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Merry Christmas, Scrollers! My cat loving wife loved this one.

This is my second from Jim Blume's Americana series and I plan to cut at least one more. Like the first which was a wagon wheel, this is cut from 1/4 Maple ply stained natural with multi coats of spray clear gloss sanded between each coat. The back is 1/4 Pine. The frame is cut from a 1X Pine board that I actually tried out my new router for the first time. The frame is stained with and antique oak. I'm posting two pics. One of the single finished project and another with both I have cut. I feel they complement each other.

Pattern by Worthington House

I'm finally getting back into my woodshop and making something again. Health issues had just about completely put an end to my woodworking two years ago. I lost almost total use of my right leg, and none of the doctors could figure out what was wrong with me. Then last January a mild, but large bruise formed on and around my right knee, and the pain started going away. By about April I was able to put weight on it, but then it took me until about June to walk on it without cane or crutches. The bruise gradually went away along with the pain. I still have some balance problems, but I'm walking again. Just not nearly as well as before all this. I started going back out to the shop in the Fall, but at first I just stayed an hour or so, looking around, and then went back to the house. My son was doing the required maintenance for me when something absolutely needed to be done, but his idea of putting tools and supplies back when finished using them is in a pile just inside the shop door. I still have a significant pile to put away, but I was eager to see if I could make reindeer again. This one is the first in almost 2 years. I made 7 total Wednesday afternoon of the two larger sizes that I make. This is Mrs. Rudolf, slightly smaller than Rudy, the largest, who is almost 4" tall. She is about 3 1/4" tall. The next size down from the Mrs. is Trudy the teen daughter and then the smallest is ear ring size at about 7/8" tall and I call him Rudy Jr. I named the sizes years ago as a way of keeping track of the quantities and sizes that I was making. I've actually made smaller, at about 1/2" tall, but the average success rate of about 4 good in 10 made me quit. I've been making reindeer every year since 2004, except for these last 2 years. Well, with these, this year now isn't a total bust, so only one year, last year, without making any. Every Christmas Season I've just been making and then giving them away to any woman who helps me in some way during the Christmas Season. Every sales clerk, waitress, nurse, etc. gets one if they want it. For some strange reason, the women and teen girls seem to love these things. Most men are insulted if offered one, but I do give them away to woodworkers who want them. As I wish the women a "Very Merry Christmas" at the completion of my business with them, I hold my hand out palm down with a reindeer in it, then drop it in their hand when they reach out. Their excitement makes it worth doing. I've been hugged and even kissed on the cheek, but the smile Is all I'm after, and the chance to improve the "Christmas Spirit" in them. I lost exact count, but it's somewhere around 15,000 total reindeer that I've made since starting this. Reindeer are not the only thing that I make, but it usually keeps me busy from September on, when I'm in the shop and not working on a larger or more pressing project. I took this photo immediately after cutting her out. No eyes or red nose yet, Not even de-fuzzed yet. The eyes and nose are put on with black and red marking pens after de-fuzzing. Then a coat of clear lacquer. These were completed yesterday, before we went shopping, and one has already been given away. I've been avoiding it as much as possible this year, but Suzanne wants to go to the big mall, and traffic is very likely to be a mess around there. She doesn't handle driving in heavy traffic well any more. I don't either, but she thinks I do better than her, but we are very likely to make this venture to the Concord Mills Mall today, so I doubt I'll be making any more reindeer before Christmas this year. Hopefully, I'll be able to get started early and make a bunch of them before the Christmas Season next year. For those interested, that's the clamp that I used to hold the pieces of the reindeer blank together while I'm cutting it, and most 3D patterns, that the reindeer is sitting next to. It's about 6" long and made from 12 mm Baltic Birch plywood about 1" wide, two 6" long pieces of #8-32 stainless steel all thread, four hex nuts, two #8-32 wing nuts, six #8 flat washers. Only the all thread needs to be stainless. I use the stainless steel all thread because the mild steel version are too soft and stretch easily with many repeated uses. I don't have that trouble with the stainless all thread. Charley Attachments First 2021 Reindeer IMG_20211221_161725.jpg 78.8 KB · Views: 15

Everything in black is epoxy resin Botas pattern

Some new cuttings - Home sign for each season, projects size 7,5 x 8 inches, 3 layers 1/8 inch Video of making project Home patterns

Here is the Wild Bill Hickok. I have been working on. Had a few framing projects to do so I finished this one up.

Looks great but I have to ask, how do you know it's a male??????????? Marg

So I got an airbrush, so I can do the fades for this. Still learning a good mix for craft paint to not run.. but I think it came out pretty good. So it's about 10x12 from 3/16" maple. Cut with Olson #2/0R blades and a modified Shelia Landry Design. Her original design does not come with the paw prints.

Well here are a few of my newest cuttings. I like the Patriotic Trucks best. Still wish I could find some Bright Silver paint. That Glitter Silver looks ok. But I prefer Bright Silver. Oh well we do the best we can.

