Funny. I never knew this section existed until Papa Dave asked me if I'd be the Artist of the Month. So to all of you before me, Congrats on your honor. Ya'll make nice stuff.

Unlike most of you, my journey into woodworking/turning has been vastly different. I never had a relative show me the ropes, nor a class at school. Girls of my era were mocked if they had an interest in subjects of this sort. I decided as an adult, that despite the idiot men in the woodworking stores (who laughed and made fun & told me the wrong tools to buy) I would become a woodworker/turner.  And I believe I have met my goals. I've found that with the library and gumption I can do anything.

Today this situation has changed dramatically. I see almost daily a proud Dad post his 8 yr old daughter's first turning. One can tell he's popped every button on his shirt. Or a husband posts his wife's first scroll work. He's happy and proud of her accomplishments. I also see more & more women taking up woodworking and turning and sharing it with us all on the internet. I think this is a grand change and that we are all improved woodworker/turners by the diversity of the work we see.

25 yrs ago I moved to the wilderness, where there were no electric lines, or telephone lines., and only logging roads.  I cleared about 50 large trees, tons of rock/boulders with a come-along & shovels. I built my own house with a hammer & a handsaw. To assure level, I used a tube and water. I installed propane gas lines and propane lights. After a bit I installed solar (in it's infancy) and later a wind turbine on a 93 ft. tall pole. Learning about lift poles and 10,000 lb winches from a sketch was quite a challenge. I taught myself 12v and 48v  and 110v and wired the mess all up throughout my home.

Now with my own solar/wind electricity I gave up my spring pole lathe and was able to get one of them there new fangled electric lathes. I was off and running then!

I hunt and fish for all my meat and garden  organically for most of my vegetables. Despite being in my "retirement" years I still cut split and stack 5 cords of firewood each year.

My newest passion in woodworking are my latest turnings I have shared here in the gallery. The challenge has been enormous as there is no info out there to figure out how to do these. It has taken me a year in my shop to conquer this & I believe I have done so.

And finally my last passion is Animal Rescue. I have 5 lovely critters who share my home and acreage. They are true joys in my life.

Thanks all for sharing your turnings with me. They have been a joy to see.