Finishing Up Some Small Things

  Yesterday I finished up a few small projects that were floating around in my shop. The things on sticks are garden ornaments awaiting paint.  I shaped the fish and snails from reclaimed lumber and sealed them with shellac so that what ever paint is put on them it will take fewer coats to get a good finish.  Last summer I made and Kieran painted a fish for our garden, based on an idea I saw on holiday. 

  I thought to make snails since real snails are in abundance in our kids garden in Gavle. The napkin holders are for my two little grand daughters in Sweden too.  

 The car is made from a kit bought at the $ store.  I had it and figured it should get built.  Since the kit is glue only building it is too slow a project for kids young enough to what to play with it.  

  Working away on these 'crafts' in a well equipped shop is an easy distraction.  With a band saw, cutting out the shapes is easy although a jig saw could do the job as well.  I used my random orbital sander and a knife to shape the snails and fish all of which could be done by hand.  To make the little car I used various clamps, but a bit of patience holding things while the glue set up could also do the job.  

  I admire "Makers" that build cool, large and complex things but...I also like small crafty projects.  I am at the point where our house is full and my friends and families house's are full  too I don't have anywhere to put big projects.  My wife's hobby is baking, what she makes gets eaten, I haven't found a sauce that makes a foot stool taste good enough to eat, yet. 

  This coming weekend is the Hamilton Wood Show at the Hamilton Airport.  I hope folks go out and see the vendors and meet up with their friends. 

  Cheers, Ianw

 On Sunday I was in my shop doing some small repairs on 10,000 Villages products when my Grand Daughter Clara came down stairs and offer to help sweep my shop while I worked.  She didn't have a project that she wanted me to make for her,she just wanted to help out. I can't describe how happy I am when the grandkids want to be in the shop with me. 

  A couple of weeks ago I was in the Burlington Lee Valley and they were selling of totes (handles) for $1.00 each. I bought two,not really knowing what I was going to do with them, but knowing that $1.00 each was a wonderful price for a very comfortable handle. As you can see I attached one of the handles to make a push stick to use on my jointer. The other handle I may just hold on to as a pattern for things down the road.

There is a hollow in the base of the handle, I filled the hollow with piece of pine I shaped to fit,then glued the whole thing the board.

 My current distraction is a bit of wood turning. I had some pieces of Black Locust (I think). If you can recognize the wood by the bark and it isn't Locust let me know please. I cut one section into some napkin rings.  This larger section is mounted and been roughed into round and currently has filler drying in a serious crack and the plan is to make a couple of candle holders from that chunk. 

  My current plan is to doll the rings up with some carving or wood burning or something....

Small project can bring big satisfaction.