Beautiful Stories
Terry Hockaday: A few of my favorite vintage tools.
Help tell the beautiful stories of woodworking
Brazilian soccer great Pelé’s autobiography “My Life and the Beautiful Game” popularized a description of the sport. “Beautiful” became synonymous with soccer globally, bringing a powerful imagery of the most completely satisfying sport to play or watch.
In many ways woodworking could be described as “the beautiful pastime”. There are so many ways to enjoy it. Low tech options like green woodworking done anywhere with minimal, low cost tools, to high tech options such as CNC machinery. Outcomes from simple hand carved spoons to exquisite works of art done with a shop full of expensive tools. Options for people of all ages and skills.
I love the stories woodworking has to tell. I am a writer, working as a journalist, then in corporate communications. Now I write for fun. One reason I am involved with Southern Alberta Woodworkers Society (SAWS) is I enjoy hearing and telling these stories.
SAWS members have many skills and interests. From beginners to decades of experience. Skills from fine furniture, musical instruments, carving, turning, box making, inlay, marquetry to scroll sawing and green woodworking. Interests such as home renovation, timber framing, boat building and vintage tools.
One of my personal interests is vintage tools. I love hearing the stories that come with them. Some favorite tools in my collection come from an elderly patternmaker. I purchased some of his tools and in the process he has become a friend.
The simple wooden mallet I am holding in the photo is one I built on my own when I was 13 years old. I used birch from a piece of firewood on our Manitoba family farm, turned it with a neighbor kid on his dad’s massive lathe. My young grandsons who will inherit some of these tools, were fascinated with it.
Get involved
A group of SAWS members had been instrumental in a new generation of telling the story of woodworking through SAWS members. We have started new Zoom meeting options that feature leading industry speakers. We have started this new SAWS.ca website and News Blog. We are excited to celebrate the training, mentoring, camaraderie and outstanding skills that SAWS has been become known for since it started nearly 40 years ago.
Blog readers will have a look in the windows of many of these skills. Some members may be hesitant to tell their story, not sure of the time it will take or the value of their story.
They shouldn’t worry. In my career I travelled from coast-to-coast in Canada interviewing and writing about leaders from science, medicine, politics, environment and business. I also interviewed many regular folks simply doing their daily work.
Those decades of experience taught me that interesting stories have little to do with education level or prominence in society. Beautiful stories come from authenticity, passion and purpose. We have plenty of those stories in SAWS. In today’s world they are easier to tell than ever in history.
If you would like to be part of writing for this blog or helping tell these stories, bring your stories and join SAWS. You are welcome in our group.
