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Meet Judy McDonald:
Woodworker Extraordinaire
PHOTOS BY BURT ANES
For the past several decades, Judy McDonald has been perfecting the art of woodworking. She learned the craft from
her grandfather, a master carpenter. Above, Judy’s handcrafted kitchen island, made from alder wood.
By Ginger Przybys Texas. Not long after they were married, to undertake a decorating project to
she and Pace purchased a 1911 home in compliment the lake home’s personality.
What do George Nakashima, town which was in need of a lot of work. No cedar shutters were available
Sam Maloof, Kaare Klint Under the guidance of her grandfather (a commercially, so after studying how the
and Judy McDonald have in master carpenter), Judy and Pace tackled shutters were constructed, she measured
common? They all are talented workers the work themselves. the smallest window which was in her
of wood! And while the first three kitchen, made a list of materials needed
mentioned are classified among the top Judy’s creative vision didn’t stop with and began the project. The first set of
10 best woodworkers in the world, Judy their home, however. In 1983 the shutters turned out well, and eventually
McDonald is recognized by family, friends McDonalds built a small weekend home the entire lake house was outfitted with
and Woodworkers Club members for her on Lake Palestine. Judy designed the beautifully handcrafted cedar plantation
stunning creations right here in Sun City home, drew the plans and then had it shutters. When the McDonalds decided
Texas. built as an unfinished shell. With the help to move to Sun City Texas in 2015 to be
of their 13-year-old son, Judy and Pace near their daughter, their finished lake
A woman of petite stature and demure put in insulation, much of the electrical house was sold to their son.
persona, Judy challenges all preconceived and plumbing and finished the interior
notions about a woman’s aptitude with with cedar. The creative woodworking involved in her
table saws, routers or sanders. Before her home renovations ignited in Judy a desire
natural ability to work with wood was Armed with the first-hand carpentry to make items she could not find at Lowes,
unleashed, she and her husband Pace experience and confidence she gained from Home Depot or anywhere else. Judy knew
owned a real estate company in Palestine, her grandfather, in 2002 Judy decided
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62 | SUNRAYS APRIL 2017
