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Here is my latest project. I bought the book with this pattern several years ago and looked at it several times. I finally decided it was time to try it. I'm not real good at compound cutting, but it went better than expected.

Finished this Buffalo a Russ Beard pattern, it was a challenging cut as Russ put so much detail in on the forehead. I double stacked 4mm Baltic Birch Plywood, cut with Niqua #0 and #1 Niqua pin less blades. Finished with a few Coates of a BLO/Mixture, varnish is still to be applied.

Judy Gale Roberts, the heart and soul of intarsia and the scroll saw world passed away after a short illness. I was blessed to take two classes with her and to meet her on several other occasions. Not only was she a talented artist but a gifted instructor and just a special person. Rest in peace my friend and mentor. Prayers for your husband Stephen and all who you touched through your life.

A few weeks ago, I smelled smoke in our family room. I looked around and found nothing. There was no smoke, just a smell. This happened a couple mornings for about an hour, then would go away. On the third day, I came in from the shop to get a drink, and this time there was actual smoke. No fire just smoke. It was coming from my wife’s area where she sits and stitches her cross stitch projects. She uses a lighted magnifying glass on a stand. The way it was standing, sunlight coming in through the window was focused on some books next to her chair. Fortunately, there was no real fire but it did burn several of her books but nothing else. I’m just happy that I was at home and caught it before there was actual fire! This reminded me of another incident. A few years ago I was at a friends shop that had the same thing happen to his DeWalt saw. He had a magnifying light mounted to his saw sitting in front of a window. Sunlight from the window shining through the magnifier melted all the plastic on his saw! So, this is a warning, if you use a lighted magnifier, make sure it does not sit next to a window!

You ask: why does one need more than one scrollsaw? Right now I am wishing I had two again. And I promise, momma, if I can have a second one I will never sell it! I always have more than one project going. Right now I have two. One requires inlay. But I can not work on it because once I set a saw for the depth of inlay I want it can not be moved to a different degree of tilt. You would never get perfectly back to the degree of the original set. So before I can continue in the project requiring an inlay, I have to wait until the paint and glue tries on another project. If I had two saws I could keep on working. When I find the right deal, I will have a second saw again. Plus it is nice to have two or more saw so you do not have to change the size or type of blade so often. You can just move back and forth between saws.

As many of you know my "Poppy's Workshop" makes toys and donates them to organizations, helping children in need. My current big project is 125 toys for a local organization here in Hampton Roads VA, that helps out with kids with cancer. I am a little behind the 8-ball due to my eye injury early this year and then my summer stoppage. I am about 1/2 way there and have until October, so it should not be a problem. I finished another 20 toys this week (photo 1), and now working on another dozen race cars. I am doing 3 or 4 at a time, so this way I am not left with a big pile of unfinished pieces. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment when I get stuff done, rather than a bunch in 'production'. That being said, I am working on a modified Steve Good design, the first 2 cars you see with the walnut sides, are more along the way of the original design (minus the number). I like this, as the interior is 1/2", and the sides 1/8" each. I can shape the head before gluing, and I think it comes out nice. However, that is more cutting, and then gluing up, which almost doubles production time. So I am opting for a single piece of 3/4" wood. It does make shaping the head a little tricky, but I am working on a process, of sanding on my 1x30 sanding belt, for the rough shape, then using a Kutzall bit to shape the head a bit more. It is still abstract, but it works for me. Images: (1) 20 finished from earlier this week, (2 & 3) from single and glued sides, (4) On the scroll saw, #9 FD UR, (5) Rough cut, (6) This is how I set axle length quickly with a spacer (7) Rough shape, (8) The rough shaped blanks Next will be the rotary tool to shape the head to the finished shape, then on to the barrel sander to add curves to the body of the car, then mop sand, and then the wheels. I will be doing this after my lunch and nap, so this is the start.

The sun shines though my bay door in the mornings when I have it open. My magnifier light is in the sun for a short period. It may be a good idea to cover it during that short period when the sun is shining through. Glad you didn't suffer any additional damage than a few books.

