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My Journey As A Creative Designer - Woodworking and Beyond

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7M views 13K replies 477 participants last post by  teaklight12 
#1 ·
Beginning this Blog

I recently was referred to this site by Steve Good, who has a wonderful, comprehensive scroll saw forum and blog page. Although I have been doing woodworking for almost fifteen years, I have finally reached a point in my life where I am able to make it the main focus of my activities. Since my life revolves around my woodworking and business, I believe that this blog will reflect that very clearly, although it will also be somewhat personal. But I think that woodworking is very personal anyway.

It has been a long journey to get to this point. There have been many good times and some not-so-good ones, but I appreciate every single step because I think that if even one thing was different, I would not be where I am today or who I am inside. It isn't only the positive events in our lives that make us what we are. Many times it is the negative things that mold and shape us and teach us to look at things in a certain way. I try to remember that when things are tough and move ahead.

I have learned that there is only one thing we can be certain of in life: change. Whether things are good or bad, we need to hold on and appreciate the moment, as we can be certain that things will be different before long. This helps us to not only appreciate the good days and things we have now, but also hang on when things are not so good, as we know that they will be different soon. I like this philosophy.

I liked reading about the new contest offered by this site in the newsletter. Fluidity. It is a perfect theme for projects because our existence itself is fluid. I am anxious to see what interpretations are going to be, as I am sure everyone else is. It will be an adventure for all of us for sure.

So why am I starting this blog? The other day I received a call from a customer who had a question for me. He kept saying how surprised he was that I answered my own phone. I have worked as a Contributing Editor for Creative Woodworks and Crafts Magazine for the past 13+ years and I guess in the scroll saw community, many people have heard of me. It seemed so odd to me that he would think I would have a secretary or staff. We kind of laughed about it, but it really got me thinking about his interpretation of my life. We all tend to form opinions of others from very limited information. We see the outside of a person as they are presented to us and many times are very quick to categorize that person in our minds. I do it myself.

But in my years of talking with and dealing with many people from many different places, I have come to realize that people are like icebergs. We only see the tip of them and below the surface is a vast, complex side of them that is the basis of their actions and thinking.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has traveled a journey. No two people have traveled identical paths. Thus, we are all unique in our thoughts, actions and creative processes. I enjoy hearing others stories. I think that listening to others and hearing their experiences helps us to understand each other. With that understanding, we learn.

I have used the phrase "Knowledge Is Power" in my signature since I have been on the web. Once someone told me that they thought it was quite arrogant of me to say that. He thought that I was implying that I knew more than anyone else and he found that offensive. I told him he couldn't be more wrong. My interpretation of the phrase is that our QUEST for knowledge EMPOWERS us to make better decisions about things in our lives. We are never finished learning. I learn every single day from my friends, colleagues, fellow woodworkers and students. We never know when we will learn something new. Sometimes you can learn from even a seemingly insignificant event. I feel the key is that we need to be open to learning.

Everyone has a story.

So I will close today with those thoughts. I don't know how often I will post here, but I hope to make it a habit. I don't know if anyone will even read this, but somehow it doesn't matter. Writing is a key in self-awareness. By writing things down we categorize our actions and it helps (me anyway) to keep my life organized. Organization leads to peace as far as I am concerned.

I am quite overwhelmed with the scope of the site here. I am still getting my footings and lurking around. I think for the first several days or maybe even weeks I will be more of a passive observer while I find my comfortable position among the others here. I want to upload the new things I am working on here. Like everyone else, I am anxious to see the response they get. I love seeing others projects and could spend my days just looking.

Although it is quite intimidating, the forum looks like it is full of friendly, knowledgeable and wonderfully creative people.

I think I am going to like it here.
 
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#6,793 ·
Technical Difficulties

In a world of high technology, things are bound to get messed up sometimes. Such is my little world here.

A couple of days ago, Kieth got a new mouse. Like many of our devices, it is cordless. Since then, I have been having troubled with my Logitech cordless keyboard, which I absolutely love. It seems that it decides at certain times that random keys just aren't going to work.

I spent the morning downloading the latest drivers and doing other acrobatics like moving the transmitter around to a different USB port, etc. I MAY have solved the problem, but only time will tell.

The problem here is that we probably have five to six cordless devices associated with our computers. Not to mention the cordless phone. Everything is lined up on the same wall and I think that probably somewhere the lines of communication are getting crossed. Things may just be "confused"

With that said, I am going to keep things short today, since I already spent my writing time this morning playing around with computers. I just about finished the pattern packet for the new dimensional ornaments and today I am working on one more set of embellished ornaments, as well as drawing up a new free ornament that I will be offering on the site and other places. So all is good as long as I can still type. (Lord knows I don't need anything to make my typing worse!)

Cat Carnivore Font Felidae Rectangle


I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday! Have fun and be creative! :D
 

Attachments

#6,794 ·
Technical Difficulties

In a world of high technology, things are bound to get messed up sometimes. Such is my little world here.

A couple of days ago, Kieth got a new mouse. Like many of our devices, it is cordless. Since then, I have been having troubled with my Logitech cordless keyboard, which I absolutely love. It seems that it decides at certain times that random keys just aren't going to work.

I spent the morning downloading the latest drivers and doing other acrobatics like moving the transmitter around to a different USB port, etc. I MAY have solved the problem, but only time will tell.

The problem here is that we probably have five to six cordless devices associated with our computers. Not to mention the cordless phone. Everything is lined up on the same wall and I think that probably somewhere the lines of communication are getting crossed. Things may just be "confused"

With that said, I am going to keep things short today, since I already spent my writing time this morning playing around with computers. I just about finished the pattern packet for the new dimensional ornaments and today I am working on one more set of embellished ornaments, as well as drawing up a new free ornament that I will be offering on the site and other places. So all is good as long as I can still type. (Lord knows I don't need anything to make my typing worse!)

Cat Carnivore Font Felidae Rectangle


I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday! Have fun and be creative! :D
If I woulda had a puddy-tat in my puter, I wouldn't o got that bug!
 

Attachments

#6,797 ·
Death of a Keyboard

Well, yesterday I was thrown quite a curve ball. For some unknown reason, it seemed that my computer keyboard slowly met its demise. While that may not seem like such a big thing to many, for myself it was quite traumatic. Not having my usual way to communicate - especially first thing in the morning when I write my blog here and correspond with the many emails I receive from friends and customers - was somewhat of a crisis.

It died a slow and painful death, as if it were fighting to stay alive. At one point I was even able to quickly type out yesterday's blog, thinking that it had recovered and that it was possibly just a glitch. But soon after finishing that final piece of writing, it once again hiccuped and choked and by sunrise it had taken its final breath and fell silent.

It began the previous day, when I noticed that it occasionally 'missed' typing a key here or there. I naturally blamed myself, thinking that I wasn't pressing hard enough or that I carelessly rushed through the word. But soon these errors became more frequent. And I began noticing that it was only particular keys that missed. The 'f'. The 'p'. Then the tab would work.

My battery registered nearly full, but just in case, I recharged it anyway, hoping to pump some new life into it. For a short time that seemed to help, but then once again it began missing occasional strokes.

I tried to see if anything changed. Keith had recently 'lost' his tablet mouse pad and pen and was using a new wireless mouse a few feet away. Naturally I secretly blamed the newcomer for interfering with my wireless connection, as there were times when holding the keyboard a few feet further from him seemed to help.

But that must have been coincidence, as yesterday morning even shutting his computer down completely failed to improve things. I spent the morning crawling under and behind the mass of wires, trying to shift the transmitter from port to port to improve the reception to no avail.

Finally, I had to look reality in the eye and admit to myself that something was terribly wrong. And that my attempts at resuscitation had yielded little response. The best keyboard I had ever used was dead. I needed to let go.

Immediately, plans were made to travel to Yarmouth to the local Staples and purchase a replacement. The swiftness of these plans were not out of disrespect, but rather out of necessity as I watched the emails arriving in my mail box, unable to answer them or even let others know of my dilemma.

Foolish as it may seem, my mission was to replace the keyboard with an identical model. As I said, this was the best keyboard that I had ever used. Not only did it have keys that were back lit (which is something that I have come to love and need doing much of my typing in the morning hours before it was light out) but it was also wireless (another necessity, as my computer is located across the room). Another important feature was the incredible 'feel' of the keys, as they snapped perfectly and had a feel to them that I had not experienced on any other device. In all ways, this was perfect for me.

I had looked up the warranty, and it was good for three years. Since I only purchased it just over a year ago, I knew it would still be covered, but I still needed to purchase a new one because I could ill afford to wait for one to arrive. My first priority was to be back up and running and then I would deal with the warranty issues later.

I was able to purchase an identical one without trouble. As expected, the manager at Staples told me that in order to return the defective keyboard, I needed to send it back to Logitech. I would have only been able to bring it back to the store in the first 30 days.

When I called Logitech support, they were very helpful. After checking credentials, they went through the paces with me of trying different things to see if indeed my old keyboard was deceased. The conclusion was that it had indeed reached the end of its life and much to my surprise, they offered to send me a brand new one. No questions asked except to email them a copy of my original receipt. They didn't even request the old one back.

Within an hour, I received notice that the new one is on its way. When it arrives, I will not even open the box and return it to Staples for my refund. All is well again in my world.

It is good to see that a company is around that is still willing to make their customers happy. When I first purchased this keyboard last October, I was very happy with it. I did a blog on it Here if you want to go read about the features and the reasons that I purchased it. It was a bit more costly than any other keyboard that I had owned, but I hoped it would be worth the extra money seeing as I spend so much time here on the computer. Up until this issue, it has performed well and has done everything promised. The charge lasts for weeks and the action of it is outstanding. It is a tool that I use every day and appreciate the performance that it gives.

I hope that this was just a fluke. While many companies create products that are disposable and unreliable, I feel that the way that Logitech stood behind their product was excellent. I am going to give it another chance, and hope that it will be a better outcome and that the new keyboard will have a long life. I will certainly keep you posted.

As for today, I will be drawing one more set of ornaments. I had hoped to finish them yesterday, but by the time I was back up and running and was able to attend to all the accumulated emails, the day was over. It's a fresh start today and my goal is to draw today so I will be cutting tomorrow.

Computer Personal computer Computer keyboard Computer monitor Peripheral


I wish you all a great day.
 

Attachments

#6,798 ·
Death of a Keyboard

Well, yesterday I was thrown quite a curve ball. For some unknown reason, it seemed that my computer keyboard slowly met its demise. While that may not seem like such a big thing to many, for myself it was quite traumatic. Not having my usual way to communicate - especially first thing in the morning when I write my blog here and correspond with the many emails I receive from friends and customers - was somewhat of a crisis.

It died a slow and painful death, as if it were fighting to stay alive. At one point I was even able to quickly type out yesterday's blog, thinking that it had recovered and that it was possibly just a glitch. But soon after finishing that final piece of writing, it once again hiccuped and choked and by sunrise it had taken its final breath and fell silent.

It began the previous day, when I noticed that it occasionally 'missed' typing a key here or there. I naturally blamed myself, thinking that I wasn't pressing hard enough or that I carelessly rushed through the word. But soon these errors became more frequent. And I began noticing that it was only particular keys that missed. The 'f'. The 'p'. Then the tab would work.

My battery registered nearly full, but just in case, I recharged it anyway, hoping to pump some new life into it. For a short time that seemed to help, but then once again it began missing occasional strokes.

I tried to see if anything changed. Keith had recently 'lost' his tablet mouse pad and pen and was using a new wireless mouse a few feet away. Naturally I secretly blamed the newcomer for interfering with my wireless connection, as there were times when holding the keyboard a few feet further from him seemed to help.

But that must have been coincidence, as yesterday morning even shutting his computer down completely failed to improve things. I spent the morning crawling under and behind the mass of wires, trying to shift the transmitter from port to port to improve the reception to no avail.

Finally, I had to look reality in the eye and admit to myself that something was terribly wrong. And that my attempts at resuscitation had yielded little response. The best keyboard I had ever used was dead. I needed to let go.

Immediately, plans were made to travel to Yarmouth to the local Staples and purchase a replacement. The swiftness of these plans were not out of disrespect, but rather out of necessity as I watched the emails arriving in my mail box, unable to answer them or even let others know of my dilemma.

Foolish as it may seem, my mission was to replace the keyboard with an identical model. As I said, this was the best keyboard that I had ever used. Not only did it have keys that were back lit (which is something that I have come to love and need doing much of my typing in the morning hours before it was light out) but it was also wireless (another necessity, as my computer is located across the room). Another important feature was the incredible 'feel' of the keys, as they snapped perfectly and had a feel to them that I had not experienced on any other device. In all ways, this was perfect for me.

I had looked up the warranty, and it was good for three years. Since I only purchased it just over a year ago, I knew it would still be covered, but I still needed to purchase a new one because I could ill afford to wait for one to arrive. My first priority was to be back up and running and then I would deal with the warranty issues later.

I was able to purchase an identical one without trouble. As expected, the manager at Staples told me that in order to return the defective keyboard, I needed to send it back to Logitech. I would have only been able to bring it back to the store in the first 30 days.

When I called Logitech support, they were very helpful. After checking credentials, they went through the paces with me of trying different things to see if indeed my old keyboard was deceased. The conclusion was that it had indeed reached the end of its life and much to my surprise, they offered to send me a brand new one. No questions asked except to email them a copy of my original receipt. They didn't even request the old one back.

Within an hour, I received notice that the new one is on its way. When it arrives, I will not even open the box and return it to Staples for my refund. All is well again in my world.

It is good to see that a company is around that is still willing to make their customers happy. When I first purchased this keyboard last October, I was very happy with it. I did a blog on it Here if you want to go read about the features and the reasons that I purchased it. It was a bit more costly than any other keyboard that I had owned, but I hoped it would be worth the extra money seeing as I spend so much time here on the computer. Up until this issue, it has performed well and has done everything promised. The charge lasts for weeks and the action of it is outstanding. It is a tool that I use every day and appreciate the performance that it gives.

I hope that this was just a fluke. While many companies create products that are disposable and unreliable, I feel that the way that Logitech stood behind their product was excellent. I am going to give it another chance, and hope that it will be a better outcome and that the new keyboard will have a long life. I will certainly keep you posted.

As for today, I will be drawing one more set of ornaments. I had hoped to finish them yesterday, but by the time I was back up and running and was able to attend to all the accumulated emails, the day was over. It's a fresh start today and my goal is to draw today so I will be cutting tomorrow.

Computer Personal computer Computer keyboard Computer monitor Peripheral


I wish you all a great day.
Thank you for reminding me about the battery in the keyboard I am using for this comment. Missing letters recently which I put down to my (lack of) typing style. I have replaced the battery and all is well again.
 

Attachments

#6,804 ·
A Wonderful Day Ahead

I am extra anxious to get started working today. After the little hiccup that I had mid-week with the keyboard drama, I felt I was getting behind in my own schedule. But yesterday was a good day, and I stayed focused and I was able to finish drawing the next 12 ornaments for a new pattern that I want to have done by the weekend. I was very happy with that accomplishment.

Today is a day when I get to go to the scroll saw. These are always among my favorite days. I can't wait to see the new designs come to life and I am very much looking forward to spending the time cutting.

This next group of patterns is for some traditional ornament shapes, but I am adding some wonderful bead embellishments to them. Last year I had made some embellished trees and snowflakes and they are still very popular and great sellers. This time around, I used some traditional shapes and added swirls and cut outs that will make them look beautiful and delicate, along with the embellishments of small metallic beads that I plan to use. I can't wait to see them come out. Below is a small sample:

Hair Head Eye Organism Gesture


I am also planning on making a special ornament to offer as a new free pattern on the site. I think it will be a nice way to introduce people to this type of cutting.

I am going to keep things short today because I want to get right to it. I have a bit of fine tuning on the drawings that I need to do before I cut and I want to get busy on them right away.

I love when things are like that. Even though the sun is just now starting to rise, it is already a great day. I feel like I am back on track and that the day is going to be full and fun and creative. Seeing these ornaments come to life will just add to the excitement for me.

I wish you all a wonderful day today. I hope you all find something wonderful to inspire you too and help you enjoy every minute. Have fun and be creative!
 

Attachments

#6,805 ·
A Wonderful Day Ahead

I am extra anxious to get started working today. After the little hiccup that I had mid-week with the keyboard drama, I felt I was getting behind in my own schedule. But yesterday was a good day, and I stayed focused and I was able to finish drawing the next 12 ornaments for a new pattern that I want to have done by the weekend. I was very happy with that accomplishment.

Today is a day when I get to go to the scroll saw. These are always among my favorite days. I can't wait to see the new designs come to life and I am very much looking forward to spending the time cutting.

This next group of patterns is for some traditional ornament shapes, but I am adding some wonderful bead embellishments to them. Last year I had made some embellished trees and snowflakes and they are still very popular and great sellers. This time around, I used some traditional shapes and added swirls and cut outs that will make them look beautiful and delicate, along with the embellishments of small metallic beads that I plan to use. I can't wait to see them come out. Below is a small sample:

Hair Head Eye Organism Gesture


I am also planning on making a special ornament to offer as a new free pattern on the site. I think it will be a nice way to introduce people to this type of cutting.

I am going to keep things short today because I want to get right to it. I have a bit of fine tuning on the drawings that I need to do before I cut and I want to get busy on them right away.

I love when things are like that. Even though the sun is just now starting to rise, it is already a great day. I feel like I am back on track and that the day is going to be full and fun and creative. Seeing these ornaments come to life will just add to the excitement for me.

I wish you all a wonderful day today. I hope you all find something wonderful to inspire you too and help you enjoy every minute. Have fun and be creative!
Hi Sheila,
It is indeed a creative day! As I look at your circles within curves, my mind suddenly build a layered block of pieces glued together to form a 3d …. a bowl, a tower, a windmill…. etc. Thanks for giving me a stimuli for the next concept. Congrats for having a new keyboard.
Enjoy the work and take care. Be safe.
 

Attachments

#6,806 ·
Trial and Error

Sometimes it seems that no matter how long I have been designing, there is still so much that I learn with each project that I create. Perhaps it is because I am always striving to create new and different things. Or maybe it is because my exposure to different methods and circumstances and interaction with others help me figure out better ways to do things myself. In any case, it seems that I am constantly changing the ways I do things and hopefully improving the way I 'teach' others too.

I spent the bulk of yesterday finishing drawing and cutting some of the ornaments for the new pattern set that I created, as well as a new dimensional ornament that I plan to offer for free on my site. While I didn't quite finish cutting them out as I had planned to do, I tackled a couple of issues that I had with them and now I am well on my way to completing them.

The new set of ornaments are what I call 'embellished'. By that, I mean that they are meant to have beads or stones embedded into them to add some interest. If one chooses not to use beads, they can simply drill holes where the beads were to go and they will still have a nice effect. I have created a couple other sets of ornaments of this nature and they are among my most popular. Below is a picture of some of the Embellished Christmas Tree Ornaments from last year:

Christmas tree Christmas ornament Holiday ornament Flowerpot Leaf


I have also had many requests to create more sets with embellishments so this is what I came up with.

In order to successfully apply the beads, it is necessary to partially drill recess holes so that the beads can be seated in them as you glue them in. This involves drilling partially through the ornament without going through the entire piece.

While this is not a difficult process, I find that when drawing on the computer, I get a little 'enthusiastic' regarding the detail that I put into the pieces at times. This is one reason why I like to test cut everything that I do to make sure it works out well.

