Working with Wood for the ladies

This year’s Working with Wood Show to be held at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Saasveld, George, from August 26 to 28 promises something for the ladies.

 

While woodworking has long been considered a male dominated skill, the first woman documented as a carpenter was a Chinese woman, Lady Yun. While it is her husband Lu Ban who is recognized as an originator of the craft of woodworking, Lady Yun is said to have had a talent as great as, or greater than, her husband’s. This year the Working with Wood Show will be celebrating women in woodworking and have secured world renowned designer, carpenter, DIY expert and TV personality, Carmen de la Paz as an honoured guest.

A hands on designer and accomplished craftsperson, De la Paz does all of her own work, handling power tools, to create with wood, metal and glass. She brings with her the female perspective on home improvement, power tools, design and DIY. Most recognized for her work on HGTV and in addition, De la Paz appeared as one of HGTV’s celebrity carpenters on a season of highly rated HGTV’s Design Star and was a judge on Mike Holme’s All American Handy Man Competition.

She is further the global Brand Ambassador for Nova lathes. Who better to visit the Show and Woodturning Festival than the woman who represents one of the leading lathe brands? Nova is so passionate about supporting turners and woodworkers that they will be sponsoring an initiative set be launched in South Africa by De la Paz during the George Show and Festival, the Women in Turning programme (WIT).

WIT is the newest committee of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) that aims at bringing together worldwide, women who share a passion in woodturning. This programme is dedicated to encouraging and assisting women in their pursuit of turning, to sharing ideas and processes, to further members’ skills and creativity, and to increasing participation of women in the field of woodturning.

During this year’s Festival and Show the WIT hand-on demonstrations will provide a lively, entertaining and educational experience for attendees, managed by De la Paz and assisted by other accomplished and recognised women in the field of woodturning, focusing on skill building and community development.

For further information on the Working with Wood Show visit their website, www.workingwithwood.co.za. For information on the Association of Woodturners South Africa visit www.awsa.co.za.