During my very first day in a woodshop as an apprentice, I noticed the shelves in the office were filled with decades worth of Fine Woodworking issues. I knew nothing about woodworking before I applied for the apprenticeship, so I was overloaded with new information coming from every direction and was intimidated at the idea of pulling down those black-and-white magazines to add to the influx. I would pick up books that were recommended and the occasional back issue of a magazine, but fortunately, or unfortunately, the internet and social media had been my primary resource for, well, pretty much everything for many years by that point. It took me a while to truly appreciate the value of magazines, particularly in this field. The pages of Fine Woodworking are where brilliant and active woodworkers are out there sharing their how-to tricks and designs with the rest of us. Why had I not been paying attention sooner?

I would be lying if I said that reading Nancy Hiller’s articles and blog posts wasn’t now one of my favorite things to do. I was taught woodworking by an Arts and Crafts style furniture maker, so years ago I read her “Arts and Crafts with an English Accent” article and have referred back to it on many occasions. But it was in March of this year that my relationship with Fine Woodworking had a pivotal moment. When Nancy was given the reins of the FWW Instagram account for Women’s History Month it felt like some kind of public invitation welcoming me/us into the fold of this prestigious woodworking publication. I looked forward to each day of that week, eager to see the creations of women woodworkers, hear about experiences, and learn more about what was happening with folks like me out in this world. I have spent 10 years working with men in the shop and had considered myself lucky to be treated as an equal most days, but I’ve also had my fair share of moments that weren’t so lucky. There was something big about reading a long-form celebration of the history and work of women in wood on a platform like Fine Woodworking that shifted my sense of belonging on a much grander scale. It removed the intimidation from the pages of the magazine and made me appreciate more of the possibilities as I continue down this wood road.

My millennial brain is grateful for the online articles, blogs, podcast, and videos I can click through but, jokes aside, the content that Fine Woodworking creates has now become a constant resource for me as I continue my career as a woodworker and woodworking instructor.

It is incredibly common for me to flip through articles when I am starting a project, frustrated with design, or stumped on a method that isn’t quite working. The articles serve as an invaluable glimpse into the minds and techniques of talented makers who have likely faced (and solved) the same challenges I find myself up against. In the spirit of continuing to make traditionally underrepresented people feel excited to be making things, here are just a few articles I have read over and over for guidance and inspiration by women who have graced the pages of Fine Woodworking.

Larissa Huff​

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	Arts and Crafts with an English Accent Desk and wall cabinet make an elegant matched set.   Nancy R. Hiller
	Indigo Tray Table A removable parquetry tray transforms a simple, three-legged table. Heide Martin
	Handwork: Build a saw bench Megan Fitzpatrick builds a pair of versatile saw benches to make it easier to crosscut and rip boards, drill, finish, help support workpieces, and more. Megan Fitzpatrick
	A Box Worth Repeating A dovetailed piece this beautiful shouldn’t be one of a kind. Laura Mays
	How To Make Greenwood Shrink Pots Explore the magic of wet-dry joinery by making shrink pots with Maine woodworker Danielle Rose Byrd. Danielle Rose Byrd

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