All seemed to go fine on Thursday, and I was able to draw up all twelve ornaments that I had planned for the set. But when I looked in my box of supplies, I realized that I only had 4mm beads, which were larger than what I had envisioned.

I thought I would give it a try anyway, and after finding the proper sized bit to make the depression that would hold the 4mm bead correctly, I attempted to drill the first piece. You can see below, that it just wasn't going to work out.

Surfboard Wood Sleeve Finger Gesture


In order to make a depression large enough, there would not be enough room between the beads, and the piece would be weak and sloppy. While I could have just enlarged the ornaments, I didn't want them any bigger than they were. I wanted them to be delicate looking and elegant. I had some 3mm beads, but not nearly enough to do the entire set. So it was back to the store for me.

I was fortunate that there were several types of 3mm beads available. This would mean that they would be easy for my customers to locate too. I chose a soft gold color and purchased them and came home to try them out.

I chose a bit that the 3mm beads would comfortably sit in and it made a world of difference.

Finger Material property Thumb Font Art


You could see when drilling the piece that there was plenty of room available and that the ornaments would still be strong.

I placed a couple of beads in this piece just to show how they would look when they were finished:

Ornament Silver Jewellery Font Fish hook


I am very happy with the results.

Today I will finish up cutting. These ornaments are actually very easy to cut, although they look as if they may be a bit difficult. I am thinking that I may do a short video which will show the process and some tips on cutting this type of pattern in order to show how simple it can be to get nice results.

While I had hoped to be finishing with the project and on to writing instructions today, I don't feel bad about the delay at all. My first priority is that the project works out like it is meant to and that everyone is easily able to accomplish it when following my instructions. I often have others offer to cut my prototypes for me, but this is one of the reasons I like to do it for myself. Besides knowing in my own heart that things will work out well with the designs, having these little setbacks helps me learn the limitations that I have when drawing and designing. I also love the cutting process and get a great deal of enjoyment out of seeing these pieces come to life.

So one more day until these are done it seems. But hopefully it will be worth the wait and these ornaments will be another design that people will enjoy and be able to create with little trouble. And I will know I have done a good job.

I wish you all a wonderful Saturday.
 

Attachments

#6,807 ·
Trial and Error

Sometimes it seems that no matter how long I have been designing, there is still so much that I learn with each project that I create. Perhaps it is because I am always striving to create new and different things. Or maybe it is because my exposure to different methods and circumstances and interaction with others help me figure out better ways to do things myself. In any case, it seems that I am constantly changing the ways I do things and hopefully improving the way I 'teach' others too.

I spent the bulk of yesterday finishing drawing and cutting some of the ornaments for the new pattern set that I created, as well as a new dimensional ornament that I plan to offer for free on my site. While I didn't quite finish cutting them out as I had planned to do, I tackled a couple of issues that I had with them and now I am well on my way to completing them.

The new set of ornaments are what I call 'embellished'. By that, I mean that they are meant to have beads or stones embedded into them to add some interest. If one chooses not to use beads, they can simply drill holes where the beads were to go and they will still have a nice effect. I have created a couple other sets of ornaments of this nature and they are among my most popular. Below is a picture of some of the Embellished Christmas Tree Ornaments from last year:

Christmas tree Christmas ornament Holiday ornament Flowerpot Leaf


I have also had many requests to create more sets with embellishments so this is what I came up with.

In order to successfully apply the beads, it is necessary to partially drill recess holes so that the beads can be seated in them as you glue them in. This involves drilling partially through the ornament without going through the entire piece.

While this is not a difficult process, I find that when drawing on the computer, I get a little 'enthusiastic' regarding the detail that I put into the pieces at times. This is one reason why I like to test cut everything that I do to make sure it works out well.

All seemed to go fine on Thursday, and I was able to draw up all twelve ornaments that I had planned for the set. But when I looked in my box of supplies, I realized that I only had 4mm beads, which were larger than what I had envisioned.

I thought I would give it a try anyway, and after finding the proper sized bit to make the depression that would hold the 4mm bead correctly, I attempted to drill the first piece. You can see below, that it just wasn't going to work out.

Surfboard Wood Sleeve Finger Gesture


In order to make a depression large enough, there would not be enough room between the beads, and the piece would be weak and sloppy. While I could have just enlarged the ornaments, I didn't want them any bigger than they were. I wanted them to be delicate looking and elegant. I had some 3mm beads, but not nearly enough to do the entire set. So it was back to the store for me.

I was fortunate that there were several types of 3mm beads available. This would mean that they would be easy for my customers to locate too. I chose a soft gold color and purchased them and came home to try them out.

I chose a bit that the 3mm beads would comfortably sit in and it made a world of difference.

Finger Material property Thumb Font Art


You could see when drilling the piece that there was plenty of room available and that the ornaments would still be strong.

I placed a couple of beads in this piece just to show how they would look when they were finished:

Ornament Silver Jewellery Font Fish hook


I am very happy with the results.

Today I will finish up cutting. These ornaments are actually very easy to cut, although they look as if they may be a bit difficult. I am thinking that I may do a short video which will show the process and some tips on cutting this type of pattern in order to show how simple it can be to get nice results.

While I had hoped to be finishing with the project and on to writing instructions today, I don't feel bad about the delay at all. My first priority is that the project works out like it is meant to and that everyone is easily able to accomplish it when following my instructions. I often have others offer to cut my prototypes for me, but this is one of the reasons I like to do it for myself. Besides knowing in my own heart that things will work out well with the designs, having these little setbacks helps me learn the limitations that I have when drawing and designing. I also love the cutting process and get a great deal of enjoyment out of seeing these pieces come to life.

So one more day until these are done it seems. But hopefully it will be worth the wait and these ornaments will be another design that people will enjoy and be able to create with little trouble. And I will know I have done a good job.

I wish you all a wonderful Saturday.
Real world experience is a wonderful (and fun) thing, Sheila. Just before I read this I posted a blog about dye experiments. Seems we are both working along similar lines (well methods).
 

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#6,818 ·
A Milestone

It's one of those 'perfect' Sunday mornings today. Fresh coffee laced with cinnamon. My little 'all season' tree glowing a soft orange light (yes - I have orange lights on it for the autumn season!), Pancakes curled up on my lap as I type with the sound of Vivaldi cello concertos playing softly. What more can I ask?

I truly cherish these mornings when I plan and reflect and enjoy the simple things and comforts around me. And of course there is my writing.

Yesterday I noticed something that to me was amazing. I am an official "millionaire!"

Not in the financial sense by any means. But in a way that I never would have imagined. I needed to check something on my main blog page here at Lumberjocks and something caught my eye. I had to take a screen shot just so I could allow it to sink in a bit:

Rectangle Font Screenshot Parallel Software


Yeppers, folks! That is one million nine thousand two hundred eighty eight reads!

HOLY MOLEY!!

I knew I was approaching the million mark earlier this year, but I honestly didn't think too much about it. Maybe just a little to be honest, but not that much. I am not one for numbers as those of you who read regularly already know. Whether that is a good or a bad trait is debatable, but it is just not something that usually gets my attention.

But in thinking about it, it is kind of cool, and it is something that I feel kind of good about. I have been writing just about every day here on Lumberjocks for two and a half years now, and I also republish the blog on my own site and on Facebook and G+ too, which isn't even included in these numbers. When I think about it, that is a lot of people who I am connecting with and it kind of overwhelms me.

It is funny, as there are times when I wonder if I should keep writing every day. After all, every day isn't full of excitement. There are some slow days or 'ordinary' days when nothing particularly exciting happens. But that is when I work to pull out my favorite silly kitty pictures or thoughtful quotes for you all to ponder and I try to make you all smile or give you positive thoughts to get you through your day. And you know what? It also helps me think positive thoughts and makes me smile, too! (Funny how that works!)

When I see the number of entries that I have written and think of the number of hours it must have taken me to type, it kind of blows my mind. But when I think of all the wonderful friendships that I have forged through my writing here and the support and advice and people that I have come to know from all over the world, I think that there could have been no better way that I could have spent my time. I consider you all dear friends and I want to thank you ALL for your support, advice and friendship these past years.

I am sometime asked why I choose to 'put myself out here' every day and write about all of my experiences. When I am asked that, I sometimes also question myself and start to wonder the same thing. There have been times when I wonder if what I am doing here is silly and I should keep things more to myself. After all, who would be interested in my life here in the river banks in my little place with my three cats?

But that is usually when I receive a note or an email from someone who tells me how much they enjoy hearing of my everyday escapades or how something I said or did helped them through a problem or issue they were having. Or even just how it made them smile. And I know that I have a purpose here.

We live in a world that is connected by the internet. Through our computers, we are able to learn about so many things and meet people that affect our lives profoundly. It isn't like watching TV where the information is only shared in one direction. By using the internet, we are able to communicate and interact with each other in ways that were not possible just a few years ago. Not only are we able to learn from each other, but we are able to forge friendships that were not possible just a short time ago.

When I moved away from Chicago, I was afraid that I would lose touch with some of the people there. Coming to rural Canada was a huge change for me from living in a large city. But through communication and the internet, I have not only been able to keep up with my friends and family, but in many cases more so than I had done when I lived right near them. It really can be a great thing.

So blogging here is something that I feel is a good thing. I owe a great deal of success to you, my friends who have been with me here in the mornings and have also shared your thoughts and advice and friendships. Not only do you help me through some of my own dilemmas, but you also inspire me to do better and strive for excellence every single day. I don't think for a second that I would have accomplished all that I did in the past two and a half years without your support and friendship. So many of you are my mentors and I am grateful for your friendship. Thank you all for that.

I had an incredibly productive day yesterday. Not only did I finish my new set of ornaments, but I also filmed a video which gives some tips on cutting them. I didn't get all the editing done, and I should have the video ready for tomorrow, but I will show you a sample picture of one of the finished pieces:

Natural material Ornament Creative arts Art Motif


I am very pleased with this set of ornaments. They came out looking beautiful and elegant and most important they are very EASY to make! That is why I wanted to create a video. It will show just how simple the process is.

Yesterday was one of those 'just about perfect' days. My time was spent doing all the things I love - being creative and teaching others to do so too. It was one of those (many) days when I really feel fortunate to have the life I have. And I want you all to know just how grateful I am that you are a part of it. Together we can tackle just about anything life throws our way - and smile in the process.

I wish you all a wonderful day today. I hope you have fun and do things that you love to do. I know that my day will be fun because it already started out that way. I'll have the video and some good pictures for you tomorrow. And maybe some other surprises, too.

Thank you all for reading. And thank you too for your friendship. You have added a great deal to my life!

Food Tableware Espressino Coffee cup Wiener melange


Have an incredible Sunday!
 

Attachments

#6,819 ·
A Milestone

It's one of those 'perfect' Sunday mornings today. Fresh coffee laced with cinnamon. My little 'all season' tree glowing a soft orange light (yes - I have orange lights on it for the autumn season!), Pancakes curled up on my lap as I type with the sound of Vivaldi cello concertos playing softly. What more can I ask?

I truly cherish these mornings when I plan and reflect and enjoy the simple things and comforts around me. And of course there is my writing.

Yesterday I noticed something that to me was amazing. I am an official "millionaire!"

Not in the financial sense by any means. But in a way that I never would have imagined. I needed to check something on my main blog page here at Lumberjocks and something caught my eye. I had to take a screen shot just so I could allow it to sink in a bit:

Rectangle Font Screenshot Parallel Software


Yeppers, folks! That is one million nine thousand two hundred eighty eight reads!

HOLY MOLEY!!

I knew I was approaching the million mark earlier this year, but I honestly didn't think too much about it. Maybe just a little to be honest, but not that much. I am not one for numbers as those of you who read regularly already know. Whether that is a good or a bad trait is debatable, but it is just not something that usually gets my attention.

But in thinking about it, it is kind of cool, and it is something that I feel kind of good about. I have been writing just about every day here on Lumberjocks for two and a half years now, and I also republish the blog on my own site and on Facebook and G+ too, which isn't even included in these numbers. When I think about it, that is a lot of people who I am connecting with and it kind of overwhelms me.

It is funny, as there are times when I wonder if I should keep writing every day. After all, every day isn't full of excitement. There are some slow days or 'ordinary' days when nothing particularly exciting happens. But that is when I work to pull out my favorite silly kitty pictures or thoughtful quotes for you all to ponder and I try to make you all smile or give you positive thoughts to get you through your day. And you know what? It also helps me think positive thoughts and makes me smile, too! (Funny how that works!)

When I see the number of entries that I have written and think of the number of hours it must have taken me to type, it kind of blows my mind. But when I think of all the wonderful friendships that I have forged through my writing here and the support and advice and people that I have come to know from all over the world, I think that there could have been no better way that I could have spent my time. I consider you all dear friends and I want to thank you ALL for your support, advice and friendship these past years.

I am sometime asked why I choose to 'put myself out here' every day and write about all of my experiences. When I am asked that, I sometimes also question myself and start to wonder the same thing. There have been times when I wonder if what I am doing here is silly and I should keep things more to myself. After all, who would be interested in my life here in the river banks in my little place with my three cats?

But that is usually when I receive a note or an email from someone who tells me how much they enjoy hearing of my everyday escapades or how something I said or did helped them through a problem or issue they were having. Or even just how it made them smile. And I know that I have a purpose here.

We live in a world that is connected by the internet. Through our computers, we are able to learn about so many things and meet people that affect our lives profoundly. It isn't like watching TV where the information is only shared in one direction. By using the internet, we are able to communicate and interact with each other in ways that were not possible just a few years ago. Not only are we able to learn from each other, but we are able to forge friendships that were not possible just a short time ago.

When I moved away from Chicago, I was afraid that I would lose touch with some of the people there. Coming to rural Canada was a huge change for me from living in a large city. But through communication and the internet, I have not only been able to keep up with my friends and family, but in many cases more so than I had done when I lived right near them. It really can be a great thing.

So blogging here is something that I feel is a good thing. I owe a great deal of success to you, my friends who have been with me here in the mornings and have also shared your thoughts and advice and friendships. Not only do you help me through some of my own dilemmas, but you also inspire me to do better and strive for excellence every single day. I don't think for a second that I would have accomplished all that I did in the past two and a half years without your support and friendship. So many of you are my mentors and I am grateful for your friendship. Thank you all for that.

I had an incredibly productive day yesterday. Not only did I finish my new set of ornaments, but I also filmed a video which gives some tips on cutting them. I didn't get all the editing done, and I should have the video ready for tomorrow, but I will show you a sample picture of one of the finished pieces:

Natural material Ornament Creative arts Art Motif


I am very pleased with this set of ornaments. They came out looking beautiful and elegant and most important they are very EASY to make! That is why I wanted to create a video. It will show just how simple the process is.

Yesterday was one of those 'just about perfect' days. My time was spent doing all the things I love - being creative and teaching others to do so too. It was one of those (many) days when I really feel fortunate to have the life I have. And I want you all to know just how grateful I am that you are a part of it. Together we can tackle just about anything life throws our way - and smile in the process.

I wish you all a wonderful day today. I hope you have fun and do things that you love to do. I know that my day will be fun because it already started out that way. I'll have the video and some good pictures for you tomorrow. And maybe some other surprises, too.

Thank you all for reading. And thank you too for your friendship. You have added a great deal to my life!

Food Tableware Espressino Coffee cup Wiener melange


Have an incredible Sunday!
Congratulations on the million mark.

I for one enjoy reading your blog everyday.

Thank you for that.

Lee
 

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#6,831 ·
Happy Monday!

Another Monday is upon us. Why is it the Mondays come so quickly? It is hard to believe that we are nearly half way through with November already and approaching the end of the year. Again. Looking back on the past year, it all seems to be a blur. I know we had a car trip to Cape Breton in there somewhere. Several days in the summer were spent cutting out witches' hats and boots and Christmas stockings and packages. The day on the beach when I drew the snowmen. It all went by so quickly.

I haven't done much painting lately. While I promise myself I would do that at least on Sundays, it seems that there is always other things calling me that are difficult to ignore. It isn't that I don't enjoy the other things, but perhaps there are just too many things that I enjoy doing and there just aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything.

Yesterday was a good day. While I didn't achieve everything I set out to do, I did accomplish quite a bit. I need to teach myself to be happy with what I DID accomplish rather than scold myself for the things that I didn't get to.

I got the house in order for the most part. I also worked on the pictures for the new ornaments. They came out lovely I think and today I will be completing the pattern packet for them and getting them, as well as the slotted designs onto the site.

Brown Body jewelry Earrings Amber Ornament


I did a stupid thing too. While cleaning off the disk of the camera, I inadvertently deleted some of the step-by-step pictures for the pattern packet which showed me applying the beads to the ornaments. I had thought that I had already transferred them to my hard drive, but after dumping them off of the camera, I realized that I had not done so yet. I now need to cut an additional piece and take them over again, which won't take too long, but will still take some time.

Yes - there is such a thing as being "too organized."

I did design and cut a new ornament to give away for free on the site. It is also a slotted ornament, and I hope it will allow people who haven't tried to cut something like that to stretch out of their comfort zone a bit and give it a shot. It is a Christmas Star ornament, and while it is simple, I think it is nice.

Star Terrestrial plant Jewellery Wood Plant


In looking at the calendar, I realize that there are only a couple of weeks left for Christmas designs. After all, I can't really expect to introduce them in the middle of December and have them do well. I have quite a few things that I wanted to do this year and it seems that I only have gotten to a fraction of them. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. I suppose you could look at it either way. On one hand it is unfortunate, as I would have loved to introduce many of these ideas this year. But on the other, it is what I refer to as "job security" for myself and I know I have a great line up waiting for next year. Usually by then too, the ideas are refined and even better than I had originally thought, so waiting can be a good thing too.

There is just no way to mass produce these new ideas. I know other designers can crank out designs at a much faster rate, but I like to actually build the projects. After all, that is why I began doing this in the first place. I cherish my time at the scroll saw and can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy it. As I do the painting projects. Otherwise, I would think I am in the wrong business.

Oh, and I didn't forget about the video either. I have several segments that need to be edited today and uploaded. I hope to have that on my YouTube channel by tomorrow.

It is going to be a busy and exciting week, I think. Mondays are a fresh start and to me like starting a new chapter in a wonderful book you are reading. I always like the thought of them. It is going to be a great week of accomplishment and progress and I can't wait to begin.

I wish you all a wonderful week too!
 

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#6,832 ·
Happy Monday!

Another Monday is upon us. Why is it the Mondays come so quickly? It is hard to believe that we are nearly half way through with November already and approaching the end of the year. Again. Looking back on the past year, it all seems to be a blur. I know we had a car trip to Cape Breton in there somewhere. Several days in the summer were spent cutting out witches' hats and boots and Christmas stockings and packages. The day on the beach when I drew the snowmen. It all went by so quickly.

I haven't done much painting lately. While I promise myself I would do that at least on Sundays, it seems that there is always other things calling me that are difficult to ignore. It isn't that I don't enjoy the other things, but perhaps there are just too many things that I enjoy doing and there just aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything.

Yesterday was a good day. While I didn't achieve everything I set out to do, I did accomplish quite a bit. I need to teach myself to be happy with what I DID accomplish rather than scold myself for the things that I didn't get to.

I got the house in order for the most part. I also worked on the pictures for the new ornaments. They came out lovely I think and today I will be completing the pattern packet for them and getting them, as well as the slotted designs onto the site.

