A woodworking community of learning and craftsmanship.

2024 DIW Entry Information

The Fair dates are – June 12th through July 7th, 2024.

Design In Wood will be as before, an exhibition of fine woodworking with many opportunities for prize money. We have 26 classes with 1st through 4th awards in each class. In addition, there are more awards from local and national donors including $1,000 for Best of Show from Fine Woodworking Magazine. So, get busy on your entry. There are many chances for all. 

You can refer to an 2024 Entry Information Brochure for detailed entry information. 

Scroll down to see the award category descriptions.

SHOW YOUR WORK

This is an invitation to show off your woodworking skills. Enter your projects and be recognized for your efforts. Compete for some of the over $20,000 in prizes and have over one million people see your work.

FAQ

Who can enter?

The Design in Wood Exhibition is open to all interested adult woodworkers. Wood projects must have been created by the artist whose name appears on the entry form. Student work not allowed.

How many entries can I submit?

A maximum of three entries, all classes combined, may be submitted per entrant. Works previously displayed in this Exhibition are not eligible.

Is there a fee?

The processing fee is $25.00 per wood project entered. Processing fees are non-refundable.

How do I enter?

On-line registration is required; apply now to exhibit at Design in Wood.

Late entries will not be accepted. No faxes will be accepted either.

Entry Registration: All entries must be submitted on-line through the SD County Fair website by 11:59 pm Pacific Time on April 28, 2024. Digital photographs must accompany each entry along with fees paid by credit card. There are step-by-step instructions to guide you through the on-line entry process. Check the Entry Information Brochure for complete entry information, conditions, awards, and other details.

If you need help with photography or the entry process – you may also make an appointment with the Fair Entry Office and bring in your project. A staff member will take a digital photo and assist with your online entry.

The people at the fairgrounds are available to help with entries. You may phone the Exhibits Office at 858-755-1161 ext. 2409, Mon-Fri 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or email entry@sdfair.com. Additionally, you may always contact me with your questions.

Important dates:

Entry deadline: April 30, 2024 at 8:00 pm

Notification of Acceptance: Notifications will be emailed by May 3, 2024

Shipped Entries May Arrive: Friday May 10-Friday May 17.

Entry delivery day – for accepted entries: May 21, 2024 – 12 noon to 8:00 pm

Awards & Reception: June 5, 2024 – 7 to 9 pm

Fair runs from June 12, 2024 through July 7, 2024 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays in June)

Entry pickup day: Tuesday July 9, 2024 – 12 noon to 8:00 pm

Fair Planning Committee

Our Fair Planning Committee meetings are held on the first Saturday of the month from January through May. They are being held at the SDFWA Member Shop. An agenda will be sent prior to the meeting. Our monthly planning meetings are to review important dates and activities for the upcoming fair in June. We go over any changes from last year, schedule any work to be done for the coming year and plan our theme display. It takes a lot of volunteers from several different guilds to make this show happen each year, so we could use your help. If you would like to be involved, please email or call me.

Jim Strawn
Design In Wood Coordinator

Time to start working on your entries for the 2024 Design In Wood show.

