'Best in Show' at the Northern Woods Exhibition!
Studio Tupla's Kwila Sideboard was selected from among 56 entrants to receive the 'Best in Show' award in this year's Northern Woods Exhibition. Sponsored by the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild, the show was held in the atrium of Southdale Center in Edina, Minnesota from April 22nd through 25th. Each day, amateur and professional woodworkers greeted hundreds of visitors who came to take in this display of 65 pieces. To see photos and descriptions of all the pieces and their makers, go to the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild website and view the exhibition catalog. In addition, all of the award winning entries will soon be listed on the guild website.
Attending the exhibit for four days was exciting and certainly provided enough inspiration to begin thinking about my next piece. The camaraderie and good will shared by members of the guild working the exhibit made learning fun. It was an opportunity to discuss materials, tools, techniques and woodworking business with dedicated fellow woodworkers. I especially enjoyed meeting prospective clients who shared their thoughts on what they'd like to see in custom designed and custom made furniture. All in all it was a great show and I hope to see you there next year!
I appreciate all the constructive feedback I received while visiting with people over the course of the four day event. There were many fine pieces on display, so receiving the 'Best in Show' award for the Kwila Sideboard was a real honor. I'd like to close this post by sharing a few of the comments from the judges:
"I just think overall it just has an energy to it. The piece looks alive. It has a very nice organic feel to it and I think your attention to detail and your eye for detail is outstanding... I just think you did a great job, plus, the shop-made hinges [are] just icing on the cake... I'd love to have this piece in my house. Good job."
"Oh, this is a showstopper... Beautifully restrained, beautiful design, execution exquisite, first class cabinetry. I mean, I can't stop with the superlatives. Very, very, very nice."
"[I] immediately knew I had seen the Best in Show... This is of the highest quality... This is as nice as it gets... It's an honor and a pleasure being able to see this piece. Very, very well done."
If you've ever thought about commissioning a custom designed and custom made piece of furniture, but weren't sure how to go about it, this type of event can be a good way to begin. It allows you to see and touch a wide variety of furniture pieces and talk directly with the makers to get a feel for the value and the experience available in the world of custom made. Of course, you may contact Studio Tupla anytime of the year. I will work closely with you to design and make a piece uniquely suited to you and your home.
Hej då!
Craig
