Texas Furniture Maker Show 2012

2012 TEXAS FURNITURE MAKERS SHOW AWARD WINNERS


First Place (Best of Show)
Frank Strazza, Waco TX "Roses" Federal Style Hall Table

Second Place

Randolph Secrest, Spicewood TX Trunk

Third Place
Bert Ray, Wimberley TX "Blossom Table II"

Best Contemporary Style
James Breaux, San Antonio TX Haidinger's Brush" Table

Best Traditional Style
Caleb James, Katy TX Settee

Best Texas Style
Lou Quallenberg, Llano TX "Drift" Coffee Table

Best Art Style
Jeremy Grubb, Dickinson TX "Rising Sun" Console

Best Apprentice
John Burton, Arlington TX Blanket Chest

Woodcraft’s People’s Choice
Frank Strazza, Waco TX "Roses" Federal Style Hall Table

Judges’ Special Award / Fine Woodworking®
Lee Westphal, Burnet TX Display Cabinet

Judges’ Special Award / Alamo Hardwoods

Brooke Davis, Austin TX Intertwined Series: Bench

Judges’ Special Award / Alamo Hardwoods
Barry Bradley, Fredericksburg TX "Smoke Signals" Table

Judges’ Special Award / Allen & Allen

Danny Kamerath, Dallas TX "Kampa" Coffee Table

Judges’ Special Award / Dakota Premium Hardwood

Leo Litto, Austin TX Work Table

Furniture Committee Award /Artisans at Rocky Hill

Mark Seay, Plano TX Wind Rose Table

SAPFM Award / Society of American Period Furniture Makers
W. Malcolm Granberry, Houston TX Spine Chest

Woodturners’ Choice Award / Hill Country Turners

Caleb James, Katy TX Settee

Woodcraft® Sponsor’s Award

Lou Quallenberg, Llano TX "Drift" Coffee Table

Johnny Jones Sponsor's Award

Jon Percy, Austin TX "Fallen Leaves" Bench

Honorable Mentions:

Carl Powell, Bartlett TX KOA Top Table

Wayne Locke, Austin TX Chair

Wayne Delyea, Granbury TX Rocking Chair

Brad Dawson, Kemah TX Curio/Display Cabinet

Brandon Berdoll, Cedar Creek TX Spalted Pecan Coffee Table

http://www.texasfurnituremakersshow.com/

Rex didn't win an award this year, but his piece was gorgeous.  His piece this year was in the Contemporary Category.  It has clean and simple lines, but was far from simple to make and the finish is awesome.  Sometimes the judges don't appreciate or overlook pieces for their seeming simplicity. We know he can't expect to win something every year, but it would sure be nice! 

Congratulations to all these great artists and their beautiful craftsmanship!

Merry Christmas 2012!

We wish you joy and peace this Christmas season as you take time to reflect upon and remember the most precious gift given to us.

THE MESSAGE

“Like a message in a bottle, I was thrown out to sea. I didn’t ask to be the message, I didn’t want to be thrown out to sea. While it is a good message and I love the sea, I did not expect this to happen to me. Safe in my orderly tablet, I fit in nicely with all the rest. Now I was bouncing along, being tossed about by waves, nudged by sea creatures, pounded by rain showers, baked by sun’s rays. Sure, there were times of peacefulness – floating on calm waters, under a moonlit sky, a slight breeze cooling my container. But, the worst part was I had no control over where I went, what I was exposed to, or what my purpose was. This was my life and I decided I better get used to it, or just shrivel up into crumbles of paper. Then what would be the result of it all? No one would ever see my message. My life experiences would mean nothing to me or to anyone. And the one who placed me in the bottle would not have my purpose fulfilled. So I let go and decided to enjoy the journey. I smiled at the sun, waved back at the waves, rolled with the sea creatures and just generally bobbed along with a little more spring in my bottle. I was a lot more enjoyable to be around. And I felt my message was not fading, but rather was getting clearer and deeper. I was living into the message. It became me.

Then one day, I found I was no longer bobbing along on the sea. I had stopped. My bottle lay still. I was on dry land. And then, I was surrounded by people. I was raised up, my container broken open and my message unfurled. It pronounced to all:

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU.

This was my purpose – a holy purpose, a sacred message.”

By Mary Lou White

In this season of rebirth and love, celebrate life, purpose and meaning.

Friends in the Afternoon

It was a beautiful day, on May 26, 2012, when a gathering of friends came together at The Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, CA to celebrate a very special person, my sister Kate Judson, for her 60th Birthday!  Friends and relatives shared delectable food, marvelous wines and meaningful fellowship together.  With gorgeous flowers provided by my other sister, Nyna Dolby, loving words shared by Katie's daughter, Carrie Urso, daughter Elise Judson (by letter), her husband Dave, and our Mom, we laughed, cried and celebrated the positive ways our lives have been impacted by this precious person.  The theme for the event was "Friends in the Afternoon."  This was descriptive of the gathering in more than one way!  To commemorate the gathering, I wrote a poem, which was also shared in written form on the tables.  Enjoy the poem, enjoy life!

Friends in the Afternoon



Friends in the Morning.
In the fresh scrubbed pink cheeks of dawn,
The lime green budding foliage shivers in delight, anticipating the unknown promises of day.
Neophyte and innocent, the naïve flutter into the expanse.
Together we expect that life is thrilling.


Friends at Noonday.
Seemingly certain of strength and resolve through accomplishment and acclaim,
The brightness of the sun begins to send some to the retreat of shadows and forms of relief.
False protection blurs vision, insight, optimism – realism ruling the day.
Together we face that life is challenging.


Friends in the Afternoon.
Dwelling on glimpses of fleeting moments of years gone by,
In visceral nostalgia, the seasonal leaves fall and are stirred by the randomness of autumn breezes.
And the subtle reflective moments of afternoons, as the daylight wanes, bring the challenges of day into perspective.
Together we discover that life is good.