3rd piece. A bit disappointed

[country girl]

SO this piece took me forever and I am not really happy with it.

 

First of all, the white wood that i used in the face and neck area is almost the same shade as the rest of the cat. I never know what the wood is going to look like once it is finished. I used a Watco natural stain finish. I have used this a lot in my past and it never seemed to change the color of the wood, only enhance it.

 

Second, Notice around the top of the front legs that the wood has a darker look to it. I know that pine is real bad at taking a consistent finish. This was a surprise because i did  not see it at all until I put a finish on it. I would like to know what woods are known for inconsistent finishes and avoid them. Dad said that he heard that sealing the wood first would help, but he never ran into this problem personally.

 

I would like to know of a good product that is more of a mat finish (not so glossy) but that will not leave the wood with a dry look. I use a shiny finish because it is easy to dust off and does not dry out the wood in time. I want something without any color changes.

 

Also, The back ground is really my first attempt at acrylic painting. It is a picture of hillsides with cliffs. Can you tell?

 

I think I will hang this in my closet.

[heppnerguy]

Theresa ,

 

Closet art is my thing and you are not allowed to copy my display place. Ha ha. It really is nicely done and if it does not satisfy you, just remember it is just a learning experience that will help you as you go along learning this new thing for you. Everyone has something that does not go well for them once in awhile. You are doing a great job. you thought it impossible to do only a couple of months ago and look what you have accomplished already. This is NOT closet art.

 

 

Dad

[jerry1939]

Hi Nice Lady,

 

Ask for a show of hands of the people on this site that cannot see a perceived flaw in their piece.  Your project looks excellent, and you are right where you should be, your own worst critic.  When I show my wife something I THINK I should have done better, the Sweet Lady, always tells me that I am the only on that will notice it.

 

Keep up the good work Friend.

 

jerry

[country girl]

I try to use the natural color of the wood but every now and then I need to dye it to get the look I want

 

 

Theresa ,

 

Closet art is my thing and you are not allowed to copy my display place. Ha ha. It really is nicely done and if it does not satisfy you, just remember it is just a learning experience that will help you as you go along learning this new thing for you. Everyone has something that does not go well for them once in awhile. You are doing a great job. you thought it impossible to do only a couple of months ago and look what you have accomplished already. This is NOT closet art.

 

 

Dad

Did you see the email I sent about those 3 ornament pieces?

[country girl]

Hi Nice Lady,

 

Ask for a show of hands of the people on this site that cannot see a perceived flaw in their piece.  Your project looks excellent, and you are right where you should be, your own worst critic.  When I show my wife something I THINK I should have done better, the Sweet Lady, always tells me that I am the only on that will notice it.

 

Keep up the good work Friend.

 

jerry

Thank you for the kind words. Since my dad does NOT think it is closet art, I might give it to him to hang on his wall. LOL

[MrsN]

Thank you for the kind words. Since my dad does NOT think it is closet art, I might give it to him to hang on his wall. LOL

 I have given several pieces to family for this reason. 

 

As for advise on your finish. Try a satin or semi-gloss for the less shiny look. 

water based poly is the least ambering of the normal finish options, it won't change the color of the wood as much.

[Ron Johnson]

Very well done Theresa. I mainly use semi gloss polyurethane. The hand rubbed polyurethane also produces a beautiful finish. I apply three to four light coats lightly sanding between each and finish with a cabinet makers wax or bees wax. The only time I apply a sealer is when using acrylics. The background on your project looks great.

[Scrolling Steve]

We are always our own worst critics .......I am still trying to get to your level......keep up the good work !

[daveww1]

two good to be closet art, no one does perfect work. secret is not to point out mistakes because most people will never notice them.

[Sycamore67]

I use aspen for a white color wood. It works easily and not expensive. Holly is even better but too expensive.

 

Any oil based poly will tend to impart a golden color. Water based poly is much better but water based finishes tend to raise the grain.

 

Other choices are white shellac and and lacquer. If it is too shiny, you can use some fine steel wool to take the shine down.

 

Lastly, a very light thinned coat of white acrylic as a wash can brighten the white.

[Scrappile]

Looks mighty fine to me and if you get tired of scrolling, it looks like you have addition talent in painting (something I wish I had). 

[meflick]

Hey Theresa - first, as everybody has said - we really are our own worst critics.  I often have to let a piece set for a while and then go back to it and "see" it and decide then if I like it or not.  (Not just with my Intarsia work - I have been that way with any type of craft project I do.)  Usually when I go back to it - its not as bad as I first thought or I figure out a way to change it if I still don't like it. I think your background image looks fine.