Brown Body jewelry Earrings Amber Ornament


I did a stupid thing too. While cleaning off the disk of the camera, I inadvertently deleted some of the step-by-step pictures for the pattern packet which showed me applying the beads to the ornaments. I had thought that I had already transferred them to my hard drive, but after dumping them off of the camera, I realized that I had not done so yet. I now need to cut an additional piece and take them over again, which won't take too long, but will still take some time.

Yes - there is such a thing as being "too organized."

I did design and cut a new ornament to give away for free on the site. It is also a slotted ornament, and I hope it will allow people who haven't tried to cut something like that to stretch out of their comfort zone a bit and give it a shot. It is a Christmas Star ornament, and while it is simple, I think it is nice.

Star Terrestrial plant Jewellery Wood Plant


In looking at the calendar, I realize that there are only a couple of weeks left for Christmas designs. After all, I can't really expect to introduce them in the middle of December and have them do well. I have quite a few things that I wanted to do this year and it seems that I only have gotten to a fraction of them. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. I suppose you could look at it either way. On one hand it is unfortunate, as I would have loved to introduce many of these ideas this year. But on the other, it is what I refer to as "job security" for myself and I know I have a great line up waiting for next year. Usually by then too, the ideas are refined and even better than I had originally thought, so waiting can be a good thing too.

There is just no way to mass produce these new ideas. I know other designers can crank out designs at a much faster rate, but I like to actually build the projects. After all, that is why I began doing this in the first place. I cherish my time at the scroll saw and can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy it. As I do the painting projects. Otherwise, I would think I am in the wrong business.

Oh, and I didn't forget about the video either. I have several segments that need to be edited today and uploaded. I hope to have that on my YouTube channel by tomorrow.

It is going to be a busy and exciting week, I think. Mondays are a fresh start and to me like starting a new chapter in a wonderful book you are reading. I always like the thought of them. It is going to be a great week of accomplishment and progress and I can't wait to begin.

I wish you all a wonderful week too!
The new star looks very good. The 3D theme continues to go well.

Funny thing about designs, I find, some are ready to go into production almost before the pixels are dry on the screen. Others, like you, I find are better tucked away to be brought out for the finishing touches at a later date.

Whilst things are slow for me at the moment I think I have my 'design head' sufficiently trained to kick into gear when an idea arises.

I agree with you its better to make as well as design. It provides essential feedback into the design process, as you found recently with decoration ball sizing. Even if you use 3D CAD, as I do, there is nothing like actually cutting some wood to tell you if your design will really work.
 

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#6,842 ·
New Video Posted and Finishing the Site Update

Yesterday was a good day. I did accomplish many of the things that I set out to do. One of the most important things was that I finished editing the video on how to drill the depressions for the embellished ornaments and also demonstrates a couple of cutting techniques for those ornaments.

The link to the video is here:

This time I shot it in several short segments. I tried to just show the technique that I described and finished the processes off camera. I felt that this way I was able to get the point across and not drag as much as some of the other videos did. Over all, I thought the pace of it moved a bit better than on previous videos.

One thing that I still need to work on was where to place the camera. I believe that I had it a bit close, as things were a bit out of focus for parts of the video. I thought the camera was set to "auto focus" and should have changed as things moved around but perhaps I moved too quickly for it to compensate. In any case, I will try a couple of things for next time and while it isn't perfect, I do think it is watchable and gets the point across.

I still struggle with the editing software. Windows movie maker changed when I upgraded to Windows 7. The software offers lots of options and while I know exactly what I want to do, I have a hard time actually doing it. I suppose one day I need to break down and watch a couple of tutorials on using it and save myself some headaches. But yesterday wasn't the day for that. I just wanted to get it up and running and move on to the next thing.

I finally was able to edit everything together and post the video. While it isn't perfect, I think it gets the idea across as so what I wanted to show. Once again, I feel that the more I make videos, the easier it will get. I need to make them more often than every couple of months for me to feel completely comfortable doing so. But I hope it helps some of you with a couple of things.

I also decided to purchase another domain name for the painting side of my business. Since our site is growing every time we update, we feel that it is very important to keep things simple so that everything that we have is easy to see and find. This gets more difficult as we are growing, as we don't like to clutter things up so much that people cannot find things. While we have the painting part of the site separate on its own pages and sub pages, we know that it also will be growing and the day may come when it needs an independent site of its own. So yesterday I purchased the name www.tolepaintingdesigns.com and we set it up to point to the painting pages of my site. This will not only be good for the search engines, but also for some advertising that I am doing that will be directed to painters.

I am not quite ready to split the site yet, as it will mean some additional costs and a bit more maintenance, but I can see that happening in the not too distant future and taking this first step towards doing so is a good thing that will help me keep things organized. Since the name was available, I thought I would grab it now for future use.

I am still finishing up on the two pattern packets and getting the site updated. My goal for the day is to update the site and send out the newsletter announcing that new patterns are available. It will be a good feeling to do the update, as it always feels good to keep things current. We have been averaging about two updates per month or so and it shows people that we are always available. Our mailing list is growing every day too, which is a really good sign. (If you haven't already and want to receive my newsletter, please sign up HERE)

Keith recently has spent a great deal of his time cross referencing products on the individual product pages. We find that this is a great way to show perspective buyers other patterns that they may have been interested in and missed. The product list of similar items is unobtrusive, as it is below the product description and photos, but we feel that they immediately have shown to be a great selling tool and have seen a good return, as some of the older products listed have been once again selling. It is a good way to better show things.

We are always learning it seems. Every single day. I think that is a great thing. One needs to be open to new challenges and trying new things in order to keep life exciting and fresh. Otherwise we will certainly become stagnant and boring.

I want to thank you all who participate in my blog here and share your ideas. Whether it is by helping me with an idea or thought, or talking about your own accomplishments and challenges, I think that sharing information on an open forum such as this is a great way for others to learn and expand their own way of thinking. And we are all the better for it.

It isn't all about me here. It is about all of us and I hope you all feel that it is a good place to express you own thoughts and discuss your own challenges and ideas too. It would be pretty boring if I talked only to myself every day. Without all of you, I would have stopped writing long ago.

Thank you all for your input. I hope you all have a great day!
 
#6,850 ·
What Next?

I actually accomplished all I had set out to accomplish yesterday. That in itself was good. I finished my pattern packets, uploaded the new things to the site and sent out the newsletter. All was done by around 9pm and I even had a chance to relax for an hour or so before retiring. It was a good day.

It feels good to reach these small plateaus. This is a time when I feel on top of things. All the things that were pressing have been attended to and I am free to follow any direction that I please.

But I don't want to rest and be idle. Before the newsletter was even sent I was already thinking ahead to today and what I would be doing next. By the time I woke up this morning, I had another full list in my head of things that I want to accomplish.

That really isn't a bad thing. In fact, I think it is quite the opposite. I look at these ideas and responsibilities as part of life, like the rhythmical crashing of waves to the shore. Or like breathing.

My life is full and there is much to accomplish. I find little pleasure in being idle and 'relaxing' as some would like to call it. Perhaps it is because I find such a great deal of joy in my day to day life. I find no need to escape.

My biggest dilemma is which direction to follow next. There are so many wonderful choices ahead that it is difficult to choose. Each one is filled with adventure and creativity and discovery. And I am sure that no matter which path I follow, I will learn something new.

With that said, I will begin. One choice at a time. Whichever way I choose doesn't really matter, as they are all heading towards good things.

Wood Black-and-white Style Wall Parallel


I can't wait to see where it will lead.

"Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence." - Henry David Thoreau
 

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#6,851 ·
What Next?

I actually accomplished all I had set out to accomplish yesterday. That in itself was good. I finished my pattern packets, uploaded the new things to the site and sent out the newsletter. All was done by around 9pm and I even had a chance to relax for an hour or so before retiring. It was a good day.

It feels good to reach these small plateaus. This is a time when I feel on top of things. All the things that were pressing have been attended to and I am free to follow any direction that I please.

But I don't want to rest and be idle. Before the newsletter was even sent I was already thinking ahead to today and what I would be doing next. By the time I woke up this morning, I had another full list in my head of things that I want to accomplish.

That really isn't a bad thing. In fact, I think it is quite the opposite. I look at these ideas and responsibilities as part of life, like the rhythmical crashing of waves to the shore. Or like breathing.

My life is full and there is much to accomplish. I find little pleasure in being idle and 'relaxing' as some would like to call it. Perhaps it is because I find such a great deal of joy in my day to day life. I find no need to escape.

My biggest dilemma is which direction to follow next. There are so many wonderful choices ahead that it is difficult to choose. Each one is filled with adventure and creativity and discovery. And I am sure that no matter which path I follow, I will learn something new.

With that said, I will begin. One choice at a time. Whichever way I choose doesn't really matter, as they are all heading towards good things.

Wood Black-and-white Style Wall Parallel


I can't wait to see where it will lead.

"Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence." - Henry David Thoreau
Sheila I also feel that a day that is productive is FAR better

than an idle day. To be content is a wonderful thing. I'm

slowly getting my stock levels up which is great as when I

have that done it lets me do my specials and the very best,

making up new designs.

Have a great day.

Jamie
 

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#6,859 ·
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas . . .

Yesterday was one of those days where I did a lot of busy little things and worked toward getting everything in order. While I kept busy all day, if I were to have to talk about what I accomplished, it probably wouldn't seem like it was very much. But sometimes those days are very important, as they help lay the foundation so that everything runs smoothly.

I am working on the new designs today, and still getting my footings as to which direction I want to head. I will admit there is still a fog in my creative air, and I have not quite decided yet what to work on at full force. I am closer though, and I feel that by the end of the day, I will have a clear idea of my next project and be able to attack it at full force.

Indecision can be a crippling force. Even when there are many ideas, if we aren't focused and clear on what we want to work on, struggling with choosing can slow things down considerably. I find this happens from time to time if I allow myself to get caught up in it. Right now, I am thinking in several different directions at once, and they are all pulling me in some way or another. In my head, I have categories of designs such as Christmas, Winter, Spring, Painting, Scrolling and Yard Art. Then there is the next magazine article that I need to begin thinking about. They are all equally important, but I need to really prioritize them and sort through and decide what to do next.

The obvious choice is Christmas, as time is running short on that one. So that narrows it down a bit. Then there are the sub-categories of ornaments, plaques, word art, etc. that need to be considered. But I am getting there, and the fog is lifting. It gets to a point when I have to "just do it" and force myself to think in one direction and filter out all the rest for now. And I am just about there.

I apologize if this doesn't make interesting blog material. But it is part of the process and many of my fellow designers talk of getting 'stuck' and I believe that it is partly due to this phenomena.

So for now, I have something that I thought was pretty cool for you to see. My brother sent this video to me, as he thought it would interest me. I found it to be very cool and I thought I would share it with you, my fellow artists and woodworkers. It may give you some inspiration for some ideas, but either way I found the process fascinating.

Brown Textile Wood Line Grass


It is called "Marbelous Marble Wood Flooring by Snedker Studio" by Pernille Snedker Hansen.



The link to her website is here if you wish to see more about it: http://snedkerstudio.dk/Marbelous-Wood

I find it to be an interesting and unique process. I could see this also done on a small scale for boxes and other projects using your own choices of colors. It reminds me of Malachite:

Art Electric blue Magenta Circle Pattern


In any case, I hope you enjoy it and it perhaps gives you some ideas.

I wish you all a wonderful Thursday!
 

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#6,860 ·
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas . . .

Yesterday was one of those days where I did a lot of busy little things and worked toward getting everything in order. While I kept busy all day, if I were to have to talk about what I accomplished, it probably wouldn't seem like it was very much. But sometimes those days are very important, as they help lay the foundation so that everything runs smoothly.

I am working on the new designs today, and still getting my footings as to which direction I want to head. I will admit there is still a fog in my creative air, and I have not quite decided yet what to work on at full force. I am closer though, and I feel that by the end of the day, I will have a clear idea of my next project and be able to attack it at full force.

Indecision can be a crippling force. Even when there are many ideas, if we aren't focused and clear on what we want to work on, struggling with choosing can slow things down considerably. I find this happens from time to time if I allow myself to get caught up in it. Right now, I am thinking in several different directions at once, and they are all pulling me in some way or another. In my head, I have categories of designs such as Christmas, Winter, Spring, Painting, Scrolling and Yard Art. Then there is the next magazine article that I need to begin thinking about. They are all equally important, but I need to really prioritize them and sort through and decide what to do next.

The obvious choice is Christmas, as time is running short on that one. So that narrows it down a bit. Then there are the sub-categories of ornaments, plaques, word art, etc. that need to be considered. But I am getting there, and the fog is lifting. It gets to a point when I have to "just do it" and force myself to think in one direction and filter out all the rest for now. And I am just about there.

I apologize if this doesn't make interesting blog material. But it is part of the process and many of my fellow designers talk of getting 'stuck' and I believe that it is partly due to this phenomena.

So for now, I have something that I thought was pretty cool for you to see. My brother sent this video to me, as he thought it would interest me. I found it to be very cool and I thought I would share it with you, my fellow artists and woodworkers. It may give you some inspiration for some ideas, but either way I found the process fascinating.

Brown Textile Wood Line Grass


It is called "Marbelous Marble Wood Flooring by Snedker Studio" by Pernille Snedker Hansen.



The link to her website is here if you wish to see more about it: http://snedkerstudio.dk/Marbelous-Wood

I find it to be an interesting and unique process. I could see this also done on a small scale for boxes and other projects using your own choices of colors. It reminds me of Malachite:

Art Electric blue Magenta Circle Pattern


In any case, I hope you enjoy it and it perhaps gives you some ideas.

I wish you all a wonderful Thursday!
I like it specially the blending of colors but there is limitation….. when sanding
Is required then you peel it off. I like more the nature.
Thanks for sharing.
 

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#6,869 ·
The Beauty of Art Comes in Many Forms

Today's post isn't about woodworking. It is about creativity and appreciating talent and beauty. To me it all ties together, as I don't feel that one can be a designer without having appreciation for things around us. I don't think it matters which of those things we notice. It may be a beautiful but simple piece of furniture. It may be a finishing technique that displays expertise and excellence. It may be an incredible box that we would think would be impossible to build. It may even be a certain style or texture used in a painting. Appreciation is something that is very personal and I look at it as an awareness of what it took to make something that we consider extraordinary. And I want to share something extraordinary with you.

About a year or so ago, while I was on Facebook, I noticed a post from one of my friends had made on the page of a sculptor named Ryan Macleod. With the post, was a picture of a beautifully detailed, whimsical dragon. I usually don't follow others' posts, but this dragon caught my eye because of its incredible detail and charm. I needed to look further.

I went to Ryan's Facebook Page, and began to look through all the pictures of his creations. I was dumbfounded by the incredible amount of detail that he put into his pieces and I had trouble believing that he actually hand sculpted these pieces from clay. I had never before "known" anyone with such patience and talent, and when I saw how young he was, it just made it more amazing to me.

I then clicked the link to his Macleod Dragons website and I read all about him and marveled at his work. Such patience and craftsmanship! His creations are just beautiful.

In the months that followed, I got to 'know' Ryan through his Facebook page. He was very open to showing step-by-step pictures of his latest creation and I loved seeing the pieces evolve though the pictures he posted. I also learned from reading his posts that in August he was moving to India to get married and begin a new life.

In the late spring, I contacted him to see if he would be able to make a dragon for me. He had stated that he did commissions, and when further inquiring, I discovered that his prices were more than reasonable. I was very fortunate to catch him at a time when he was looking for some work to fill his time prior to his departure to India. After several discussions, we came to terms and he agreed to make a piece for me. I was thrilled!

I am quite a fan of the 'Steampunk' genre. I love the way that the mechanical meets the detail of the Victorian era. It is one of the rare times too that Keith and I agree on a style, as it seems we are so opposite in many different ways. While we have minimal decorations in our place, what we do have reflects that theme as with our huge clock we got last spring and the storage boxes which look like old books. Little by little we are adding (just a few) quality pieces to our theme here and watching it evolve.

I asked Ryan if there were any way he could make a 'Steampunk Dragon' and he thought he would be up to the task. I listed some of the things I liked which may be included, and I let his own imagination and creativity take over. What resulted was far more spectacular than I could have ever imagined. And while it turned out to be the last commission he would take on prior to his departure, it was in every way a piece that far exceeded my expectations.

Yesterday, after many months, my piece finally arrived. With all that was happening in Ryan's life, things were understandably delayed a bit, but I understood, as I had moved here to Canada from Chicago a few years ago and I remember how chaotic that time was for me. My patience certainly paid off, as when I finally saw the piece up close it took my breath away. It is amazing!

I took some pictures to show you.

Ryan created an awesome 'mechanical dragon' for me:

Sculpture Art Statue Metal Font


The dragon measures about 11" tall. It is somewhat of a robot, and it is holding a young kitty in its arms and playfully dangling a mouse toy above it:

Gesture Toy Wood Armour Cg artwork


It is sitting on a stool on a 'stone' base, and every inch of it and every detail is made of clay. The only part that is not clay are the light bulb details at the back of the head:

Toy Gesture Machine Fictional character Action figure


It is hard to believe that all the cords, rivets, stitching on the cat and mouse, and even the key on the back are made from clay:

Toy Art Fictional character Action figure Armour


I just had to share it with you! I have uploaded several other pictures into my Picasa Album. I just wanted to share them with you.

I hope you get a chance to stop by Ryan's website too and see his other extraordinary creations. He is an amazing artist and his talent is something that you don't see every day.

I feel so fortunate and privileged to own one of his original pieces. It is something that I saved for a long time to afford, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.

This was a huge extravagance for me. It is rare that I purchase something that is so purely for my own pleasure. I suppose that is what "art" really is though. Something that fills both the heart and your senses. I want to thank Ryan for taking the time to make this beautiful piece for me. I feel very fortunate to have it.

Besides the beautiful piece, I also feel that I have made a friend not only in Ryan, but also with his mom who shipped the piece to me after Ryan's departure. We have become 'friends' on Facebook, and it has been wonderful to see Ryan find happiness and get married to a beautiful woman. I can only imagine what his happiness will inspire in his work. I can't wait to see.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this and reading this story. While it isn't about woodworking or painting, it is about how wonderfully universal art can be. Expressing ourselves through our art is something that we all have in common. Whether we are designers or making other's designs, we all put our hearts and our souls into what we love to do, and the results is wonderful.

My own creativity is returning, and I spent the day yesterday drawing as I will today. It seems that the ideas are again flowing and soon there will be new designs to share with you all. It feels good.

I wish you all a wonderfully creative day. I hope you find joy in whatever you choose to do.
 

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#6,870 ·
The Beauty of Art Comes in Many Forms

Today's post isn't about woodworking. It is about creativity and appreciating talent and beauty. To me it all ties together, as I don't feel that one can be a designer without having appreciation for things around us. I don't think it matters which of those things we notice. It may be a beautiful but simple piece of furniture. It may be a finishing technique that displays expertise and excellence. It may be an incredible box that we would think would be impossible to build. It may even be a certain style or texture used in a painting. Appreciation is something that is very personal and I look at it as an awareness of what it took to make something that we consider extraordinary. And I want to share something extraordinary with you.

About a year or so ago, while I was on Facebook, I noticed a post from one of my friends had made on the page of a sculptor named Ryan Macleod. With the post, was a picture of a beautifully detailed, whimsical dragon. I usually don't follow others' posts, but this dragon caught my eye because of its incredible detail and charm. I needed to look further.

