Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 27

Thread: SMC Turner Interview - Bonnie Campbell

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Benton Falls, Maine
    Posts
    5,480

    SMC Turner Interview - Bonnie Campbell

    Name: Bonnie Kaye Campbell (started putting the middle name in after moving south, it seems to be 'expected')

    How young are you?
    I celebrated the 25th anniversary of my 21'st birthday this year.

    Physical description:

    Hmmm, how about chubby and just a tad frumpy. If I have to dress up I can. But my usual attire contributes to my 'frumpy' description. I'm usually running around in sweat pants and t-shirts.

    Bonehead 01.jpg

    Where is home?
    I've lived in Natchez, Mississippi for 7 years now. But 'home' would be our cabin in Church Hill, if we ever get a house built out there. I'm originally from Minneapolis, lived there 18 years. Then married in Oregon and lived there 18 years. On my second husband now . I have almost gotten used to these hot summers down here.

    Family information:
    I've been married to my husband for 7 years now. We met online in a chat program. Things just blossomed from there. Unfortunately his health isn't very good now, but we get by. I've got a daughter that's married and living in Oregon. My husband Jon has 4 kids, and 6 grandchildren.

    Do you have a website? If so, what's the URL?
    My website isn't very exciting. I try keeping it simple so it isn't too much of a pain to load up for dial-uppers…..

    Hey! Don't knock it, there be good stuff there.

    Vocation:
    I've done a lot of odd jobs in my time. Anything from animal sitting (chickens, dogs, cats and birds) to house cleaning, janitorial work, digging garlic to pickin' worms. And all the other odd jobs people can afford to get some fool to do Right now my job is taking care of my husband and making sure he’s happy

    Shop Overview:
    I have two lathes, a PSI midi and a (dare I say it?) Palmgren. I started with just hubby’s old table saw as peripheral, then added a small band saw, a bench top sander and a small drill press and a big dust collector. Of course they all work how and when they feel like. I know I have gremlins in my shop that dare me to expect machinery to work! I picked the PSI lathe because it seemed the most affordable at the time. I talked hubby into ordering it for my birthday a couple years ago. I told him how cheap of a hobby it would be. And I only needed a small lathe at the time because I started out making turkey calls. The shop is the storage room on the house. So it has it's own outside access. Also it had no electricity or heating/cooling. So hubby had it wired and put in a heat/ac pump.

    Bonnie wasn’t too generous with photo submissions for this interview, so I’ve taken the liberty swiping some from near and far for your edification and will scatter them throughout this posting. To wit:

    Bonehead 02.jpg

    How many turning tools do you have? Store bought; home made; favorites?
    I think I have about 22 turning tools (another skew on it's way!). I've bought two of the cheap PSI midi sets and my brother sent me a big set he found at a garage sale (brand unknown). I really like the PSI size for most of the things I do. My favorite tools right now are my skews and round nosed scraper. Yeah, I probably use them wrong, but as long as I get satisfactory results I'm happy, for now.

    How long have you been turning, and what got you started in the first place?
    I've been turning for about a year and a half - actual time. Would have been the full two years I had the lathe, but not long after getting the lathe I slipped outside. So was in a brace and on crutches for about four months. Wow! Was that a pain. I would go sit and look at the lathe once in awhile, dreaming of all my future masterpieces Not that they've happened since, but I can always hope! I started turning because of getting a turkey my first season hunting them. I belonged to a hunting forum where guys were making custom pot calls. After I got my turkey using a store bought call I decided I could make a call too. So, with a lot of patient help from the guys online they had me cranking out turkey calls before long. It was a good time to get in to making the calls. It paid for all my tools, the wiring job and heat/ac.

    What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
    Pecan Praline (I guess that's why I moved south lol)

    MMMmmm Pralines n’cream.

    What do you enjoy most about turning?
    I really enjoy how fast the process can be. And I'm always amazed at the grain in woods that don't look like they'd be interesting at all in the raw state.

    What do you enjoy the least about turning?
    That would HAVE to be sharpening the chisels. Well, cleaning up the mess comes in a very close second. Right now I just use my belt sander on my chisels (hence the cheap chisels).

    Bonehead 03.jpg

    Do you belong to a turning club?

    No, there aren't any around here. But some day I'd love to sneak over to Travis' place and peek in his shop window! His work is just awesome.

    How come you don't live in Wyoming?
    Now who wants to live in a state without trees?!?!? I did see a bush once when we traveled through there…..

    Bonehead 04.jpg Bonehead 05.jpg

    Hold one. Time to put in a new typewriter ribbon.
    Only the Blue Roads

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Benton Falls, Maine
    Posts
    5,480
    What's your favorite individual piece that you have turned, and why?
    I guess my favorite piece I've turned has to be the canary wood bowl I just did up recently. My liking for it has nothing to do with any luck I had turning it, but the wood grain was so nice.

    bonehead 06.jpg

    What's your favorite form that you turn?
    Anything that doesn't blow up on the lathe

    What do you not turn now that you want to - or plan to - in the future?
    I'd like to learn how to turn bigger bowls and HF.

    How do you take your Moxie? (Straight up? beer chaser? neat? with corn flakes?)
    I'd say straight up, using this definition of moxie lol "A quality of spirit that enables you to face danger of pain without showing fear" As a beverage, I think I'd have to pass!

    And there I was thinking I had a convert. Sheesh.

