Claudia Hayward of Maple Ridge, BC

The Wooden Forge

Claudia has been working with wood most of her life.

After “real” jobs as a teacher and wildlife biologist, the woodworking hobby became a full time occupation and she and her husband spent many years on the craft show circuit all over western Canada.

Several years ago she discovered woodturning and has enthusiastically embraced this art form.  Her love of the outdoors and simplicity of life is reflected in her woodwork.

The emphasis of her work is on functionality and classic lines utilizing the natural beauty of the wood.  Her goal is for people to use her work and appreciate its beauty for many years to come.

For more information about Claudia and The Wooden Forge, you can contact Claudia directly at

woodenforge@gmail.com

The Inventing Shed is a custom guitar workshop in Ashland Massachusetts. Stan Shields is a life-long guitar player and woodworker who combined his two interests in 2005 to found the company:

We design and build semi-hollow and solid body electric guitar bodies. Musicians wishing to assemble their own custom guitar buy a body from us, pickups and other hardware from other suppliers and do the finishing and assembly themselves. We provide a way for someone lacking the tools and expertise to create a one-of a-kind guitar they can be proud of.

Most designs are two pieces, the back is Alder or Basswood that is chambered for tone and weight-reduction. The tops are bookmatched  curly or quilt maple or a variety of other interesting species.

Each body is configured for the particular bridge, controls and pickups the customer wants to use. We try to build a unique product that customers won’t find at the large production builders.

If you would like to learn more about Stan or The Inventing Shed, please visit the link below.

Stan Shields
The Inventing Shed

Mark Murakami is an amateur furniture maker and woodturner located in Calgary, Alberta.   While he enjoys many different types of wood turning, segmented turning is of particular interest to him because of the creativity, precision and attention to detail that is required.

Each piece is unique based on the design and arrangement of the segments as well as the natural variations found in the wood itself.  He uses numerous different hardwoods in trying to create attractive yet simple pieces – characterized by traditional shapes with simple lines.

One of Mark’s pieces (pictured below) was selected by the Southern Alberta Woodworkers Society for inclusion in their 2007 Fine Works in Wood Exhibition.  This was a juried exhibition where entries are chosen for display based on a judging and review process involving a Standards Committee as well as an independent jury.

Rich is a retired school principal who has always enjoyed working with wood as a hobby.  Nine years ago he discovered the creativity that a wood lathe, chisels and a piece of firewood can inspire.

He also enjoys the continued study of vessel design, many different turning techniques, as well as the properties of different woods.  He tries to leave a piece of Mother Nature in most of his works.  He has advanced his art by incorporating carving, dying, painting, burning and filling voids with rock to make his pieces unique.

Each piece is unique in itself as Mother Nature dictates much of the shape.  Besides the many functional pieces such as salad and nut bowls, he creates many decorative pieces for the dining room table, entrance way, mantels etc.