 
The following is a list of Entry Classes:
  • Class 001 Contemporary Woodworking – Furniture – Furniture styles that are typically made from 1940 forward and are easily recognizable as modern or contemporary.
  • Class 002 Contemporary Woodworking – Accessories – Smaller modern items that complement furniture. They would either sit on furniture or hang on the wall. Examples are Jewelry Boxes, Wall Cabinets, Lamps, etc. 
  • Class 003 Traditional Woodworking – Furniture – Furniture which is easily recognizable as following a style or period. Examples are Queen Anne, Craftsman, Mission, Art Deco, Shaker, Federal style etc. are all considered traditional furniture.
  • Class 004 Traditional Woodworking – Accessories – Smaller woodworking made in a traditional style – items that complement furniture. They would either sit on furniture or hang on the wall. Examples are Jewelry Boxes, Wall Cabinets, Lamps, etc.
  • Class 005 Art Furniture – Art furniture does not have to be functional. It may not have any purpose other than to be displayed and enjoyed, just like a painting. It can be functional or not. It may even not be furniture in the strictest sense or the word. Examples are woodworking items that do not fit into the Contemporary or other classes may be considered candidates for the Art class 
  • Class 006 Chairs – Furniture Made for Seating – Anything made for sitting. Examples are chairs, sofas, lounge chairs, stools, ottomans, etc.
  • Class 007 Furniture Designed & Executed by Computer – Laser and/or CNC Furniture that has been made with CNC or Laser machinery, regardless of style or function. Examples are desks, beds, chairs, any furniture made with digital tools.
  • Class 008 Made for Children – Anything made for children. Examples are Rocking Horses, cribs, Toys, cradles, chairs, etc.
  • Class 009 Model BuildingScale – Any models built to scale. Examples are boats, ships, cars, etc. built to a scale of ¼”: 1′ or 1″: 20′, etc.
  • Class 010 Model BuildingNot to Scale. Models not built to any scale.
  • Class 011 Musical Instruments – Any musical instrument. Examples are guitars, drums, violins, bass, flutes, etc.
  • Class 012 Clocks – Any clock.
  • Class 013 Veneering/Marquetry – Furniture – Any furniture that has marquetry as its most pronounced feature. Examples are beds, chests, nightstands, tables, etc.
  • Class 014 Veneering/Marquetry – Art – Anything using thin pieces of wood (veneer) to make a stand alone picture and executed by traditional (hand) techniques.
  • Class 015 Veneering/Marquetry Art – Designed & Executed by Computer – Laser and/or CNC – Pictures or objects executed with digital tools, CNC or Laser.
  • Class 016 Wood Turning – Face Work: Perpendicular to the ways of the lathe – Turnings with the grain or figure of the work mounted perpendicular to the ways of the lathe.
  • Class 017 Wood Turning – Center Work: Parallel to the ways of the lathe – Turnings with the grain or figure of the work mounted parallel to the ways of the lathe.
  • Class 018 Wood Turning – Embellished/Mixed Media – Turnings where the piece has been enhanced or decorated in some manner.
  • Class 019 Wood Turning – Laminated/Segmented – Turnings where the object has been constructed with segments laminated together and turned.
  • Class 020 Wood Carving – Animals – All animals that are not birds or marine animals.
  • Class 021 Wood Carving – Birds
  • Class 022 Wood Carving – Marine Animals
  • Class 023 Wood Carving – Human Form
  • Class 024 Wood Carving – Open – All carvings not in the other classes.
  • Class 025 Scroll Saw – Intarsia – Intarsia is a woodworking technique that uses varied shapes, sizes, and species of wood fitted together to create a mosaic-like picture with an illusion of depth. … After selecting the specific woods to be used within the pattern, each piece is then individually cut, shaped, and finished. 
  • Class 026 Scroll Saw – Fretwork (pierced & unpierced) Fretwork is an interlaced decorative design or picture that is cut out with a fretsaw, coping saw, jigsaw or scroll saw. 

 

Craftsman Referral Terms

BACKGROUND
The San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association (SDFWA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the education, promotion, and execution of the principles of fine woodworking.
The SDFWA frequently receives requests from people seeking the service of a woodworker. Therefore, although custom woodworking for hire is not the purpose of our organization, we offer this referral service to the public so that they might connect with a woodworker.

SCOPE
SDFWA does not screen or warrant the skills or work of any craftsman. The public should use their own discretion and due diligence before hiring any craftsman, from any source, including this one.
The sole role of SDFWA in this referral service is limited to providing our member woodworkers with your completed form. It is up to each craftsman to initiate a contact with the requester.

PROCEDURE
After a requester submits a project, the form will be emailed to our list of participating craftsmen. If a craftsman is interested in the project, they will contact the client directly, and a two-way conversation can begin.

As the craftsmen themselves choose which projects to respond to, this means that it is probable that some project requests will receive no response. If you do not receive a response in a reasonable time, please submit your request again, using the provided referral form.
Note that contacting SDFWA directly will not achieve the desired results.

DISCLAIMER
By agreeing to these Terms, and by continuing to submit this Referral Form, and by utilizing one or more of the services of any of these craftsmen, you are agreeing to contract exclusively with that individual craftsman and to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the SDFWA Organization, its officers, officials, employees and volunteers from any and all claims, injuries, damages, losses or suits including attorney fees, arising out of or in connection with the performance of this agreement, and any and all failures, damages, or otherwise negative outcomes caused directly or indirectly by the craftsmen you employ to do any project initiated by this Form. This does not preclude you from pursuing legal remedies from the individual craftsman that you employ. But any remedy you pursue is restricted to that individual craftsman, and does not include the SDFWA organization or any of its volunteer members.