Paper patterns and instructions getting lost?

9/25/2008

I subscribe to Google Alerts, for scrolling or Intarsia patterns; And I get them all the time. Today I saw one that caught my eye because it was called "keeping track of woodworking projects and plans" I have lived through this nightmare, and the writer of this article came up with something quite similar, however it gave me the idea to share mine.
First of all I am mainly writing about the plans you get with magazines. I am always writing about Creative Wood works & Crafts as my favorite wood working magazine (with patterns) and for the most part still is. Every 2 months you get a magazine and in the center are paper patterns for the projects, however inside the magazine is also the instructions, the type, the thickness of the wood suggested for the project, etc. So it is really nice if these items can always be together. It sounds easy but inevitably I end up looking for a pattern in a mag, I find the instructions for the pattern but now where is the pattern itself? Or worse I find the paper pattern but now "which magazine did this pattern come from?" so I can find or refresh my memory on the instructions. Because I have zillions of these pattern mags and books, I truly was going crazy trying to keep them all together, and I might add, I have tried several ways. I have come up with something that is simple and doable AND keeps your sanity.
When you get one of these mags, they always have a page, usually 2 that show the picture of the finished pattern along with the page # for the instructions. I always tear these out and place them face up, on the outside of the magazine on both the front and the back. I then slip them in a see through plastic sleeve that you can buy in any drug store, paper store etc. along with the magazine itself, and with the patterns all in the same sleeve. Then all those are placed into one of those heavy duty 3 ring binders. Now I have binders full of my patterns in order and by mag, (I will place one company's into one binder etc.)
and all I have to do is open the binder and look at 2 pictures of each mag (What I have made into the front and back)in each sleeve and see right then what each mag has to offer. The instructions, the patterns, everything is inside the sleeve in one place. I do not have to open any of them to find anything, as it is all right there. I sure hope this helps anyone who has gone through this turmoil as I did. It's funny how simplistic trying to keep all these in one place turned out to be. Plus having them in the plastic sleeves keeps them clean and all together so they don't get all torn.
The original article I found was at a site called Avalon Dreams and Thoughts

Scroll Saw Goodies: Climbing Bear

9/24/2008

Scroll Saw Goodies: Climbing Bear

Do you remember those climbing bears when you were a kid on the strings? Check out this post at Scrollsaw Goodies. I know that personally I am off to go and make a few of these.
Allison

Segmentated, Inlayed Sun Mirror

9/21/2008

 I tell ya, what a long strange trip this piece has been.

  I started out initially wanting to try my hand at inlay. As much as this piece came out looks wise like I had envisioned, to call this “inlay” is a insult to all the wonderful inlay artists out there. My intent was, this was going to be my bathroom counter top as I had an awesome piece for the center of this “sun” and like an idiot (or someone that had never tried something like this before) I made the perimeter pieces first !

 

Well as they say in the wood-working community, when it was time for my “awesome” center piece to be placed “Well I cut it and I cut it some more and it still came out to short”

 I exchanged said “awesome” piece for a mirror and instead of a bathroom counter top like I had envisioned,

It is a wall hung sun mirror thing-a-ma- giggy. 

Live and learn!

Then look in the mirror !!!

Smile ~ ~ ~ Peace !!!

It is made from Aromatic Cedar, Oak and Mystery Wood that I found in a house fire.

ASPCA and wood glue hazard

9/19/2008

  I just posted this same article on my other blog also. I feel like this is very important. There has been numerous times when my dog "Buick" has "stolen" a piece of my intarsia, and then I chase him , and then I get mad and by that time he has chewed it up and I simply go make another piece. We won't be playing THAT game anymore after reading this.
   As a person whom receives e-mail from the ASPCA (because I want too I might add) I was really stunned when I received the following article this morning. It just goes into one of those things I never really thought of. I am not stupid (That's my story and I am sticking with it) and I would never leave glue laying around for my grandchild, my animals or anyone else for that matter to get into and play with or ingest, but reading the following was quite unsettling to me as a woodworker.

As do-it-yourself home improvement projects become more popular, pet parents may unwittingly expose their furry friends to dangerous tools and tricks of the trade. One such product is polyurethane glue, a water resistant adhesive that’s a favorite of woodworkers, but especially toxic to dogs and cats.

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), pet poisonings from wood glues—and other adhesives containing the substance diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI)—are pervasive. In the last twelve months, the APCC has treated nearly 100 cases of pets who’ve ingested expanding glues. Of those incidents, 98% involved dogs and 78% were evaluated at high or medium risk for developing severe, life-threatening clinical effects.

Polyurethane glue—also known by brand names like Gorilla Glue and Elmer’s Pro-Bond—is prized for its ability to bond tightly to wood. If eaten, however, the glue expands in the stomach’s warm, moist environment and forms a softball-sized lump. A dog who eats even a small amount of MDI-based adhesive can experience severe gastrointestinal problems resulting in blockages. This disturbing scenario most often requires emergency surgery to remove the mass.

Pet parents should treat any expanding adhesive as a potential hazard, since the offending chemical MDI is not always listed on product labels. Like all toxic household products, wood glue should be stored in a secure cabinet to prevent your furry beloveds from coming into contact with it. If you suspect your pet has ingested polyurethane glue, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour poison hotline at (888) 426-4435. And for more information about keeping your pet safe, check out our accessible guide to a poison-free home.

      So I am simply passing this on and I do not mean any disrespect to the glues listed here, (Matter of fact it is mainly these glues I use) It is just something I would like anyone who reads this to be aware of.
Allison

Travis, Scrollsaw Goodies and Podcasts

9/16/2008

     I am very excited to announce that Travis of Scrollsaw Goodies is starting a series of podcasts. Anyone that has ever visited my blogs, starting with my Willowshimmers Woodworks blog, (that I am now fading out into this site,) knows I have always written up about him and his Scrollsaw Goodies Blog. As you can read in my side bar I have considered his blog to have single handedly been my stepping stone for scrolling. He has provided me  (and all of his readers) with links to sites that offer patterns and free patterns along with suggestions on books of interest and any and all things scroll!
     Well now I can add to this fabulous list of all he's done----- podcasts!!!! Starting yesterday with his introductory cast he is starting a new venture of offering  pod casts.You can find out all you need to know about this  by simply clicking here.
     I urge you , to please check this out and of course to not forget to go through his whole blog and find all the wonderful sites, suggestions, patterns etc. that can be found there.
     To all my fellow scrollers, please join me in listening to these pod casts. I am sure there will be something for all levels of woodworkers included. He is also asking those that listen to leave comments,suggestions etc.
and as usual, tell him Allison sent you!

Scrolled Elephant, Horse, Dog, Cat, Mouse, and Monkey

9/14/2008

I found the picture of this elephant on Photobucket (an image sharing site) and thought to myself that I would like to try to make this out of wood. Since it has been awhile since I have been in my shop, I knew I would be a little rusty (no pun intended) and therefore didn't want to start out with some project that was to be a big deal. So I decided to give this a try. I used an old piece of pine that I knew wasn't very good
at all in case I totally messed up there was no loss.

 

At first I used some of my leftover paper tree as the backer board but I did not feel like it showed the true picture so I just spray painted a piece of old paneling black that we had laying
around. I think you can see the picture much better.

 

So here is a picture of the one with the paper tree back board and the black backer board. You can see I made one picture of it in black and white. ( I am now starting to learn how to mess with photography stuff now on Picasso.
BUT
A photographer I am not!
PEACE!!! Allison

 

Scrolled, woodburned dateless penny

9/12/2008

 

I just got done putting the last coat of clear spray on this. I made this for one and only one reason, and that was to see how well I was going to be able to get a scroll saw blade through this 1 inch lace wood. This pattern was perfect as I only really made one cut around the inside of the circle and I also was able to come out with a "something" made. And since the inside of the penny is one whole piece I can always come back to it and use it for something else.

  

One of the very first things I learned about intarsia especially, was the importance of having your blade squared and the table level. Just the slightest of either of these being off can have dire consequences, especially for me and also especially for an intarsia project. I started this penny and cut the circle the day I ended up leaving for so. Ca. for Christmas on the 16th. what happened in that one circular cut haunted me the whole time I was down there. When I hit what should have been the end of the circle, for all intents and purposes the innards were suppose to fall out. This did not happen. First let me explain I am well aware of how hard this wood is. Also I am aware that to pull a thing like this circle cut off I needed to what I call back it up a bit every so often as the hardness of this wood will just do what it pleases with your blade and your cut will never survive. This being said and this being done along with the time it took to just make the circle.( It's a (s--l---o---w ) process.) I was sure I had succeeded. Along with the fact I had gone from my whole arm aching holding on so tight and being so careful to that feeling when the saw stops and you look down to see if your arm and hand are still attached because you have lost all feeling and you get the visual and then those pins and needles start popping up as the numbness slowly goes away and yes both are intact, but so are the two pieces you just cut!

This is the point where I feel my head start throbbing and it hurts even worse when I am looking down and I am looking down for my heart that has sunk because I was not successful with one circle of a cut. Oooooooh that is so upsetting to me. especially since I actually bought and paid for this piece with the intention of using it to make another dragon for the hubby. So when I was in southern Ca. I called my hubby to see what he thought we could do because I really did not want to cut off too much of the wood as what I have pictured in my head is with a rather thick piece but he saved the day and took off about a 3/8 piece and that is all it took as when I came home I cut it and it was a whole different thing. So the moral to this story is no matter how hard you try or how careful you are you are never guaranteed a given,and since I did the wood burning first before the cut except for the date as I had planned on perhaps putting a "special" date on it but it will remain dateless and that is only because it is lace wood because if it were not I would be using it to teach my dogs to play Frisbee!
This was originally posted on January 3rd of this year

9/11/2008

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Scrolled Heron

9/10/2008

 

This is a scrolled heron I made using 1/4 inch cedar paneling. I then placed it on a mirror that I covered with blue cellophane. I did not make the frame. It was just one I had laying around.