    What's your favorite form someone else turns?
    Wow! That's a hard question. There are so many fantastic turners on this site. I couldn't pick one (well, Travis….sucking up so he doesn't call the cops on me for spying in his window!) I like all the different forms since I love variety.

    bonehead 07.jpg

    What's your favorite individual piece someone else has turned, and why?
    Hard to pick an individual piece. I've drooled over 99.9% of what I've seen. The .1% I haven't drooled over are mine

    What's your favorite wood to work with and why?
    Red cedar. Probably because it turns so nicely and smells good too.

    What brought you to SMC?
    Marvin mentioned your site to me, so I stopped in to check it out. It was so nice seeing a site where people are so helpful.

    Bonehead 08.jpg

    What was your first post about? Or don't you remember?
    Have to admit to the age-old disease known as CRS

    Not to worry Bonnie. SMC keeps very accurate records of these things.

    Do you recall the first thread you started?
    Probably one on a bowl?

    Yup. You snuck your first and several subsequent efforts into this one.

    What's your favorite old thread on SMC?
    Without a doubt! "WARNING - Do not attempt to apply the Stinson..." I laughed myself silly every time I'd open it to read a new post. That thread is priceless.

    Bonehead 09.jpg

    Have you met or hung out with any fellow Creekers?
    Nope, not yet….

    Got any nicknames? How'd you get them?
    The only nickname I recall is 'bonehead'. I got that from my brother. Typical sibling rivalry nickname (especially since I'm smarter than him!)

    That’s not what he said.

    Now let's get a little deep... If you were a turning tool, what tool would you be and why?

    I'd have to say a skew. I'm pretty straight and to the point. And easy to get along with once people know my weird sense of humor.

    If you won the Irish Sweepstakes what part of your life would change?
    The part about trying to be frugal when buying wood and tools.

    Bonehead 10.jpg

    Thanks, Miss Bonnie Kaye. “twas a pleasure to meet y’all.
    Last edited by Andy Hoyt; 09-15-2007 at 7:22 PM.
    Only the Blue Roads

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Rio Rancho, NM
    Posts
    2,568
    Great interview, Bonnie. I don't envy where you live (hot and humid), but I do envy your talent. Good job!!

    Nancy (97 days)
    Nancy Laird
    Owner - D&N Specialties, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
    Woodworker, turner, laser engraver; RETIRED!
    Lasers - ULS M-20 (20W) & M-360 (40W), Corel X4 and X3
    SMC is user supported. http://www.sawmillcreek.org/donate.php
    ___________________________
    It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,675
    Good to get to know you, Bonnie!!
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Iquitos, Peru
    Posts
    796

    Good job

    It is really nice to see a lady showing her work and putting out her life for everyone to know. You are to be commended . VERY MUCH. You and a few other ladies are way out front of the pack to follow you.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Harvey, Michigan
    Posts
    20,801
    Thanks for taking the time to do the interview Bonnie! Always great to get to know a fellow Creeker just a little better!
    Steve

    “You never know what you got til it's gone!”
    Please don’t let that happen!
    Become a financial Contributor today!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    TX, NM or on the road
    Posts
    845
    I have known Bonnie as "Justannie" for over a year on a game call forum, but after this interview I think I finally know a little about the real Bonnie. Great interview Bonnie.

    Marvin

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Mason Michigan
    Posts
    1,949
    Thanks for the great interview Bonnie!

    Your turkey calls are very cool!
    A few hours south of Steve Schlumpf

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Conway, Arkansas
    Posts
    13,181
    Excellent interview Bonnie.!!!! Nice to know more about you!!!! We pass by the Natchez Trace every time we go back to 'Bammy to sit with the relatives fer a spell. Maybe we can look you up one of these days for a quick visit.
    Thanks & Happy Wood Chips,
    Dennis -
    Get the Benefits of Being an SMC Contributor..!
    ....DEBT is nothing more than yesterday's spending taken from tomorrow's income.

  10. #10
    Thanks everyone

    I know this is one of THE best sites online. Everyone is so helpful (and I don't hear... "Do a search" when I ask an old question)

    Just give a yell Dennis, it'd be good meeting you.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Goodland, Kansas
    Posts
    22,605
    Great interview Bonnie. Glad to know you better. Great looking calls.
    Bernie

    Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.

    To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone.



  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Roanoke Virginia
    Posts
    2,694
    Blog Entries
    2
    Cool interview Bonnie, nice to get to know you better.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Tom

    Turning comes easy to some folks .... wish I was one of them

    and only 958 miles SE of Steve Schlumpf

  13. #13
    Great to know more about you Bonnie. You have a standing invitation to come INSIDE the shop and do a lil turning anytime you get over this way. I might be doing the Fall show at the Natchez Convention Center, come by and look me up.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Lewiston, Idaho
    Posts
    28,504
    Nice to know more about you Bonnie! Great interview.
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  15. #15
    Cool Travis, let me know if you do the show. I'll make sure I stop by

Similar Threads

  1. Turner Interview Listing - Recent Inductee - Jack Mincey
    By Andy Hoyt in forum Turner's Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-09-2010, 4:27 PM
  2. SMC Turner Interview - Ed Scolforo
    By Andy Hoyt in forum Member Interviews
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 09-09-2007, 9:50 PM
  3. SMC Turner Interview - Jonathon Spafford
    By Andy Hoyt in forum Member Interviews
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 07-24-2007, 12:20 PM
  4. SMC Turner Interview - Karl Laustrup
    By Andy Hoyt in forum Member Interviews
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 10-08-2006, 1:10 PM
  5. Turner Interview: Keith Burns
    By Mark Cothren in forum Member Interviews
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 04-01-2006, 2:22 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •