More evidence of marrying up. What my wife Pam has done with her Xmas present.

Wow – Pam does nice work! The two of you make quite a team!

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

Um, yes. I’ll say. I’m like you Doug. If I had to draw my way out of a paper bag, you would know where to look for me… Pam is lucky. You are lucky to have her. Nice gift and nice work by Pam. She seems to be pretty quick with the tool too.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

My hope is that we can do some reproduction polychromed Victorian pencil boxes together. I think anything along that line would be pretty cool. As a “fun fact to know and tell” pyrography was called “poker work” in Victorian times as it was done with a tool warmed in the hearth. Some things are easy these days…

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Very nice. You don’t need to practice yourself when you have a wife that can do that!
You can’t compete.
If you need it done, let her do it.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

You got that right. My drawing pursuits pretty much peaked drawing airplanes on my notebooks in elementary school. Here is a picture of raking machine gun fire:

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – (accompanied with budda budda budda budda budda sound effect).

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Wow, that is quite an artist you married – that Pam sure does nice work. So what did you end up buying her? I have the same idea for my wife, but don’t have a clue as to what to buy.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Doug, really top notch. I’m in the “can’t draw a lick so I have to rely on computers” camp.

I have a collection of boxes that I have from years overseas in Europe and Asia and my favorites are the Polish variety that incorporate pyrography and color. They have very intricate and pleasing designs and many with pagan themes. See here. (By the way – I only payed between $2.00 to $15.00 for my boxes which are the same and nicer than the ones you see in the linked website, but then again, that was in Poland)

I was surprised to see a trophy shop in my area that had a wondeful and huge collection of them availabe for sale. The world is truly getting smaller.

-- Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and love.

It’s like something a tatoo artist would produce, which also might give her another source of picture info. I like your idea of building the boxes but I’d be afraid to mess up her work, so I’d probably build the box first and then let her burn to her hearts content. It’s pretty cool though that she shows such an interest in the hobby. I’d love to see my wife out in the shop doing something else rather than cleaning the floor! Maybe someday.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Bill, I bought her a Detail Master Dagger, and two handpieces. My choice was largely based on the fact that the pyrographers here mentioned the name along with several others, and it was available from my local mom and pop woodworking provider (Midwest Woodworkers). The one she uses is rather like a ball-point tip. I also got a broad chisel tip that is angled like a calligraphy pen, but she doesn’t find it to her liking. I re-read what Tom Angle wrote in regard to having a favorite which mimicked the pen and ink that he used for drawn illustration. I think this is the phenomena at work here.

Chamoruboy, that’s a cool site. I like those secret boxes they have and would like to know how that is done.

Dadoo, I likely would build first and have her decorate in the collaborative effort. She rarely is in the shop and the organization and private filing system (Captain Chaos is her nickname for me) are also not tremendously to her liking either. It’s the Man-Cave. But I don’t go rootin’ around in her Krafts Kingdom. Seems to work out.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Hi Douglas;

Your wife is indeed an artist. I’m with most, meaning I can’t draw worth a darn.

That is very beautiful work.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Now that’s talent. It looks like Pam just took to it like a fish to water.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

My compliments to your bride!! very nice work. Encourage her to join up!

-- Maplewood, MN

What a combo!
Doug with the computer skills and flamboyant graphic style and Pam with the gift of hand to eye and that unique attention for detail that sets hand work apart.

This is going to be a very productive year at the Bordners!

Regards
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

My, My, My!! That Pam has talent! Obviously no stranger to pencils and pens. Graphic artist at work here. I think major pieces of original art work are in store. Yes, decorate some of Douglas’s do- hickies but find your own voice. Decorative for practice but fine art for real. Of course, the decorative will sell and it will take longer for the fine art to get going, but go there none the less. I think I know a little about art and I see major talent here. Douglas, it’s good you gave a push.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

I’m in awe.
Truly an artist.
2nd picture, tree on the left—astounding.

Now… when do we get to see the team work: your woodworking with her woodburning. Dang, it will be SWEET

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Wow!

Doug, Pam is one talented lady! What really caught my eye in the first photo was the amazing portrait of you, The likeness is incredible! Tell her to keep up the good work.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

LOL. “Here we have before us a representation of the caveman as he emerges from his Man-Cave.”

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

Douglas. Tell Pam we are in Awe of her designs and talent.

It’s fantastic. Nice job Pam.

Great gift Douglas. Looks like a homerun.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Charlie, that’s the troll from The Three Billy Goats Gruff. But the resemblance around the nose and teeth is astounding.

Thomas, I will relay your kind works about original composition to Pam. I never think of suggesting her material to her vis-a-vis the decorative, so I’ll be providing the doo-hickies, and from there on out it’s her deal. I might spray finish for her if she asks, though. She hates my compressor more than I do. She can hear dogs barking four blocks away. Me – not so much, with some comedic consequences (of the “What’s all this I hear about violins on television” type). Aging together is going to be a blast. More reason for you young fellas to wear hearing protection in the shop.

Thanks all for your kind comments. I will continue to try and get her to join us here, as well as over at GardenTenders, and will certain post any collaborative efforts from “The Bordners”. Pam is a blessing and inspiration to me everyday. The lyrics from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Something Good always evoke a sense of profound gratitude and awe in me:
But somwhere in my wicked, miserable past There must have been a moment of truth… So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

All I can say is “Wow!” Your wife is a definite talent, that’s for sure!

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

Real Art, very cool.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

A million miles away from my efforts with a hot poker! Just wonderful Douglas.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

Well Douglas, your wife really has talent. A bit more encouragement might be needed to join LJ’s like a new tool or pattern perhaps.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Doug,
Let Pam know the artwork looks great. Its great when you can have two hobbies that can coincide with each other. Looking forward to sseeing some of those boxes.

CtL

-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."

Excellent work!

-- Chris

Thats one talented lady!

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Can’t wait to see some of those tag-team pyro’d boxes.

Yea, tell her to join. she’s good!

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Beautiful work Doug, should have done this a lot sooner. She has a lot of talent. mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

Douglas, I think I might have to try this!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

That is really amazing work. I really hope we are able to see more of this in the future. WAY TO GO PAM !!!

-- Making sawdust is what I do best

Looks like she’s a natural at that! That’s too cool!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Douglas, push her to submit her work and watch what happens. I agree with all the comments above. Very nice work.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

:)

-- Jiri

very pleased to see this posting. you are a lucky man

-- ..... art for lifes sake