Chrestensen Burghout Designs

"Creating Original Art Through Wood"

Editorial - March /07

by Toni Burghout

Maybe They Don't Know

March 2007

The June 2007 Issue of Creative Woodworks and Crafts magazine has been released. I always go to the site to preview what is in the magazine before I purchase it since it comes in a wrapper and I am unable to in the store.

The following was on the front page to promote the magazine.

“ Creative Woodworks & Crafts® magazine is the best source available
for original scroll saw and intarsia patterns, as well as many other kinds
of small woodworking projects. Every project and feature article is new
and exclusive — "see it FIRST in Creative Woodworks & Crafts®!"
Each issue features top-notch, original projects from many of the
world's leading designers. We do not "borrow" or excerpt material from
previously-published books; rather, all contents are fresh and exciting.
In addition to projects and patterns, you will also find in Creative Woodworks & Crafts®
many fascinating feature articles covering useful techniques, tips for working smarter and safer,
how to sell your work, how to get a good finish on your projects, and much more. Whether you are a professional woodcrafter or a hobbyist, you will find much in this publication to interest and inspire you to greater heights of woodworking achievement. Come join the fun!”

I was very surprised by this passage as I am sure many other scrollers are.

Maybe they don’t know that those of us who participate in various forums often see these “new and exclusive” projects before they appear in the magazine. Often the designer(s) will post progress photos. On at least three occasions, I’ve seen intarsia projects on three of the forums I participate on. The designer mentioned it would be in the CWC magazine and which issue long before it was.

Maybe they don’t know we’ve seen fretwork projects posted on another magazine's forum. Members of that forum would often compliment the designer and ask when that project was going to be available.

Maybe they don’t know a recent project they published is not as “fresh and exciting” as they might think. In fact, I’ve done a very similar wooden album back in 2005 (and it wasn’t a new concept then) and have had the project available on this site, granted that is not a previously-published book.

Maybe they don’t know many of their designers frequent the competition’s forum and spend time visiting the galleries there and reading contributing posts.

For a magazine to come up with fresh new ideas they have to rely on the contributing designers. As a designer it can be very difficult to come up with things that simply have not ever been done before. The late Patrick Spielman has covered so much relating to scrolling (alone or with other artists) in countless books how does today’s designer complete? Was this the case with their star contributor who unfortunately is involved in some intense controversy?

Maybe they don’t know how the artists who he “borrowed” from feel about that. Maybe they don’t have any idea of any of this.

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© 2005 - 2007 Sue Chrestensen and Toni Burghout