Welcome to our 2015 Woodworking Resolutions blogger series. Every year we invite our bloggers to share their resolutions specific to their woodworking goals for the new year. Click each link below to read our bloggers resolutions!
Matthew York
Every year when the calendar turns from December back around to January people make resolutions, promises that they hope to keep for the New Year. These also tend to serve as goals that they hope to strive for as the New Year marches along. As a woodworker we often make resolutions associated with our hobby, and I am certainly no different. For the year 2015 I have a few resolutions that I would like to focus on getting accomplished.
First I would like to apply some of the principles that the Down to Earth Woodworker discusses in his videos on 5S in the workshop. I like the idea of organizing my shop and cementing some habits that make working in my shop easier, safer, cleaner and more enjoyable. If you haven’t already I highly recommend checking out what Steve discusses in his 5s videos.
Another resolution I have lined up is my desire to show my work at more arts and crafts festivals. I love making things, and I find joy in what I do. I would also love to find a way to do woodworking full time instead of just as a hobby. While this may not be a realistic end goal right now, the idea of showing my work more often and gaining some customers is something I hope to accomplish in 2015.
I also want to focus on spending more time in my shop on a regular basis. I often go through spurts where I will work in the shop every day after work, and then there are days where I hardly touch a single tool. I’d like to work toward making it a habit to spend at least an hour or two every day or every other day in the shop. I think by spending more time working at a steady pace and less time working in spurts and manic phases I can accomplish more of the goals I am setting for myself.
Lastly I want to set aside some time this year and learn a new woodworking skill. In 2014 I took a class at Highland taught by Scott Meek over at Scott Meek Woodworks on making wooden hand planes. This January I am continuing that education by taking the Advance plane making class that Scott offers online. My goal for 2015 is to find something else in the wide woodworking world and learn how to do that. Currently I am leaning toward finding a chair making class and learning how to make chairs. I think chair making could be a lot of fun and it will complement some of the skills that I already possess.
Resolutions are often something that we make and then break within the first few weeks of January. Instead of setting myself impossible tasks or lofty goals I want to focus on taking small steps and building habits. By focusing on the little things, like organization steps within 5s, or spending more days but less time per day in the shop I can work to ingrain those habits. Make them muscle memories and by doing so advance along my journey as a woodworker.
Does anyone else have any woodworking resolutions for the coming New Year?
Matthew York has been a woodturner since 2004 and has been interested in woodworking since he was a teenager. He currently lives in downtown Atlanta and has a small shop in his basement. He is an avid woodworker and is always available to talk about the craft. He can be contacted at fracturedturnings@gmail.com or visit his website at fracturedturnings.com. You can also follow him on twitter at @raen425
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