 

Second - your Dad spoke true words of wisdom/gold that we all need to remember - especially newbies like us - "remember it is just a learning experience that will help you as you go along learning this new thing for you. Everyone has something that does not go well for them once in awhile."  - Truer words have not been spoken and yet something I have always struggled with (but have gotten better about as I get older - it doesn't have to be perfect - you are learning.  Learning is good.  We learn the most from our mistakes.  Mistakes are just opportunities to learn what to do differently or how to do it differently.

 

​In taking the class from Judy Gale Roberts back in May - she shared how she handles "white" wood - first she uses an Old Masters Gel Stain to finish her pieces. She uses the clear finish for most pieces except for white.  If she has white wood - she first uses one coat of the Old Masters White finish gel stain. This helps keep it more "white" she said and then she puts on two coats of the clear finish to finish off the piece.  Using this finish -It also provides a great mat finish.  She primarily tries to use Aspen wood for parts she needs to be white she said.  This is also from her FAQ section of her website intarsia.com regarding white wood:

 

"A: We use aspen for our white wood which stays pretty white. If you can’t get the aspen you might want to put one coat of “whiting†on the part as the first coat. We (use â€œOld Masters White Finish†(available on the hardware page that folks use for this purpose.) First coat of white and then two coats of the â€œOld Masters†clear. Too many coats of the white will make the wood look too white and almost painted. You should always test on scrap piece of wood first. You can make your own white by using artist oil colors and mix it with some of the clear gel. You can also use colors with great results. Just pull some clear out of the can and put it in a baby food jar or something like that with a lid that seals. Add some titanium white oil color (in a tube) and mix it up. Start with a little and mix then test and keep adding until you get the results you want. Remember that too much of the white will make your part too white and look “paintedâ€."

 

You can order this from Judy's website and have it shipped within the Continental USA but you can also check for it locally in your area perhaps.  I did not find it at our Lowes or Home Depot but did find it at a local lumber company that sells other things besides just lumber.

[rjR]

Everyone above stated it very well.

 

I have been associated with scroll saws since the fall of 1953 and sometime may even get semi-decent at running them.

 

Life is a perpetual learning journey!

 

I do think the piece turned out well-too!

[penquin]

Looks just fine to me.

jim

penquin

[Falcon]

It looks great! If I was critiquing my projects they would probably never be posted.

[frankorona]

Great work, very nice.      

[Lucky2]

Theresa, your're your own worst critic, we all are guilty of the same thing. We judge our work to harshly, we wouldn't judge another persons work as harshly as we do our own. I see nothing wrong or out of place with this piece, it looks fantastic. At first I didn't like the look of the frame, but, once I realized that it was supposed to look like a window ledge, I changed my mind. I now think it was a perfect thing to do, it does make the cat look like it is sitting on a ledge. To keep the wood from changing color, I would use a water based semi-glossed lacquer. 

Len

[Clayton717]

great work. You are your worst critic. What you see as a flaw most people will not even notice. I use aspen for white parts. The finish I use is equal parts - tung oil (tung oil finish because can't find pure tung oil often) matte or satin poly, and mineral spirits. I use this on all my projects 3-4 coats. it has a little shine but not bad. I don't like mine real glossy.

[amazingkevin]

SO this piece took me forever and I am not really happy with it.

 

First of all, the white wood that i used in the face and neck area is almost the same shade as the rest of the cat. I never know what the wood is going to look like once it is finished. I used a Watco natural stain finish. I have used this a lot in my past and it never seemed to change the color of the wood, only enhance it.

 

Second, Notice around the top of the front legs that the wood has a darker look to it. I know that pine is real bad at taking a consistent finish. This was a surprise because i did  not see it at all until I put a finish on it. I would like to know what woods are known for inconsistent finishes and avoid them. Dad said that he heard that sealing the wood first would help, but he never ran into this problem personally.

 

I would like to know of a good product that is more of a mat finish (not so glossy) but that will not leave the wood with a dry look. I use a shiny finish because it is easy to dust off and does not dry out the wood in time. I want something without any color changes.

 

Also, The back ground is really my first attempt at acrylic painting. It is a picture of hillsides with cliffs. Can you tell?

 

I think I will hang this in my closet.

20160807_183150.jpg

You and Bob Ross must have been  friends .Love the mountains and cat! Do you give lessons?