This was one of the harder scrolled pieces I have done as there are many a tiny cut in those cat tails. Add to that, this thin paneling, I surprised myself it did not break

Ebonizing; Steel Wool and Vinegar

9/04/2008

A few months ago I had read an article about ebonizing wood with steel wool and vinegar. That article can be found here. Awhile back I tried this and absolutely nothing happened. I never even tried again. Ebonizing is a stain of sorts I guess. I also have heard there are several ways of doing this. The reason the original article caught my eye was because I sure as hell don't have the money to buy Ebony (wood), and I am forever wanting or needing dark/black wood for my projects and I do not like to use paint, to the point of not making something I want to make if I need paint. (This is just a personal preference). Stain in itself can be quite expensive at times. However I just so happen to always have steel wool around especially the 0000 kind, as I use it as my last sweep of sanding. I also am one of those thrifty homemakers that likes to make a lot of her own cleaning supplies, and almost all have vinegar as an ingrediant. Even in my town, I can still buy a big gallon jug of vinegar with 2 bucks and leave the store with change!

The article I have the link to above says this

            The ebonizing solution is made with two common products: vinegar and steel wool. A plastic jar with a plastic lid is best to use because the lid won’t rust.

        To make ebonizing solution put a coarse steel wool pad in the jar and pour in enough vinegar to cover it, loosely screw the lid on the jar. If the pad is not totally submersed rust will quickly form on the portion exposed to air. After about twenty-four hours pour the vinegar in another jar. Don’t squeeze the vinegar out of the pad or you may get bits of metal in the liquid, which will rust, then just brush the solution on the contoured project pieces you want ebonized.

A couple of days ago I ran into another article about how to do this , and I decided to give it another try. Come to find out the reason it did not work for me the first time was the steel wool I was trying to use was some generic crap that wasn't completely steel wool. At the time I never really checked nor did I know that you can even buy steel wool that is not real steel wool. LOL!!!

  The article I followed starting day before yesterday was slightly different. First of all it said to use nothing but a glass jar. Place your steel wool in it. Then cover with vinegar. (Again making sure that you do indeed completely cover the steel wool with the vinegar.) Then place your lid on it and make sure it is tight. (Not loose like the first article) and to keep it in there for 48 hours.After the 48 hours strain the liquid a couple of times thru a coffee filter and then apply.

Following is what I did this morning messing around and I was so impressed.

 Above is a piece of 1/4 inch Birch plywood. This is with the first coat. I painted it on the wood with a brush for blush make-up.

(Sometimes a girls just gotto do what a girls gotto do) as this was all I had! LOL.

 

The dark side on the left is a second coat. the middle is what the wood looked like before I put this solution on . The right side is the same wood but the other side with just one coat.

 

Same piece just upside down. Now with 3 coats on the darker side and 2 on the other side.

 

Well now I am having too much fun. I love the way this is looking , so I gather up some funky odds and ends just to see what would happen.

On the left 1/2 inch toungue and groove pine from a drawer.The middle apiece of pine originally brought home for our wood stove.It is laying on corkboard flooring. And to the right is a 1 inch piece of Douglas Fir, that I only did half of.

This is a piece of the redwood that we just used to make our deck on our house. It has a couple of coats put on it.

 I am truly thrilled that I gave this another try.(And used the right steel wool) LOL!

I have so many patterns where I need dark/black wood that I have not done. I now feel as if I can. All this was done today in a hurry.I was so excited by the outcome. I feel confident that I can ebonize wood for my intarsia pieces, yet I won't feel as if I used paint. When I used the whole jar up of the stuff I made I came in here to write this. In doing so, I had forgotton about reading about how this can be deluted with water if you prefer a lighter dark.Of course I would not recommend doing this on a nice piece of furniture for color, but I think it is going to be perfect for my scroll work , and intarsia!

Travis, Lumberjocks and my feel good project

9/03/2008

Today I received notification that Travis of Scrollsaw Goodies had left me a comment on the post prior to this one. "My feel good project" Well after reading his comment (which can be read by anyone ) located under the post I am talking about, I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to tell once again about the greatness of both Travis and his Scrollsaw Goodies blog, and Lumberjocks. You can read about both places here in my side bar . I also thought if you would like a peek into the site of Lumberjocks , click on this link and read what the good folks there had to say about my project and the placement of the "knot". This site is about woodworkers and woodworking and all that goes with it , but they are always willing to have some fun which you can find by clicking this Just my feel good project to see the remarks left to me about my "Feel good project". And while you are there take a look around, and by all means join this wonderful group, that really runs from the "brand new walked right into the shop for the 1st time" all the way to the "utmost of professionals and those that make there living working with wood" and if ya join , why don't you tell them Allison sent ya! You will not be disappointed.
If you have ever read this site or my Willowshimmers Woodworks blog , you will know I am always talking about Travis of Scrollsaw Goodies. A blog/site I have to say was, and still is, my favorite site to visit, (I get my updates thru my e-mail and through my Google Reader)And I have had a few comments from others that have read his blog and have now become regular readers. Sooo Check out both these sites,. If you like anything to do with working with wood, you will enjoy both of these sites. Again, tell them Allison sent ya!