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1 week ago

So, I have been at the Marc Adams School of woodworking for over a week so far. This school is the largest woodworking and crafts school in North America, offering approximately 250 classes per year with 130 different instructors from 20 countries. The instructors are a who’s who in the world of woodworking.For the next two months, I have the honor of being the “intern” at the school. My responsibilities involve assisting in the cafeteria – from making coffee in the morning to cleaning that part of the facility in the evenings – and with assisting with anything that the staff requires. I am also taking LOTS of classes, and hanging out with some very knowledgeable and talented people.Last week, I took a class taught by Alex Snodgrass on making 3D Cutting Boards. These were no ordinary cutting boards. These were boards with elaborate patterns and involving multiple parts and glue-ups. And… All these were created with a band saw.In the world of woodworking, Alex is the foremost authority on band saws. He has patented seven different devices that make using a band saw easier and more accurate. Taking a class with him meant that one of the goals was to perfectly tune up and get familiar with this tool.Alex proved to be a remarkable teacher. He explained the intricacies of the band saw, and made us tune a band saw that we would each had to use in class. (Each student had their own saw for the class). We then would tune, adjust and use the saw for a day to create the 3D boards. Upon returning the following day to class, we would discover that Alex had messed with our saws the night before. For instance, I would come to class to find out that Alex had pulled my saw apart, by removing the blade and making a mess or all the bearings and moving parts. We would then have to readjust the apparatus so that we could use it again for the day, only to find out that every night he would mess it again and made us tune it up over and over again throughout the week.Not only was he a great teacher, but a fabulous human being as well.The week went by quickly, and I am currently taking a furniture class. I’ll tell you more about it in future reports. … See MoreSee Less

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Nielsen Magic

2 weeks ago

Hello folks!My experience at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking officially started on Tuesday, September 3.I am the intern at the school, which means that I have chores to do at the beginning and end of the day.My days start at 7:00 am and finish at around 10:00 pm. Currently, I am taking a Cutting Board class with the legendary Alex Snodgrass. These are not your run of the mill boards. Instead they are 3D cutting boards with patterns and designs created with wood. Alex’s tool of choice for these projects is the bandsaw. Not only has he taught us to properly set up and tune the tool, but has given us innumerable tips and tricks of the trade involving making complex boards.So far, I am having a blast!The video shows process images of the first board we made. It is an elaborate clover design, made out of 82 pieces of wood cut and glued in a specific pattern.#masw #marcadamsschool #internlife #ilovewoodworking #3dcuttingboard … See MoreSee Less

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Nielsen Magic

3 weeks ago

Hope you good folks are having a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!I left Las Vegas on Tuesday, August 27, and in three days I drove approximately 1850 miles crossing Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois, to visit a few friends in the Chicago area.The visits were magnificent. I saw friends I haven’t seen in years, and it was great to hang out and catch up.I saw Bill Hunter, who is Norm’s oldest living friend. Bill is a magician who met Norm in the 1950s, and they remained lifetime friends. He is currently 101 years old, and sharp and active as a tack. He drove me around, and was a superb host to me in his home. He worked until he was 97, and at his age still performs magic for all those who ask.Spent half a day with my magic pals Bill Cook, and his magic Mom extraordinaire, Chris. Bill and his family are some of the most artistic and creative people I know. Bill is a full time magician who works locally and in cruise ships around the world.Saw my friend Victor Moreno. We went to the same school. His older sister Noemí graduated with me in high school. He graduated a year later. He is currently a classical pianist in the Chicago area. To make a living he not only plays in private engagements, but teaches music and has a few regular churches where he plays. We went “church hopping” on Saturday. From an Adventist Church, to the 4:00 pm mass at a Catholic Church where he played during the service. This meant that I even I went to mass (and the church did not fall down)! Lol! To my surprise, his sister Noemí showed up. She just moved into the area two days ago.Finally, I got to hang out with my pals Steve Chezaday, Carol Hendrix and their family. It is always great to see Steve’s Mom and his brother, Jeff. Steve is one of the busiest magicians in the area, he is also an amazing craftsman and a really nice guy. I am lucky to have them as friends.Today I take off to my final destination in Franklin, Indiana. Franklin is located outside of Indianapolis, and it is the home of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, where I will be for two months. … See MoreSee Less

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Nielsen Magic

4 weeks ago

It is official, folks!I am closing Nielsen Magic for two months, and will re-open the business on November 6, 2024.The reason: I am going back to school! 😀 This year I will be the intern at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking (MASW) in Indiana. This will give me the opportunity to work at the school and take lots of classes in many aspects of woodworking and craftsmanship. I will be learning about furniture making, carving, woodturning, finishing, inlaying, and even to tune up my hand tools. Through the years I have learned a lot, but the more I learn, the more I realize how vast and deep this subject is.I found out about this school during the 2020 pandemic. The world was closed at that time, except for a few states in the country. Indiana was open for business, and I took the opportunity to further my education then and every following year since. The MASW is the largest crafts school in the country. They teach about 250 classes per year with over 150 world class instructors. The instructors are a who’s who of the top craftsmen in the world. Classes are intense with a schedule that provides 8 – 10 hours of hands-on instruction per day. When one takes a week class, one can easily spend 30 – 60 hours learning new skills and techniques on a specific subject. I do become better at what I do each time I attend. To find more about the school go to: www.marcadams.comSince I am a one-woman operation, do know that any orders that come in will be shipped promptly upon my return. And no, the world won’t end because Nielsen Magic will be closed for two months. Lol!You are welcome to follow me on social media – here on Facebook and on Instagram (@nnmagic.lupe) – to check out my adventures and how I document the experience.Hope you have a good rest of the summer folks! Take care and see you in cyberspace!#masw #summerinternship #llovelearning #skillbuilding #roadtrip #marcadamsschool … See MoreSee Less

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Nielsen Magic

1 month ago

I am still alive… Alas! I have been extremely busy lately..Since the Magic Live Convention, I have been getting ready for my upcoming internship at the Marc Adam’s School of Woodworking (more about that on a later post…). I have been at the shop for 10 hours per day milling wood and preparing all the materials I will need for my adventure..As I look at social media, I realized that I forgot to post the concluding video on the manufacturing and assembly of the last batch of Okito-Nielsen Chinese Sticks. I finished these several weeks ago before the convention, and shipped many to those who requested them..Here is the final video of the process. From beginning to end, it took me 110 hours to complete 24 sets of Sticks. It was indeed a labor intensive task.. Most of my non-magic friends are curious about what the effect is all about. The best performer of this classic magic trick was a magician called Roy Benson. Here is a link to his performance:youtu.be/xOfzp4Wt-pE?si=7wV4WZeFow3jAhuY.The Sticks are still in stock in our website:nnmagic.com/store/magic_products/magic_products_okito_nielsen/okito-nielsen-chinese-sticks/.Have a great week everyone!#nielsenmagic #handcrafted #okitonielsen #chinesesticks #handcrafted … See MoreSee Less

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