[wombatie]

That looks great Theresa.  Your painting looks like what its supposed to which is better than what you would get from me.  LOL    We are all our own worst enemies when we look at our own work, what you see and what we see are two different things.  Plus remember it is only your 3rd piece.  Take it easy on yourself.    

 

Marg

[country girl]

We are always our own worst critics .......I am still trying to get to your level......keep up the good work !

 

 

Thanks. I am sure you are way beyond my level...cute though.

[country girl]

I use aspen for a white color wood. It works easily and not expensive. Holly is even better but too expensive.

 

Any oil based poly will tend to impart a golden color. Water based poly is much better but water based finishes tend to raise the grain.

 

Other choices are white shellac and and lacquer. If it is too shiny, you can use some fine steel wool to take the shine down.

 

Lastly, a very light thinned coat of white acrylic as a wash can brighten the white.

 

Good info. Thanks for the tips.

[lawson56]

I myself think it looks Fantastic!!   I am never 100% satisfied with any of my cuttings.I always find a little something I could have done better.I see your plaque and I see a Beautiful work of art.  

[country girl]

Hey Theresa - first, as everybody has said - we really are our own worst critics.  I often have to let a piece set for a while and then go back to it and "see" it and decide then if I like it or not.  (Not just with my Intarsia work - I have been that way with any type of craft project I do.)  Usually when I go back to it - its not as bad as I first thought or I figure out a way to change it if I still don't like it. I think your background image looks fine.

 

Second - your Dad spoke true words of wisdom/gold that we all need to remember - especially newbies like us - "remember it is just a learning experience that will help you as you go along learning this new thing for you. Everyone has something that does not go well for them once in awhile."  - Truer words have not been spoken and yet something I have always struggled with (but have gotten better about as I get older - it doesn't have to be perfect - you are learning.  Learning is good.  We learn the most from our mistakes.  Mistakes are just opportunities to learn what to do differently or how to do it differently.

 

​In taking the class from Judy Gale Roberts back in May - she shared how she handles "white" wood - first she uses an Old Masters Gel Stain to finish her pieces. She uses the clear finish for most pieces except for white.  If she has white wood - she first uses one coat of the Old Masters White finish gel stain. This helps keep it more "white" she said and then she puts on two coats of the clear finish to finish off the piece.  Using this finish -It also provides a great mat finish.  She primarily tries to use Aspen wood for parts she needs to be white she said.  This is also from her FAQ section of her website intarsia.com regarding white wood:

 

"A: We use aspen for our white wood which stays pretty white. If you can’t get the aspen you might want to put one coat of “whiting†on the part as the first coat. We (use â€œOld Masters White Finish†(available on the hardware page that folks use for this purpose.) First coat of white and then two coats of the â€œOld Masters†clear. Too many coats of the white will make the wood look too white and almost painted. You should always test on scrap piece of wood first. You can make your own white by using artist oil colors and mix it with some of the clear gel. You can also use colors with great results. Just pull some clear out of the can and put it in a baby food jar or something like that with a lid that seals. Add some titanium white oil color (in a tube) and mix it up. Start with a little and mix then test and keep adding until you get the results you want. Remember that too much of the white will make your part too white and look “paintedâ€."

 

You can order this from Judy's website and have it shipped within the Continental USA but you can also check for it locally in your area perhaps.  I did not find it at our Lowes or Home Depot but did find it at a local lumber company that sells other things besides just lumber.

 

Thanks for sharing. It seems everyone agrees that Aspen is the ticket.I am going to the wood store in a week and want to get some of that and some more Cedar. Also, I will check to see if they carry that Old Masters

[country girl]

Theresa, your're your own worst critic, we all are guilty of the same thing. We judge our work to harshly, we wouldn't judge another persons work as harshly as we do our own. I see nothing wrong or out of place with this piece, it looks fantastic. At first I didn't like the look of the frame, but, once I realized that it was supposed to look like a window ledge, I changed my mind. I now think it was a perfect thing to do, it does make the cat look like it is sitting on a ledge. To keep the wood from changing color, I would use a water based semi-glossed lacquer. 

Len

 

Funny you mentioned that window ledge. My dad asked what that was about and said he thought it was find once he realized it was a ledge. I changed the window frame because i did not prepare enough of the wood to do it the same way as the pattern. To me, the project was not worth the time to plane more wood. I am excited about my project I started today.

 

I got a magnifying light and dad got me some new blades, I think I will really be happy  -  I am making a humming bird and flower pattern.