I really had fun recently doing Rogers Daytime with
George
Tsioutsioulas and Jacqueline Betterton (that's Jacqueline on the left holding the jigsaw) and it gave me a chance to visit my home town - Richmond Hill, Ontario - and stop by Joe's Hamburgers for the best falafel this side of the Atlantic!
(Photos - Mag discusses Tools that Rock! with EZ-Rock's morning team, Stu and Colleen)
Mag is bringing her Tools That Rock! Innovation Tour to the National Home Show Thursday April 10th at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Please join us and get in on the FREE GIVEAWAYS from world class manufacturers like Devine Color, Hang & Level, Rubbermaid and Concrobium Mold Control.
Mag's entertaining Tools That Rock! presentation will help you conquer homeowner exasperation this spring. From interior painting, moisture problems, lack of storage and the corker - hanging artwork - Mag demonstrates some of the world's most innovative new products and delivers insider tips.
The National Home Show runs till April 13 at the Direct Energy Center (on the Exhibiton grounds) at 1926 Lakeshore Boulevard West. With 42,000 square feet of inspiration, admission is cheap at $12!
Continue reading "Tools That Rock! at the National Home Show" »
This is the show from my perspective on stage. Nice crowd don't you think?
Testing the answer to the, "What is your favourite saw?" question. A Japanese style pull saw of course!
Friday at the workshop show with my favourite crowd; mostly high school kids and hobbyists.
I love meeting people one on one.
Two more days at the show! Hope to see you there.
This is my first full table leg that I turned on my new Delta lathe! Made from laminated bamboo plywood (available at www.silkroadtoronto.com - call and speak to Ian), it's heavy as heck but feels like silk. The two-inch tenon on top fits into a bamboo mortise underneath the desktop. More photos when I've made 3 more legs and got the whole thing put together at this weekend's Canadian Home Workshop Show. I call my leg design a Pantaloon Leg because it's based on the bloomers we used to wear in Road to Avonlea. 
The Canadian Home Workshop Show is almost here, and that means I have to finish the items I'm presenting at the show. My main project is a curvy desk made out of bamboo plywood from SilkRoad Bamboo, and I'm making the desk legs out of laminated bamboo sheets. I absolutely love my new Delta cast iron bed 36-inch lathe - you wouldn't believe how hypnotic wood-turning is.
By the way, I couldn't find any information online about turning bamboo on a lathe, so I'm winging it. If you've tried it, please send me a quick 'hi' - I have some questions for you! Thanks - mag@toolgirl.com
The staggering brilliance of the modern lathe! For my very first solo woodturning project, I made the beginnings of a pine candlestick. But I've got to try some harder woods because I'm getting set to work on laminated bamboo - I know, that's a bit weird, but I think it could look good. Could.
The truck bearing my new lathe arrived and there was no way the driver was going to chance our driveway, which is currently a 450-foot trough of snow-filled glory. So we 4-wheeled it down to the end of the driveway and Daniel helped the driver load the beastie into the back of our pick-up truck. (It looks as though they're
transferring a dead body, but it's just woodworking equipment. Really.)
It snowed two feet overnight. Hundreds of songbirds came up from the valley to feed at the ever-overflowing birdfeeders. (I had to wear snowshoes to make it to the feeders this morning!) The birds love the bowl-shaped feeders (made from hard-shelled gourds) on top of the fence. 
An excellent entertainment center for furry goofballs.
I've been quiet for weeks. Usually it's because I don't have anything interesting to say, but this time is a little different. Soon there will be some distillations into meaningful blog content, but just so you know, here are the things I'm immersed in:
NEW TOOLGIRL VIDEO - The coolest picture hanging tool ever!
(2.52 minute viewing time)
Mag Ruffman: How Hard Can It Be?
My book is now available all over the U.S. - full of ribaldry and cool projects. If you read this book, you'll wind up both inspired and fearless, or at least entertained.