I went to Ryan's Facebook Page, and began to look through all the pictures of his creations. I was dumbfounded by the incredible amount of detail that he put into his pieces and I had trouble believing that he actually hand sculpted these pieces from clay. I had never before "known" anyone with such patience and talent, and when I saw how young he was, it just made it more amazing to me.

I then clicked the link to his Macleod Dragons website and I read all about him and marveled at his work. Such patience and craftsmanship! His creations are just beautiful.

In the months that followed, I got to 'know' Ryan through his Facebook page. He was very open to showing step-by-step pictures of his latest creation and I loved seeing the pieces evolve though the pictures he posted. I also learned from reading his posts that in August he was moving to India to get married and begin a new life.

In the late spring, I contacted him to see if he would be able to make a dragon for me. He had stated that he did commissions, and when further inquiring, I discovered that his prices were more than reasonable. I was very fortunate to catch him at a time when he was looking for some work to fill his time prior to his departure to India. After several discussions, we came to terms and he agreed to make a piece for me. I was thrilled!

I am quite a fan of the 'Steampunk' genre. I love the way that the mechanical meets the detail of the Victorian era. It is one of the rare times too that Keith and I agree on a style, as it seems we are so opposite in many different ways. While we have minimal decorations in our place, what we do have reflects that theme as with our huge clock we got last spring and the storage boxes which look like old books. Little by little we are adding (just a few) quality pieces to our theme here and watching it evolve.

I asked Ryan if there were any way he could make a 'Steampunk Dragon' and he thought he would be up to the task. I listed some of the things I liked which may be included, and I let his own imagination and creativity take over. What resulted was far more spectacular than I could have ever imagined. And while it turned out to be the last commission he would take on prior to his departure, it was in every way a piece that far exceeded my expectations.

Yesterday, after many months, my piece finally arrived. With all that was happening in Ryan's life, things were understandably delayed a bit, but I understood, as I had moved here to Canada from Chicago a few years ago and I remember how chaotic that time was for me. My patience certainly paid off, as when I finally saw the piece up close it took my breath away. It is amazing!

I took some pictures to show you.

Ryan created an awesome 'mechanical dragon' for me:

Sculpture Art Statue Metal Font


The dragon measures about 11" tall. It is somewhat of a robot, and it is holding a young kitty in its arms and playfully dangling a mouse toy above it:

Gesture Toy Wood Armour Cg artwork


It is sitting on a stool on a 'stone' base, and every inch of it and every detail is made of clay. The only part that is not clay are the light bulb details at the back of the head:

Toy Gesture Machine Fictional character Action figure


It is hard to believe that all the cords, rivets, stitching on the cat and mouse, and even the key on the back are made from clay:

Toy Art Fictional character Action figure Armour


I just had to share it with you! I have uploaded several other pictures into my Picasa Album. I just wanted to share them with you.

I hope you get a chance to stop by Ryan's website too and see his other extraordinary creations. He is an amazing artist and his talent is something that you don't see every day.

I feel so fortunate and privileged to own one of his original pieces. It is something that I saved for a long time to afford, and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.

This was a huge extravagance for me. It is rare that I purchase something that is so purely for my own pleasure. I suppose that is what "art" really is though. Something that fills both the heart and your senses. I want to thank Ryan for taking the time to make this beautiful piece for me. I feel very fortunate to have it.

Besides the beautiful piece, I also feel that I have made a friend not only in Ryan, but also with his mom who shipped the piece to me after Ryan's departure. We have become 'friends' on Facebook, and it has been wonderful to see Ryan find happiness and get married to a beautiful woman. I can only imagine what his happiness will inspire in his work. I can't wait to see.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this and reading this story. While it isn't about woodworking or painting, it is about how wonderfully universal art can be. Expressing ourselves through our art is something that we all have in common. Whether we are designers or making other's designs, we all put our hearts and our souls into what we love to do, and the results is wonderful.

My own creativity is returning, and I spent the day yesterday drawing as I will today. It seems that the ideas are again flowing and soon there will be new designs to share with you all. It feels good.

I wish you all a wonderfully creative day. I hope you find joy in whatever you choose to do.
Sheila, it is great that you got this piece. I have been a fan of Ryan's for a while now and have watched as he worked on this one. Such talent! I hope to be able to own one of his great sculptures one day. The steampunk look works great with his style.

Thanks for sharing this. I have been envious of whoever was getting this one. Now I can rest easy that it's in good hands.
 

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#6,877 ·
On the Road Again!

Keith and I decided to take our final trip of the year to Halifax yesterday. With the cold weather inevitably approaching, we made a quick decision to take off yesterday and spend the night at our favorite hotel and enjoy some shopping. I'll keep this short because we have limited computer access, but I will be back tomorrow. I just want you all to know!

Sorry this got posted in the class blog first. This computer is strange!

Have a wonderful day! :)
 
#6,881 ·
More on Tape for Applying Patterns

Good morning everyone. After a busy couple of days, it feels good to be home.

On Friday morning, Keith asked me if I was up for a trip to Halifax. While many times it is hard to think of a 'good time' to get away, we both realized that this would probably be our last opportunity to do so this year. Here in Nova Scotia the weather is always questionable at this time of year and we have learned from the past that driving in the winter months isn't always the smartest thing. The city is a three hours' drive on a good day and the forecast was clear for the next couple of days so we decided to head out.

There were many things we wanted to accomplish. Besides picking things up for the impending holiday season, there were some things I needed for work here that I wanted to look into. It turned out to be a successful trip in both senses, as well as a nice chance to get away for a couple of days and spend a night in our favorite hotel.

One of the things that I was most interested was seeing if I could find the double-sided masking tape to possibly use for attaching the pattern to the wood. I realize that there are many 'good' ways to attach the pattern, but I wanted to see if I could locate the tape and try this out.

I had previously written about the frustrations we were having regarding the use of spray glue. For a while, we were using Elmer's Spray Adhesive:

Liquid Bottle Drink Paint Packaging and labeling


But in the past year or so, it seems that the quality has declined. It seems that either the glue comes out sticky, or clumpy or doesn't come out at all sometimes. On the non-production work, we use blue painter's tape along with the spray. Using the blue tape ensures easy removal of the pattern without leaving a residue, as well as helping the wood not to burn, eliminating the need to add packaging tape over the surface of the pattern when cutting hardwood, as I do most often. However, with the decline in quality of the Elmer's, there are times when even a thorough spraying isn't enough to stop the pattern from peeling off.

To me, it is as if the contents of the can don't mix thoroughly, even with shaking the can for a good length of time. It is frustrating when one use causes strings of glue to come out and the next time you may get blobs and another time you may get a fine mist, as desired, but the pattern begins to lift as you are cutting. All from the same can! We have purchased this product from several different places and still see the same results, so we can't attribute it to a particular batch or lot. We have in our possession three partially used cans that we try to use on things that are pre-taped and we err on the side of putting too much, just to finish what we have.

We also tried an alternative product by Krylon called "Easy Tack" which we have had more success with:

Liquid Fluid Service Personal care Bottle


We feel this product works a bit better, offering a more dependable bond, but we find it is hard to locate. The store that carried it in Yarmouth (Zellers) is going out of business and we are having a bit of trouble locating it in our area. Michael's has it, but it is more expensive there than Zellers at $12 per can. We were fortunate to have a coupon for 25% off though and did pick one up while we were there.

So we are back to the tape for an alternative. I did find the Painter's Mate Green Dropcloth Tape at Home Depot. This tape is made here in Canada. It is distributed by a company which is located in Avon, Ohio, United States. called Shur Tech Brands (1-800-321-0253) yet, when I go to their site, they say that you need to call a company called New United which is located in Florida to find it (1-800-800-7343). The link to the Painter's Mate Green is here: http://paintersmategreen.com/Products/Double_Sided_Dropcloth_Tape.aspx

It is a bit confusing, I know. But I think that using this product may be one of the best alternatives if you are NOT doing a lot of production work and really want consistency as far as keeping the pattern in place yet being able to remove it easily. I can't wait until the next time I cut and can try this out.

The tape costs about $8.00 a for 25 meters long and 36mm wide roll. (That's 1.41 in wide by 27.3 yds. for those of you in the US) Some of you may see that as a bit expensive, but when you consider the cost of using the spray adhesive AND also adding a layer of tape over your scrolled project (which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to avoid burn marks) it really isn't too bad. As I said, the cost would be too much for production work, as well as the time involved to tape the pieces. We typically don't apply tape over the four layers of 1/8" birch we stack cut for cutting our ornament kits without any problem whatsoever, so we don't consider it at all.

But for normal cutting, I think this may be a good alternative. Many people like Scotch Super 77 spray adhesive, and I have used the product and it is quite reliable, but the cost for it here is about $18 a can, and that is pretty steep. Plus the fact that if I can eliminate a spray altogether, it would make me very happy. Applying a layer of tape is much easier and cleaner and there is no mess or fumes whatsoever.

In any case, it is worth looking into. 3M makes double sided masking tapes that are available in the United States, but they are quite a bit more expensive. I would think that the best bet if using this method would to try to call the above phone numbers and locate some Painter's Mate tape in your area.

Well, this is getting long and I need to get going. I am certain that I will talk more about our adventures as time goes on. I hope that some of you found this information helpful and have some success in finding this product in your area. If you do, please let me know so I can pass the information on to other. You can post replies here. :)

I wish you all a great Sunday!
 

Attachments

#6,882 ·
More on Tape for Applying Patterns

Good morning everyone. After a busy couple of days, it feels good to be home.

On Friday morning, Keith asked me if I was up for a trip to Halifax. While many times it is hard to think of a 'good time' to get away, we both realized that this would probably be our last opportunity to do so this year. Here in Nova Scotia the weather is always questionable at this time of year and we have learned from the past that driving in the winter months isn't always the smartest thing. The city is a three hours' drive on a good day and the forecast was clear for the next couple of days so we decided to head out.

There were many things we wanted to accomplish. Besides picking things up for the impending holiday season, there were some things I needed for work here that I wanted to look into. It turned out to be a successful trip in both senses, as well as a nice chance to get away for a couple of days and spend a night in our favorite hotel.

One of the things that I was most interested was seeing if I could find the double-sided masking tape to possibly use for attaching the pattern to the wood. I realize that there are many 'good' ways to attach the pattern, but I wanted to see if I could locate the tape and try this out.

I had previously written about the frustrations we were having regarding the use of spray glue. For a while, we were using Elmer's Spray Adhesive:

Liquid Bottle Drink Paint Packaging and labeling


But in the past year or so, it seems that the quality has declined. It seems that either the glue comes out sticky, or clumpy or doesn't come out at all sometimes. On the non-production work, we use blue painter's tape along with the spray. Using the blue tape ensures easy removal of the pattern without leaving a residue, as well as helping the wood not to burn, eliminating the need to add packaging tape over the surface of the pattern when cutting hardwood, as I do most often. However, with the decline in quality of the Elmer's, there are times when even a thorough spraying isn't enough to stop the pattern from peeling off.

To me, it is as if the contents of the can don't mix thoroughly, even with shaking the can for a good length of time. It is frustrating when one use causes strings of glue to come out and the next time you may get blobs and another time you may get a fine mist, as desired, but the pattern begins to lift as you are cutting. All from the same can! We have purchased this product from several different places and still see the same results, so we can't attribute it to a particular batch or lot. We have in our possession three partially used cans that we try to use on things that are pre-taped and we err on the side of putting too much, just to finish what we have.

We also tried an alternative product by Krylon called "Easy Tack" which we have had more success with:

Liquid Fluid Service Personal care Bottle


We feel this product works a bit better, offering a more dependable bond, but we find it is hard to locate. The store that carried it in Yarmouth (Zellers) is going out of business and we are having a bit of trouble locating it in our area. Michael's has it, but it is more expensive there than Zellers at $12 per can. We were fortunate to have a coupon for 25% off though and did pick one up while we were there.

So we are back to the tape for an alternative. I did find the Painter's Mate Green Dropcloth Tape at Home Depot. This tape is made here in Canada. It is distributed by a company which is located in Avon, Ohio, United States. called Shur Tech Brands (1-800-321-0253) yet, when I go to their site, they say that you need to call a company called New United which is located in Florida to find it (1-800-800-7343). The link to the Painter's Mate Green is here: http://paintersmategreen.com/Products/Double_Sided_Dropcloth_Tape.aspx

It is a bit confusing, I know. But I think that using this product may be one of the best alternatives if you are NOT doing a lot of production work and really want consistency as far as keeping the pattern in place yet being able to remove it easily. I can't wait until the next time I cut and can try this out.

The tape costs about $8.00 a for 25 meters long and 36mm wide roll. (That's 1.41 in wide by 27.3 yds. for those of you in the US) Some of you may see that as a bit expensive, but when you consider the cost of using the spray adhesive AND also adding a layer of tape over your scrolled project (which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to avoid burn marks) it really isn't too bad. As I said, the cost would be too much for production work, as well as the time involved to tape the pieces. We typically don't apply tape over the four layers of 1/8" birch we stack cut for cutting our ornament kits without any problem whatsoever, so we don't consider it at all.

But for normal cutting, I think this may be a good alternative. Many people like Scotch Super 77 spray adhesive, and I have used the product and it is quite reliable, but the cost for it here is about $18 a can, and that is pretty steep. Plus the fact that if I can eliminate a spray altogether, it would make me very happy. Applying a layer of tape is much easier and cleaner and there is no mess or fumes whatsoever.

In any case, it is worth looking into. 3M makes double sided masking tapes that are available in the United States, but they are quite a bit more expensive. I would think that the best bet if using this method would to try to call the above phone numbers and locate some Painter's Mate tape in your area.

Well, this is getting long and I need to get going. I am certain that I will talk more about our adventures as time goes on. I hope that some of you found this information helpful and have some success in finding this product in your area. If you do, please let me know so I can pass the information on to other. You can post replies here. :)

I wish you all a great Sunday!
Sheila,
Welcome back! Glad you made it safely.
I have used two products you don't mention. Glue sticks work great on paper patterns. Applied generously to the paper, it sticks very well and the adhesive doesn't seem to penetrate deeply so when the paper is sanded off (or moistened and peeled off) there is little residue. The other product is rubber cement, a kids school project adhesive. Again, applied to just the paper generously and quickly stuck to the wood, it will peel off when done. If applied to paper and wood (both surfaces lightly), then the bond is much more permanent.

I find that the rubber cement and 3m 77 penetrate the wood enough that it has been worth my time to stack a waste layer just to hold the pattern.

Just some things I've experienced.
DanK
 

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#6,890 ·
An Awesome Weekend and Full Day Ahead!

I am finally getting caught up with everything here. It is amazing how a couple of days away can create such a backlog of things to do! (Perhaps I am not such a slug after all! LOL)

Yesterday was a busy end to what turned out to be a wonderful weekend. Besides our awesome trip to the city, upon arriving home I feel that I made several new 'friends' when returning calls about woodworking and scroll sawing. I am really starting to understand how life doesn't stop just because we take off for a day or two. It just keeps on rolling along.

I really love my customers. I love talking to them and hearing about their woodworking and painting and what got them involved and what they are working on. Sometimes what starts with just a question seems to spark a conversation that lasts an hour or more. And in the process, I get to know them and many times help them figure things out. It really is great and it makes me feel as if I contribute to things just a bit. It also helps me learn different techniques and about different products and what works for others. This is all valuable information that I can pass on to others through this blog and the many other avenues that I have to communicate.

Yesterday's post turned into a very valuable discussion about finding alternative ways to apply patterns for cutting on the scroll saw. While this may seem to be a trivial subject to others who don't do scroll work, the way that the pattern is applied could literally make or break a project. The last thing a scroller (especially one new to scrolling) needs to worry about is keeping the pattern on the wood (OR getting it off after the piece is cut for that matter!) Those of us who scroll know how important this seemingly trivial step is in the process and we also know that not only are there many methods, but many things that can affect which method we use.

In speaking to one of my customers this weekend, they were very grateful to hear some of the ways that I used and had heard about to successfully apply the pattern. That was part of the process that they were having difficulty with and it was causing a domino effect of frustration in the whole process. I feel good because I was able to help them by suggesting some of the other methods that not only I have used, but what others recommended too. By the time I got off the phone, I could hear the enthusiasm in their voice and felt that they were on the right track again. That is what sharing is all about.

It was a crazy/busy day yesterday and I finally caught up with most of my messages and mail. I also spent several hours at a penny sale to raise money for the cats that live on the wharf here in Meteghan and Clare. You see, several people like to dump their cats there and there is a group that my neighbor Lee is in that helps them out. They have regular auctions to cover costs of spaying and neutering and other medical care and they have build shelters for the cats in the community and my neighbor Lee goes every single day to feed and care for them. Many of them are ferel and have never been near humans, but just about all of them approach Lee and allow him to pet or hold them. I look at him as the "Cat Whisperer" of our area, along with Adele who heads the group.

Their annual Penny Sale was yesterday and they raised over $3500 to help the kitties through the winter. Those of you who know me at all will realize how close this cause is to my heart and I was happy to attend my first sale. I sat with Lee at the bakery table and every single thing was sold in the first hour and a half or so! I didn't win any prizes, but I feel like it was the Kitties that came out the big winners in this event! It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

But it is back to work today. Since the past couple of days have been filled with 'life' I know I need to get my nose to the grindstone again on work and patterns. I sure saw a lot of things in Halifax and Dartmouth that gave me ideas for projects! I am really charged up about some new things that I am going to make. And I can't wait to try out my new double sided tape for applying the patterns. I think I will do a video of that so you can all see how it will work.

It's a busy week ahead. And busier days after that. But they are all "good busy" and I am truly happy that I have so many good people and things in my life.

With that said, it is time for me to get moving and hit the gym and get some work done! I was in the middle of drawing my next patterns when we decided to head out on Friday and I can't wait to get back to that too.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone! No matter what you do, make your day fun by doing something that you enjoy!

Here's a wonderful thought to start your Monday . . .

Poster Rectangle Felidae Font Art


Have an awesome day!
 

Attachments

#6,891 ·
An Awesome Weekend and Full Day Ahead!

I am finally getting caught up with everything here. It is amazing how a couple of days away can create such a backlog of things to do! (Perhaps I am not such a slug after all! LOL)

Yesterday was a busy end to what turned out to be a wonderful weekend. Besides our awesome trip to the city, upon arriving home I feel that I made several new 'friends' when returning calls about woodworking and scroll sawing. I am really starting to understand how life doesn't stop just because we take off for a day or two. It just keeps on rolling along.

I really love my customers. I love talking to them and hearing about their woodworking and painting and what got them involved and what they are working on. Sometimes what starts with just a question seems to spark a conversation that lasts an hour or more. And in the process, I get to know them and many times help them figure things out. It really is great and it makes me feel as if I contribute to things just a bit. It also helps me learn different techniques and about different products and what works for others. This is all valuable information that I can pass on to others through this blog and the many other avenues that I have to communicate.

Yesterday's post turned into a very valuable discussion about finding alternative ways to apply patterns for cutting on the scroll saw. While this may seem to be a trivial subject to others who don't do scroll work, the way that the pattern is applied could literally make or break a project. The last thing a scroller (especially one new to scrolling) needs to worry about is keeping the pattern on the wood (OR getting it off after the piece is cut for that matter!) Those of us who scroll know how important this seemingly trivial step is in the process and we also know that not only are there many methods, but many things that can affect which method we use.

