We start off in this first episode leaving our home in Western Montana and stop for a visit in Bozeman, MT at the Museum of the Rockies for a tour of the Artisan Woodworking Exhibit held in their main exhibit hall.

If you want to follow our travels then like us on Facebook.com/thesawdusttour or follow @chidwickschool on twitter.

Thanks!

The Woodworking Coach Ep.2 - Flattening a wide board with hot glue and laminate shims from Chidwick School on Vimeo.

TWC Episode 1 - Using Plexiglass for grain-matching from Chidwick School on Vimeo.

I know I am somewhat new to Lumberjocks, but I can already see that this forum is a gold mine of support, inspiration and community—my kind of people! It is therefore, my desire to do my part in this group of like-minded friends, by starting off an extensive educational series I’ve recently prepared entitled: “BEYOND THE BASICS—Taking your woodworking to the next level” The series will include many advanced joinery topics as well as an introduction to other specialized woodworking techniques.

Today’s post introduces the first topic with a 3-part series titled:

”BUILDING A NEW MINDSET—3 tools needed to be a better woodworker”

We’ve all heard the old saying: “It’s important to have the right tool for the job,”—right? Sadly, this adage has directed so many woodworkers on a long, lonely and often expensive journey that can often lead to frustration and disappointment. I strongly affirm that the best “tool” for the woodworking job is a passionate, knowledgeable and well-trained woodworker.

These are the three pillars of woodworking excellence, and will be the three parts of this series:

Part 1: Building Passion, Developing Confidence

Whether you are just starting out as a woodworker or you have been making sawdust most of your life, every one of us could use an infusion of passion and confidence. Moving beyond your comfort zone, allowing yourself to be inspired, and unleashing your own creativity can give you a tremendous boost. Many woodworkers are not sure of their own creativity, and therefore often fall back to their “comfort zone”. But maybe its time to feed the passion, maybe it’s time to express yourself, maybe its time to work from the heart.

Part 2: Building Knowledge, Gaining Experience

Good news! The sources of woodworking knowledge are abundant these days. But is that enough, and how do you sift through it all? Knowledge and experience multiply exponentially, once you have some key elements in place. In this installment, we will cover a variety of ways to build the knowledge and gain the experience you need to move from someone who likes to tinker around in the shop, to a rock star woodworker.

Part 3: Building Skills, Finding Success

Unfortunately, a head full of knowledge and a shop full of tools don’t guarantee success as a woodworker. Moving that knowledge from your head into your hands and out your tools is a very important skill, and it gets easier with practice. In this final installment, we will cover very practical ways to improve your techniques to the point where you can actually create from your wildest woodworking dreams.

Looking forward to spending some time with y’all, feel free to invite a friend for the discussion. Look for the first of this series to be posted in a few days.

It was one of those rare, low moments when you wonder “what am I doing?”

It’s good to ask these kinds of questions every so often, because it gives you pause to consider your priorities and to re-evaluate your purpose. After a awkward moment I finally came to my conclusion: “I’m doing what I love.”

Its true, I love what I do. And as I assess my surroundings, I am reminded that I am living the “new American dream.”

I get to work at my home shop,

with my family close by,

I live in a very beautiful place,

and I get the opportunity to create beautiful things,

and to share my passion with others.

Oh, and did I forget to mention my two cool shop dogs?

Sometime we forget to count our blessings.