Michelle Kouri
Four years ago, a friend presented us with a small bowl she turned on a wood lathe. As a mixed-media wannabe artist, I verbally expressed my appreciation of her work. That Christmas my husband presented me with a $200 “mini-lathe” and three turning tools. My first reaction was, “What am I supposed to do with this?” It was not on my gift list, nor did I say to our friend that I would like to explore this new hobby, thereby giving my husband a big hint. But four years later in July of this year, we moved to SaddleBrooke One. With us we brought my upgraded lathe, countless woodturning tools, and a vacuum system.
We are proof that wood turning is a skill that can be acquired at any age. And it is not as expensive as one might think. Most of our equipment was bought at estate sales. Bowls, vases, and platters all can be created with three major tools.
In the beginning, we watched “How-To” videos. Eventually, we joined the Detroit Area Woodturners Club and became presenters for their Safety segment. We honed our skills with practice, attending club demonstrations, taking classes, and learning from others’ experiences and advice.
Initially, the thought of downsizing from our large Michigan shop to an 8- by 13-foot golf cart parking space caused nightmares. Surprisingly, with a little imagination (and handy husband), we’ve managed. Other woodworkers do the same in a two-car garage space.
Since moving to SaddleBrooke One, we’ve joined the Saddlebrook Woodworkers Club, which is in its infancy. This club welcomes men and women who may be interested in anything involving wooden creations: cabinet making, building birdhouses, power carving, hand-tool carving, making vases on a lathe, etc. But an ultimate hope and dream in SaddleBrooke One is to have a dedicated community space for the club to gather, create, explore ideas, and review requests by our community neighbors to repair broken chairs, dented tables, unbalanced table legs, replace cabinet doors, etc., for which monetary donations are always welcome to offset costs, time, and labor. Club membership is only $10 a year, and the club meets at 2 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month in the MountainView clubhouse Cactus Room. Club members are eager to share their experience and be a guide for new members.
Please visit our “under-construction” website at sbwoodworkers.org for more information. All interested persons are also welcome to drop in to see what we’re about at our meetings.