Another good Saturday morning.
The Friday night setting up saw Kim and Dave back from their hols, just over an hour setting up plus half an hour turning talk, very useful that, quality turning talk time, I think Ill call it QTTT from now on, history in the making, before you know it they’ll be using it all round the world, remember folks…..you heard it hear first at Forest Junior club, another first is I think and I stand corrected but among the few dedicated JUNIOR clubs ever and certainly we have the worlds first dedicated JUNIOR Website, its early days yet and there is more to add to the site but all in good time.
Its 9.00 am and as usual the last few juniors are still coming through the door, others have already started. The older turners have a project to start, a matching pair of Egg Cups and Saucer’s, funny word that saucer, doesn’t look right but it is, but what do I know! The under 12’s no idea what we are doing, it’s up to them, pick a piece of wood and decide. Angy had a brilliant selection of craft ideas for them to try and Kim managed the pyrography, drilling, sticking, repairing and anything else that needed attention.
Dave made bells with Bill and Barbara and a spinning top with Grant, Patrick was watching and decided he wanted a bell to, so he came over to my lathe and made a nice one from a piece of Laburnum, no clanger just the bell, next time perhaps? Kayleigh turned a large mouse which very soon had large leather ears and tail with pyrography face features, Kim lime waxed it, very mousy looking now.
Kim turned some brilliant witches and put on the gallery table, nobody turned these today but everybody admired them, they are a brilliant project for the juniors. There where some Halloween things made, Angy had some glow in the dark beads and they where stuck on producing some interesting patterns, on timber and boards I didn’t bring, Jordan brought the 12” dia ply disc’s but no idea where the 2” x 1” came from, very resourceful the under 12’s I’ll never cease to be impressed. Kieran made a sort of hangman’s gallows to suspend things from with timber from my van and hot melt glue, the imagination these young people have is incredible.
You may be wondering about all this craft work, not turning I hear you say and your right, but turning is all about using your imagination either how to hold the piece or what shape etc etc, and these young turners have an unlimited fresh abundance of energy that just cant wait to come out, and at Forest Junior club it does in any way they want, in years to come if they choose to turn for them selves at home then they are going to produce some very interesting pieces.
We had the usual mid morning break, Banana cake and somebody brought in chocolate fingers, mmm, hot and cold drinks all managed very well by Nikky, Nikky usually manages a craft in the hall but as what happens at our meetings just basics arranged and the rest we just gets done by who ever is available, I was fortunate to have John watch my lathe so I got to move round the hall for a while, I really like that time out. We really could do with more lathes and senior turners.
Its 12.00 noon and time to clear up, Kayleigh was going home with me so helped out, so did David and a few others, Craig and James helped out which was useful and before you know it its all away in the van, store cupboard, garage and cars, the vacs are pushed round the hall, the last few goodbyes and there goes another brilliant junior club meeting.
Mick October 2008