SDFWA

San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association

Eye Openers

Opener: Motoko Smith, Oct 25

Join us at the October Eye Opener to see Motoko Smith, a woodturner who works from her home shop in San Diego where she blends woodworking with other crafts, to create works from salt cellars and spoons to designing stools, cabinets, and more unique pieces.

Saturday, October 25, 2025

8am. Coffee and donuts

9am. Special speaker

10:30am. Digital SIG

Eye Opener: Chairs for the Community, Aug 30

Saturday, August 30, 2025
8am. Coffee, donuts, brag table.
9am. Special speaker
10:30am. Digital SIG

Jim Strawn will bring in ~50 chairs made at this year’s DIW for us to finish. He’ll discuss how to prepare the chairs for finishing, the two different finish option (water-based and oil-based), and application of the finishes.

You can help by taking a chair home to finish and give back to our community. Each person who takes a chair will receive a one small jar of the finish of their choice.

Sorry, no photos this month.

Eye Opener: Meet the Craftsmen, July 26

Join us at this month’s Eye Opener where three of the award winning craftsmen from this year’s Design in Wood Exhibition will showcase their work. They will be sharing their inspiration as well as challenges and insights.

Eye Opener: Puzzle Boxes, Rio Chilson

Eye Opener: June 28 The presenter at June’s Eye Opener event has a puzzling demeanor. That is to say he likes puzzles, specifically, puzzle boxes. Rio Chilson is a 32 year old mechanical engineer working for the DoD. As he was seeking a way to stay entertained during the 2020 lockdown, he wandered into a rabbit hole leading to puzzle boxes. He purchased a few and became hooked. With his strong background in 3D modeling and CAD, he decided to take on the challenge of creating his own puzzle box. With little to no woodworking experience, he built his first design and has since improved his designs and workmanship with the help of other makers and designers. During his presentation he will share how he got started, and provide an

Eye Opener: Secret Compartments, Werner Pyka

Saturday, April 26, 20258:00 AM Doors open, social time9:00 AM Presentations10:30 AM Digital SIG Secret or hidden compartments can add a layer of interest and intrigue to any project. At the April Eye Opener event Werner Pyka will share his approach to hidden compartments and show some fascinating examples. Werner Pyka is a retired engineer who watched his buddies design airplanes, laser systems and other cool things while he was doing schedules, budgets and reports. To scratch his creative itch, he turned his inventive cravings to adding hidden compartments to his woodworking projects. (They’re all “hidden” and not “secret” because, like all woodworkers, the urge to reveal cool details is just too great.) At the Eye Opener, Werner will present photos of some of his

Eye Opener: Maloof Foundation

Eye Opener:Maloof Foundation Saturday, March 29, 20258:00 AM Doors open, social time9:00 AM Presentations10:30 AM Digital SIG We are excited to welcome a member of the Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts to our March Eye Opener. The Maloof Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to perpetuate excellence in craftsmanship, encourage artists, and make available to the public the treasure house the Maloofs lovingly created. Sam Maloof, an exceptional craftsman, is best known for his chairs and has left a legacy of artistic expression and excellence. Please join us at the March Eye Opener to learn more. SDFWA Shop5360 Eastgate Mall, Suite ESan Diego, CA 92121 Members welcome!

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.

Agree
Disagree