Woodworking Raffle 2025
Effective March 12 – April 12

The Northeastern Woodworkers Association created special items from an historic black walnut tree. These items were displayed at the NWA Showcase on March 29-30. Raffle tickets were available to members and public at Showcase or online until Saturday, April 12th, drawing was held on Tuesday, April 15th.

Winners
Kumiko Coffee Table – Lee Hilt
Native American Style Flutes –
Sheri Lullo, Learay Silvia, Elizabeth Ritiau

Black walnut used in these items were milled from logs of a tree planted circa 1820 at Union College by Eliphelet Nott, president of the college from 1804 to 1866. He was the longest serving college president in the United States. Nott was also president of RPI from 1829 to 1845 and has many other accomplishments for which he has been recognized. Nott Road in Rexford, where his farm was located, Nott Street, Nott Terrace and Nott Memorial on the college campus are named for him. The proud owners of these items own not only the historical memento but also will have an interesting piece of history to describe these items made from this black walnut.

1. Kumiko Coffee Table
$20/ticket, $50/three tickets
Kumiko is a traditional Japanese craft that involves intricate woodworking techniques to create beautiful and delicate patterns without the use of nails. Kumiko woodworking requires a high level of precision and skill, as pieces must fit together perfectly to create the desired patterns. The pattern in this table is “Asanoha” (hemp leaf) that symbolize growth and prosperity.

• Base and Top Frame: ~200 year old Black Walnut
• Kumiko Panels: Poplar and Black Walnut
• Two kumiko panels can be rotated to alter the design.
• Finish: Polyurethane
• Dimensions: 20½” x 37” x16½”
• Include ¼” glass cover

2. Three Native American Style Flutes (One winner will be selected for each flute.)
$5/ticket. $12/three tickets

Flutes have been used by indigenous peoples for about 1,000 years. Unlike other wind instruments it is an easy instrument to play. These flutes are characterized by having two air chambers; a slow air chamber, and a sound chamber. Air is directed from the slow chamber to the sound hole by means of a block or fetish strapped to the top of the flute. Resonance is created by a set of finger holes over the sound chamber. People can create their own music on the spot because its intrinsic scale is pentatonic minor (no wrong notes). The three flutes produced by Jon Hedman are tuned to the keys of F#m, Gm, and Dm.

The winners of these three Native American Flutes will not only have an interesting historical memento, but will also be able to play beautiful music with an instrument made from 200 year old black walnut.