austerlitz | The Lighthearted Woodworker

The Austerlitz Woodworker’s Show came as all things do, very quickly. My shop was quite full and quite active. You remember I had an offer by an 8 and an 11 year old to ‘help’? Well who could turn down help like that? Their enthusiasm alone filled the shop. I put my work aside and with the help of their mother, worked on turning pens and ice cream scoops! What could be better? I was able to put the finishing touches on the console table and build an ipad stand to display my work, I tried to squeeze in time to finish the shaker table but that just wasn’t going to happen. I took a deep breath and said to myself “it’s all good, do what you can. This is my hobby and I have to enjoy it. No pressure!” The rest of the day was fantastic, as my son and daughter taught us a thing or two about turning!

Austerlitz is very fortunate to have a thriving Historical Society which owns a 20 acre parcel of land that is the home of the Old Austerlitz Village. The village is a “living history museum of post-and-beam houses, a granary, a blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, a Christian Church and other historic buildings.” The latest is a newly restored barn, which was raised just in time to host the show.

The ‘new’ barn.

Clark Olsen’s amazing screen and chair

I loaded in the morning of the show and but wasn’t able to fit into the barn. So instead I shared the granary next to the barn with master craftsman Clark Olsen.

This town certainly houses some impressive talent! The show consisted of 11 professional woodworkers and four hobbyists, all extraordinary in their own way. The variety alone was was impressive, running the gamut from cabinetry, marquetry, classic shaker, windsor chairs, toys, furniture, even whirligigs. Something for everyone!

Falling Water work by John Dunne

John Porritt taught me a thing or two about Windsor Chairs

: I got an introductory lesson in marquetry from Herb Cook.

Clark Olsen’s Music Stand

The best part of any woodworking show is the camaraderie. Woodworkers are the kindest, most giving folk you will ever find. That has never more true than in Austerlitz.

What’s a show without whirligigs!!!

The Lighthearted Woodworker….

It was an terrific day. Very inspiring. I met so many great and talented people, not only fellow woodworkers, but people from this amazing community. I wish I had taken more photos and had time to chat with more people, but you can only squeeze so much into one day.

I wanted to mention all that attended and really extend my thanks for welcoming me and for your generosity.

The Woodworkers of Austerlitz: Jeffrey All, Reggie Brantner, Herb Cook, John Dunne, Randy Ezinga, Tim Hawley, Dick Light, Scott Mesick, Chris Landy, Clark Olsen, Brian Polhemus, John Porritt, Howard Reznikoff, Steve Somlo and Michael Walters.

Max and Samantha manning the booth.

I would be remiss if i did not point out that not only did Max and Samantha hold down the fort while Daddy was off being social. They also sold all of their turned bottle stops!!

Several weeks ago I got a message on my machine by a gentleman by the name of Howard. He asked if I was indeed a woodworker and would like to participate in a woodworking day in town of Austerlitz. Austerlitz is a small community, there are only about 500 households and approximately 1200 people. But as it turns out our town hosts over 18 woodworkers, at least that was the number Howard was able to track down! Around 12 pro’s and 6 hobbyists. Why so many in this town? Are there others??

I was very excited by Howard’s call, I called him right back and said I would love to participate. He gave me a brief outline and asked me what I would like to bring. I guess I didn’t quite understand what he meant when he said an Austerlitz woodworker’s day. You see, I thought it was going to be a gathering of woodworkers to discuss and share ideas on our favorite subject. You know, a local guild. Then it occurred to me. This was a woodworking SHOW. I was expected to bring pieces of my work to display!! Panic set in! I had never shown anyone but family and close friends (and you folks) my work. What did I have to show??

Then I took a breath and did an inventory of things I built and was proud of. My cradle, an end table, a console table, an unfinished guild build shaker table, a few boxes. Hmm, maybe I do have enough to show. I’m not a pro, and I have nothing to be ashamed of. My excitement returned. My first woodworker show!! And where better than a mile from my house!

Now the self induced pressure was on. You see my wife and I are cursed with being over zealous and taking on too much. We tend to put undo pressure on ourselves and squeeze all we can into a day, and our life. Preparing for this was no different. As all ‘weekend woodworkers’ know there is never enough shop time.

Luckily, I have two children who heard the battle cry and came running! Max and Samantha were very excited to help on “Daddy’s show”! “We can turn pens for you to sell!” they happily declared. How awesome is that? So I had a promise of some finely turned items.

I now had to gather and put the finishing touches on the pieces I had. The twin cradle I built was no longer being used by the 10-month-old boys, so we just had to fetch that from New Hampshire. A console table I had in the basement needed a final sanding and a finish. My Greene and Greene table was finished and just had to be retrieve from our apartment in Brooklyn. The biggest item I had unfinished was a shaker table that I had started through the Wood Whisperer guild build. I had everything but the top and the drawer complete. Not much, but time was a tickin’….