The Purse of Frustration

Started at your blog and ended up here. I never expected to see a purse handle on Lumberjocks, but they fit just fine. Who knows maybe for my wifes birthday I’ll be makin purses and sewing bags.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Debbie,

Again another nice purse. I like that design.

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

thanks.
Yes, the design is nice… if only I hadn’t messed with it.
Oh well, at least I have the patterns to try it again.

I think walnut would be nice as well instead of whatever this is.

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

Where is the loop to hold the purse. Won’t your hands get tired having to squeeze the handle to hold it?

I’m a man, I don’t hold many purses!

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Walnut might look good, but maybe a lighter wood, too? Maybe a maple, and then offset the two hearts at the top with two different stains?

(Or it almost looks like you could get away with straight edges on the lower edge of those hearts, which might make it possible to cut them from another wood… maybe walnut and purpleheart set into oak or maple?)

But without going into that much complexity, I sympathize with your struggles on the look of the wood burning, and wonder what a groove cut with a “v” chisel would look like, to give it the definition you’re looking for.

As you note, a good learning experience towards figuring out what you want to do on the next one. And I like how the heart on the bag turned out, when I try that it looks like scribbles, but when you do it it looks like a design!

-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke

Debbie, it’s not as bad as you said. How big is the opening? I really like the heart design on the side of the purse.

-- Jesus is Lord!

After all of your struggles it looks pretty nice. Did you ever see the Wheat pattern? That would look real nice, & it’s fairly simple to carve. I’ll have to see if I can find that pattern for you.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Karson.. this is really interesting because it is exactly the conversation that I had with Rick and he then said, “that’s why men don’t use purses – we don’t know how to hold them”. :)
The plan is to put a magnet in the handle to keep it closed. It’s a form of a “clutch purse” so to carry it, you either slip it under your arm, “clutch it” with your hand, or slip your finger through one of the holes and swing it to your heart’s content.

Dan: we’re headed to a woodshow in a couple of weeks and I’ll be looking at different woods while I am there. It is so interesting to “look back” at my journey so far. 1) Pine.. just give me cheap pine. 2) pine breaks if cut too thin … give me hard wood… 3) I don’t like the look of oak..
I’m getting picky. Rick’s laughing at me.

The lower part of the hearts are just straight cuts. So are you suggesting that I cut them out and insert a different wood in that section?
Chisel cut: I did try that (just didn’t mention it) but since I only have a $1 store chisel and I think it is now reaching the dull stage that didn’t work well. I did use a “v” shaped bit for the dremel. It did help but with bits of woodburning still showing and blah blah blah I chose to take the route that I did. Next time, though—- next time!!! I think I’ll go straight to the chiselling/dremel etching. I’ll give it a try anyway on some sample piece of wood!
The heart design on the front—it’s a stamp. I take no credit for it other than being wise enough to buy it in the first place and then thinking of using it on this purse . haha

Os.. no, it isn’t THAT bad. The opening is 3.5”.

Dick: wheat pattern??

I am thinking that I should try the chip carving idea and put my initials in the handle (like oh.. a brush that we have seen :) )
That would really take the WOW factor up a notch or two.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful feedback and suggestions. Next week, I’ll try again. New idea though. I’ll tuck this plan away for future use.

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

Grins, yeah, I got lots of “next time”s. The rocking horse is consuming a lot of sandpaper, but the fir gets dings in it any time I look at it weirdly. I’m way in the “If I’d known how much sanding was involved, I would have spent more than $20 on wood”, but that would have meant that much more sanding, and… well…

On the hearts: Yeah, totally. If you raise those hearts that extend above just a touch, then there’ll be no curves between them and the main handle wood, just in the portions where you’re matching the hearts together. So with some careful cutting (which it looks like you’re already pretty good at) and some judicious sanding, you could do those top two hearts out of something decorative that pops out against the main wood of the handle. Or even just play with grain direction to differentiate them, since you probably want a vertical grain on ‘em for strength.

And that’d save you having to cut those “V” lines with a chisel or Dremel [grin].

-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke

I’m still laughing at the “gets dings in it any time I look at it weirdly” .. yah.. still laughing.. Too funny (and frustrating)

re: the hearts.. .I’ve never tried the inlay process yet—I’m still trying to learn how cut a straight line!! But I can see how that would REALLY make it look beautiful.
yup.. definitely on my “learning curve” to do list.

I’m getting excited !!!

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

Really pretty purse Deb. Just like I told Obi the other day, in the end you’re the one you gotta please… mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

that is so true and I’m not pleased === yet..
maybe some chip carving would make me smile!! :)
might have to try it.

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