Friday, March 3, 2017

St. Patrick's Day Scroll Saw Pattern.

http://www.stevedgood.com/estore/estore.html
Just a wee nip of the ale for St. Patrick's day. This pattern is 8" X 10"

Email Question:
I had a great question today from a reader named Chad. His question was simple. "Can you make a living from the scroll saw?" Very simple question with a very complicated answer.

I'm sure several you have thought about earning some spare income by selling your projects. Everyone dreams of making a living doing something they love. "If you do what you love you will never work a day in your life." I don't remember who that quote is from but I like it.

There are a few full time professional scroll saw artist out there. Jig saw puzzle makers can earn a significant amount of income once they get a following. They make free hand puzzles with random pieces. They can make very tricky puzzles very fast. Check out this link for one of the best. 
Video Link
Old fashion wooden toys are popular in some of the boutique stores in tourist areas. These artists generally work with a full workshop of tools but the scroll saw is a significant part of the operation. These artists will bulk produce the toys and sell to many outlets. It takes time to build a customer base.

I have known a couple of portrait style scroll saw artists who did okay on the craft show circuit but that's a tough way to do more than supplement your income.

Is it possible? Yes. Is it easy? No. It can take years to build a following large enough to make a significant income from any craft. Online stores like Etsy can give you a presence on the web but you still have to find ways to drive customers to your store page. With thousands of artists on Etsy it's hard to stand out.

One way to help your chances is to find a niche that not many people are exploiting. Once you find your niche try to specialize. One artist I knew sold almost entirely at dog shows. He made dog themed products and did a lot of traveling. He sold at other more traditional places also but his niche was the dog patterns. 

Master your product. I would rather have one exceptional product than 10 knockoffs. If you are at a show and there are three other people selling the same products as you that's big trouble. Be unique. 

Start by selling locally in small craft shows. Build your confidence in yourself and your work. Start to build a following and repeat customers. When you have become adept at selling to the public try bigger shows. Unless you have a very unique product expect to get beat up the first few shows. The entry fees will probably be more than you take in. It takes several shows to discover what sells and how best to sell them. Track everything and study the results. Just because you love the 10,000 cut cathedral clock that took you six months to build does not mean it will sell. It probably won't. Especially for the time you have invested in it. 

Another side of earning money from the craft is selling hardware and software. Software being patterns. Hardware is scroll saws, blades and all the things associated with the hobby. I have absolutely no expertise in the hardware side of the business. Sounds like too much paper work for me. I am a creative not a business person. 

Patterns can be sold and a few people do okay. If you have gone online to look for patterns you will quickly find that there are not that many sources. Judy Gale Roberts, Sheila Landry, and Sue Mey are three of my favorites. If you are going to beat them you better be a very good pattern designer. They are artists first and designers second. 

These are just some random thoughts about the subject that came to mind. Short answer is that there are a very few people making a living with the scroll saw only. That does not mean you should not give it a try. Just take careful steps. 

One thing I can tell you from experience is that when a customer buys something you made it is a huge rush. 



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Information:

I had a good response to the Jet Scroll Saw Clamp Jig. I did not sell out but it got close. I added a few more to the inventory today. I have all the orders packaged and ready to ship. I will take them to the post office Monday. They will ship parcel post. Delivery is usually 2 to 9 days.

Thanks for the orders. If you would like one please visit my eStore to place an order. Details on the order page.


More Information:
The portrait pattern tutorial video on YouTube and DVD are also selling well. There is an issue with the YouTube video that is causing some confusion. YouTube paid content will not play on an iPad. I have sent a message to YouTube asking why this is not supported but I doubt I will get a reply. I have not determined if it works on Android yet so let me know if you have tried that device. It works fine on Windows and Mac OS. Thanks again for the interest.
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Purchase the entire Scrollsaw Workshop pattern catalog for offline access.
This DVD has 1,964 patterns published from 2007 thru 2016.
The DVD is $20 plus shipping. Ships to 60 countries around the world.

You can view a video showing use of the DVD on a Windows PC and a MAC at this link

Click here to Order. 
Want to create beautiful wooden vases on the scroll saw?
My two "Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw" books make it easy.

