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Martha Collins


Martha

Bio

Leaving graduate school in the early 1970's, I envied friends who had a cabinet shop. It resonated deep with me that at the end of the day there was something made that did not exist before. I was able to be trained by the State of Michigan as a cabinetmaker. Title 9 had just gone through I was the first woman in this program. It was wonderful! Two and half years of instruction, everyday 8 to 3.

I also apprenticed in a shop where wood jewelry was made. I learned about the lamination of exotic woods and how to dye maple veneer. It was a "what if" moment when we discovered how to make the Helical Mosaic Chevron Bracelet.

We had taken a fletch of rosewood veneer and shifted the pieces, laminated and turned it. Upon examination the maestro of the shop said " It looks like I made my own grain" and the other apprentice said " What if we did this with a laminate material"!!

And thus it began: this incredible journey exploring this wonderful process of laminating different specie of wood and dyed veneers and then turning it on a lathe.

In 1983 my family moved to Sequim to a house and shop that I designed and built. Here along with cabinets and furniture I produced a line of bracelets that were offered in galleries along the West coast. In 1995 I worked for Admiral Marine in Port Townsend, WA building the interiors of yachts. It was challenging good work and I enjoyed it.

Since 2000 I have been back in my own shop, producing a full line of jewelry, bowls and tableware. My work is shown at the finest craft shows in the country, The 2020 Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington DC, The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia PA, the American Craft Exposition, Glencoe, Il.

I enjoy teaching and taught at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking for 10 years. I have presented to several Northwest chapters of the AAW and at the AAW Segmenter's Symposium in 2018.
Classes and seminars are listed on my website www.studiomarthacollins.com

Creations

Bowl1 Bowl2 Bangle Chevron2

Presentations

  • Joys of Lamination 1
    Martha will show various lamination techniques she has used throughout her career. Combining the colors of exotic woods and dyed veneer can enhance and excite any turning project, perfect for bottle stoppers, bowls, and jewelry.
  • Joys of Lamination 2
    Expanding upon the discussion in Lamination1, Martha will show more complex and different techniques including stave lamination, modified stave lamination and compilation lamination. The modified stave lamination will show a different pattern on the inside of the bowl than the outside. The image below shows the angle lines going to the right on the outside of the bowl and to the left on the inside.

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