New England Area LumberJocks Members - Visit next weeks WoodExpo2012

Here is some info for fellow LumberJocks members living in the New England area about an upcoming woodworking conference. February 23-26th @ the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, MA. in your backyard is the WoodExpo 2012 conference, a featured event at the annual New England Home Show (NEHS). Tickets to each day of the event are $12 at the door, or $9 if you purchase your tickets online here.

Come out and enjoy the show, it will be featuring an exhibition of Fine Furniture pieces on display, submitted by students (North Bennett Street School), professionals and amateurs alike. The pieces are in two categories, Open and the “The Next Step” Interpretive Category (to build a creative form of the “step-stool” with two (minimum) or three steps). The over $3000 in prizes awarded to 5 different categories @ this year’s event are sponsored by Woodcraft. Tommy Mac, the guest speakers and organizers of the event are judges for the Best of Show, Creative, Open and Interpretive categories. But its the visitors to the NEHS and WoodExpo that are responsible to vote and crown the People’s Choice award.

For more information visit the WoodExpo page on Tommy MacDonald’s site.

The WoodExpo is not just a Furniture Show, its also a place for woodworkers to visit and spend time with many of the leading craftsmen in America. There are technical woodworking demos planned for every hour of the show. The WoodExpo will also have 4 benches set up where guests such as Freddy Roman can be observed over the entire 4 days building projects, Freddy is building a ball and claw footstool. Guests are encouraged to get up close to the workbenches, engage with our speakers, ask questions and learn.

There is a dedicated Exhibitor workbench as well where the makers of the fine furniture on display are encouraged to put on demonstrations or presentations related to their piece. Take the opportunity to get to know these makers, inspect their furniture and find out their techniques used for construction and finishing. Also keep in mind that the makers are provided a unique opportunity where they meet over 20,000 visitors , and since most of the pieces are for sale, that provides them access to a lot of potential buyers. Last year two pieces sold on the showroom floor, not a lot of woodworking shows provide such access.

Here is a link to our main workbench schedule PDF file.

Our featured speakers for this years event include:

Chuck Bender
Tom McLaughlin
Freddy Roman
Tommy MacDonald
Glen Guarino (Fri-Sun)
Phil Lowe (Fri 1pm – 9pm)
Terry Moore (Saturday only)
Steve Brown (Saturday 10am – 3pm)
Allan Breed (Sunday only)

WoodExpo Hours:

Feb. 23rd – Thursday Noon – 9pm
Feb. 24th – Friday Noon – 9pm
Feb. 25th – Saturday 10am – 9pm
Feb. 26th – Sunday 10am – 6pm

Hopefully every LumberJocks member in the area will be able to make down to the show for at least one day, and have an opportunity to meet some of their favorite woodworkers and have a chance to learn something new. Tell your woodworking buddies, and please make sure to plan on attending next years event, one that we promise will be bigger and better.

For full disclosure, I’m one of 6 volunteers that work with Tommy MacDonald to plan and put on this event. We make nothing on the show, we where once again lucky to have over 60k in floor space donated again this year for the event. Its this sort of generosity that keeps this as affordable as possible for everyone. One day it would be great to have it a destination show for all woodworkers across the US like it is for me, I fly out from Colorado each year. I personally enjoy my 5 days being surrounded by so many folks with the same passion and interests. Well thanks for your time, feel free to send a direct message if you have any questions about the show.

-- Scott, Colorado