Hey Kids, remember this one?

Found this pattern while looking for something else. Have had it for about 18 years or more so decided to cut one. A friend of mine hand drew this pattern and was kind enough to give it to me. I was going to make a ton of them and sell them at spring craft shows for $10 each and make a small fortune. Well, best laid plans...., but I plan to take it to work tomorrow and see it gets any action. I am going to offer them un painted becaue I think painting is half the fun. will Charge $7 unpainted. Happy Easter everybody.

Custom Design Projects

Made this for one of the wonderful test market ladies I work with. Andre is her eight year old grandson and I guess he is a pretty good football player. She asked for this piece some time ago and it has taken me til now because I am not very good at custom designing things. I much prefer to work from patterns. The pros use vector graphics design programs such as photoshop and corel draw. Corel Draw is the cadillac of vector design programs and sells for around $700 dollars. I found one on the internet that pretty much does what I want it to do and it was in my price range...FREE...So I downloaded it and spent the last two weeks or so learning how to use it.
It makes designing a lot easier but I still have a lot more to learn. I designed and made a couple of coat racks with the kids names on the top. They are about twenty four inches long and six inches high with shaker pegs for hanging clothes on. Momma loved em and now people from all over the building are coming to me saying "I need two" "I need Four" "I need one for my grandson"! I am a victim of my own success.
Frankly I do love designing things for people. The problem is that it takes a lot of extra time and consequently it has to be added to the price of the item and people may not want to pay it. So I have to be up front with that. A friend cautioned me that if I don't charge enough people will be all over me wanting six of something all different and by this weekend. I guess she's right but I hate to say no to people, especially ones I like. But I do have to admit, designing things can get to be addictive.

The Eagle Has Landed

Well, this kind of wraps up this weekend's project. This is another puzzle for my test market ladies at work. It is made from poplar. It is not cheap buying it at Home Depot or Lowes but I can get a lot of puzzles out of it and it paints very well so it more that pays for itself. This particular board is darker than the other one I bought and I don't like it as well, but then again,
that is what paint and stain is for.
Should have done more projects this weekend but the weather is getting nice and the mighty Gibby needs his walks (so does his person) and of course I had to take time off today to witness the Spartan BEAT DOWN of the Wolverines.

How To Be A Smart A** Without Opening Your Mouth

Clever word art is fun and easy to make. It also makes good use of scrap wood. These patterns are from Steve Good. I like the font he uses for these. I have not found one I like yet for designing my own. I found a vector graphics program called Inkscape that is a free download but haven't learned how to use it yet. When I do you may see some original designs.

We Stick Our Necks Out For Nobody

Made this puzzle last week and took it to work and set it on my desk. When I came back from lunch it was gone. Later my friend came and told me she took it and wanted to know what she owed me for it. This is the fourth one I have made and every one sells as soon as I get it displayed. Do you think I should make more?

Polly Wanna Scroll Saw?

I love this puzzle. Have wanted to cut it for years and finally did this past Saturday. Cutting the pieces took about an hour and then another hour painting it on Sunday. Might not sell this one.
At least not for a while. Pattern came from a book published by Wood Magazine.

Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport

Do you remember that little Aussie folk ballad? It was a big hit back in the sixties. I don't think radio stations even play it anymore. Anyway, this is a cute puzzle that I cut out once before and it sold right away. I'm sure this one will too. it's one of those you can't really make enough of.

the pattern is by Judy and Dave Peterson. I have their book and will be doing a lot more animal puzzles. They really sell. More to come. Keep logging in.