Woodworker's Journal 2001-25-1, страница 16

SHOP mK

Pamela Philpott-Jones. left, believes she's behind a burst at women's woodworking activity in Colorado.

Pamela and women's woodworking guild members like Marttra Pearce are preparing for a second show of their work tn January.

Why the need for such outlets targeted s|)ecifically to female woodworkers? Pamela says it's because men and women learn differently. Her own instructor "would just show me how to do something and he expected me to get it." she said. In general, "Men like to come into a shop and dominate it," Pamela added. "It's kind of like, 'Here, little lady, here's how to do something,'" Women have a big discussion about how to do something, and when they do show each other, it's more teaching."

Ann Rockier Jackson, CEO of the Women in Woodworking web site's corporate sponsor, added that most of the visible resources have been geared to "traditional" woodworkers — which haven't included women. Rockier Woodworking and Hardware started the women's site because women woodworkers' goals and issues are different, she added.

"It's a place for them to come for support and encouragement and not be patronized."

For many women, Pamela said, the first step into woodworking is the same as it was for her a desire to remodel their homes. The percentage of women doing their own kitchen remodeling, for example, increased from 17 in 1997 to 20 in 1999, according lo 1,500 homeowners surveyed by the Home Improvement Research

Institute, lite attraction for others is "getting back in touch with our senses," Pamela said.

Her students begin by building a tool tote, then move on to cabinets, and follow up by designing a table. "It's all built with absolutely no nails," Pamela said. "It's all tongue and groove and mortise and tenon."

As they gain more experience, Pamela said, women cabinetmakers can be more confident and safely-conscious than men. Many of her students, "are going to their fathers and saying, 'Why didn't you teach me this?" And they're becoming much better builders than their fathers ever were."

For more info on the Women's Woodworking Guild of Colorado, visit www.geocities.com/wwwgc_2000 or call 303-322-3018. For class info, call 303-782-0588. For the Women in Woodworking site, visit www. women in woodworking, com.

Shop Talk continues on page 18...