Glad to hear your back pain has cleared up and you are able to get back to your saw and cut some reindeer. Look forward to seeing more projects from you as you spend more time in the shop.

Charley welcome back to the land of sawdust.

Here in Canada the cost of 1/8 BB used to be $16 for a 60x60 sheet. I just looked and the new price is $38.50. 1/4 inch doubled to 52.50. A good thing I stocked up. KJP hardwoods in Ottawa only has 1/8 in 12x20 at $3.05 so if you get enough for 60x60 it is $45.65 a sheet. The prices as sure to go up even further so if you have a source I would stock up. KJP also sells 1/16 too.

The last time I bought some a 60 x 60 " 1/8 (3mm) sheet cost me $15 a 50 x 50 inch sheet of 1/16 (1.5mm) was $44 August 2019 I am sure those prices have gone up.

I have bought 1/16 from Amazon it was a little more expensive than 18 and it was bass wood. which in your case that wouldn't make any difference. It came i 10 X 18 sheets IKE

You can buy Baltic craft ply made in the USA here in New Zealand it is expensive for the thin stuff I bought some 2mm but usually keep a variety of sizes in my stock at home from 2mm up to 12mm it is available here in different size sheets I think it would be quite reasonble in the states. Cheers Mike

I use a glue stick that is used for crafts. I have been using this for at least 5years now it is cheap and not messy. This is how I use it; apply it directly to the paper then place the pattern onto the wood or if you want to and I do sometimes use this method and that is to apply the glue directly onto the wood and then place the pattern onto the wood. the trouble with the second method is that you end up with a sticky glue on the excess wood. Using this glue has alot of advantages it helps hold the edge of the cut item especially if you are doing very intricrit work as I do and when you have finished you just peel the pattern off. If it doesnt come off easily I use a razor blade to scrape it off this leaves a clean surface ready to seal but to make sure that it is 100% clean I use isophyi alchol and carefully wipe over the finished item this is non toxic and dries instantly. I hope that this helps you Mike

Jim Blume pattern for my native friend

I like it.

I love the snow flakes. Don't even notice them half the time. Marg

Both are fantastic! Hat’s off to you.

nice

Beautiful work, RJ

awesome work

very nice job

Amazing work. Big fan of the framing. It draws your eyes to the subject.

I thought it was just my tablet, I have Darlene convinced I need a new one with a bigger screen.

These are the names of three (Steve Good designed) gnomes. I made Sven and Olaf last year and they are featured in the Yule display on the top shelf of the large display cabinet at the end of our hall: Most of the (few) visitors to our home this season have noticed and admired Sven and Olaf. This encouraged me to make their sister, Inga. Here is a photo of the three of them: I also decided to make additional sets of the three of them as gifts for our visitors who were most enthusiastic about the two gomes that they saw in our display.

Travis, most of us like them. Keep them going. And try to find the light bulbs. They were fun.

Oh Travis did it I thought it was the beer.

Bugger Travis it's only one person I love it...it's the only snow I get all year down the bottom of the world... Keep it it man...Merry Christmas to you and yours and everyone at the village...oh a Happy New Year...Merlin...

I couldn't get the Christmas lights working this year, so I went with the snow. I guess a bulb burnt out. One goes out, they all go out. There has been changes to the software this last year, so the developer who made those cool lights hasn't updated their software yet. Hopefully next year, because I thought they were a lot of fun, too.

Patience. It happen every year. More reliable than our local forecasters. I had a screen saver on our shared computer that not only snowed but it accumulates. My wife hated it because it covered the picture behind it.

Hello everyone, I always liked the town in "silhouette" (is the word right ?) I show you my first try. Have good day.

I got a request from a sister-in-law to make a Firefighter wall hanging for her son-in-law. Sent her a few images off the web, and a Sue Mey pattern came in 1st place, with a modification - replace Firefighter with PM FD 27 (Perryville Municipal Fire Department, Station # 27). Between liquid white-out and Inkscape (I'm still learning the finer points of Inkscape), I was able to get the go-ahead to cut out the pattern. The cutout in the photo is on black poster board. I did cut out a backer the same size as the helmet and glued that to the back (and just now realized I didn't take a photo of that, dang it!) Anyway, no drama and the helmet is on its way to her. Used 1/4" BB and finished it with Danish Oil.

My heart told me to cut this one & give it away so a young child or grandchild can learn this name.....posted on social media & was claimed in a minute......Happy Holidays everyone

G'day all, Another couple of puzzles cut from 30mm radiata pine two coats of clear gloss lacquer. Not 100% happy with them. Will alter the design slightly on the next ones.

My theory on frames is that your eye should go to the portrait and not the frame. Therefore, I would use a simple frame and a narrow matt to further set the portrait off, something like Dave did there with the wolf.

Next year, I'll only do it on Christmas day.