Thanksgiving Weekend

When you have a big task in front of you people tend to say "You've got your work cut out for you". Well for me the have to say "You have your work to cut out". In the above picture you see three of the Angel's Greeting tree ready to cut out. Here is the process.
1. Cut three blanks of 3/8 cherry.
2. Sand both faces
3. Add the pattern to the wood by coating the back side with temporary spray adhesive and pressing on to the wood.
4. Cover the pattern with strips of clear packaging tape. Why do this? When sawing out the
pattern the blade tends to heat up and hardwood, especially cherry, tends to get burn marks on the inside of the cut. The tape acts as a lubricant on the blade so this does not happen. I use the two inch wide rolls. There cheap and its well worth it.
5. Now we take out blanks to the drill press and drill a 1/16th inch hole in each of the inside
opening in the pattern.
6. Now we are ready to cut. We will do all of the interior cuts first and then the outside perimeter cuts.
7. Next we'll cut the base from a 1" piece of walnut and cut the hole for the tree stem to fit into.
This has to be done just right for a good fit.
8. Now it's time to finish. I'll take the trees to the finish room and pour some danish oil into a 9x12 pan and immerse the tree in the oil. I take it out and wipe off the excess and set it aside to dry. I do the same with the walnut base. The danish oil gives it a nice rich warm color and brings out the patterns of the grain. After it dries it is ready to assemble and present.

This tree has been a big hit this year. Without doubt the most successful holiday project ever.
Thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart and thanks to Paul Boer for the wonderful pattern.

Don't Forget this week to...

Decided this weekend it was time to create a little Thanksgiving art. Remembered these two
patterns and also found some new Thanksgiving ornaments from Steve Good on his blog.
Did manage to finish a couple of orders this past week between raking up the rest of the leaves and announcing a couple of games, two basketball and one hockey. It is really a busy time which accounts for the lack of posts lately. Sorry but I just haven't had the time.
We are going to be decorating the office in the next week or so. We are in competition with the other areas of the company so we're goin for the Gold. Can't tell you the theme just yet. It is a
closely guarded secret.
Don't recall if I mentioned it yet, but priority one for 2011 has to be a website for Terry's Scroll
Shoppe where people can make purchases of my stuff. It must be Fantastic...user friendly...
dynamic...and CHEAP TO DESIGN. I know nothing about website design. I'm sure there is a "Website Design for Dummies" out there. Hopefully it works for Morons too!
Have a pleasant Thanksgiving. Loved Ones, I'll be thinking of you in my heart and with a tear in my eye. Be Well.

Working on Orders This Weekend

Paul's "The Angel's Greeting" tree was a huge hit a work on Friday. I got one order before I even set a price on it and two more tentative orders as well. Price point for this is $28. Cutting
time was about two and a half hours and the wood is Cherry. The piece I cut it from was 3/8 inch thick and add to that a one inch thick walnut base and you have a bout $5 worth of wood in it. To see the finish project check out the previous post.
Some other things I've been working on this weekend: a word art with the phrase "Prayer Answers All" and some personalized ornaments. A lot more to do this week.
For next week: another word art Christmas tree on a different theme. More orders for people at work and try to find time to do some decorating of the house and yard for Christmas.

The Angel's Greeting

Well here it is, what I've been working on this week. It is from a pattern in the Holiday issue of Creative Woodworks and Crafts. The pattern was designed by Paul Boer, one of the mags great contributors.
This took about two and a half hours to cut and I spread that out over three days. Normally I'd do something like this all in one session but my busy schedule has been limiting my time in the scroll shoppe.
The wood is cherry and the base is walnut. I finished it in danish oil and am looking forward to displaying it on my desk at work.
Speaking of work, getting lots of Christmas orders from the gals at the office. Most want Christmas ornaments or things to give special people in their lives. I'm starting to get a lengthy list and I need to get busy on it. I'll post pictures of the work as I go along.
I'm trying to design some name ornaments similar to Steve Good's pattern using Inkscape but so far haven't been successful. I know it is doable, it is just a matter of learning the software.
There are a couple of good tutorials on the web and I'll be studying those this week. Wish me luck.

The People Have Spoken!

Despite the poor reviews of the Scrolling with the Stars judges, thanks to your votes Terry's Scroll Shoppe returns to scroll again (see previous post ). Took my Sheila Landry musical instrument ornaments to work today and they were and instant hit. One might even say BOFFO! One lady was so taken she has ordered the entire set! Others spoke for individual ones as well. I'm overwhelmed. I'll be spending the next week or so cutting out a couple more sets. Now that I have the confidence and technique down I'll try stack cutting two at a time.

Working on another special project I hope to finish in the next couple of days. Should have some photos when it's done. Maybe I won't need to do bazaars this month after all.

Sheila's Ornaments

Finally finished cutting out my first set of Sheila Landry's musical instrument ornaments. November is by far the busiest month of the year for me and, unfortunately, not all of it involves scroll sawing. These ornaments have some fine details in them that you cannot see in the picture and it was quite challenging for me. I wouldn't give this work an A plus but it would get a passing grade.
Scroll sawers are usually far more critical of their own work than anybody Else but as I was cutting these I was wondering what if my scrolling work were being critiqued by the judges of the hit tv show "Dancing With The Stars". Probably go something like this.

Announcer: Scrolling Sheila Landry's French Horn Ornament...Terry of Terry's Scroll Shoppe.

Tom: Come on over here Terry and let's get the judges comments, starting with the
who never seems to get enough fiber in his diet, Len.

Len: Well over all I thought it was pretty good...but for me...the French horn must have
elegant, smooth, flowing curves, and yours were a bit flat at times. You've got to
work on that.

Tom: OKAY speaking of elegant curves let's go now to the ever weeping Carrie Ann.

Carrie:(wiping away a tear) You know, I see so much potential in you. It's clear that you truly
love what you do. But I want to be moved to tears by your artistry and not by the
fact that you have'nt reached it yet. AND I did see a LIFT!

Terry: But I was just lifting the arm to change a dull blade!

Carrie: Next time start with a sharp one That is fundamental.

Tom: All right...now to the always flamboyant Bruno.

Bruno: (rising and shouting) YOU SEXY SCROLLING BEAST. YOU APPROACH YOUR WORK
WITH A FIRE AND A PASSION I HAVE NOT SEEN. (sitting back down and
lowering his voice) But I'm afraid Len is right, you know. The curves are a bit
flat. You should try loosening the grip on your wood and that will make it easier
to manipulate.
Tom: (evil grin)Bruno...would you care to expand on the "loosen the grip on your wood
to manipulate it better?

Bruno: YOU NAUGHTY BOY. YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. I SHOULD PUT
YOU OVER MY KNEE AND SPANK YOU.

Tom: Could be exciting for both of us. How bout right after the show?
be sure to join us tomorrow night to see if Terry is going to return next week or
leave in shame and humiliation. THIS IS SCROLLING WITH THE STARS!

Please folks...I need your votes...