Let's wrap up this year....

This year has been terrific. Oh, don't get me wrong - we had some hard times, especially with the fire on Mt. Charleston. 



Anyone with breathing problems probably had some issues while the fire was raging.



 But we got through it OK, and we were lucky. 




All in all, everyone I've spoken with about 2013 seems to share the same sentiment -- it was a pretty good year. I hope you can say the same about yours. 

As someone once said – it takes a village. And I couldn't have run the school without the help of many, many people in my life. I'd like to thank some of the people who have contributed their energy and creativity thoughout the year - in many ways, large and small. 

Eric volunteers at the shop on the weekends, and is my right hand dude. He's a huge help in keeping the woodshop in shape - from performing maintenance on the tools, like changing blades and belts and whatever else pops up. 

He has a serious case of "lathe bug" right now, so when he's finished with his work around the shop, you'll find him on a lathe, making bowls. 

There is a core of woodworkers who come to the shop almost every weekend, producing amazing work. But often - they simply work on perfecting their technique. You'll find Ann turning bowls or practicing her sharpening skills of lathe tools. 

Lupe is usually juggling a few different pieces at once. Why is it that the smallest people build the largest pieces?  

Here is her walnut bookcase, completed and in place. Wow. The finish on this has to be felt to truly be appreciated!

Lupe's energy and good attitude around the shop is so appreciated - she always has a kind word for other people's work, and is a willing hand when they need a little extra muscle. A Saturday at the shop wouldn't be complete without us sharing a beer together at the end of the day.

Kris builds amazing mixed media furniture.  

You'll find metal, fabric, wire, ceramic and glass added into her creations. She also makes amazing jewelry, like this pendant she made for me, with my beloved's muzzle on it. I can't wait until she opens an Etsy shop!

Her dad visits us from time to time, and has become our shop mascot and cheerleader. 

Chris T made some amazing pieces this year, and we're so proud that he was accepted into Columbia's Masters of Architecture program. I suspect he's kicking ass there.

There are so many more people to thank - and I hope I don't forget everyone who has helped me on this journey. 

My next-door neighbor, Danny, is a friend and pseudo-brother! 

 He's always helping me out by signing for deliveries when I'm not around, or emptying my heavy trash cans, or dragging out a board from his inventory that I might need to complete an order I'm building. Helpful suggestions? He's full of them!  We commiserate and kvetch over coffee, and I really do think we're possibly siblings from different mothers. 

Speaking of coffee, Beth treated the shop to a wonderful Keurig coffee maker system this year. She keeps us stocked with cups, creamer, K cups, and much more. She knows the way to our hearts! She's become a regular on the weekends, building amazing pieces. She started out making small projects like these, 

and has graduated to this: 

Finally, I know there are a lot of people I am forgetting...

Special thanks goes to Nancy and Mel for their generosity throughout the year. And to both John F's - I love your energy and enthusiasm for woodworking! Margaret - thanks for being my (not-so) secret angel. And to Dennis and John E - thanks for teaching classes at the school and sharing your wonderful talents with us. Andrew F - your help with that legal stuff earlier this year was such a relief - thanks so much for making that experience mostly stress free! Cheryl & Judy - thanks for the logs, and the beer and the cutting board madness!

Let's not forget the members of Sin City Woodworkers, who meet once a month at my shop - thanks for your support and participation in our group. We've been meeting for five years now, and it's one of the coolest things a woodworker can do in Las Vegas. (You can join here!)

Here's my year-end wrapup slideshow. I try to take a picture of every single person who takes a class - and hopefully I have captured everyone here. My apologies if I have missed you - come back to the shop and let me shoot a photo! I thank you all for your support. I hope you've learned as much from me as I have from you. 

Happy New Year!