About the Contest

The Winter 2006 AAW Forum woodturning contest results are in. Congratulations to Ed Kelle, the first place contest winner. This was the 8th turning contest held on the AAW forums. The theme was "Ornaments with Embellished Icicles" following along the design guidelines featured in the Winter 2006 AW Journal, on page 20, by Bill Bowers. The contests winners are:

1st place: Ed Kelle
2nd place: Gordon Seto
3rd place: Dutch

Click on each of the winner's names for a view of their creation.

The AAW would like to thank Bill Bowers for judging this contest... "Although there can be only 3 winners there should be kudos to all those who endeavored at the busiest time of the year to turn such bodacious projects. Much contemplation as well as precious time went into the entries for the embellished icicle contest."

If you want to enter the next contest, watch for contest announcements in the AAW forums.

 

Comments from Ed Kelle:

"Thanks to Bill Bower's article in the Winter issue, I made a few ornaments in the more traditional style. Of course this inspired me to further explore the organic look I have been developing. I wanted to create a piece that is simple, yet has all the complexities and variety found in nature. I hollowed the cherry body in the traditional manner then textured.  The walnut stem and tail were turned between centers with tenons to fit into the body. The top stem was shaped with with an undercut base to form to the body and tapered into a stalk before ending in a mushroom shaped top. This enabled me to have plenty of wood with which to shape the twist in the stem, which ends at the underside of the mushroom cap.

It was carefully refined with a Dremel to follow the stalk upwards and curve around then twist and flow down in front of the main stalk. A small gap between stalk and tip allows a string to be inserted to hang the ornament with and then textured and detailed. The end of the tip has been stippled and bleached to simulate the inside of a vine. The tail has a similar tenon and base before being shaped to a multi ripple taper. From there it was refined into a spiral twist similar to an actual vine before a similar texture treatment was applied with a diamond tip in the Dremel. Finish is two coats of oil for a more natural appearance."