In speaking to one of my customers this weekend, they were very grateful to hear some of the ways that I used and had heard about to successfully apply the pattern. That was part of the process that they were having difficulty with and it was causing a domino effect of frustration in the whole process. I feel good because I was able to help them by suggesting some of the other methods that not only I have used, but what others recommended too. By the time I got off the phone, I could hear the enthusiasm in their voice and felt that they were on the right track again. That is what sharing is all about.

It was a crazy/busy day yesterday and I finally caught up with most of my messages and mail. I also spent several hours at a penny sale to raise money for the cats that live on the wharf here in Meteghan and Clare. You see, several people like to dump their cats there and there is a group that my neighbor Lee is in that helps them out. They have regular auctions to cover costs of spaying and neutering and other medical care and they have build shelters for the cats in the community and my neighbor Lee goes every single day to feed and care for them. Many of them are ferel and have never been near humans, but just about all of them approach Lee and allow him to pet or hold them. I look at him as the "Cat Whisperer" of our area, along with Adele who heads the group.

Their annual Penny Sale was yesterday and they raised over $3500 to help the kitties through the winter. Those of you who know me at all will realize how close this cause is to my heart and I was happy to attend my first sale. I sat with Lee at the bakery table and every single thing was sold in the first hour and a half or so! I didn't win any prizes, but I feel like it was the Kitties that came out the big winners in this event! It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

But it is back to work today. Since the past couple of days have been filled with 'life' I know I need to get my nose to the grindstone again on work and patterns. I sure saw a lot of things in Halifax and Dartmouth that gave me ideas for projects! I am really charged up about some new things that I am going to make. And I can't wait to try out my new double sided tape for applying the patterns. I think I will do a video of that so you can all see how it will work.

It's a busy week ahead. And busier days after that. But they are all "good busy" and I am truly happy that I have so many good people and things in my life.

With that said, it is time for me to get moving and hit the gym and get some work done! I was in the middle of drawing my next patterns when we decided to head out on Friday and I can't wait to get back to that too.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone! No matter what you do, make your day fun by doing something that you enjoy!

Here's a wonderful thought to start your Monday . . .

Poster Rectangle Felidae Font Art


Have an awesome day!
Wish you a gr8 week. I agree with that last pic. I would only add one word to it: "The Army of the ARMED Kind"
 

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#6,897 ·
I Received My New Keyboard!

Well, today is going to be a busy, busy, BUSY day! That is probably going to be the tone for the rest of the year it seems. (And maybe next year too!) I made some real progress on my next pattern yesterday and I hope to be cutting by tomorrow. (If only!) In order for that to happen, I need to really get my butt in gear and get some things done today.

But first, I have to take a ride to Yarmouth to do some shopping and return one of my keyboards. Some of you may remember that almost two weeks ago, my Logitech keyboard died. (I wrote a blog about it called Death of a Keyboard) I ran to Staples and purchased another one, as it was still under warranty, but Staples told me that I needed to talk to Logitech directly since it was nearly a year old. I needed a keyboard so I purchased another one (for about $119 with tax.)

Input device Office equipment Computer Gadget Space bar


Logitech K800 Keyboard

When I called Logitech, they couldn't have been better. After trying a couple of things, they just told me they would send me a new one. I didn't even have to send the old one back! I thought that was great customer service. I had told them that I had purchased a keyboard to replace the old one and I asked if I could just swap them out and return the other one, or the new one in its place and they said that would be fine.

So yesterday, my new keyboard arrived. It was identical to what I had purchased, but since it was sent from the United States, it didn't have the French translation on the box. The SKU was one number different too.

So now I don't know what is going to happen. I left all the film and stickers on the new keyboard just in case, but I would think that they would want one where the seals aren't even broken on the box. I don't know if they will accept the new and unopened one without the French instructions. I would think that would be preferable than accepting an open box. Both of them have identical functions. I think it will be interesting to see what they do.

I figure the worse scenario will be that I keep both of them. That wouldn't be tragic because I really like this keyboard a lot and eventually it will die again. But by that time I am sure they will have something new out that I may want to try. I could certainly use my money back too. But I feel like either way it will be OK. I will keep you all posted.

I also need to do some quick shopping for the dinner I am planning on Thursday, and do a final run for the Holiday stuff I need. I can pretty much say that I am done with Christmas shopping because many of the things I am giving are things that I am making, but I need to get a couple of things to fill in.

So it will be a "power shopping" trip and hopefully I will be able to button everything up pretty much.

I hope to be back by early afternoon and have enough time to finish the drawings so that I can cut tomorrow. Then too I can try out the double sided painter's tape that I got this past weekend on my scroll sawing. This pattern that I am making is the perfect candidate for seeing how it will perform. Perhaps I will take some short video clips of how it does. :)

So that is it. So much to do! But it will all be good and hopefully everything will work out fine.

I hope you have a good day today.

Computer Input device Product Peripheral Cat
 

Attachments

#6,898 ·
I Received My New Keyboard!

Well, today is going to be a busy, busy, BUSY day! That is probably going to be the tone for the rest of the year it seems. (And maybe next year too!) I made some real progress on my next pattern yesterday and I hope to be cutting by tomorrow. (If only!) In order for that to happen, I need to really get my butt in gear and get some things done today.

But first, I have to take a ride to Yarmouth to do some shopping and return one of my keyboards. Some of you may remember that almost two weeks ago, my Logitech keyboard died. (I wrote a blog about it called Death of a Keyboard) I ran to Staples and purchased another one, as it was still under warranty, but Staples told me that I needed to talk to Logitech directly since it was nearly a year old. I needed a keyboard so I purchased another one (for about $119 with tax.)

Input device Office equipment Computer Gadget Space bar


Logitech K800 Keyboard

When I called Logitech, they couldn't have been better. After trying a couple of things, they just told me they would send me a new one. I didn't even have to send the old one back! I thought that was great customer service. I had told them that I had purchased a keyboard to replace the old one and I asked if I could just swap them out and return the other one, or the new one in its place and they said that would be fine.

So yesterday, my new keyboard arrived. It was identical to what I had purchased, but since it was sent from the United States, it didn't have the French translation on the box. The SKU was one number different too.

So now I don't know what is going to happen. I left all the film and stickers on the new keyboard just in case, but I would think that they would want one where the seals aren't even broken on the box. I don't know if they will accept the new and unopened one without the French instructions. I would think that would be preferable than accepting an open box. Both of them have identical functions. I think it will be interesting to see what they do.

I figure the worse scenario will be that I keep both of them. That wouldn't be tragic because I really like this keyboard a lot and eventually it will die again. But by that time I am sure they will have something new out that I may want to try. I could certainly use my money back too. But I feel like either way it will be OK. I will keep you all posted.

I also need to do some quick shopping for the dinner I am planning on Thursday, and do a final run for the Holiday stuff I need. I can pretty much say that I am done with Christmas shopping because many of the things I am giving are things that I am making, but I need to get a couple of things to fill in.

So it will be a "power shopping" trip and hopefully I will be able to button everything up pretty much.

I hope to be back by early afternoon and have enough time to finish the drawings so that I can cut tomorrow. Then too I can try out the double sided painter's tape that I got this past weekend on my scroll sawing. This pattern that I am making is the perfect candidate for seeing how it will perform. Perhaps I will take some short video clips of how it does. :)

So that is it. So much to do! But it will all be good and hopefully everything will work out fine.

I hope you have a good day today.

Computer Input device Product Peripheral Cat
Sheila, I think the next thing to go will be your mouse..
(nice kitty paw ;-)
 

Attachments

#6,902 ·
A Happy Ending

I love to tell a good story. Especially one with a happy ending. Today I get to do just that.

A couple of weeks ago, I had written a blog about my keyboard dying. This was very troubling to me because one thing that I don't keep 'spares' of are keyboards. (The link to the blog is here) Since I could only return the keyboard to Staples for the first 30 days and the keyboard was just about a year ago, I was instructed to call Logitech directly.

I suppose I understood this logic, but in order to keep functioning and working, I needed to purchase another keyboard. Fortunately they still had the same model available, as we all know how technology changes so quickly, so I purchased another identical keyboard for approximately $115.

When I got home, I called Logitech. I didn't have a lot of hope, as even if they agreed that the keyboard was defective, by the time I paid for shipping and all to get the old one back to them, it would cost quite a bit. But I wanted to see what they would do about it anyway. Perhaps there was a setting or part that could be replaced without me having to trash the whole thing.

The tech was very nice and he went through several troubleshooting steps. This took about 10 minutes and when we were done, it still was not working. He told me if I could send him a copy of the receipt (via email was fine) than he would send out a new keyboard right away.

I was stunned.

There were no hoops to jump through. I didn't have to tap dance or complain or anything of the sort. I did so immediately and within an hour of sending it, I was notified that the keyboard was ready to be shipped.

It arrived here on Monday, which was less than two weeks from when my other one broke. It was identical to the one that I had, but since it was sent from the USA, it didn't have the French printed instructions and the translation on the box. The keyboards functioned exactly the same way.

When speaking with the representative, I had told him that I needed to purchase another keyboard to use until my new one arrived. I asked him if I would be able to return the new one, unopened and he told me that would be fine. However, I still kept the thin film over the face of the board I was using 'just in case.'

In seeing that the new one had the language difference on the package, I also noticed that the SKU number was one digit off. I wondered if this would affect my return, as the SKU on my receipt was for the English/French version. I didn't know how Staples would handle it, and I was afraid that they would give me trouble because it didn't match exactly.

I didn't want them to think I was trying to scam them, so what I did yesterday was pack up keyboard #2 and bring all three back to Staples. That way I could tell my story and let them decide how they wanted to handle it. I already had in my head that if they didn't allow me to return keyboard #2, at least I would now have a back up and not be stuck if something like this happened again.

When I got there, I asked for a manager right away. I figured that it would have to go through the manager anyway, so why waste time explaining to the cashier only to have to explain again. He came to see what I needed and while at first he seemed confused, when I explained my story and presented receipts for keyboard #1 and #2, he followed what happened.

He explained to me that since they didn't have the SKU in their system for keyboard #3 (the English only one) that I was to keep it, and they would happily accept keyboard #2 back for a full refund. Since I had not even taken anything out of the package except the board itself and everything was in tact, and clean and wrapped accordingly, he said that they would have no trouble with it at all.

The entire transaction took only a couple of minutes and before I knew it, I was heading out the door with keyboards #1 and #3. Since the batteries were still good in Keyboard #1, I now had an additional set to use as a back up.

All in all, I was thrilled that things went this way. Both Logitech and Staples couldn't have been more helpful and I am a happy camper. Paying $115 for a keyboard is a lot. I mentioned in previous blogs why I chose such a keyboard in the first place. It is one of the only keyboards that I have seen that are both cordless and back lit, which for me is a huge plus. Besides that, the key action is the best I have ever experienced on a keyboard and I absolutely love it. Even though I had the problem with it, I hope that is a fluke and that I will get a nice long life out of this one.

Customer service is so critical at times like these. With the economy so volatile, everyone is very watchful of their spending, including myself. I think that companies that offer good customer service will be the ones that will survive these lean times and hopefully they will be rewarded by return business. I know that I feel very good about how both Staples and Logitech handled this whole issue and I feel confident that when I am purchasing from them, there will also be some assurance that they will take care of me down the road. It made for a good day.

I spent a couple additional hours in town finishing up on some shopping for both my Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow and also for Christmas. I am just about finished with all my shopping now, and looking forward to not having to go fight crowds in the upcoming month. Besides, this past weekend I had my fill of people and crowds anyway,

I still have some organizing to do, as I am giving many people things that I made. My main stop yesterday was a trip to the dollar store to get some wonderful decorated boxes that I love to give gifts in. I love the boxes that they have there, and in addition to the beautiful boxes I purchased this past weekend in the city, I am all set.

So it was a wonderfully full and functional day.

I did spend the evening drawing for several hours. While I didn't finish my new pattern as I wanted to, I did make a great deal of progress on it and I am very happy to see how it is turning out. I think it will be a great addition to our pattern line and I am very happy with it.

Today will be filled with more drawing and preparing many things for my Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Even though I am here in Canada, I still have a full turkey dinner on the day of the American Thanksgiving. It is one way I keep the traditions of my own past alive. This year we are having Bernie and Ellen and Keith's parents over to help me celebrate. It is my one time of the year when we have them all and I truly look forward to it.

So it is a busy day and one that I am looking forward to very much. I love cooking and I truly look forward to sharing a wonderful day with family.

I could have pushed the drawing and worked toward cutting today, but I found myself getting a bit anxious about the dinner and getting everything done. When I woke up this morning, I decided that I was going to relax and enjoy the next couple of days. So many people push too hard and before they know it, they are overwhelmed and not able to enjoy the holidays at all. I don't want this to happen.

I am going to cook and tidy up the house, and perhaps even get some drawing done too. Everything today will be at a very relaxed and pleasant pace. Maybe I will even watch a holiday movie.

Time seems to go by so fast these days. I think it is important to take the time to stop and enjoy what each day brings. There is always good around us, but sometimes we just need to look a bit harder to find it among the chaos of normal life.

I wish you all a wonderful day today. Those of you cooking or preparing for tomorrow - try to remember what the holiday is all about. It is about getting together with loved ones and enjoying each other and appreciating all the good things that you have in your life. If you all focus on that, you will certainly have an amazing day!

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. ~William Shakespeare

Plant Facial expression Vertebrate Cat Hat

(photo courtesy of www.mousebreath.com)
 

Attachments

#6,903 ·
A Happy Ending

I love to tell a good story. Especially one with a happy ending. Today I get to do just that.

A couple of weeks ago, I had written a blog about my keyboard dying. This was very troubling to me because one thing that I don't keep 'spares' of are keyboards. (The link to the blog is here) Since I could only return the keyboard to Staples for the first 30 days and the keyboard was just about a year ago, I was instructed to call Logitech directly.

I suppose I understood this logic, but in order to keep functioning and working, I needed to purchase another keyboard. Fortunately they still had the same model available, as we all know how technology changes so quickly, so I purchased another identical keyboard for approximately $115.

When I got home, I called Logitech. I didn't have a lot of hope, as even if they agreed that the keyboard was defective, by the time I paid for shipping and all to get the old one back to them, it would cost quite a bit. But I wanted to see what they would do about it anyway. Perhaps there was a setting or part that could be replaced without me having to trash the whole thing.

The tech was very nice and he went through several troubleshooting steps. This took about 10 minutes and when we were done, it still was not working. He told me if I could send him a copy of the receipt (via email was fine) than he would send out a new keyboard right away.

I was stunned.

There were no hoops to jump through. I didn't have to tap dance or complain or anything of the sort. I did so immediately and within an hour of sending it, I was notified that the keyboard was ready to be shipped.

It arrived here on Monday, which was less than two weeks from when my other one broke. It was identical to the one that I had, but since it was sent from the USA, it didn't have the French printed instructions and the translation on the box. The keyboards functioned exactly the same way.

When speaking with the representative, I had told him that I needed to purchase another keyboard to use until my new one arrived. I asked him if I would be able to return the new one, unopened and he told me that would be fine. However, I still kept the thin film over the face of the board I was using 'just in case.'

In seeing that the new one had the language difference on the package, I also noticed that the SKU number was one digit off. I wondered if this would affect my return, as the SKU on my receipt was for the English/French version. I didn't know how Staples would handle it, and I was afraid that they would give me trouble because it didn't match exactly.

I didn't want them to think I was trying to scam them, so what I did yesterday was pack up keyboard #2 and bring all three back to Staples. That way I could tell my story and let them decide how they wanted to handle it. I already had in my head that if they didn't allow me to return keyboard #2, at least I would now have a back up and not be stuck if something like this happened again.

When I got there, I asked for a manager right away. I figured that it would have to go through the manager anyway, so why waste time explaining to the cashier only to have to explain again. He came to see what I needed and while at first he seemed confused, when I explained my story and presented receipts for keyboard #1 and #2, he followed what happened.

He explained to me that since they didn't have the SKU in their system for keyboard #3 (the English only one) that I was to keep it, and they would happily accept keyboard #2 back for a full refund. Since I had not even taken anything out of the package except the board itself and everything was in tact, and clean and wrapped accordingly, he said that they would have no trouble with it at all.

The entire transaction took only a couple of minutes and before I knew it, I was heading out the door with keyboards #1 and #3. Since the batteries were still good in Keyboard #1, I now had an additional set to use as a back up.

All in all, I was thrilled that things went this way. Both Logitech and Staples couldn't have been more helpful and I am a happy camper. Paying $115 for a keyboard is a lot. I mentioned in previous blogs why I chose such a keyboard in the first place. It is one of the only keyboards that I have seen that are both cordless and back lit, which for me is a huge plus. Besides that, the key action is the best I have ever experienced on a keyboard and I absolutely love it. Even though I had the problem with it, I hope that is a fluke and that I will get a nice long life out of this one.

Customer service is so critical at times like these. With the economy so volatile, everyone is very watchful of their spending, including myself. I think that companies that offer good customer service will be the ones that will survive these lean times and hopefully they will be rewarded by return business. I know that I feel very good about how both Staples and Logitech handled this whole issue and I feel confident that when I am purchasing from them, there will also be some assurance that they will take care of me down the road. It made for a good day.

I spent a couple additional hours in town finishing up on some shopping for both my Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow and also for Christmas. I am just about finished with all my shopping now, and looking forward to not having to go fight crowds in the upcoming month. Besides, this past weekend I had my fill of people and crowds anyway,

I still have some organizing to do, as I am giving many people things that I made. My main stop yesterday was a trip to the dollar store to get some wonderful decorated boxes that I love to give gifts in. I love the boxes that they have there, and in addition to the beautiful boxes I purchased this past weekend in the city, I am all set.

So it was a wonderfully full and functional day.

I did spend the evening drawing for several hours. While I didn't finish my new pattern as I wanted to, I did make a great deal of progress on it and I am very happy to see how it is turning out. I think it will be a great addition to our pattern line and I am very happy with it.

Today will be filled with more drawing and preparing many things for my Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Even though I am here in Canada, I still have a full turkey dinner on the day of the American Thanksgiving. It is one way I keep the traditions of my own past alive. This year we are having Bernie and Ellen and Keith's parents over to help me celebrate. It is my one time of the year when we have them all and I truly look forward to it.

So it is a busy day and one that I am looking forward to very much. I love cooking and I truly look forward to sharing a wonderful day with family.

I could have pushed the drawing and worked toward cutting today, but I found myself getting a bit anxious about the dinner and getting everything done. When I woke up this morning, I decided that I was going to relax and enjoy the next couple of days. So many people push too hard and before they know it, they are overwhelmed and not able to enjoy the holidays at all. I don't want this to happen.

I am going to cook and tidy up the house, and perhaps even get some drawing done too. Everything today will be at a very relaxed and pleasant pace. Maybe I will even watch a holiday movie.

Time seems to go by so fast these days. I think it is important to take the time to stop and enjoy what each day brings. There is always good around us, but sometimes we just need to look a bit harder to find it among the chaos of normal life.

I wish you all a wonderful day today. Those of you cooking or preparing for tomorrow - try to remember what the holiday is all about. It is about getting together with loved ones and enjoying each other and appreciating all the good things that you have in your life. If you all focus on that, you will certainly have an amazing day!

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. ~William Shakespeare

Plant Facial expression Vertebrate Cat Hat

(photo courtesy of www.mousebreath.com)
Good morning Sheila,
Some times things just fall into place like that!
Kathie and I wish you and Keith a very Happy (American) Thanksgiving!
Rick
 

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#6,915 ·
Gratitude

One of the best things about having two countries to call 'home' is that I get to celebrate two Thanksgivings. (This year I actually am on my third!)

I think that is appropriate, because (without trying to sound corny) I do have a lot to be thankful for. While things aren't always perfect, I think I have a pretty good life. I am healthy, my kids are doing well and I am proud of both of them, I have a wonderful partner in Keith (both personally and professionally) and I am doing a job that I absolutely love. So what is there NOT to be thankful for?

Besides all of the above, I also have many exciting things to look forward to. This past year has brought many changes in my life and while most of them were good changes, the most important thing that has happened is that there are several new opportunities for me to explore. And that is exciting!

Today I am making the turkey dinner. Since I have come to Canada, I have held my own tradition and had a turkey dinner on the USA Thanksgiving every year. For those of you who don't know (I didn't know until I moved here) Canada celebrates their Thanksgiving early in October. I think that is one of the times throughout the year where I most feel the difference in living across the border in another country from where I was raised.

Thanksgiving always includes family, friends, football and good food. If nothing else, it is a good time to stop and be aware of all the good things in our lives that we are thankful for. By cooking this meal (and yes - there have been years when I cooked only for myself and the cats!) it reminds me not only of what I am thankful for at the present, but also of the memories of past Thanksgivings with my family, children and friends. I love how the house fills up with the aroma of turkey and stuffing. It brings back feelings of comfort and contentment and thinking back on those many Thanksgivings of the past help me relive in my mind the wonderful times and the amazing people that have touched my life, and all the while making new memories with those who are in our lives now. It all is good.

So off I go to begin preparing things. I want to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving day, whether you are American or not. You have all been a wonderful part of my life and I am truly grateful that you are in it.

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more." - Brother David Steindl-Rast

Tableware Textile Food Serveware Art
 

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#6,916 ·
Gratitude

One of the best things about having two countries to call 'home' is that I get to celebrate two Thanksgivings. (This year I actually am on my third!)

I think that is appropriate, because (without trying to sound corny) I do have a lot to be thankful for. While things aren't always perfect, I think I have a pretty good life. I am healthy, my kids are doing well and I am proud of both of them, I have a wonderful partner in Keith (both personally and professionally) and I am doing a job that I absolutely love. So what is there NOT to be thankful for?

Besides all of the above, I also have many exciting things to look forward to. This past year has brought many changes in my life and while most of them were good changes, the most important thing that has happened is that there are several new opportunities for me to explore. And that is exciting!

Today I am making the turkey dinner. Since I have come to Canada, I have held my own tradition and had a turkey dinner on the USA Thanksgiving every year. For those of you who don't know (I didn't know until I moved here) Canada celebrates their Thanksgiving early in October. I think that is one of the times throughout the year where I most feel the difference in living across the border in another country from where I was raised.

Thanksgiving always includes family, friends, football and good food. If nothing else, it is a good time to stop and be aware of all the good things in our lives that we are thankful for. By cooking this meal (and yes - there have been years when I cooked only for myself and the cats!) it reminds me not only of what I am thankful for at the present, but also of the memories of past Thanksgivings with my family, children and friends. I love how the house fills up with the aroma of turkey and stuffing. It brings back feelings of comfort and contentment and thinking back on those many Thanksgivings of the past help me relive in my mind the wonderful times and the amazing people that have touched my life, and all the while making new memories with those who are in our lives now. It all is good.

So off I go to begin preparing things. I want to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving day, whether you are American or not. You have all been a wonderful part of my life and I am truly grateful that you are in it.

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more." - Brother David Steindl-Rast

Tableware Textile Food Serveware Art
Hope you have a very wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy, have a good time.
 

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#6,921 ·
Aftermath

The day couldn't have gone any better. It was a busy one, but everything turned out so nice and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

These days I don't do much entertaining. At least not like I used to. When the kids were young we would have several large parties a year. Whether it was a birthday, holiday or just a summer barbeque, I really enjoyed the whole experience.

Yesterday was quiet by those standards, with Keith's parents, Bernie and Ellen and their daughter Cindy coming to visit and help me celebrate the American Thanksgiving. Keith's dad is American, and so is my cat Pancakes for that matter, so it was a nice excuse to celebrate yet another Thanksgiving with a traditional dinner and kick off the holiday season.

I had a nice turkey, about 12 lbs. with the usual trimmings. I even got Bobs' (Grizzman's) recipe for his Angel Biscuits that he brags about and gave them a go. When I made them however, I did a really foolish thing. I was multi-tasking and preparing several things at once and I accidentally added the salt to them twice. The results were really salty biscuits that wound up going in the garbage. The second time around however, they came out nice. Keith's dad liked them so much that I gave him a couple to take home. I will definitely make them again.

I was pretty busy with the preparation for most of the day. I just about finished everything about five minutes before they arrived. I felt pretty good because I had approached the entire event with a relaxed attitude and didn't feel any pressure or stress from it at all. It was a good excuse to tidy up the house a bit and I have enough good leftovers to last us a week. I tried to keep it simple, but even so there was a great variety of foods and there was certainly enough to feed twice the amount that we had here. But once again, I like that and have my leftover recipes ready, from turkey-broccoli-cheese crepes to turkey soup. It's all good to me. We certainly won't starve over the next several days.

Which brings me to some good points regarding work. With the house clean and food cooked and all my shopping done, I get plenty of time to finish up my holiday designing. I plan to don my elf suit and make the best of the days ahead and really make some progress. I can't wait to finish the new pattern that I am working on, and it will be fun to see it really come to life. Here is a sample of what I am working on:

Facial expression White Vertebrate Organism Font


I think it will be a fun pattern that people will like.

On the down side, Keith is fighting a cold. He is quite stuffed up and congested and has been very tired. I have to activate my 'force field of positive thinking' and try to ward off the germs and stay healthy. The last thing I want to do is get sick now. Time to get that power of positive thinking going. (Go ahead - laugh. It has worked for me before!)

So much to do and much to look back on and be happy about. It is going to be a wild and busy month ahead, and its time to step into high gear and see what I can accomplish. But I learned that one of the most important things to do is to take some time to actually enjoy the season. It's the people that are important, not the things. Yesterday was a great example of that. While everything was nice, it was very low-key and as a resulted it was one of the best Thanksgivings ever.

I wish you all a very happy Friday.

Cat Felidae Carnivore Small to medium-sized cats Whiskers


Let the holidays begin!
 

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#6,922 ·
Aftermath

The day couldn't have gone any better. It was a busy one, but everything turned out so nice and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

These days I don't do much entertaining. At least not like I used to. When the kids were young we would have several large parties a year. Whether it was a birthday, holiday or just a summer barbeque, I really enjoyed the whole experience.

Yesterday was quiet by those standards, with Keith's parents, Bernie and Ellen and their daughter Cindy coming to visit and help me celebrate the American Thanksgiving. Keith's dad is American, and so is my cat Pancakes for that matter, so it was a nice excuse to celebrate yet another Thanksgiving with a traditional dinner and kick off the holiday season.

I had a nice turkey, about 12 lbs. with the usual trimmings. I even got Bobs' (Grizzman's) recipe for his Angel Biscuits that he brags about and gave them a go. When I made them however, I did a really foolish thing. I was multi-tasking and preparing several things at once and I accidentally added the salt to them twice. The results were really salty biscuits that wound up going in the garbage. The second time around however, they came out nice. Keith's dad liked them so much that I gave him a couple to take home. I will definitely make them again.

I was pretty busy with the preparation for most of the day. I just about finished everything about five minutes before they arrived. I felt pretty good because I had approached the entire event with a relaxed attitude and didn't feel any pressure or stress from it at all. It was a good excuse to tidy up the house a bit and I have enough good leftovers to last us a week. I tried to keep it simple, but even so there was a great variety of foods and there was certainly enough to feed twice the amount that we had here. But once again, I like that and have my leftover recipes ready, from turkey-broccoli-cheese crepes to turkey soup. It's all good to me. We certainly won't starve over the next several days.

Which brings me to some good points regarding work. With the house clean and food cooked and all my shopping done, I get plenty of time to finish up my holiday designing. I plan to don my elf suit and make the best of the days ahead and really make some progress. I can't wait to finish the new pattern that I am working on, and it will be fun to see it really come to life. Here is a sample of what I am working on:

Facial expression White Vertebrate Organism Font


I think it will be a fun pattern that people will like.

On the down side, Keith is fighting a cold. He is quite stuffed up and congested and has been very tired. I have to activate my 'force field of positive thinking' and try to ward off the germs and stay healthy. The last thing I want to do is get sick now. Time to get that power of positive thinking going. (Go ahead - laugh. It has worked for me before!)

So much to do and much to look back on and be happy about. It is going to be a wild and busy month ahead, and its time to step into high gear and see what I can accomplish. But I learned that one of the most important things to do is to take some time to actually enjoy the season. It's the people that are important, not the things. Yesterday was a great example of that. While everything was nice, it was very low-key and as a resulted it was one of the best Thanksgivings ever.

I wish you all a very happy Friday.

Cat Felidae Carnivore Small to medium-sized cats Whiskers


Let the holidays begin!
While I have a scroll saw I don't use it that much. I do however take a peak at your postings once in a while.
You are a truly talented lady.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
 

Attachments

#6,928 ·
Cutting Today (finally!)

Finally, I think I will have some time at the saw today. I used to think that if I could make designing projects my full time job, then I would be able to make things and work on them all day every day. While sometimes that is true, I never really understood how much time the other components of having a successful business entail and I find that just like everyone else, I long for those hours when I am actually creating.

There are many tasks that need to be done when running a small business. And many of them don't have a lot to do with actual designing or creating the projects themselves. However, they are the 'meat and potatoes' of the business and without them, it would be impossible to function.

I feel as if I have been spending a lot of time on these behind the scenes things the past few months. In some ways, we are restructuring the business to fit not only what growth we have achieved, but also to accommodate the growth we foresee in the future. It is good that we have to look into those things, as we are getting larger little by little each day.

The only thing is that these changes are not always the most exciting thing to do or talk about. Many of them are behind the scenes things that keep the business running smoothly and seamlessly as we gain more customers and our sales volume increases. So far, I think we are doing OK.

But the hardest thing about that is that it doesn't always leave the amount of design time that I would like to have and besides the things that I just mentioned, it seems that life itself just gets in the way sometimes.

I have felt a bit anxious lately. Not because I am worried about anything in particular, but mostly because the ideas that I have just seem to outweigh the time to complete them. I try to look upon that as a good problem, and in my heart I know it is. As a designer, having too many ideas translates into 'job security' for the future. The idea pool has not run dry by any stretch and I am afraid it is overflowing with thoughts and ideas of projects - both painting and woodworking - that need to be made. I know I will be busy for a long time to come.

But channeling these ideas into something that makes sense and putting them into workable time frames seems to be the greatest challenge that I see now days. The magazine is already into May, and the first snow hasn't even fallen here in Nova Scotia and I need to train myself to flip between reality and design time and make things work. It is a challenge that I constantly battle.

Part of me wants to throw in the towel and just skip an entire season, and work a full year in advance. That way at least I would be making snowmen in the winter and bunnies and flowers in the spring, but I don't think that I have the patience to sit on projects that long until their publish date has passed to offer them to my own customers. I am just not sure I could do it.

Like all of you, I enjoy 'presenting' a design as soon as it is completed. The feedback from my fellow creative people is energizing and a very large part of why I do what I do. I am not very good at keeping secrets when it comes to what I am creating, as like anyone else, I naturally want to share it with my colleagues and friends. And I love when customers are anxious to try the new designs themselves. I try not to dangle the carrot in front of people only to say that the design won't be for sale for several months. While I know I have to do that sometimes when things are waiting for publication, I try not to make it the norm. It just doesn't seem right.

So for now, I will go on doing things the way I am doing them. I have a bit of drawing to finish up today and then I can begin cutting the new design out. On paper it looks good, so I hope that when it is transformed into wood it will really knock my socks off.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. The holiday rush is here and I am happy to say that I am through with stores for the season. Our trip last weekend was our first and last trip to the mall for holiday shopping and I think for the most part I am all set. That will leave me to enjoy the holidays from the sidelines here on the banks of the Meteghan River, tucked away in my little place here with Keith and my three kitties. Free to design and enjoy the season at a nice, leisurely pace.

Hair Cat Felidae Carnivore Small to medium-sized cats


Life is good!
 

Attachments

#6,929 ·
Cutting Today (finally!)

Finally, I think I will have some time at the saw today. I used to think that if I could make designing projects my full time job, then I would be able to make things and work on them all day every day. While sometimes that is true, I never really understood how much time the other components of having a successful business entail and I find that just like everyone else, I long for those hours when I am actually creating.

There are many tasks that need to be done when running a small business. And many of them don't have a lot to do with actual designing or creating the projects themselves. However, they are the 'meat and potatoes' of the business and without them, it would be impossible to function.

I feel as if I have been spending a lot of time on these behind the scenes things the past few months. In some ways, we are restructuring the business to fit not only what growth we have achieved, but also to accommodate the growth we foresee in the future. It is good that we have to look into those things, as we are getting larger little by little each day.

The only thing is that these changes are not always the most exciting thing to do or talk about. Many of them are behind the scenes things that keep the business running smoothly and seamlessly as we gain more customers and our sales volume increases. So far, I think we are doing OK.

But the hardest thing about that is that it doesn't always leave the amount of design time that I would like to have and besides the things that I just mentioned, it seems that life itself just gets in the way sometimes.

I have felt a bit anxious lately. Not because I am worried about anything in particular, but mostly because the ideas that I have just seem to outweigh the time to complete them. I try to look upon that as a good problem, and in my heart I know it is. As a designer, having too many ideas translates into 'job security' for the future. The idea pool has not run dry by any stretch and I am afraid it is overflowing with thoughts and ideas of projects - both painting and woodworking - that need to be made. I know I will be busy for a long time to come.

But channeling these ideas into something that makes sense and putting them into workable time frames seems to be the greatest challenge that I see now days. The magazine is already into May, and the first snow hasn't even fallen here in Nova Scotia and I need to train myself to flip between reality and design time and make things work. It is a challenge that I constantly battle.

Part of me wants to throw in the towel and just skip an entire season, and work a full year in advance. That way at least I would be making snowmen in the winter and bunnies and flowers in the spring, but I don't think that I have the patience to sit on projects that long until their publish date has passed to offer them to my own customers. I am just not sure I could do it.

Like all of you, I enjoy 'presenting' a design as soon as it is completed. The feedback from my fellow creative people is energizing and a very large part of why I do what I do. I am not very good at keeping secrets when it comes to what I am creating, as like anyone else, I naturally want to share it with my colleagues and friends. And I love when customers are anxious to try the new designs themselves. I try not to dangle the carrot in front of people only to say that the design won't be for sale for several months. While I know I have to do that sometimes when things are waiting for publication, I try not to make it the norm. It just doesn't seem right.

So for now, I will go on doing things the way I am doing them. I have a bit of drawing to finish up today and then I can begin cutting the new design out. On paper it looks good, so I hope that when it is transformed into wood it will really knock my socks off.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. The holiday rush is here and I am happy to say that I am through with stores for the season. Our trip last weekend was our first and last trip to the mall for holiday shopping and I think for the most part I am all set. That will leave me to enjoy the holidays from the sidelines here on the banks of the Meteghan River, tucked away in my little place here with Keith and my three kitties. Free to design and enjoy the season at a nice, leisurely pace.

Hair Cat Felidae Carnivore Small to medium-sized cats


Life is good!
Good morning Sheila. I'm really curious to see the new design. The teaser you gave yesterday has got the brain imagining what it will end up like. It's a beautiful sunny day here so it's out to the workshop for me. Enjoy your weekend.
 

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#6,932 ·
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

I woke up this morning and it was already light out. That alone told me that I had overslept. But there was a reason for doing so, as it was quite a 'busy' night.

It seems that Keith's cold has quite a hold on him. What started as a stuffy nose and some aches and pains now turned into a nasty cough. As a result, he was up much of the night trying to get comfortable and find a place where he could settle, as every time he laid down he began to cough.

Of course, the cats thought this was just swell. About three in the morning when we were rummaging through the cabinets to find our bottle of cough medicine, they thought it was time to party. Pancakes took to flying from one end of our small place to the other like he was shot out of a cannon. Naturally, it got the other two worked up, and quite a while later I got Richard to finally stop serenading us to sleep. I wound up on the couch and Keith got the bedroom where he could at least close the door and keep out some of the noise. The meds seem to have kicked in and he finally is sleeping. I hope he sleeps until noon.

What a night!

So an extra hour or so was warranted, I thought. I really have to engage my force field against this cold that Keith has. There is no way that I want to be sick and with being so close to each other all the time, I don't know if I can avoid it this time. But I am going to do my best.

Other than battling the cold, we both had a pretty good day yesterday. Keith is drawing a new set of wildlife plaques that are going to be a big hit for sure. He understandably doesn't want to do much cutting right now with his cold (and I don't blame him!) but he is continuing to draw when he is up for it and I must say the patterns are really cool! I know everyone is going to love them.

As for myself, I did finish the line work for the new pattern that I was working on. As I said, I was really excited to get these pieces cut. I didn't get started until the afternoon though because I wanted to be sure that everything was just right. I wasn't disappointed though, because everything turned out pretty good.

The new pattern that I am making is for some cute winter sleds. I already have a pattern for Victorian Sleds and they have been very popular. I made them about six years ago though and I thought that I could make another set of perhaps a more modern version of sleds with some different scenes on the top. Below is a sample of what I have come up with:

Font Gold Motif Ornament Pattern


I only got the tops cut out yesterday and one set of runners. The other eight sets of runners will be done today. I chose birch for the tops because they are somewhat detailed and need a wood that has an even and tight grain, plus - I wanted them light enough in color so that they will be easily seen on the tree.

The runners are cut in walnut, and I am cutting some of them in jatoba. Both types of wood will offer a beautiful contrast to the light top of the sled and give it a nice look. I think that the other options that you may want to offer would be to paint the runners red, and for that, you could use any light wood I would imagine - even plywood.

I am thinking of making a video which will show me cutting the poinsettia sled top, which was the most difficult piece. I don't think that it was very hard actually, but I think that I could show some ways to those who are newer to scrolling some really easy ways to make it work well for them. I will try to see how that goes.

I have also improved on the way that I am going to assemble these sleds to that it is easier for people to put them together. I found that on the SLD140 pattern, there were some that had questions as to the method that I used to assemble them. Hopefully, by offering additional pictures in the pattern and also a slightly improved method, it will make this project a bit easier to finish.

So that is all I will talk about for today. It's time to get going and get these little guys finished. I have more to talk about with these, but I will continue tomorrow, and have some more pictures as well.

There is a dusting of SNOW on the ground this morning. The kind that billows over the roof tops and swirls around the edges of the grass. Not enough to shovel, but just enough to remind us of what is to come. Perhaps I will finish my little sleds just in time!

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!
 

Attachments

#6,933 ·
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

I woke up this morning and it was already light out. That alone told me that I had overslept. But there was a reason for doing so, as it was quite a 'busy' night.

It seems that Keith's cold has quite a hold on him. What started as a stuffy nose and some aches and pains now turned into a nasty cough. As a result, he was up much of the night trying to get comfortable and find a place where he could settle, as every time he laid down he began to cough.

Of course, the cats thought this was just swell. About three in the morning when we were rummaging through the cabinets to find our bottle of cough medicine, they thought it was time to party. Pancakes took to flying from one end of our small place to the other like he was shot out of a cannon. Naturally, it got the other two worked up, and quite a while later I got Richard to finally stop serenading us to sleep. I wound up on the couch and Keith got the bedroom where he could at least close the door and keep out some of the noise. The meds seem to have kicked in and he finally is sleeping. I hope he sleeps until noon.

What a night!

So an extra hour or so was warranted, I thought. I really have to engage my force field against this cold that Keith has. There is no way that I want to be sick and with being so close to each other all the time, I don't know if I can avoid it this time. But I am going to do my best.

Other than battling the cold, we both had a pretty good day yesterday. Keith is drawing a new set of wildlife plaques that are going to be a big hit for sure. He understandably doesn't want to do much cutting right now with his cold (and I don't blame him!) but he is continuing to draw when he is up for it and I must say the patterns are really cool! I know everyone is going to love them.

As for myself, I did finish the line work for the new pattern that I was working on. As I said, I was really excited to get these pieces cut. I didn't get started until the afternoon though because I wanted to be sure that everything was just right. I wasn't disappointed though, because everything turned out pretty good.

The new pattern that I am making is for some cute winter sleds. I already have a pattern for Victorian Sleds and they have been very popular. I made them about six years ago though and I thought that I could make another set of perhaps a more modern version of sleds with some different scenes on the top. Below is a sample of what I have come up with:

Font Gold Motif Ornament Pattern


I only got the tops cut out yesterday and one set of runners. The other eight sets of runners will be done today. I chose birch for the tops because they are somewhat detailed and need a wood that has an even and tight grain, plus - I wanted them light enough in color so that they will be easily seen on the tree.

The runners are cut in walnut, and I am cutting some of them in jatoba. Both types of wood will offer a beautiful contrast to the light top of the sled and give it a nice look. I think that the other options that you may want to offer would be to paint the runners red, and for that, you could use any light wood I would imagine - even plywood.

I am thinking of making a video which will show me cutting the poinsettia sled top, which was the most difficult piece. I don't think that it was very hard actually, but I think that I could show some ways to those who are newer to scrolling some really easy ways to make it work well for them. I will try to see how that goes.

I have also improved on the way that I am going to assemble these sleds to that it is easier for people to put them together. I found that on the SLD140 pattern, there were some that had questions as to the method that I used to assemble them. Hopefully, by offering additional pictures in the pattern and also a slightly improved method, it will make this project a bit easier to finish.

So that is all I will talk about for today. It's time to get going and get these little guys finished. I have more to talk about with these, but I will continue tomorrow, and have some more pictures as well.

There is a dusting of SNOW on the ground this morning. The kind that billows over the roof tops and swirls around the edges of the grass. Not enough to shovel, but just enough to remind us of what is to come. Perhaps I will finish my little sleds just in time!

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!
I hope that you do post the video Sheila, I have been scrolling for quite a few years but I still am learning from your videos. You and Keith do such nice work it sets a goal for me to try and do as well. It's funny that I try for laser accuracy but I really don't care for laser cut item's. Good luck to Keith, hope he gets well soon.

Bill Wallace
 

Attachments

#6,937 ·
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

I woke up this morning and it was already light out. That alone told me that I had overslept. But there was a reason for doing so, as it was quite a 'busy' night.

It seems that Keith's cold has quite a hold on him. What started as a stuffy nose and some aches and pains now turned into a nasty cough. As a result, he was up much of the night trying to get comfortable and find a place where he could settle, as every time he laid down he began to cough.

Of course, the cats thought this was just swell. About three in the morning when we were rummaging through the cabinets to find our bottle of cough medicine, they thought it was time to party. Pancakes took to flying from one end of our small place to the other like he was shot out of a cannon. Naturally, it got the other two worked up, and quite a while later I got Richard to finally stop serenading us to sleep. I wound up on the couch and Keith got the bedroom where he could at least close the door and keep out some of the noise. The meds seem to have kicked in and he finally is sleeping. I hope he sleeps until noon.

What a night!

So an extra hour or so was warranted, I thought. I really have to engage my force field against this cold that Keith has. There is no way that I want to be sick and with being so close to each other all the time, I don't know if I can avoid it this time. But I am going to do my best.

Other than battling the cold, we both had a pretty good day yesterday. Keith is drawing a new set of wildlife plaques that are going to be a big hit for sure. He understandably doesn't want to do much cutting right now with his cold (and I don't blame him!) but he is continuing to draw when he is up for it and I must say the patterns are really cool! I know everyone is going to love them.

As for myself, I did finish the line work for the new pattern that I was working on. As I said, I was really excited to get these pieces cut. I didn't get started until the afternoon though because I wanted to be sure that everything was just right. I wasn't disappointed though, because everything turned out pretty good.

The new pattern that I am making is for some cute winter sleds. I already have a pattern for Victorian Sleds and they have been very popular. I made them about six years ago though and I thought that I could make another set of perhaps a more modern version of sleds with some different scenes on the top. Below is a sample of what I have come up with:

Font Gold Motif Ornament Pattern


I only got the tops cut out yesterday and one set of runners. The other eight sets of runners will be done today. I chose birch for the tops because they are somewhat detailed and need a wood that has an even and tight grain, plus - I wanted them light enough in color so that they will be easily seen on the tree.

The runners are cut in walnut, and I am cutting some of them in jatoba. Both types of wood will offer a beautiful contrast to the light top of the sled and give it a nice look. I think that the other options that you may want to offer would be to paint the runners red, and for that, you could use any light wood I would imagine - even plywood.

I am thinking of making a video which will show me cutting the poinsettia sled top, which was the most difficult piece. I don't think that it was very hard actually, but I think that I could show some ways to those who are newer to scrolling some really easy ways to make it work well for them. I will try to see how that goes.

I have also improved on the way that I am going to assemble these sleds to that it is easier for people to put them together. I found that on the SLD140 pattern, there were some that had questions as to the method that I used to assemble them. Hopefully, by offering additional pictures in the pattern and also a slightly improved method, it will make this project a bit easier to finish.

So that is all I will talk about for today. It's time to get going and get these little guys finished. I have more to talk about with these, but I will continue tomorrow, and have some more pictures as well.

There is a dusting of SNOW on the ground this morning. The kind that billows over the roof tops and swirls around the edges of the grass. Not enough to shovel, but just enough to remind us of what is to come. Perhaps I will finish my little sleds just in time!

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!
Thank you all for your kind words. I am happy you like the designs. I am really going to try to do the video in the next couple of days.

Rick - I tried really hard to make them different from the other sets. These have more contemporary look. Keith is a trooper, and soon he will back up and running full steam again. He is just a bit down now and I am trying to get him to take it slow and rest.

Anna - these could even be done larger for centerpieces, etc and would look nice under a tree even.

Dennis - didn't I remember that last year Silke was hoping for snow for Christmas? Maybe this year she will be a bit happier. I am happy you were successful with your test cutting. It is nice when things work like they are supposed to. I look forward to the pictures. :)

Take care all and have a great evening!

Sheila
 

Attachments

#6,940 ·
What Was I Thinking?

Any of you who know me know that I tend to be an optimist at times. You also know that I sometimes underestimate the time it takes me to do something. Well it seems that yesterday my optimism collided with my underestimation and I made the mistake of saying that my sled ornaments would be completed today.

Oh, they are cut and sanded. Everything came out really nice I thought and worked like it should. As a matter of fact, I found a great deal of pleasure in cutting these ornaments out. While some of them were a little bit challenging, I also found it to be very relaxing and fun.

While I was cutting them out, I had my cordless headphones on and listened to some great music. It never ceases to amaze me how uplifting good music can be. While I like all kinds of good music, the music of choice was a piano concerto by Beethoven. Specifically, it was #5 which is called the Emperor. (Not to be confused with his 5th symphony) This has always been one of my all time favorite piano concertos and every time I hear it, it makes me feel good.

I found a wonderful rendition of it on YouTube with Daniel Barenboim conducting. The link to it is here if you want to have a listen: Beethoven's Emperor Piano Concerto (Sorry - it doesn't allow embedding)

I find that working while listening to good music really makes a good thing even better. I remember going with my brother to see this very concerto played at Orchestra Hall on Michigan Avenue when I lived in Chicago. My brother always appreciated all types of music as I do and one year he took me downtown to see a live orchestra with him. It was one of the best presents ever!

So back to the ornaments . . .

I wanted to mention that this was the first time I used my Painter's Mate double-sided tape that I spoke of last week.

Font Gaffer tape Rectangle Circle Saving


With all the trouble I have been having with the temporary spray adhesive, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to give the double sided tape a try to affix my pattern to the wood. I have to say - it couldn't have been easier or had a better result.

I simply applied a layer to the wood, peeled off the backing and stuck the pattern into place. No muss or fuss. The patterns stayed attached, even in the tiny places, where it tends to peel off:

Hair Head Plant Eye White


While I realize that this method of attaching the pattern is a bit more costly than many of the other methods used, when doing fretwork such as this where cuts are quite close and it is really important to have the pattern stay in place, it worked perfectly. My roll of tape is 27 meters long and 36mm wide and it cost about $7. While that may seem a bit high in cost, if you break it down per project, it is not really that much. Besides, the time and aggravation it saves is well worth it. Now I wouldn't want to use it when we do production work or large scale scrolling such as our ornaments kits because of not only the time involved to apply it, but also the cost. Since the kit pieces have no internal cuts and are very simple shapes, the spray adhesive is very adequate for applying the pattern.

With my sled ornaments all cut and sanded, I only needed to oil them and spray them with shellac before assembling them. That is where my mistiming came into play. In using mineral oil on them, I forgot that I needed to allow the oil to soak in overnight before applying the shellac. If I didn't do so then I would run the risk of not having a good bond when assembling them.

So as I sit here, everything is ready to move ahead, and I will have some nice pictures for you all tomorrow. I am also going to work on the packets and get them ready for the next update for the site this weekend, as many of you have asked about them.

The sun is fully up already and it looks to be a beautiful day. I look forward to seeing these ornaments finished up and sharing the pictures with you. Then on to the next project . . .

Have a wonderful day today! I hope you decide to give the Beethoven a listen. It will certainly brighten your Monday!
 

Attachments

#6,941 ·
What Was I Thinking?

Any of you who know me know that I tend to be an optimist at times. You also know that I sometimes underestimate the time it takes me to do something. Well it seems that yesterday my optimism collided with my underestimation and I made the mistake of saying that my sled ornaments would be completed today.

Oh, they are cut and sanded. Everything came out really nice I thought and worked like it should. As a matter of fact, I found a great deal of pleasure in cutting these ornaments out. While some of them were a little bit challenging, I also found it to be very relaxing and fun.

While I was cutting them out, I had my cordless headphones on and listened to some great music. It never ceases to amaze me how uplifting good music can be. While I like all kinds of good music, the music of choice was a piano concerto by Beethoven. Specifically, it was #5 which is called the Emperor. (Not to be confused with his 5th symphony) This has always been one of my all time favorite piano concertos and every time I hear it, it makes me feel good.

I found a wonderful rendition of it on YouTube with Daniel Barenboim conducting. The link to it is here if you want to have a listen: Beethoven's Emperor Piano Concerto (Sorry - it doesn't allow embedding)

I find that working while listening to good music really makes a good thing even better. I remember going with my brother to see this very concerto played at Orchestra Hall on Michigan Avenue when I lived in Chicago. My brother always appreciated all types of music as I do and one year he took me downtown to see a live orchestra with him. It was one of the best presents ever!

So back to the ornaments . . .

I wanted to mention that this was the first time I used my Painter's Mate double-sided tape that I spoke of last week.

Font Gaffer tape Rectangle Circle Saving


With all the trouble I have been having with the temporary spray adhesive, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to give the double sided tape a try to affix my pattern to the wood. I have to say - it couldn't have been easier or had a better result.

I simply applied a layer to the wood, peeled off the backing and stuck the pattern into place. No muss or fuss. The patterns stayed attached, even in the tiny places, where it tends to peel off:

Hair Head Plant Eye White


While I realize that this method of attaching the pattern is a bit more costly than many of the other methods used, when doing fretwork such as this where cuts are quite close and it is really important to have the pattern stay in place, it worked perfectly. My roll of tape is 27 meters long and 36mm wide and it cost about $7. While that may seem a bit high in cost, if you break it down per project, it is not really that much. Besides, the time and aggravation it saves is well worth it. Now I wouldn't want to use it when we do production work or large scale scrolling such as our ornaments kits because of not only the time involved to apply it, but also the cost. Since the kit pieces have no internal cuts and are very simple shapes, the spray adhesive is very adequate for applying the pattern.

With my sled ornaments all cut and sanded, I only needed to oil them and spray them with shellac before assembling them. That is where my mistiming came into play. In using mineral oil on them, I forgot that I needed to allow the oil to soak in overnight before applying the shellac. If I didn't do so then I would run the risk of not having a good bond when assembling them.

So as I sit here, everything is ready to move ahead, and I will have some nice pictures for you all tomorrow. I am also going to work on the packets and get them ready for the next update for the site this weekend, as many of you have asked about them.

The sun is fully up already and it looks to be a beautiful day. I look forward to seeing these ornaments finished up and sharing the pictures with you. Then on to the next project . . .

Have a wonderful day today! I hope you decide to give the Beethoven a listen. It will certainly brighten your Monday!
where do you get the double sided tape?
 

Attachments

#6,952 ·
Little Sleds Finished!

Today was one of those mornings that I couldn't wait to get going. I got up a little earlier than usual, and went back to bed, thinking that I would get 'one more sleep.' But lying there and thinking about what I was going to do today was too much for me and I just had to get up and get started.

I had a good day yesterday, and got lots of odds and ends done in addition to getting my little sleds finished up. Once again, I used the photo box that Keith made and had some really good results right off the bat. Photographing three dimensional pieces such as this are sometimes difficult. If I hang them on the tree, I think that a lot of the detail gets lost in the busy background. If I sit them flat on a table, the shadows seem to take over and it is difficult again to see what is going on. But setting them in the box that he made really worked out nicely. I think you can see lots of detail and the pictures really show the sleds off nicely.

Wood Creative arts Font Metal Fashion accessory


Wood Font Art Jewellery Rectangle


Tableware Wood Serveware Font Rectangle


I was even smart enough to take a picture BEFORE I assembled them together of just the tops:

Font Motif Ornament Pattern Symmetry


(I'm getting there!) :D

I really love how these ornaments came out. Everything went together just like it was supposed to. Sometime I think that I am getting the hang of this designing stuff after all! The sled tops are made of solid birch (not plywood) and the runners are made of walnut and jatoba - both which look beautiful and rich.

I oiled them with mineral oil and then sprayed a light coat of shellac to seal them. They have a warm, rich sheen to them but are not shiny. I am happy with them.

I still want to do a video showing my cutting suggestions for doing some of the tighter cutting, such as the poinsettia. I need to have some quiet time here to do that, and I promise I will get to it soon. I am going to be assembling the pattern packet today, which will include the step by step photos and instructions. I am also going to get started on drawing my next design up. The next one is a quick one and should come fairly easily (I hope I didn't jinx myself with that!)

We are planning to do an update on the site over the weekend. When we do so, I will have the plans for these sleds up and ready to sell. I feel like I am on a roll now and it feels good to see these come to life.

It is just getting light out now, and already it is a good day. I can't wait to see what else is in store for me today. I am sure it will be something wonderful!

I wish you all a happy, happy Tuesday! :)
 

Attachments

#6,953 ·
Little Sleds Finished!

Today was one of those mornings that I couldn't wait to get going. I got up a little earlier than usual, and went back to bed, thinking that I would get 'one more sleep.' But lying there and thinking about what I was going to do today was too much for me and I just had to get up and get started.

I had a good day yesterday, and got lots of odds and ends done in addition to getting my little sleds finished up. Once again, I used the photo box that Keith made and had some really good results right off the bat. Photographing three dimensional pieces such as this are sometimes difficult. If I hang them on the tree, I think that a lot of the detail gets lost in the busy background. If I sit them flat on a table, the shadows seem to take over and it is difficult again to see what is going on. But setting them in the box that he made really worked out nicely. I think you can see lots of detail and the pictures really show the sleds off nicely.

Wood Creative arts Font Metal Fashion accessory


Wood Font Art Jewellery Rectangle


Tableware Wood Serveware Font Rectangle


I was even smart enough to take a picture BEFORE I assembled them together of just the tops:

Font Motif Ornament Pattern Symmetry


(I'm getting there!) :D

I really love how these ornaments came out. Everything went together just like it was supposed to. Sometime I think that I am getting the hang of this designing stuff after all! The sled tops are made of solid birch (not plywood) and the runners are made of walnut and jatoba - both which look beautiful and rich.

I oiled them with mineral oil and then sprayed a light coat of shellac to seal them. They have a warm, rich sheen to them but are not shiny. I am happy with them.

I still want to do a video showing my cutting suggestions for doing some of the tighter cutting, such as the poinsettia. I need to have some quiet time here to do that, and I promise I will get to it soon. I am going to be assembling the pattern packet today, which will include the step by step photos and instructions. I am also going to get started on drawing my next design up. The next one is a quick one and should come fairly easily (I hope I didn't jinx myself with that!)

We are planning to do an update on the site over the weekend. When we do so, I will have the plans for these sleds up and ready to sell. I feel like I am on a roll now and it feels good to see these come to life.

It is just getting light out now, and already it is a good day. I can't wait to see what else is in store for me today. I am sure it will be something wonderful!

I wish you all a happy, happy Tuesday! :)
These are gorgeous, Sheila! Nicely done!
DanK
 

Attachments

#6,966 ·
I Really Love My Job

I am a bit late writing this morning, I suppose that is of no consequence to most of you. It seems to be that time of year when there is more than the 'normal' amount of correspondence to attend to. Or maybe that is just part of the business growing. Either way, it is good.

A big part of what keeps me motivated and encourages me is the feedback I receive from customers. Whether it is positive or suggestions on how I might do things a little better, it is always a learning process and I try to listen to what others have to offer and weigh each idea with deep consideration.

I think one of the dangers of being self-employed is that working for oneself, you tend to be a bit isolated. Anyone who has their own business (and are successful at it) realize the amount of time it consumes out of your day in order to be run properly. That leaves little time for outside socialization.

Before the days of social networking, I could understand how that would become a problem. People are naturally social beings and locking oneself away and constantly working could easily lead to being burned out.

But with the ability to constantly communicate with others through our computers and the many forums and social networking sites, I don't think that happens as much. I can only speak for myself, but I find that 'talking' to my friends throughout the day and seeing what they are up to is a continual source of encouragement and inspiration. And it makes life fun too!

Yesterday was one of those days for me where several times throughout the day I really stopped and thought about how much I loved my job. I spent most of the day writing up the pattern packet for the little sled ornaments, but in between writing, I was answering questions from customers, filling orders and doing other types of correspondence that were related to the business. I also kept an eye on my Facebook page where many of my creative friends post progress pictures and stopped in throughout the day to splash a bit on the screen about how their day was going. It was a warm and friendly atmosphere and more than once I laughed out loud at the funny things that they were talking about or said. I also was able to help someone through some questions and admire the work that another person did on their current project - all from my own computer right here in my own house.

