-true theme of scrolled baskets—the base pieces have little "step" cutouts which hold the rings in place, making the project very sturdy. Roy's been on a creative "roll" lately, and we're happy to be the publishing outlet which unveils his latest creations.

As soon as we saw Deb Nicholson's Jewelry Charms, we loved them. This is a great project for using those little pieces of hardwood from the scrap pile, and the possibilities are endless. Above all, the charms are lovely and will make great gifts for family, friends, or that "special someone."

In reading the introduction to the Hummingbirds and Hibiscus intarsia project, we get an inside look at how one of our contributing editors, Janette Square, got to know and become friends with Lucille Crabtree. Lucille is no longer practicing the art of intarsia, but between the early 1980's and just a few years ago, she contributed mightily to the genre. She began helping her son by sanding his intarsia pieces and soon found herself deeply involved in all phases of the art, developing innovative new methods and inspiring other woodworkers such as Janette. I found it fascinating when she stated that, "We were not happy with the flatness of intarsia projects, so we began to deeply shape our pieces. In order to design a horse head, I would go to the horse shows and pet the horses to feel their faces—this would help me achieve the right contours during shaping." We're honored to have Lucille's participation in this project's creation (she designed the pattern and wrote a special sidebar), and it's heartwarming to see how an older, more experienced artisan can inspire and contribute to the achievement of one as talented as Janette.

On behalf of the entire CWC staff, we wish you all the best in every way!

Sincerely,