Tuesday, June 2, 2009

See You In St. Charles

Join me at the Woodworking In America Conference August 14-16! It will be too hot to do yard work anyhow, and unless your shop has AC, it will be too uncomfortable for woodworking.

Plus the resort* has both indoor and outdoor pools. And I hear that Marc Spagnuolo and Matt Vanderlist wear speedos.**

Interactive workshops and Q&A sessions on Early American, 18th century, Arts & Crafts, Shaker, and Contemporary furniture will help you learn new techniques and discover the details that make each style unique.

Unleash your creative energy by learning how pieces were made, how to successfully include combinations of mouldings, carving, and inlay, and understand proportions to make an aesthetically appealing product.

Learn methods to recreate Greene & Greene furniture, how to design with wood grain, and how the popular software program Sketch-Up can help you through the design process.

Q & A sessions with expert woodworkers will offer an informal chance to have all your questions about joinery, finishes, and ornamental details answered.

Check out the schedule here. Read about the impressive line up of presenters here. And view the list of exhibitors here.

Not only that, but the keynote speaker for the Saturday night dinner is Thomas Moser, who relied on historical influences to develop his own internationally known brand of furniture.

The Saturday dinner, the Marketplace, and the in-between seminar times are excellent opportunities to meet other woodworkers, make friends, and speak directly with presenters and exhibitors. If it's anything like last year's conference, it will be the best, albeit exhausting (but I'm a wimp), 3 days you've had in a long time.

It's easy to copy a plan from a book, but making your own original piece based on the knowledge you acquire at the conference can be more personally rewarding.

See you there!

*The resort looks pretty sweet and a section has been blocked off for conference attendees to make the stay affordable.

**I'm aware that this is a potential deterrent.

17 comments:

TheWoodWhisperer said...

Yes that's correct. Banana hammocks all around. Oops, was that inappropriate? Who cares! Its the Woodworking in America Conference!

Seriously though, I really can't wait to go. I am as excited about the content as I am about the fellow woodworkers and bloggers I will have a chance to finally meet.

See ya there Kari! I better book my hotel!

Kari Hultman said...

I will be poolside with camera in hand. ; )

Brad Ferguson said...

The visual made me throw up a little in my mouth... lets hope not.....the horror, the horror...

Jeremy Kriewaldt (jmk89) said...

In the land that brought you speedos (yes, they come from Down Under) the current slang for them is "budgie smugglers".....So Matt and Marc will do WTO while trafficking in endangered fauna????

Woodbloke said...

Hi Kari - sounds like a good event if last year's is anything to go by. Big question is though, if you " will be poolside with camera in hand" who's going to take a pic of you in your slinky lycra??...>>>>>outa here! - Rob

naomi said...

Ah, banana hammocks. I've been waiting for someone to make the old crotch wood joke...and i can't believe i just did. Ewe.
Kari-do you know which sessions you're going to? More importantly, are we going to get a great vid like the one you did from last year's conference?

Kari Hultman said...

Brad--hee hee!

Jeremy, so we have you to blame for those things?!

Rob, trust me, you don't want that.

Naomi, hopefully the only crotch wood we'll see will be in the form of hardwood. Er, let me rephrase that...

I signed up for: Early Am. Furniture, Anatomy of a Masterpiece; 20th c. Furniture, Why You Should Like It; Greene and Greene, Hidden Secrets to Visible Joinery; Early Am. Furniture, Casework and Detailing; Shaker Furniture, What it Really Looks Like; 19th c. Joinery, The Transition from Hand to Power; and Arts & Crafts Style, The Unadorned Truth.

I plan to take my camcorder so there will probably be a video. It may even include some banana hammocks.

dan barrett said...

Hi Kari and everyone.
I was wondering what if anything is set up or going to be set up for things to do after hours at WIA. My oldest son Kyle and I will be there and were wondering.
Take care,
Dan
D.L. Barrett and Sons

Unknown said...

Well I guess I not only need to make my room reservations soon, but I better start looking into getting a wax job too!

Soon we'll hear the screams of "AHHHH, KELLY CLARKSON!!!"

Kari Hultman said...

Dan, the only thing I know that's scheduled for evening activities is the dinner Saturday night. Other than that, you can check the St. Charles website and the resort's website to find fun things to do or places to eat outside the conference. Chance are, you'll make some new acquaintances and will get together with them in the evenings. You know what social creatures woodworkers are. ; )

Teresa Jones said...

Kari, glad you are going to attend. I look forward to meeting you!

Kari Hultman said...

Matt, if you do get a wax job, make sure you request the carnauba/beeswax blend.

Teresa, I look forward to meeting you, too! :o)

Mitchell said...

Man, you Yanks sure have it good. Up here in the cold, the biggest venue that we Canucks get are tool shows that can be covered in about an hour and a half, and that's only if a particular tool or two peaks your interest.

The worst part of these shows is that, here, they hold them in the winter. We have to burrow through mountains of snow and fend off polar bears to get there.

Not only do you guys get these things, you are able to take the time off to enjoy them.

Can you tell I'm seriously envious?

Peace,

Mitchell

Kari Hultman said...

Mitchell, there's a house for sale in my neighborhood. Come on down! No polar bears, just ground hogs.

johnjoiner said...

I'll see you all there!

I didn't think I'd be able to go. But I've finagled a deal to work the event with Mike Siemsen, and another MN ww guild member or two. And I'll be posing as a SAPFM member to boot!

Sorry - I'm not a big swimmer. So I'll miss out on the "fun" at the pool.

Kari Hultman said...

John, you'll be the only guy who's not in a speedo. People might make fun of you.
I'm just sayin'.

Dana said...

I'm from the area and there are a lot of things to do in the general area. The Pheasant Run hotel has a great restaurant and a comedy club, Zanies, on site.