This cross will be fragile after it's cut. I wanted the letters to be open and that will make it pretty easy to break. If you decide to cut this pattern you will need to use extra care. I would not attempt to use an open grain wood like Red Oak. A better choice might be 1/2 inch Baltic birch ply. To add strength to the final piece you could mount it to a backer board.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Jesus Cross
Shark Clock by Sridhar Shankar.
One of the goals I had over three years ago when I started this blog was to help scrollers see how much fun it is to design their own patterns. I know for a fact that I have helped many people get started doing just that. Every once in a while one of my readers will share a pattern they designed with me and let me post it. This Shark clock is from Sridhar Shankar.
Sridhars eight year old son wanted him to make a shark clock. He had followed what I do for a while and knew he could do the same thing. Now his son has his clock and his dad had the fun of making a project from scratch.
Sridhar allowed me to modify the pattern just a little to make it easier to cut. His original design is below. Thanks Sridhar.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Moonshiner
Monday, March 28, 2011
Rugbuddies by John Lewman of Toymaker Press.
The other day when I posted the free pattern book from Toymaker Press the downloads went through the roof. I can't always tell which pattens will get a lot of downloads but that one was a no brainer. What could be more fun than making toys?
I have another set of toy patterns from Cynthia and John. These are called Rugbuddies and are exclusively for my readers. When you open this pattern book you will be introduced to Drew Birdymore, John Candypig, Shark Sinatra and their friends. The creativity here is through the roof.
These toys can be made from standard construction grade 2 x 4's. The wheels and axles can be purchased from several places online if you don't have a local source. Wildwood Designs has a good selection.
If I believe in the Easter bunny I get candy right?
Okay I know this will be tough to cut but I thought it was cute so here it is if you dare.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Easter Egg Makers.
The Easter bunnies are busy making Easter eggs.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Wonderful gift from Toymaker Press. John Lewman.
Hi guys John of Toymaker Press was kind enough to design a special Easter pattern just for us. This pattern is available exclusively to the readers here at the Scrollsaw Workshop. This pattern is distributed free of restrictions. You can make as many as you like and sell the finished projects. Great pattern John. Thanks.
This is probably a good time to talk about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement act. The CPSIA was passed into law by former President Bush on August 14th 2008. The law imposes new testing and documentation requirement for several consumer products including toys. It is a broad law that can make it tough for small business to continue to make products for children. The testing mandates can be expensive.
The law is controversial because it was brought about because of the Chinese imports that contained lead in the paint. Many believe that our law makers over reacted to the problem and passed a law that penalized American companies that were not part of the problem. The law is directed at anyone who manufactures these products.
If you are a single mother trying to make a little extra money making baby items to sell on Etsy.com you need to know about the CPSIA. If you are a part time woodworker making toys to sell at the local flea market you need to know about the CPSIA. The law is so broad that it covers all manufactures large and small.
The following link is a guide for small business and crafters to help understand the law.
Small Business Guild for the CPSIA
Friday, March 25, 2011
Missed Opportunities.
8 X 10 Missed Opportunities portrait.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Lighthouse Scroll Saw Pattern.
I am very excited to announce that the good people over at Toymaker Press will be sponsoring some of the monthly giveaways for me here at the Scrollsaw Workshop. They have an incredible set of nostalgic wooden toy pattern books. John and Cynthia have both made me excited about their products and service.
Guys this is a neat story. Toymaker Press is a small company run by two very talented and dedicated individuals. They bring a mix of skills that compliment their goal of marketing great pattern books. There is nothing wrong with buying from big corporations but it's so much more fun to support small, home town folks that have the same passion we do. Visit their web site or give them a call at 1-888-962-4714. Tell them you appreciate their support of your favorite blog. :) While your at it buy one of their patterns.
Make sure you continue to get your daily entries in for the monthly drawing. I'm not sure which of their books we will be offering for this month but they are all great so don't miss out on a chance to win. Just visit the blog and find the yellow scroll saw. Click the saw and you will be taken to the entry form. One entry a day.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
2011 Graduation Plaques.
Here are a couple patterns for this years upcoming graduations.
For everyone that is waiting for a reply to an email I am once again way behind. I will get to as many as I can so please be patient with me.
Monday, March 21, 2011
I Love You This Much.
Okay guys it's time to get out of the dog house. Make this little heart to tell her exactly how much you love her.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
United States Coast Guard Veteran Plaque.
Guys it took all the effort I could muster to finish this series of military plaque patterns tonight. I received an email today that has made my heart so heavy with sorrow even the simplest tasks have been tough. A few days ago after I posted the first pattern in this series I received an email from the wife of a Vietnam veteran and the mother of a young soldier serving in Afghanistan.
She was thanking me for the pattern and was getting ready to make 21 of the Army plaques. She would be sending one to her son and all the members of his unit. It was one of those emails that makes me keep doing this blog and making patterns. I was so proud that she would be sending one of my designs to her son. I emailed her back asking if she would be so kind to ask her son to send a picture of the unit with the plaques. I wanted to hang it on my wall.
Here is the return email I received today.
"My son was killed Wednesday. I can't do anything for now."
I don't know the family or their fallen hero but those eleven words tore my heart out. It took me a couple hours to be able to be able to find the words to express my sympathy and return the email.
Pleas keep this family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve for their son.
Toymakerpress.com review.
This is a video review of toymakerpress.com. Cynthia and John Lewman are the owners of this wonderful website. They produce patterns for creative wooden toys. Take a look at the video then do yourself a favor and visit their site.