Gma's Craft Room

[Heli_av8tor]

I'm putting this post in Bragging Rights though I'm certainly not bragging. I'm not happy with it for a number of reasons. One the bright side I learned from each of my errors and my DW likes it.

First off it was a difficult cut with the wood so hard. It had 110 years to harden before I repurposed this old Singer Sewing Machine cabinet. There are a few really well cut lines. Otherwise it is comprised of curves with flats or with curved straight lines. 

Seems like everything I tried to salvage the project and make the letters "pop" didn't work and I had a better idea after I had burned a bridge. The bright white background did help with the letters and features a bit but only if looking straight on from a distance. The photo was taken fairly close and shows how the letters fade away with anything but straight on. I may try to hand paint the inside of the letters white. Would have been easy to spray before I glued the backer on. Could also have made the backer 8 x 10 and put in a frame.

Lots of Oh Duh moments and lots to learn.

Thank you to those who helped me with my printing problems early on and to those making suggestions on finishing.

Tom

 

 

[rjR]

A very nice project.

 

 

[Scrappile]

You are being mighty hard on yourself, I see very nice looking results, that I am sure are greatly appreciated.   Nice job.

Edited December 26, 2018 by Scrappile

[meflick]

3 hours ago, Scrappile said:

You are being mighty hard on yourself, I see and very nice looking results, that I am sure are greatly appreciated.   Nice job.

I agree, looks good from here. I am sure it was well received as well.

[Foxfold]

I think it looks great as it is.  As has been said ''we are our own worse critics''. I personally don't think anything needs changing.

[Scrolling Steve]

Looks good from here !

[daveww1]

nice job

[Heli_av8tor]

Thanks everyone. Guess I needed to vent a little. You'd think that at my age I'd get past that perfectionist curse and accept that it was my best effort at the time.

Tom

[Jim McDonald]

Don't just brag--break your elbow patting yourself on the back.

 

[heppnerguy]

I often do the same thing to myself. I guess I just want everything to be perfect but I always seem to get in a rush as I get closer to the end part of my projects. I guess for me it is part of my  nature. As far as your plaque goes, it looks really well done. I like to make backer boards on almost all of my pieces whether it call for one or not. That is because I feel it helps make the work stand out much better with a high contrast backer board. If I was making this one with the dark wood you have, I would use a small metal washer and putting the pencil in the hole of the washer, I would trace around the entire outline and make that, the pattern for my backer board. I especially like the entire outline around my plaques because it kind of acts as a frame too. I would paint the backer board White and when glued on, it would help to make those letters and frets stand out really well and it is a whole lot easier then trying to paint the  inside of the cuts that you want to make stand out.  oh, and keeping the plaque thickness at no more than 1/4 inch also helps everything stand our better too

Dick

heppnerguy

Edited December 27, 2018 by heppnerguy

[Heli_av8tor]

The washer trick would have been good for this. It was a pain to follow the existing outline. 

The 1/2” thickness of this piece along with the dark finish created the problem. The gloss white on textured mat board backer did help. I would have done it thinner +/or lighter if not for wanting to use the wood from the antique Singer sewing machine. 

Tom

[amazingkevin]

Perfect wood for this project that's meticulously done! 

[jerrye]

On 12/26/2018 at 10:04 AM, Heli_av8tor said:

Thanks everyone. Guess I needed to vent a little. You'd think that at my age I'd get past that perfectionist curse and accept that it was my best effort at the time.

Tom

Methinks it looks good as is. As for knowing where the flaws are, and trying to deal with them, I have only the following to say:

The crafter/creator knows where all of the flaws are. The recipient, unless they are mighty picky and anal, only sees the thought, love, and care for them that goes into a custom made item.

Let go of the annoyance of errors, because there ain't no such thing as perfect, and the joy of the one you made it for is greater than any shortcomings in the work.

Edited December 27, 2018 by jerrye

[smitty0312]

Beautiful piece......

[heppnerguy]

1 hour ago, jerrye said:

Methinks it looks good as is. As for knowing where the flaws are, and trying to deal with them, I have only the following to say:

The crafter/creator knows where all of the flaws are. The recipient, unless they are mighty picky and anal, only sees the thought, love, and care for them that goes into a custom made item.

Let go of the annoyance of errors, because there ain't no such thing as perfect, and the joy of the one you made it for is greater than any shortcomings in the work.

Hey those words are great ones. Such good advice.. I hope I remember that in the future.

Dick

heppnerguy

[jerrye]

1 hour ago, heppnerguy said:

Hey those words are great ones. Such good advice.. I hope I remember that in the future.

Dick

heppnerguy

Dick, I myself am trying... 

[heppnerguy]

54 minutes ago, jerrye said:

Dick, I myself am trying... 

Good to know I am not alone here

Dick

heppnerguy

[Tomanydogs]

Tom it looks great. You did a beautiful job.  

[wombatie]

Tom every piece we cut we learn from no matter how long we have been scrolling.  I think you did a terrific job and as long as your wife likes it, who cares. 

Marg