Holiday Ornaments for the Scroll Saw

One of the problems with making holiday ornaments is everybody wants one! And why not? Handcrafted ornaments are much more interesting and offer an infinite amount of sentimental value. They're not hard to make, nor time consuming. But when everybody wants one, you'll soon be back-ordered until the following Christmas! So that's why I'm making Holiday Ornaments for the Scroll Saw this week's Book Of The Week. You'll be needing the extra time just to keep up with the demand. This book has over 300 ornaments, covering a wide variety of themes, so you should be able to find something for everybody on your list. Get a jump start on the Holiday season with this fantastic collection of Holiday Ornaments.

Ebonizing Wood

Allison of Wood Alley is an intarsia artist who is always in the need of ebony. Unfortunately the price tag attached to ebony is a bit steep. . .OK, a lot steep. When she came across an article on how to ebonize wood with vinegar and steel wool, she thought she'd try her hand at it. She wrote a wonderful article about her results. She has also included several pictures and a link to the original article. I'm sure someday you're going to need some ebony for a project. And when your lumber supplier tells you how much it is, you'll be glad you read this article!

Country Cow

Here's a fun little country craft pattern provided by Meliz Crafts n More that you can easily knock out in no-time. I tried this pattern and it only took me an hour and a half to complete (that includes the painting and watching TV). The pattern is a hand drawn scan provided in JPG format. You can clean up the pattern in a graphics program, or just print it and fly by the seat of your pants! I just printed it and went with it. The cutting is about as basic as you can get and the painting scheme is even easier. But the end results are fantastic. This would make a great project for your own home, or a gift for that cow enthusiast. Be sure check out her other patterns too. She has a lot of great and whimsical patterns for all occasions. Check it out!

Mini Jigsaw

Woodworkers of all walks of life all share one addiction...an addiction to tools. We're always on the lookout for that new cool tool, whether we can use it or not!

I came across this miniature jigsaw the other day and I couldn't resist writing about it. This jigsaw easily fits in the palm of your hand and intended for delicate/intricate work. Bundle it with the power feedback transformer, this little tool will increase it's power when the load gets a little heavy. It looks promising, opening up possibilities for larger work. Or perhaps it can be used to cut down larger stock. Check it out. I'm sure your imagination will run wild too. While you're there, be sure to sign up for their catalog. Micro-Mark specializes in small tools, perfect for woodcrafters and model builders.

Windmill Project Video

Frank from FranksWoodshop.com has put together a great video, demonstrating how he put together a windmill plaque. This 3 part video shows you each step of the way as he cuts and assembles his windmill plaque. The steps are covered in detail along with plenty of commentary. A very cool project. After you're done watching these great videos, be sure to check out his website. He has some really great stuff in his gallery. He also has another video in the video section, showing you around the scroll saw.

Armstrong Puzzles

Conrad Armstrong is a puzzle crafter from Boston who creates rather unique puzzles. He breaks away from the traditional key and lock method we are so familiar with. Instead, he uses a very organic, amoeba like swirl to interlock his pieces. He also uses custom figure pieces that fit with the theme of the puzzle. He shares his techniques of creating these one-of-a-kind puzzles, covering tools, materials, and mounting procedures. If you're a puzzle maker, or an aspiring puzzle maker, be sure to check this great resource. And while you are there, be sure to check out some of his great puzzles.

Scroll Saw Fonts

There is no such thing as too many fonts. Scrollers love them! But often we have to modify our favorite fonts in order to get them cuttable. Wouldn't it be nice if there were some fonts designed specifically for scrollers? Well, Mike from Scrollcrafters has come through by offering 3 different fonts for your computer. The first font (Deskset) is designed for desk nameplates. The other two (Scollsoni and Stencil) is intended for fretwork. Be sure to add these free fonts to your collection. While you're there, check out some of his cuttings. He does fantastic work!

Classic Lathart

Lath art has really caught my imagination. I like the rustic/folk art feel that it provides. Since there isn't a lot of information about this great American folk art, I'm always excited to see a new website pop up. Rod Skramstad from Classic Lathart has a number of pictures of his one-of-a-kind creations. His lath art paintings range from simplistic to intricate. Each piece full of personality and stories waiting to be unveiled. While he doesn't sell patterns, his work is certainly inspiring. Check it out. And be sure to read the history of lath art on the front page. Very interesting reading.

Compound Scroll Saw Creations

This week's Book of the Week comes from the queen of compound cutting, Dianna Thompson. Compound Scroll Saw Creations is a great book for those wanting to get started in 3d cutting. Those with more experience will find some great patterns too. Not sure if compound cutting is right for you? I've written an article about Dianna before, where she provides a free tutorial and pattern to get you started. You can read the article here. Once you have the basics down, be sure check out her book for a lot of great patterns.

New Feature: Book Of The Week

I love books. I read mostly informational/how-to books, but I love 'em! So, I'm always on the lookout for new books to add to my library. The great thing about the scroll sawing hobby, there is no shortage of books to look at. So I thought I'd start a new feature on this blog. Introducing, Book Of The Week. But wait, Travis, you already have Book Of The Week. While it is true that I have highlighted a new book each week for the last 17 weeks, it wasn't a regular blog feature. You'll still be able to find the Book of the Week in the upper right corner of the website, but in addition, I'll write a quick article each week talking about that book. I'm hoping to expose my dear readers to a wide variety of resources for scrollers, as well as archiving these recommendations for future readers.

What kind of books do I cover? I'm glad you asked. I cover a wide variety of books I feel you may be interested in. I cover pattern books, intarsia, clipart, business books for crafters and the list goes on! I hope you enjoy this new feature and I invite you to take a look at the previous Books of the Week.

Happy reading!