About Us
Biography
When I was a child, my dad had an old wood lathe that he used mainly to make repairs on pot handles and table legs. He
would occasionally let me hold a chisel and “turn” the wood, always keeping a firm hand on mine.
Many years later, I chanced to see some weed pots and was so inspired by them that I asked my husband, Tom, to get
me a lathe for my upcoming birthday. That was in 2001. I immediately joined our local woodturning organization and was
fascinated by the new world that was opening to me. There were many talented woodturners who were glad to share their
knowledge with me. Our organization also regularly invited nationally and internationally known turners to do
demonstrations and hands-on classes. I signed up for all of them.
I was privileged to serve on the board of our local organization, the Gulf Coast Woodturners Association, then as president
for two terms. When my husband and I retired and moved to Central Texas, I joined the Brazos Valley Woodturners, and
am now a past president of that organization. In 2012, I will serve as president of the Southwest Association of Turners, a
three day symposium featuring nationally known lead turners, as well as regional turners. With an attendance of more
than 800, it is second in size only to the AAW symposium.
I have always been a hobbyist—sewing, painting, sketching, stained glass, even motorcycle riding—I have tried just about
everything. My greatest joy, however, has been woodturning. I particularly enjoy turning wood that normal human beings
would throw into the fireplace. One of my friends recently said, “Don’t throw that away, give it to Janice.” Indeed, I have
turned several hollow forms that were so cracked and contained so many voids that to hollow them, I used an assortment
of coffee stirs and popsicle sticks, along with strapping tape, to hold the wood together long enough for me to hollow the
vessels. No wood that could be turned will ever be sacrificed to the fire place if I can get my hands on it.
Recently, I have become fascinated with turning back yard pine and have worked with this very user-unfriendly wood for
about two years now. Slowly, I have discovered some of the secrets for how pine can be turned for beautiful results.
Another interest has been in turning ladies’ purses. I love to carry them and the more extravagant the design, the better.
When I was a child, my dad had an old wood lathe that he used mainly to make repairs on pot handles and table legs. He
would occasionally let me hold a chisel and “turn” the wood, always keeping a firm hand on mine.
Many years later, I chanced to see some weed pots and was so inspired by them that I asked my husband, Tom, to get
me a lathe for my upcoming birthday. That was in 2001. I immediately joined our local woodturning organization and was
fascinated by the new world that was opening to me. There were many talented woodturners who were glad to share their
knowledge with me. Our organization also regularly invited nationally and internationally known turners to do
demonstrations and hands-on classes. I signed up for all of them.
I was privileged to serve on the board of our local organization, the Gulf Coast Woodturners Association, then as president
for two terms. When my husband and I retired and moved to Central Texas, I joined the Brazos Valley Woodturners, and
am now a past president of that organization. In 2012, I will serve as president of the Southwest Association of Turners, a
three day symposium featuring nationally known lead turners, as well as regional turners. With an attendance of more
than 800, it is second in size only to the AAW symposium.
I have always been a hobbyist—sewing, painting, sketching, stained glass, even motorcycle riding—I have tried just about
everything. My greatest joy, however, has been woodturning. I particularly enjoy turning wood that normal human beings
would throw into the fireplace. One of my friends recently said, “Don’t throw that away, give it to Janice.” Indeed, I have
turned several hollow forms that were so cracked and contained so many voids that to hollow them, I used an assortment
of coffee stirs and popsicle sticks, along with strapping tape, to hold the wood together long enough for me to hollow the
vessels. No wood that could be turned will ever be sacrificed to the fire place if I can get my hands on it.
Recently, I have become fascinated with turning back yard pine and have worked with this very user-unfriendly wood for
about two years now. Slowly, I have discovered some of the secrets for how pine can be turned for beautiful results.
Another interest has been in turning ladies’ purses. I love to carry them and the more extravagant the design, the better.
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