Dear Honored Turned Wood Patron,

          It seems so seldom that we get to just sit and chat like this, so why don’t we make the most of the opportunity?  In my last ‘epistle’ I delved into the delicate matter of surgery, which precluded me from participating in a couple of shows, and also a trip to England and Ireland.  That’s behind me now, and the matter of a full recovery is still a few months ahead of me.  So the following schedule is being addressed with a small amount of temerity, on the assumption that my somewhat slower pace will have no effect other than, perhaps, setting up and taking down my booth.  This won’t involve you, of course, so you can devote your full attention to a variety of new never-before-publicly-seen pieces of art, fresh off my lathe.
          This schedule is somewhat firm, but with a couple of ‘open’ dates, which may allow unannounced adjustments.  I’ll try to keep my web site updated on that.

September 4 – 103rd Arden Fair, Arden, De., 9-6
September 11-12 – 45th Chadds Ford Days, Chadds Ford, Pa., 10-5
September 18-19 – Artsfest, Solomons, Md., 10-5
October 2-3 – 34th Annual Harvest Moon Festival, Coverdale Farm, Greenville, DE, 10-5
October 9-10 – 47th Annual Colorfest, Thurmont, Md., 9-5
October 16 - Apple Butter Festival, Fair Hill, Md., 10-4
November 12-14 – Artisans Show, Center for Creative Arts, Yorklyn, De.
November 20-21 – Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival, Ocean City, NJ, 10-5
November 26-27 – Holiday Crafts Fair, Cape May, NJ, 10-4
December 4 – Craft Fair, Hodgson Vo-Tech, Newark, De., 9-4
December 11 – Glasgow Craft Show, Newark, De., 9-3

          The Arden Fair just keeps pluggin’ along.  I don’t know how they do it, and they do it so well (though some have, in fact, died off over the years).  They have a website: www.ardenclub.org.
          I’m commonly at an insurance convention the 2nd weekend of September, but this year I enlisted a replacement, which allows me to participate in Chadds Ford Days.  There have been gradual changes over the years.  I think they no longer charge admission, and they don’t require all artists to wear Colonial garb.  (This is a source of great comfort to me.)  Their website is www.chaddsfordhistory.org.

          I’ll be stationed on the wooded path (#9) again this year at Artsfest – close to the south end, also close to the local wine merchant.  Hmmm.  Maybe some collaborative good may come of that.  Their website is www.annmariegarden.org.
          The Harvest Moon Festival has also been doing some ‘tweaking’, but I’ll be at the same location – under the eave of the barn, next to the Clydesdale horses.  I’ll have my mini-lathe there, to do some demonstrating.  Bring the whole family, but leave the dogs at home (they scare the chickens).  Their website is www.delawarenaturesociety.org.
          Colorfest, in case you haven’t absorbed this truth, is a ‘destination venture’.  Plan on staying awhile, wear really comfortable shoes, and experience all of Thurmont.  They’ll be glad you came, I’ll be glad you came, and so will you.  While you’re there, stop in for a visit – I’ll be near the entrance to the Community Park.  Their website: www.colorfest.org.
          The Apple Butter Festival is one of those annual obligations, which you just need to put on your calendar.  It’s small, it’s quaint, it lives up to its name, and you’ll be glad you experienced it – again.  And, they have a website: www.ccfarmmuseuml.org.
          The Artisan’s Show in Yorklyn is crammed with high-end artwork.  Just browsing the show is an eye-opener.  And what you purchase is guaranteed to be of the highest quality.  There is also another woodturner there, Tom Mumper, who has some of the most glorious work imaginable.  Visit both of us!  Track them down at www.ccarts.org.
          The Ocean City, New Jersey, show is always spectacular, again with top quality art.  It’s always two consecutive weekends, each with completely different artisans.  I’ll be there the weekend of Nov. 20-21.  The website they use is www.oceancitycraftshows.com.
          The following weekend, immediately after Thanksgiving, I’ll spend Black Friday (and Saturday) (with you?) in Cape May, New Jersey.  I’ll be in the Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Hall.  After the show we’ll be dining at one of Cape May’s extraordinary establishments of fine cuisine.  You should enjoy the experience.  Their website is www.capemaymac.org.
          My last two scheduled shows are the first two Saturdays in December, at Hodgson’s Vo-Tech. School and Glasgow High School.  After that I plan to be tired.
          Between now and then, I have a whole wad of unfinished items to complete for you.  The newest one is the Compact Camper Roasting Stick (that’s what they call it!).  It’s a finely turned wooden handle, which is then attached to a stainless steel rod, threaded on the end, so a second rod can be screwed on to it.  This second rod has the points on which you put your hot dogs, marshmallows, etc.  They are pointed back to you, the holder of the stick, so that what you roast won’t slip off into the fire.  It increases the pleasure of making S’mores with a 4-year-old.  And, it allows you to “individualize” your filet mignon, and not burn yourself in the process.
          Many other delectable items have been added to my inventory, but you’ll have to come and see for yourself.  Choose what fits your personal taste.

          See you soon!
          John A. Styer, The Lathe-meister