The books are $12 each and available for instant download after purchase. Click for Video Demonstration.


The Scrollsaw Workshop is primarily supported by donations. If you enjoy this Blog and would like to make a donation please click this Button. Your support is greatly appreciated. 
http://www.stevedgood.com/donate2.html

Ad: Affiliate

Brother QL-700 High-speed, Professional Label Printer


I have owned this label printer for a couple of years. I had to get it back out today to ship my Jet Clamp Jig. I had almost forgot how nice this machine is. Great print quality and very fast. The software that it includes is P-touch editor. This is one of those devices that you just want to be simple and work. The P-touch editor is simple and works. If you need a good label printer check this one out.
  • Create cost-effective paper labels for packages, envelopes, file folders, discs, banners, postage and more. Ultra-fast, printing up to 93 labels per minute
  • Prints pre-sized, easy-peel, rounded-corner labels. Also prints on continuous-length paper and film tapes for banners and signs up to 3 ft. long
  • Capable of printing postage for packages and envelopes, right from your desk
  • Convenient, drop-in rolls. No ink or toner needed
  • Auto cutter provides precise cuts for printing 1 or multiple labels at a time

Workshop Street Sign Scroll Saw Pattern. Jet Clamp Jig Available Now.

http://www.stevedgood.com/estore/estore.html
These street signs are cut from 1/4" thick Baltic birch plywood. There are two layers. The top layer is painted green and the back layer is painted white. They are 16" long. If you have 1/8" Baltic birch you might use that for the front layer so the sign is not so thick.

It never hurts to decorate your workshop just a little. It seems like we are usually making projects for others. Take a few minutes and make something for yourself.
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Jet JWSS-22 Clamp Jig. $17.95

I am ready to start taking orders for the Jet JWSS-22 clamp jig. Quantities are limited so order soon if you want one. The order form will stop taking orders when they run out. When the stock runs out I will replenish inventory and post on the blog that order taking is open again.

Shipping in the United States only at this time. The price including shipping is $17.95

You do not need a PayPal account to pay with your credit card. Just look for the "Pay with Debit or Credit card button" when you get to the payment page.

Payment with credit card only. 15 day money back if you are not happy with the product.

Ships within one week of order.

When you get to the eStore, scroll to the bottom of the page.
Your sources for wood craft supplies and much more. Bear Woods.
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Check out Heritage Wood Specialties for a great selection
of scroll saw ready boards.
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Purchase the entire Scrollsaw Workshop pattern catalog for offline access.
This DVD has 1,964 patterns published from 2007 thru 2016.
The DVD is $20 plus shipping. Ships to 60 countries around the world.

You can view a video showing use of the DVD on a Windows PC and a MAC at this link

Click here to Order. 
Want to create beautiful wooden vases on the scroll saw?
My two "Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw" books make it easy.

The books are $12 each and available for instant download after purchase. Click for Video Demonstration.


The Scrollsaw Workshop is primarily supported by donations. If you enjoy this Blog and would like to make a donation please click this Button. Your support is greatly appreciated. 
http://www.stevedgood.com/donate2.html

Ad: Affiliate

Metro Vacuum ED500P DataVac 500-Watt, .75-HP Electric Duster


I use this air blower every time I am in the shop. It has so many uses I can't count them all. I use it to blow off my clothes and eye glasses before I go back in the house. I use it to blow out the dust from the shop. I use it to blow dust of of projects after sanding. I use it a lot. 

It's not cheap but I use it so much it was worth the cost. It is super powerful.
  • All steel construction
  • 500 watt motor, .75 HP, 120 volt, 4.5 amps, 70 CFM air flow, weights 2.75 lbs.Packaging: Plain Remailer Carton
  • Includes air pin-pointer, air concentrator nozzle, air -flare nozzle and micro-cleaning tool kit, 12 ft power cord
  • More effective than canned air
  • More economical than canned air, and safer than canned air

This is the end of the daily posts. Keep scrolling for lot's more scrolls saw fun!






https://www.bearwood.com/
Bear Woods has been around since 1987 serving our hobby. They offer a wide range of craft products including Pegas scroll saw blades, clock inserts, toy parts, workshop supplies and much more. In my ten years of writing the Scrollsaw Workshop blog I have never received a complaint about Bear Woods. I get thousands of email a month so that's saying something about their customer service and quality products. Please support the people who support our hobby. Click now and visit Bear Woods.

