Build-off held to support women in woodworking

Rubio Monocoat USA, in partnership with Festool USA, recently sponsored the 2023 All-Women’s Build-Off at the Florida School of Woodwork in Tampa, Fla. The event included two all-female teams that competed to build two pieces of furniture for a raffle to support women in woodworking.

“The 2023 All-Women’s Build-Off was a special, inaugural event. Not only did many talented women from across the country join together to build furniture in such a short amount of time, but all proceeds from raffling off the furniture they crafted will also go towards scholarships to help educate more women wanting to get into woodworking,” say Rubio Monocoat’s content marketer Natalie Dove.

During the two-day event, the teams were led by Alma Villalobos of Pink Soul Studios and Amanda Russell of Sawdust Woman. Each team consisted of seven total team members from across the U.S.

Team Villalobos crafted a white oak bar cabinet that featured a clean, modern design with mosaic cabinet door fronts. The mosaic wood pieces composing the doors were finished in a variety of colors to add interest to the cabinet.

Team Russell crafted a contemporary bar cart made from walnut that features brass detailing on the cart’s handle, lower storage shelf, as well as on the castors.

The pieces were raffled off to benefit the Florida School of Woodwork’s non-profit Friends of the Florida School of Woodwork, where all proceeds will go towards scholarships for women wanting to learn and develop in the woodworking trade. Wood for the projects was provided by Devika Maharaj of Central Wood Products in Winter Garden, Fla.

Learn more at rubiomonocoatusa.com.  

This article was originally published in the February 2024 issue.