Now that is really, really nice. Would love to know a few more details, like size, woods used, finish, etc. Also a peek at the box with cover off to side. Love to see the many projects posted, but also like to know more of the What, Where, When, and Why about said projects. I feel I can always learn something! Thanks

Up until last year, I always got by with one. I had a failure last year, right at the height of my Christmas project period. Over the years, this is the 2nd time that has happened. I ended up buying a Dewalt to back up my EX-21 last year. I had considered keeping my old Dewalt when I bought the EX-21 in 2016. I figured I don't make stuff to sell, and the EX was an upgrade, so should have been more reliable than my old Dewalt. So I ended up selling it, as I really didn't have room in my shop for 2 saws. Should have kept it. All I can say is that it's a good thing scroll saws aren't like routers. I have 8 of those.

I just saw Steve Goods posting this morning and he included a video of Judy's shop from a few years ago and it is a must watch if you want to see some of the most extraordinary work by such a true artisan. The detail in her work is first rate. I got to see many of her pieces up close back in the day when we had scrollsaw picnics and gatherings. For those that do this kind of work, I am sure this hits even harder to lose such a talented person and a real gem of a human being. Hope this link works but if not check out Steve's site. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giDTAb-n6Xo

I do not make patterns other than a couple portrait patterns of my grandsons so I rely on others patterns. Free or purchased. So I would like to thank all those that make patterns and make them available to the rest of us. Without your hard work my time at my scrollsaw would be very limited. Your work is greatly appreciated. Lester

I actually finished a project while Momma was away for the week. My neighbor has two young granddaughters, that visit them often. I love to make them something when I find something I think they will enjoy. When I saw @alexfox's spooky candy box I had to make them each one. They are both the same. I added a skeleton to the inside bottom. Not part of the plans but saw the pattern for the little guy and thought he belonged in the box. The eyes on the cat are green but didn't show up well in the picture.

DId this one over for a customer who wanted one for his 2 yr. old grandson who loves gorillas. They want a name puzzle but the young man's name only has 4 letters in it' and trying to find a font that works when doing word puzzles does anyone have an idea on fonts?

I did this in some recycled wood I had on hand. They all were approximately 1/2 inch thick. I ended up just gluing the finished and painted pieces together and after that I layed them out on 1/4 in BB Ply and drew around the project with a sharp pencil and sanded the backer board and glued the snowman on it. That made it match perfectly even if my cutting was off a tad. Way faster for me. Dick heppnerguy

It is unusual for that to happen. When we were kids my brother and I would use a magnifier to light fires in the pasteur that is until our dad found out what we were doing

Big loss I have a few of her books and always dreamed of taking a class from her

Such a loss. I was always thrilled when she "liked" or commented on any of my Facebook posts.

awesome job

Terrible loss to the scrolling community

Beautiful! What kind of finish did you use?

So sad. She was indeed a treasure. I am just getting into intarsia and had communicated with her briefly.

I too met her a couple times and she was a great talent. Her work will live on forever. Rest in Peace. Prayers for her family.

After I retired from farming I built myself a woodworking shop in 2015 so I would have some place to keep busy and started buying tools. I did not know anything about scrollsaws so my first was a 16 inch King. It used pinned blades and had the tension knob at the back. I grew tired of it pretty quick and found a like new Delta 16 inch 2 speed saw at a yard sale. It was much better but the arm did not lift. I did not use it much but then found a good used Dewalt 788 and stand on kijiji. This was a great step up so I sold the King and Delta. I put pegas blade holders and an arm lift lock on it. After that I started to do more scrolling and enjoyed it. My daughter then expressed an interest in scrolling so I gave it to her a couple years ago and bought a 21 inch King Industrial that I now use quite a bit. I did not care for the blade holders it came with so i changed to the pegas blade holders. I wanted Pegas 21 inch saw but to get it here the freight was half the price of the saw so I bought the 21 inch King I could get close to home. I believe it is basically the same as the Pegas. So far so good. Last week I recieved picture of my Dewalt in use by my eleven year old grandson. He seems to like it so I hope he keeps at it. He is waiting for some pointers next time I see him.

I'm enlarging the hole with a larger bit. For example, I have a 1/4-inch hole, and the dowel is too tight. 1/4-inch = 0.25 On my drill size chart, the next larger size is F, which is 0.257 or 7 thousandths of an inch larger. Yes, I could sand the dowels to fit, but I think this is much easier. I buy dowels, pegs, and wheels in large quantities. I have purchased 1,000 wheels of a single size before. My local stores only keep a few dowels on hand; the last time I checked, they were pine.

Sorry but I don't see anything, RJ

With proper maintenance, it probably will outlast you. Best of luck.

Never thought of that with the magnifying light. Thanks for the heads up.

Hi form Spain, Bob, I am another Pegas happy scroller. I think you won't regret the decission.

Thanks all, I had an idea this am as I was working on finishing up my last 6 cars, and thought what would happen if I did a "little people" driver? Looked for some inspiration, and then went into Photoshop. I liked this 1950's Alfa (or Ferrari), very quick to cut out. It is somewhat similar to Steve's. So this is one of two prototypes, but one broke in 1/2 due to the way I did the grain out of scrap maple. (I am gluing it back together and it goes on my 'learning' shelf. I went a little too deep with the driver hole on one of these pieces. I think next time I'll go 1" thick, scale up a little more, and then make more of a boat tail taper on the back. I am also going to cut down the little people so he sits lower and also glue him into place. My concern is a choking hazzard for young kids, and also that is an easy piece to lose. Like this inspiration in the 2nd photo.

That is true dedication. Bless you.

awesome work

I was driving by a neighbor's house a couple years ago and saw faint smoke coming out of the basement window. Stopped and discovered it was actually the wood mulch on the ground in front of the window catching on fire from a gallon glass jar filled with water with the sun shining on it and the light passing thru the water in the jar and focused on the mulch on the ground. Fire Dept responded and put it out. My son-in-law is a Firefighter and he told me that happens (glass bottles acting as a magnifier) more than people realize.

Outstanding Work!

Thanks for the reminder Dan. Glad it turned out well for you, rather a few books than your house. Marg

WOW, that is something I never thought of. We need to pay heed. I remember as a kid I would purposely try to burn paper with a magnifying glass. Successfully burned the paper. I was outside and just had the paper on the ground. When I finally succeeded did't try it anymore. Thanks for the warning. Jerry

All I can say is WOW! What a wonderful job you are doing for the kids. God Bless.

A man with a project. Wonderful! WOW, you are able to go back to the shop "After lunch and nap"????? If I don't get into the shop by 6AM and work about 3 hours I would never get anything done. After my early morning shop time might do a few chores done around the yard and then stop for lunch and my afternoon nap which can last to nearly supper time. Sooooo, no shop time for me after my "lunch and nap"!!!!

I completed this Sleigh Ride. Pattern by Charles Hand. I stacked three layers 1/8 Baltic birch covered in green painters tape. Pattern attached with 3M77 spray. Cut with Pegas #2/0 and #0 and #1 spiral blades. Slow going. 13 hours seat time. Cut on my King Industrial 21 inch saw. My first project completed with spiral blades. It was a learning curve but I will use them again on similiar patterns. After getting rid of as many fuzzies as I could and sanding I sprayed with laquer. The one in the grey frame will go to a friend who took my wife and I and our kids and grandkids on sleigh rides through the forest on his property a couple times. Grandkids still talk about those rides. When I saw the pattern by Charles Hand in Scrollsaw Woodworking magazine issue 89 I knew right away I wanted to cut it for Al as a thank you.

I like those! The kiddos will love them. Way to go!

Setting at my scroll saw and looked out the window.. They must like that I just cut the grass and wanted to lay in it.

Wow Thank you so much for your kind words, I’m sure yours will be good to.

What a wonderful Christmas present. You always do great work.

What thickness did you use Dick? Looking at the pattern from the site, it says to use 1/4”. The photo you posted looks thicker than that. I’m thinking 1/2-3/4” would make it look “more full”. Also easier to round the edges.

That is what I am planning with the Alex Fox Baskets Modified. Going to call them Blessing Baskets.

If you'd like to have the pattern just email me at kris414kreations@gmail.com

Thank you, Dick. I cut another one yesterday, as I gave the first one to my daughter who was very close to my sister and Here Comes The Sun was my sister and my daughter’s favorite song. At the funeral, my sister’s daughter cried when she saw the plaque, plus her husband played the song during the service so I knew they’d appreciate one also. May have to cut more. In this case it’s an honor.

Thanks for the compliment, but I’ve certainly never seen anything shabby about your work either.

The Delta clamp change from Pozgai was great on my Hawk G426. He stopped making them when the supply dried up. I just tried to access his web site and I get a "site not found message" I wonder if he stopped making clamp replacements.