It is part of what keeps me going on those 'blah' days when I don't feel very motivated. (Yes. They happen to ALL of us!)

The other day a customer sent me a photograph of a project she made. Eden wrote me that she takes patterns that were intended for the scroll saw, and makes other things from them. Recently, she saw my pattern for my dimensional Christmas star ornament:

Star Terrestrial plant Wood Cross Jewellery


and she used it to make this wonderful hanging quilt:

Rectangle Textile Triangle Creative arts Symmetry


When I saw this, it really made me feel good. What a clever idea! Along with the picture, Eden wrote me a beautiful note about how she began doing this about five years ago and how she is introducing this idea to her quilter's guild, The Enchanted Quilters from New Mexico.

I feel very honored that she chose one of my designs to share with her group. It is instances such as this and wonderfully kind people that take the time out of their day to write me and show me what they do that encourage me on those days when I feel 'uninspired.' I don't know if it is because my little business is growing, or because more people are using the computer as a way to communicated, but it seems to be happening more and more lately. Perhaps it is a bit of both.

I know this may sound like a cliche to many of you, but I really don't do this for the money. I know that it isn't good business practice to think the way I do sometimes, and in order to keep doing what I do, I have to adhere to some sort of business practices, but I feel that the real reward for doing what I do is stories like this. When I design, I think of the people who I am designing for and how in some little way I am doing something that may enrich their lives or put a smile on their faces, and those of the recipients of the project that they make from my designs.

And that as they say - is priceless.

Thank you all for your wonderful letters and words of encouragement. You certainly all make my life much better!
 

Attachments

#6,967 ·
I Really Love My Job

I am a bit late writing this morning, I suppose that is of no consequence to most of you. It seems to be that time of year when there is more than the 'normal' amount of correspondence to attend to. Or maybe that is just part of the business growing. Either way, it is good.

A big part of what keeps me motivated and encourages me is the feedback I receive from customers. Whether it is positive or suggestions on how I might do things a little better, it is always a learning process and I try to listen to what others have to offer and weigh each idea with deep consideration.

I think one of the dangers of being self-employed is that working for oneself, you tend to be a bit isolated. Anyone who has their own business (and are successful at it) realize the amount of time it consumes out of your day in order to be run properly. That leaves little time for outside socialization.

Before the days of social networking, I could understand how that would become a problem. People are naturally social beings and locking oneself away and constantly working could easily lead to being burned out.

But with the ability to constantly communicate with others through our computers and the many forums and social networking sites, I don't think that happens as much. I can only speak for myself, but I find that 'talking' to my friends throughout the day and seeing what they are up to is a continual source of encouragement and inspiration. And it makes life fun too!

Yesterday was one of those days for me where several times throughout the day I really stopped and thought about how much I loved my job. I spent most of the day writing up the pattern packet for the little sled ornaments, but in between writing, I was answering questions from customers, filling orders and doing other types of correspondence that were related to the business. I also kept an eye on my Facebook page where many of my creative friends post progress pictures and stopped in throughout the day to splash a bit on the screen about how their day was going. It was a warm and friendly atmosphere and more than once I laughed out loud at the funny things that they were talking about or said. I also was able to help someone through some questions and admire the work that another person did on their current project - all from my own computer right here in my own house.

It is part of what keeps me going on those 'blah' days when I don't feel very motivated. (Yes. They happen to ALL of us!)

The other day a customer sent me a photograph of a project she made. Eden wrote me that she takes patterns that were intended for the scroll saw, and makes other things from them. Recently, she saw my pattern for my dimensional Christmas star ornament:

Star Terrestrial plant Wood Cross Jewellery


and she used it to make this wonderful hanging quilt:

Rectangle Textile Triangle Creative arts Symmetry


When I saw this, it really made me feel good. What a clever idea! Along with the picture, Eden wrote me a beautiful note about how she began doing this about five years ago and how she is introducing this idea to her quilter's guild, The Enchanted Quilters from New Mexico.

I feel very honored that she chose one of my designs to share with her group. It is instances such as this and wonderfully kind people that take the time out of their day to write me and show me what they do that encourage me on those days when I feel 'uninspired.' I don't know if it is because my little business is growing, or because more people are using the computer as a way to communicated, but it seems to be happening more and more lately. Perhaps it is a bit of both.

I know this may sound like a cliche to many of you, but I really don't do this for the money. I know that it isn't good business practice to think the way I do sometimes, and in order to keep doing what I do, I have to adhere to some sort of business practices, but I feel that the real reward for doing what I do is stories like this. When I design, I think of the people who I am designing for and how in some little way I am doing something that may enrich their lives or put a smile on their faces, and those of the recipients of the project that they make from my designs.

And that as they say - is priceless.

Thank you all for your wonderful letters and words of encouragement. You certainly all make my life much better!
Have a warm and smiling day Sheila!
 

Attachments

#6,975 ·
Exchanging

I have written about this before, and I probably will again. I once again participated in an ornament exchange that was set up by the scrollers on Steve Good's forum. It is an event that I look forward to every year, as it gives me a chance to experience not only the work of other scrollers, but also enjoy the friendship and sharing that it entails.

I love exchanges. I think that it is a great way to learn about fellow crafts people and own a little piece of something created by them. I have participated in exchanges for many years, both in painting forums and also in scroll sawing forums and it is one of the things that I really look forward to doing. To me, owning something that someone created is very special, and each piece that we receive holds a small part of that person within it. I think that as craftspeople ourselves, we appreciate what went into each item and that makes it even more special.

This year my exchange partner was geneVG (I am only using his screen name here.) Yesterday I received two beautiful ornaments that Gene made for me for our exchange.

The first one was an angel made of beautiful maple. It was cut from 1/4" stock and has a beautiful finish on it.

Font Creative arts Art Pattern Symmetry


The second ornament was a fretwork sleigh, made of walnut:

Wood Art Font Circle Metal


It also is about 1/4" thick and has a lovely satiny finish.

I was so excited to receive these wonderful pieces and I will certainly cherish them and think of the wonderful support and friendships that I have had from Steve's forum. That is one reason why I like ornaments - because they all seem to be attached to memories and symbolic of those special places and times in our lives.

Thank you Gene for sending me such beautiful pieces. I will cherish them.

If you haven't ever participated in an exchange, I strongly suggest that you give it a try. Not only does it bring people closer, but it also strengthens our bond with each other through our love of creating. And that is a wonderful feeling.

Have a great day!
 

Attachments

#6,976 ·
Exchanging

I have written about this before, and I probably will again. I once again participated in an ornament exchange that was set up by the scrollers on Steve Good's forum. It is an event that I look forward to every year, as it gives me a chance to experience not only the work of other scrollers, but also enjoy the friendship and sharing that it entails.

I love exchanges. I think that it is a great way to learn about fellow crafts people and own a little piece of something created by them. I have participated in exchanges for many years, both in painting forums and also in scroll sawing forums and it is one of the things that I really look forward to doing. To me, owning something that someone created is very special, and each piece that we receive holds a small part of that person within it. I think that as craftspeople ourselves, we appreciate what went into each item and that makes it even more special.

This year my exchange partner was geneVG (I am only using his screen name here.) Yesterday I received two beautiful ornaments that Gene made for me for our exchange.

The first one was an angel made of beautiful maple. It was cut from 1/4" stock and has a beautiful finish on it.

Font Creative arts Art Pattern Symmetry


The second ornament was a fretwork sleigh, made of walnut:

Wood Art Font Circle Metal


It also is about 1/4" thick and has a lovely satiny finish.

I was so excited to receive these wonderful pieces and I will certainly cherish them and think of the wonderful support and friendships that I have had from Steve's forum. That is one reason why I like ornaments - because they all seem to be attached to memories and symbolic of those special places and times in our lives.

Thank you Gene for sending me such beautiful pieces. I will cherish them.

If you haven't ever participated in an exchange, I strongly suggest that you give it a try. Not only does it bring people closer, but it also strengthens our bond with each other through our love of creating. And that is a wonderful feeling.

Have a great day!
Very nice exchange, and well said. I can surely relate. :)
 

Attachments

#6,978 ·
Saw Wars

You know with the two of us living here in one place, there is bound to come a time when we both Keith and I are at a point when we both need to use the scroll saw at the same time. It was just inevitable.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Keith is still feeling poorly, but on the mend, so he has spent the bulk of his time drawing, as he didn't want to be at the saw when he was feeling his worst. In the mean time, I have moved along at my own pace, as I typically do and it just so happened that yesterday he felt good enough that he wanted to begin sawing out some of the several designs he had drawn in the past week.

Problem was, I needed the saw for a couple of hours too, as I was ready to cut out the next pattern that I had drawn up the previous day.

So there we were.

Now, we do have the DeWalt saw stored in the basement of our place, as recently our land lady had offered us some additional storage space, but that would have been equivalent to me saying "OK honey - you take the Mustang and I'll drive the Yugo" Nno offense intended to any Yugo owners out there. I was just trying to make a point!)

While the DeWalt is a decent enough saw, and served me well for over 10 years, it certainly is no Excalibur. And the type of cutting that I was doing was that which I really would benefit from the exactness of the Ex.

But practicality got the best of me and after all, Keith was in recovery from his cold, so I decided to be a sport and use the DeWalt to cut my design. After all, it was good enough for over 10 years and it certainly isn't a bad scroll saw. I just needed to get off my la-de-da high horse and use it. So I graciously conceded.

But all of this mental struggling that I experienced turned out to be quite unnecessary. For as soon as I agreed to use the DeWalt and before we had even made the trip to the basement to retrieve it, Keith got notice from our editor that she was looking for a last minute project to fill in on the issue she was finishing up. He agreed with enthusiasm to give it a go and since his schedule no longer included cutting, but rather more computer drawing, I was able to slip in and use the Excalibur for the afternoon.

Funny how things work out.

I finished the first phase of cutting done. The design that I am working on is one that is simple, but rather fun. I love cutting lettering and I decided to make a set of holiday words that portray the sentiments of the season. As I said, this is not a complex design, but I still have a little more to add to make it look a bit nicer and the finishing will certainly make it look more festive. For now, here is a sample of what I have completed:

Font Art Wood Circle Metal


I thought "Jolly" was an appropriate word to show. I certainly do feel jolly today! (Even though I woke up with no running water! There must be something wrong with the pump. It snowed last night, but it was just a dusting and unfortunately not enough to gather and melt for additional water. Thank the stars I had a couple of liters of water stashed so that I could make a pot of coffee! As long as the pot lasts, I won't worry about it!)

Today I will be spending the day completing the decorating of these pieces. There are 12 in all and I think they will be a fun pattern. I want to work quickly so we can have the site update by the weekend. Time's a-wastin'!

I hope you all have a fun and productive Friday. Another week is under our belts and we are heading into the busy time of year. Enjoy your day and remember to be "jolly!"
 

Attachments

#6,979 ·
Saw Wars

You know with the two of us living here in one place, there is bound to come a time when we both Keith and I are at a point when we both need to use the scroll saw at the same time. It was just inevitable.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Keith is still feeling poorly, but on the mend, so he has spent the bulk of his time drawing, as he didn't want to be at the saw when he was feeling his worst. In the mean time, I have moved along at my own pace, as I typically do and it just so happened that yesterday he felt good enough that he wanted to begin sawing out some of the several designs he had drawn in the past week.

Problem was, I needed the saw for a couple of hours too, as I was ready to cut out the next pattern that I had drawn up the previous day.

So there we were.

Now, we do have the DeWalt saw stored in the basement of our place, as recently our land lady had offered us some additional storage space, but that would have been equivalent to me saying "OK honey - you take the Mustang and I'll drive the Yugo" Nno offense intended to any Yugo owners out there. I was just trying to make a point!)

While the DeWalt is a decent enough saw, and served me well for over 10 years, it certainly is no Excalibur. And the type of cutting that I was doing was that which I really would benefit from the exactness of the Ex.

But practicality got the best of me and after all, Keith was in recovery from his cold, so I decided to be a sport and use the DeWalt to cut my design. After all, it was good enough for over 10 years and it certainly isn't a bad scroll saw. I just needed to get off my la-de-da high horse and use it. So I graciously conceded.

But all of this mental struggling that I experienced turned out to be quite unnecessary. For as soon as I agreed to use the DeWalt and before we had even made the trip to the basement to retrieve it, Keith got notice from our editor that she was looking for a last minute project to fill in on the issue she was finishing up. He agreed with enthusiasm to give it a go and since his schedule no longer included cutting, but rather more computer drawing, I was able to slip in and use the Excalibur for the afternoon.

Funny how things work out.

I finished the first phase of cutting done. The design that I am working on is one that is simple, but rather fun. I love cutting lettering and I decided to make a set of holiday words that portray the sentiments of the season. As I said, this is not a complex design, but I still have a little more to add to make it look a bit nicer and the finishing will certainly make it look more festive. For now, here is a sample of what I have completed:

Font Art Wood Circle Metal


I thought "Jolly" was an appropriate word to show. I certainly do feel jolly today! (Even though I woke up with no running water! There must be something wrong with the pump. It snowed last night, but it was just a dusting and unfortunately not enough to gather and melt for additional water. Thank the stars I had a couple of liters of water stashed so that I could make a pot of coffee! As long as the pot lasts, I won't worry about it!)

Today I will be spending the day completing the decorating of these pieces. There are 12 in all and I think they will be a fun pattern. I want to work quickly so we can have the site update by the weekend. Time's a-wastin'!

I hope you all have a fun and productive Friday. Another week is under our belts and we are heading into the busy time of year. Enjoy your day and remember to be "jolly!"
Hi Sheila,
When someone has two to choose, it becomes an alibi that the work is not as good if done with the other best. That is only in the mind. The truth is.. there is a psychological effect that keep us away from doing the work and starts to be emotional on it. I am glad that you still believe on the capability of your dewalt… This is also one reason why I buy two of same brand and model… aside from only having one supplier to deal with, the spares and handling will also be easy. I think you need to have another Excalibur specially on your load of cutting hundred pieces. Only if it is needed to gain more on your finances. I can see that it is your core tool…

Going back to caligraphy in wood. This is a delicate work for you… I can see how difficult to maintain the thickness of the letters and the inclination it follows. Anyway, combining your artistic ability with scroll experience everything will come perfect. I still love scripts done with C-4.

Take it easy and be careful. Have a nice day. I am on holiday today and that is why I was given time to work on some delicate work. I made a latch today for the cylinder…

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Varnish
 

Attachments

#6,990 ·
A "Charming" Day!

Part of what I love most about my job is that I get to 'play' and make cool things. While there are certainly many other requirements of running a business and keeping things in order, I still feel very fortunate for being able to call what I do a 'job.'

Yesterday I worked on another new project. I showed you all a picture of one of the new ornaments that was in the set that I was creating, but that was only part of it. While the word ornaments were nice, I thought that they needed something else to make them even better. So I designed some additional pieces that would give them a bit more interest and make them a little more versatile.

I like giving lots of options in my patterns. While some of them need to be made pretty much one way, I think the best patterns (and the ones I have the most fun with!) are the ones that allow my customers to use them as a springboard for their own ideas and applications. By suggesting several different ways to use them, it allows people to develop their own creativity and personalize the patterns to their own taste and ideas. And I love seeing how others take my basic ideas and run with them. (Just like the beautiful quilt that I showed earlier this week!)

So as a continuation of the word ornaments that I teased you with yesterday, today I will show you the second part of the project. These little 'charms' are the second phase of the design:

Brown Leaf Plant Wood Font


Today I will be putting things together and creating the finished ornaments with them. As I write this, I still am not 100% certain how they will come out. My mind keeps doing little twists and turns and thinking of more ways to use them.

What fun I will have today deciding!

It is the first day of December today. Besides being my oldest son's birthday (Happy Birthday Phil!) it is the beginning of the holiday season. I had some of my favorite holiday music playing in the background yesterday as I worked on these pieces, and I think I will do so today. My little 'all season tree' needs to shed its orange lights and beautiful autumn leaves and it is time to decorate it for the upcoming Christmas season.

Today will be a wonderfully fun day! I can't wait to work on my ornaments and make them look awesome!

If you are looking for some new holiday ideas, DecoArt is hosting their own holiday celebration. They have started the "DecoArt's 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments" on their web page and will offer 12 days of fun and easy ornaments you can make. It's free and many of them even have short videos showing the process used. It will be a fun way to introduce yourself to some new techniques and also inspire you to create your own projects. I hope you enjoy it.

It is a beautiful and sunny day here in Nova Scotia. Cool and crisp with another dusting of snow on the ground. Just cool enough to get me in the holiday spirit and inspire my work.

I wish you all a wonderful day too! Happy Saturday!
 

Attachments

#6,991 ·
A "Charming" Day!

Part of what I love most about my job is that I get to 'play' and make cool things. While there are certainly many other requirements of running a business and keeping things in order, I still feel very fortunate for being able to call what I do a 'job.'

Yesterday I worked on another new project. I showed you all a picture of one of the new ornaments that was in the set that I was creating, but that was only part of it. While the word ornaments were nice, I thought that they needed something else to make them even better. So I designed some additional pieces that would give them a bit more interest and make them a little more versatile.

I like giving lots of options in my patterns. While some of them need to be made pretty much one way, I think the best patterns (and the ones I have the most fun with!) are the ones that allow my customers to use them as a springboard for their own ideas and applications. By suggesting several different ways to use them, it allows people to develop their own creativity and personalize the patterns to their own taste and ideas. And I love seeing how others take my basic ideas and run with them. (Just like the beautiful quilt that I showed earlier this week!)

So as a continuation of the word ornaments that I teased you with yesterday, today I will show you the second part of the project. These little 'charms' are the second phase of the design:

Brown Leaf Plant Wood Font


Today I will be putting things together and creating the finished ornaments with them. As I write this, I still am not 100% certain how they will come out. My mind keeps doing little twists and turns and thinking of more ways to use them.

What fun I will have today deciding!

It is the first day of December today. Besides being my oldest son's birthday (Happy Birthday Phil!) it is the beginning of the holiday season. I had some of my favorite holiday music playing in the background yesterday as I worked on these pieces, and I think I will do so today. My little 'all season tree' needs to shed its orange lights and beautiful autumn leaves and it is time to decorate it for the upcoming Christmas season.

Today will be a wonderfully fun day! I can't wait to work on my ornaments and make them look awesome!

If you are looking for some new holiday ideas, DecoArt is hosting their own holiday celebration. They have started the "DecoArt's 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments" on their web page and will offer 12 days of fun and easy ornaments you can make. It's free and many of them even have short videos showing the process used. It will be a fun way to introduce yourself to some new techniques and also inspire you to create your own projects. I hope you enjoy it.

It is a beautiful and sunny day here in Nova Scotia. Cool and crisp with another dusting of snow on the ground. Just cool enough to get me in the holiday spirit and inspire my work.

I wish you all a wonderful day too! Happy Saturday!
Hi Sheila,
My Saturday just ended with a sucessful job. Finished the latch for the cylinder and the twin starbox. I am done on decision making while yours just began. I think the best motif for the coming yuletide should be bright contrasting colors. A flaming white candle in a tray of green pine leaves and brown cones.
Wish you the best on your decisions. Have fun.
Have a nice weekend.
 

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