Any questions you have about woodworking, warblers, and wombats can be found online. And the presentation of this information just keeps getting better and better.
There's enough great woodworking content—through magazines, forums, blogs, and podcasts—to occupy all 24 hours of your day.
But in case you're looking to fill those few stray minutes, check out the sites on
my links page. They're not in alphabetical order for no other reason than I like randomness.Just to point out a few of the many bloggers and podcasters who are kicking it up a notch, check out:
1. Tom Fidgen—furniture maker, author, and instructor—who's recently updated his
website to include full SketchUp models, bench plans, expanded galleries and after thoughts from all six projects in his book, Made By Hand.2. Matt Vanderlist—the original woodworking podcaster—has just launched a new podcast called The Spoken Wood where he has invited several woodworking bloggers to read some of their favorite posts. It's a clever concept and one that might make your commute to work a little more pleasant.
3. Bob Rozaieski—cabinetmaker and traditional woodworker—who pa
cks loads of material into his blog and podcast. Bob is very good at walking you through the steps of preparing stock and building projects using only hand tools.There are more. Tons more. They're light years better in appearance and content than what I was able to find 15 years ago.
And that makes me happier than a warbler with a wagonload of worms.
The other great thing is that these folks (yourself included) are just nice people to deal with -- they've really helped to create a friendly woodworking community!
ReplyDeleteChris
Kari,
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to add yourself to that list.
And to add to your 24 hour fill comment, I must say that since I've started following woodworking blogs and communities online, my much (and still loved) magazines are stacking up on my nightstand.
You hit the nail squarely & firmly on the head there Kari.
ReplyDeleteI think possibly the best tool that the woodworker or any type of craftsperson has at their disposal is this internet.I don't think a day goes by without me making a sincere declaration of love for this fantastic,omnidirectional, technological conduit!
It also limits the amount of woodworking related nonsense my long suffering Karen has to listen to as I have like-minded if not like-located friends to share my thoughts & ideas with(seriously,is there any need for her to know what & Holtey 11SA or JointMaker Pro is?).
B
Your still my must read blog. Who else uses phrases like "happier than a warbler with a wagonload of worms". And when you get to read this post on Matt's new podcast, I'm sure it will sound extremely eloquent.
ReplyDeleteKari,
ReplyDeleteYou're so right about how far we have come.
It was like working in a vacuum back then, waiting for a magazine to come in the mail or to find a book to consume.
Though I do remember back... way back... 20 or so years ago, we had a good message board going on Prodigy (for you youngsters, that was a pre-AOL and pre-Internet-as-we-know-it dial-up online service launched by Sears.)
It's a good time to be a woodworker.
My favorite woodworking place on the internet, though, is right here at The Village Carpenter!
Frank
Christopher--the woodworking community is by and large a warm one, for sure.
ReplyDeleteDyami, I know what you mean. I think I need to take a speed reading course to keep up with all my books and magazines.
Black, those are the sole reasons I started this blog: to meet like-minded woodworkers and to save my partner from having to listen to me drone on and on about my projects.
Thanks, Vic. :o)
Frank, I didn't even have a computer 20 years ago! ha ha You're right--we are so fortunate to be woodworkers in a time when so much information is available AND so many tool makers are producing such excellent tools. It was not so easy to find really nice, new handplanes and saws when I first started woodworking.
The internet has been one of my main sources of education for so many things. Home improvement, car maintenance and repair and, most importantly, woodworking.
ReplyDeleteAfter Norm showed me the possibilities, I found the Wood Whisperer. And then Matt. Then they talked about a guy called "The Schwarz".
Chris Schwarz opened not only hand tools to me but a whole collection of informational as well as inspirational blogs listed on his page like the Village Carpenter and Tom Fidgen. It seems contradictory that a craft as primitive as working with hand tools would be perpetuated so well with internet web logging. Having knowledge passed on in this way makes it hard to describe yourself as "self-taught".
So, in case I've never told you, thank you!
Hey, Kari - your blog is a real gem. Whenever I seem to run into 'woodworker's block', I always turn to your blog for some more inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWOW! Thanks for the plug Kari, but really, you're not giving yourself enough credit. The reason that so many of the newer blogs and podcasts (like my own) exist is because of blogs like yours, Alf's, and Schwarz's paving the way. Folks like you started the trend and folks like me are simply riding the wave. Honestly, I don't think my podcast would have anywhere near the exposure it does today without all of your blogs creating the hand tool buzz. I'm just really glad to be a part of it and to be associated with such a great community of people.
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious age we live in! My wife still thinks I'm nuts but I feel this compulsion to share just about everything I do in my shop now as I learn so much by putting out content and starting discussions with other bloggers. All of this posting and commenting only makes big events like WIA all the more fun when we can finally all get together and raise a glass (or 4)
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a wealth of information (and personality) out there. We have the ultimate resource and the ultimate distraction all rolled into one! :)
ReplyDeleteRichard, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. :o)
ReplyDeleteTom, "woodworker's block"--what a great term!
Bob, we're all part of the mix that make up this great community of woodworkers. Group hug!!
Shannon, I couldn't agree more. One of the best parts of WIA is chatting with other woodworkers. It's another opportunity to learn new things and make friends with like-minded people.
Kenneth, well said!
Hey Kari-
ReplyDeletenice to be included... ;)
this 'not so little' group of wood workers and bloggers we all know and visit daily is proof of this incredible social network we share. Its a great time to be here in the hurricane of wood working and hand tools and I think we're all going to look back at these days in years to come and say yeah, that was really the beginning of a new era of wood working.
Cheers to us...All of us!
Hi Kari - I agreee entirely with your comments...how on earth did we ever manage for anything without the wonders of t'interweb?
ReplyDeleteThere's just one small spaniard in the works at the moment...I'm just trying to visualise a 'warbler with a waggonload of worms'...pics would help! - Rob
Tom, I agree. It feels like we're experiencing a hand tool revolution.
ReplyDeleteRob, I'll keep my eyes open and my camera at the ready should I ever come across such a sight!
Hi! Wow, what a beautiful blog. I love the richness of your textures.
ReplyDeleteBrian Meeks, who is a part of a blogging group I belong to on Linkedin, recommended your site, so I stopped in. Beautiful!
I have to admit that I don't know much about woodworking, but I do love wombats. OK, not the point, I know, but I loved that you threw out "wombats" as something searchable. They are cool creatures.
I will definitely check out the folks you recommend. Thank you!