Heritage Wood Specialties. Scroll saw ready boards!


Heritage Wood Specialties is a nationally recognized supplier of superior quality hardwoods to fine woodworkers across the US and Canada. Novice hobbyists and experienced enthusiasts alike can enjoy the high quality woodworking materials and kits available from Heritage Wood Specialties. Great source for scroll saw ready boards.

Seyco

http://seyco.com/
Seyco began business in 1986 with the goal to supply the best customer support and quality products in the scroll saw industry. I have worked with Seyco on many occasions and I can tell you they are simply the best. Please do yourself a favor and click the image above. Steve Good

Free Pattern Catalog. 1000's of free patterns.

http://www.stevedgood.com/catalog/

Thousands of FREE scroll saw patterns. No registration or signup required.

The projects form these patterns can be sold without restrictions. The patterns cannot be sold.

Click here for the Free Online Catalog.

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Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw Book $12 Each

http://www.stevedgood.com/woodenvases.html
Each digital book is available for download immediately after payment.
The books are $12 per edition and contains eight unique patterns each.
Watch the following video to see how easy these beautiful scroll saw vases
are to make. 

Order the $3 pdf Catalog

This is a PDF of all the patterns in my free catalog. It is for Windows only and has a program to automatically download the pattern to your computer. Please watch the video below before you order. Click the picture to order.
http://www.stevedgood.com/swpd/swpdorderpage.html
You do not need a PayPal account to order. At the bottom of the PayPal page is a button that will allow you to pay with a credit card. After successful payment click the Return to Merchant button for the download.

Stencil Printer 1.7

Stencil Printer Instruction Video.

The Scrollsaw Workshop Stencil Printer 1.7 is my latest software for creating patterns. It will create key chain fobs, desk name plates and more. Click the image above to download the latest version. It is free to use donationware. This software is for Windows PC only.

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer update 1.1

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer update 1.1
Download the Free Scroll Saw Pattern Printer Version 1.1. Create name patterns in seconds. Windows PC only.
Download Version 1.1
Please consider a $5 donation for The Scroll Saw Pattern Printer v1.1.

Scroll Saw Keychain Pattern Maker

Use the Scroll Saw Keychain Maker to start a small keychain business. Build yourself a nice display and make up severl keychains with common names. Sell at craft shows, on Ebay or at work. Everyone needs a keychain. Take custom orders. Heck just make them and give them away as gifts. It's all made easy with the Scroll Saw Keychain Maker. Watch the video demonstration then download the file below and get started with the fun.
The following link will start the download process. After the file download is complete just click the setup file and the program will be installed. Please consider a $5 donation for the program.

Download the Oval Keychain Pattern Maker.

Enjoy designing and printing these great personalized key chains. Give them as gifts, make them for fun or sell them at craft shows. It's easy, just watch the video demo then download and install the program. You will be designing these fun projects in minutes. Windows PC only.
Download the Free Oval Key Chain Pattern Maker. Create Oval key chain patterns in seconds.
Download Version .9a
Please consider a $5 donation for The Oval Key Chain Pattern Maker.

Philip Lowndes Noah's Arc Pattern Available. Watch the video below.

This video is from Philip Lowndes. He is the designer of this beautiful Noah's Arc puzzle pattern. If you would like the pattern follow the link below.
Buy This Wonderful Heirloom Puzzle Pattern

Think Safety

Remember to keep the safety of yourself and others in your work shop in your thoughts at all times. Always wear eye and ear protection. Follow all the manufactures warnings that came with your power tools. If I demonstrate something on this web site that you don't feel is safe, don't do it. Your safety is your responsibility. Fingers are handy things, try to keep all of them.
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Disclaimer:
The Scrollsaw Workshop Blog is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts Magazine formerly (Scroll Saw Workshop Magazine) or it's publisher Fox Chapel Publishing.

Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts