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Travis

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  1. Travis
    Hans and I were talking behind the scenes and we got it all sorted out. There are written rules for each community (User Guidelines and the Hot Deals & Announcements forum rules on SSV). There are unwritten rules, which is more about social etiquette. Those are a little more difficult to put your finger on, but come naturally the longer you hang out and participate. Most of them are common sense, though. But as with any community, it takes time to acclimate. I think a lot of it is when people aren't familiar with forums. With a community that is focused on community, fellowship, and discussion, too much advertising and self promotion can do more damage than good. Designers and vendors are an important part of that community and I don't think they can (or should) be ignored. I think the real key to success is to approach it more organically by building a reputation of being helpful and a resource for great information. Once you build that reputation and trust, business will follow. (Key people that come to mind; Mike from Mike's Workshop, Ray from Seyco, and Steve Good from Scrollsaw Workshop). Outside of that, we have a couple sections set aside where direct advertising and promotion are acceptable and encouraged. First, being Hot Deals & Announcements and the other being listed in the Pattern Shops database. Signatures are another great place to link to your website. These should be appropriate and not detract from the conversation by using excessive font size or colors that are intended to draw attention to your links. You can link to your website (or another commercial website) within a forum post if it specifically answers a question being asked. Be careful about excessively posting links to your site (or if you appear to be seeking out threads where your link may be relevant, so that you can post it). I hope this helps.
  2. Travis
    I usually do most of my Christmas shopping online. I hate crowds and the traffic. So I'd rather spend my shopping time online. Its quick, easy, cheaper, and my gifts arrive at my door in a couple days. I do most of my shopping on Amazon and I love it! Very convenient. If you shop on Amazon, there's a way for you to get your Christmas shopping done and support SSV at the same time. We don't have a large publication to support our operating expenses. Thankfully, we have members choose to pitch in a few bucks by becoming SSV Patrons. That certainly helps offset the costs of running SSV so we can keep the lights on. But we also participate in an affiliate program with Amazon. Basically, if you purchase something from Amazon after clicking our banner, we get a small kickback. It doesn't cost you any extra. We can't see who bought what, so no worries there. It's just an easy way to support SSV while Christmas shopping. I've added a small Amazon banner in the right side of the forum. Just click that before you begin shopping. I'll be removing the Amazon banner after Christmas. Thanks for your continued support!
  3. Travis
    I'm proud to announce that SSV's Ornaments For Charity 2018 edition eBook is now available! This year, we got 11 designers to design 55 additional patterns. The eBook is now 103 pages with 305 Holiday ornament patterns!You can download the eBook for free and check it out. If you decide to keep the eBook, we ask you to donate to your favorite charity (we're on the honor system here). Remember, this isn't about "buying" an ebook of patterns, it's about giving to a worthy cause. So dig deep when donating to your favorite charity. Please spread the word about this wonderful eBook of patterns. Post to your favorite social media, other clubs and organizations. The more people who know about it, the more money we're able to raise for worthy causes.You can find the ebook here. There will be a tab on the navigation menu through Christmas. After Christmas, it will be moved under the More tab in the navigation bar. Special thanks to the following for donating patterns to this year's eBook: @Travis @Kris Martinson @meflick @worbler @Montserrat @MrsN @Fab4 @grampa @Foxfold @bobscroll @WayneMahler I hope everybody has a wonderful Holiday Season surrounded by those you love.
  4. Travis
    More information about "Ornaments For Charity"

    10,928 downloads

    Ornaments For Charity is a project from the members of Scroll Saw Village. For the last 14 years, our designers have donated their talents by creating wonderful ornament patterns for the Holiday Season. It has become so popular, and so big, we had to split it into 2 books! Book 1 covers our first 10 years; 2010-2021. Our newest book, Book 2, covers 2021-2024. Between the two books, we have 175 pages with 545 Holiday ornament patterns! So be sure to download both books! This popular eBook was featured in the Holiday 2014 issue of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts (read the article here). Is it really free? Here's how it works. Download the eBook and take a look at what we have to offer. If you decide to keep it, all we ask is that you donate to your favorite charity. You get a ton of great ornament patterns, and you help those in need in return. Remember, this isn't about "buying" an eBook of patterns, it's about giving to a worthy cause. If you don't have a favorite charity, we have listed a number of national (and international) charities below that could use your help. Remember, the purpose is to raise money for those in need. So, please dig deep when donating. Please donate to one of these fine charities or a charity of your choice. Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. By giving to Toys for Tots, you'll bring the magic of Christmas to children in need. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children (2.5 years to 18 years old) who have life-threatening medical conditions. It is a wonderful charity that brings a few moments of joy. Habitat For Humanity is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building simple, decent, and affordable housing for those who would not otherwise be able to afford their own home. A donation to your local food bank will ensure that the hungry will be fed in your own community. Make a difference in your neighbor's life.
    Free
  5. Travis
    Today's the last day to get ornament designs in for this year's Ornaments For Charity ebook. The final book will be assembled tomorrow, so you have until the end of day to participate. Thanks to all that have donated their talents: @Travis - Received @Kris Martinson - Received @meflick - Received @worbler - Received @Montserrat - Received @MrsN - Received @Fab4 - Received @grampa - Received @Foxfold - Received @bobscroll - Received @WayneMahler - Received If I missed you, please let me know.
  6. Travis
    OMG...did we do it? I feel like we broke the curse! Let's not just win, let's REALLY win and keep it going. Who else can help out? @Travis @Kris Martinson - Received @meflick - Received @worbler - Received @Montserrat - Received @MrsN @Fab4 - Received @grampa - Received @Foxfold - Received @bobscroll - Received @WayneMahler - Recieved
  7. Travis
    Howdy all. I love running SSV and am happy to provide a place for folks to talk shop. But, SSV is a big place with lots of posts, forums and other nooks and crannies, it's hard to keep up with. If you need my attention for whatever reason, please tag me or send me a PM. Otherwise, there is a high likelihood that I'll miss your post. Tagging is great for mentions, or questions for a person that are relevant to the thread. You can tag any member by putting the @ symbol before their name. This will put a notification on their notification bell at the top of the screen. So mine would be @Travis. Naturally, private matters should be done with a private message. It's also a more direct way of reaching me. If you're having trouble with SSV, you can either post in the Help & Feedback forum. You can also open a support ticket. You can do from the main navigation at the top of the screen: More>Help>Submit A Help Ticket. These are the first 2 places I visit when I log in each day. If a particular post is problematic, you can always click the "Report Post" in the upper right corner of the post. A moderator will take a look at it. I hate missing questions directed at me and it goes unanswered. I don't want anybody to think I'm ignoring them. I probably just missed it. I hope this helps. Thanks All!
  8. Travis
    I haven't had anybody else report issues, so I'm not sure what's going on. I can change the password for you. That should make it stick. I'll send you an PM with the details. I have to add an SSL certificate to the website. Work has been beating up on me lately, and I just need to carve some time to focus on the update. They say it's easy, but my experience with technology suggests otherwise. Here's a little more info:
  9. Travis
    Oh my gosh, we're sooooo close! I've added a badge to the pot. Once you send in your design, you'll be awarded a ornament badge for your trophy wall on your profile. Thanks to all that have participated. I greatly appreciate it. If you still want to design, there's still time. I just need the patterns by Wednesday. Details in the first post of this thread. Can we make it to 10? Here's what I have so far. If you sent me something and you're not listed, please let me know. I don't want to miss anyone. @Travis @Kris Martinson - Received @meflick - Received @worbler - Received @Montserrat - Received @MrsN @Fab4 - Received @grampa - Received @Foxfold - Received
  10. Travis
    We're at 8 designers! Can we find 2 more designers? It would make my Christmas wish come true! 2 more designers would make 50 brand new ornament designs for the year! How awesome would that be? Remember, patterns are due by Wednesday. @Travis @Kris Martinson - Received @meflick - Received @worbler - Received @Montserrat - Received @MrsN @Fab4 - Received @grampa - Received
  11. Travis
    Did you change your password after you logged back in? I think those temporary passwords are only valid for a short time. Let me know if you need help changing your password.
  12. Travis
    When you paste something into a post, there will be a message in black in the bottom of the post that asks if you want to paste it as plain text. Click yes. That should strip away any MS Word formatting. I don't compose in MS Word, so I wouldn’t know if this works or not, but it should. You can also do as Jim suggested and either copy/paste into Notepad, or compose in Notepad. I use Notepad all of the time when I want to strip away formatting.
  13. Travis
    Here's where we are as of now. Thanksgiving is next week, so we have 9 days to get to our 10 designer goal! I think we can still do it! Who else is in? @Travis @Kris Martinson - Received @meflick @worbler - Received @Montserrat - Received @MrsN @Fab4 - Received
  14. Travis
    We got 5! We're half way there! Who else can help? @Travis @Kris Martinson - Received @meflick @worbler - Received @Montserrat - Received
  15. Travis
    Here's a cool way to support local schools or charities. Each day during the month of November, Bear Woods is featuring a woodworker that donates their talents to charity. And if you order, Bear Woods will match donations to either a local school of your choice, your favorite charity, or the featured woodworker so they can continue their mission. It's fun to read up (and sometimes see a video) of woodcrafters using their talents to help others. Who knows, it might even inspire you to take up your own charitable venture. You can read more details about it here: https://www.bearwood.com/woodparts-and-woodworking-supplies-for-schools.html
  16. Travis
    We have our first 4 in. Who else will join us in breaking the 10 designer mark? Here's who we have so far: @Travis @Kris Martinson @meflick @worbler
  17. Travis
    Those are cool ornaments. I've always liked those. Unfortunately, you can only share patterns you specifically designed yourself. Plus we'll need 5 original designs, otherwise it won't make it to the e-book. We've done it that way for the last 8 years. If you're able to scrape together 5 original designs, that would be awesome. If not, no worries. I know how busy it gets this time of year. That's a great idea. You'll have to sell the cuttings on your own and donate the money to your favorite cause. My folks do something similar. The stuff they make benefit's the Women and Children's shelter and an organization for At Risk Teens. This specific call is for designers creating 5 original ornament designs for an ebook. The idea is scrollers can download the ebook in exchange for a donation to their favorite charity. Scrollers that aren't designers prefer to help out in that way. You can check out last year's ebook and read a bit more about it here: http://www.scrollsawvillage.com/ornaments-for-charity/ I'll make an announcement when the new ebook is available (spoiler alert: usually Thanksgiving Day).
  18. Travis
    Thanksgiving was a big event in our family. All the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends would all come together and enjoy a carefully prepared meal together. But as a kid, I never enjoyed the holiday. We always went to my aunt’s house for Thanksgiving Dinner. She had no kids of her own, which means it was boring! But as I get older, I’ve learned to appreciate those days and now have many fond memories. It was an opportunity to take time out of our busy schedule, slow down, and enjoy our friends and family. So when I think of Thanksgiving, I think of family. This month’s scroll saw challenge is around the theme of “Family.” What does it mean to you? Post a pic of a scroll saw project that illustrates your love of family, friends and thanksgiving. When you do, write a little something about it. I really enjoy hearing the backstory behind these projects. Have fun!
  19. Travis
    Every year, we set a goal of getting 10 designers to contribute. We haven't made it to that goal yet. Last year we were sooooooo close and had 9 designers! Is this the year we break the 10 designer mark? I think we can do it. If we reach our goal, that means we'll have 50 new ornaments to add to our eBook this year. How awesome would that be? It's a fun way to do what you love and give back at the same time. You don't need to be an expert. We welcome everyone of all designer levels. I'm in, who else will join me?
  20. Travis
    Halloween is over and Christmas is right around the corner. Scrollers are starting to think about gifts and patterns to cut for loved ones. But since the Holiday season is also about helping others in need, we're continuing our tradition here at Scroll Saw Village as a way to give back. This will be our 9th year of publishing an e-Book full of Christmas ornaments. This popular e-Book was featured in the Holiday 2014 issue of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. Our ornament designs are exclusive to this eBook and designed by SSV members. Anyone are can download the ebook in exchange for a donation to their favorite charity. Our hope is that we'd be able to raise some money for very worthy causes, and provide some cool patterns at the same time. *** But we need your help! *** I'll need some volunteers to design some ornaments. Each designer will provide 5 patterns (no more, no less) I ask that the designs are not made available anywhere else (this gives value to the e-book) They have to be designed specifically by you (no posting other people's patterns) Designs must be emailed (or PM) to Travis by Wednesday, November 21st (info below) A few things to keep in mind: Religious and secular designs are accepted. Other religions/traditions also celebrate this time of year, so lets not forget them. Keep detail and size appropriate for an ornament. Don't submit copyrighted or licensed patterns. The due date will sneak up on you quicker than you think. Get them to me ASAP. What do you get in exchange? Credit for your design. The warm fuzzy feeling that you're helping others in need. Submitting your ornaments: Email the ornaments directly to Travis (travis [at] scrollsawvillage.com) or PM me. Formats accepted are JPG, PNG. Please keep the pattern in black & White only (no gray) . That way I can convert them easier when putting together the ebook. I'll also accept Inkscape files (SVG). This is ideal if you know how to use Inkscape. That way I don't have to manually convert them.
  21. Travis
    I heard some sad news from a forum member that Homer Bishop has passed away. My heart goes out to his wife Carol and the rest of his friends and family. @Bishop has been a member of SSV since Oct. 2011. He was a very kind guy who loved sharing his expertise. His work is amazing and has been featured in SSW&C. He'll be missed.
  22. Travis
    Nothing has changed. It's just Google's new policy to put up a flag on regular HTTP websites. It switched about a month ago. Websites without an SSL certificate get that warning in Google Chrome. I'm going to switch it over soon. But work has been beating up on me for the last 8 weeks or so (hence why I haven't been as visible lately). If you're concerned about it, just put the S after HTTP and you can use the certificate I currently have. So our website would be https://www.scrollsawvillage.com. Unfortunately, as soon as you click a link, the S goes away and back to the plain HTTP. Once I get some breathing room, I'll switch it over sitewide. I just want to make sure that I have plenty of time to focus on it in case something goes wrong, I have time to fix it.
  23. Travis
    I love Halloween. It takes all my self control not to go crazy and buy all kinds of Halloween stuff. I'm not much into the gory, but I like the fun, spooky stuff. It's no surprise, this month's challenge is "Halloween." Post your Halloween themed finished project, or a pattern you designed here. The theme is open to interpretation. You can post something spooky, harvest, or fall related project. When you post it, say a little something about it. Maybe a little story related to the project, what inspiration you took, materials or techniques used. It doesn't have to be elaborate. But it's nice to read a little about a project and seeing the picture or pattern. For a little inspiration, here's the opening song "This is Halloween" from Nightmare Before Christmas.
  24. Travis
    This challenge spread over 2 months. I had a lot going on for September. And before I realize I didn't do a September challenge, I was almost 3 weeks in to September. Woops.
  25. Travis
    Hi. The only "sponsors" we have we have are the banner ads at the top of the screen for Bear Woods & King Scroll Saws. They're technically not sponsors, they purchased ad space at the top of the screen. Outside of that, we have an Amazon affiliate that @Scrappile mentioned, and SSV Patron support that helps me offset the cost of running SSV. Thanks for your support!
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