Christina

Great ideas Travis. How about Key Racks......there are dozens and dozens of free patterns all over the net. Steve Good also has a new pattern for a compound cut vase and flowers, an oven rack pull, and much much more. Or, how about a remote control caddy for the television nut..........video or CD rack.........mail caddy? Photo or scrapbook album? The ideas are really endless when it comes to scrolling. Christina

Welcome Bubba...........you did a fantastic job on your cross! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I have only done a couple projects with a backer.........but I used gel type super glue. Christina

I don't have an IPod either but you can download the free Itunes software and download songs, movies, tv programs and even podcasts and some free online class lectures too. I have it and am taking several free courses offered by different colleges........academic classes. I can't afford to go back to college but these are actual courses from the colleges and Universities from around the world..........and free. Of course you don't get credit for them but hey, learning is learning. Anyone serious about it can always CLEP the classes. For me I just like to keep up with my nursing skills and knowledge base. For anyone interested, here's the link to download Itunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/ Christina

OMG this story made me boohoo like a little baby. As I was reading it thoughts of my Buddy kept popping into my head making me cry even more. Buddy was my 12 year old Rottweiller who passed away a few months ago. I called him Fuddy Duddy because he was such a lump......just wanted to be in my lap (he thought he was a chihuahua!) and be loved all the time. He fell down our steps and broke his leg and ended up with septicemia as a result. He was terribly abused before I got him and it took me over a year to win his confidence and love.........and worth every single second. He gave me so much love and joy......and I miss him so much. Christina

LOL Kevin, you definitely need your baby to come home well. Thanks for the kind words too. I'm sure your friend really appreciates all you have done to help him too. That really is a great thing to do and you don't find many people around who are willing to help anyone anymore.......it's pretty rare. My poor saw is sitting there lonely and bored. I've been having a bad pain episode and haven't been able to use it lately. So it sits there staring forlornly at me. Aw well soon I hope. Christina

I don't have any little children anymore........unfortunately. And we live so far out in the middle of nowhere that we don't get trick or treaters at all. So it's scary movies and popcorn for me............two of my favorites lolol. Happy Halloween everyone. Christina

Excellent work on both projects! You did a great job on them. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. Christina

Excellent name plate Marshall! I love it and it is a one of a kind.......very personalized and perfect for a Harley Man! Shane is going to be thrilled with it I just know! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. You did a great job on it. Christina

I love this portrait Frieke! Your daughter is just beautiful and you did a fantastic job on both the pattern and the cutting. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I'm sure Naomi is going to love it. Christina

You did a wonderful job on Tigger Hallway! I bet your friends will be thrilled with a portrait of their furbaby. Thanks so much for sharing him with us. Christina

Beautiful ornaments Frieke...........you did a great job on them. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. Christina

Beautiful cutting Hallway.......you did an excellent job on it. I love the way you framed it too......really sets it off well. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Christina

I'm sorry to hear about your poor saw. Hopefully she will get better soon and be able to come home. Hang in there lol. Christina

Yep, I've seen this on PBS. It's really wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Christina

This is a fabulous WIP Sue. I so appreciate your going into such detail and showing booboos too! I've wanted to try a project like this for sometime and this really helps alot. You are doing a great job on it and I think it's going to be absolutely gorgeous when you are done. Thanks again for sharing it with us.........I'll be watching lol. Christina

I don't know Vector..........I think it would depend on if it was uniformly crushed and what the size is. You want a variation of sizes..........that's why I crush my own for each project. When you grind away the excess that sticks up it reveals different size stones in the epoxy background........that's what makes it look so awesome. And, of course, I like being in control of what goes into my project. I just buy stones for the rock tumbler.....or sometimes you can buy small rough............especially turquoise. Turquoise is my favorite to use......it's easily crushed and looks awesome in just about any project. Likewise coral is pretty cool and such pretty reds and pinks. Both have been used in crushed stone inlays for many many years in silver jewelry. I like to tint my epoxy black for both..........it really makes the colors pop! I've also used fire opal rough samples that I've ordered through magazine ads. You gotta kinda weed out the plain white matrix when you crush opal..........and be careful not to crush it completely, it's a rather soft stone. But it's so pretty. If it's not super expensive or huge amounts of crushed material I'd say give it a try! You just never know. If you do, be sure to let us know how it worked for you. Christina

Most all I get here other than This Old House, New Yankee Workshop, The Woodwrights Shop...........and Woodturning. Once in a great while there will be one I've never seen on but it's pretty rare. Too bad someone doesn't do a scrollsaw show! That would be awesome. Most of the craft shows have been taken off too............rarely even get reruns anymore. Doesn't anyone do any kind of hand crafting anymore?! Seems it's all remodeling shows and cooking shows..........or reality crapola. I say get rid of a whole lotta those idiotic sitcoms that insult your intelligence and give us a whole bunch of new craft and woodworking shows!!! Christina

Wonderful candle holder Marshall........you did a great job on it. Steve always has the most awesome patterns on his site........it's always my first stop of the day! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I love the idea of using a battery tea light too! Christina

This really is a great idea...........and Dan is right, this would make a wonderful gift for someone. Thanks so much for sharing your idea with us. Christina

Thanks Travis, I'm glad you like it. I posted this on my site a couple years ago, but when I saw the inlaid wooden rings on some of the sites I posted links to here, I thought it would help out anyone who wanted to try it. It's really pretty easy to do depending on the hardness of the stones you're trying to crush. Christina

I know what you mean Greasemonkey. But regardless, there is skill involved. I appreciate the mention, but I can't take credit for the carving..........that is my mom's carving that I shared with everyone. I WISH I carved like that lololol. One way or another.........you do awesome work and I love seeing your projects! I think we all have those piles of projects that didn't turn out well. I know I certainly make a whole lot of designer firewood myself lol. But that's how you learn and gain the skills you have. You see something you want to do and you keep trying to do it until you learn. It's all part of the learning process we humans go through when we want to do something. Christina

No Dan, I have no idea. I would think it would be like cutting through a stone, or glass..........you would need a wet saw. The blade would heat up too much otherwise, I think. But there really is no need to cut it. It's meant to fill spaces............it's crushed stone mixed with epoxy. Then you grind it down smooth. Like in silver jewelry. Christina

I haven't been scrolling very long myself. But I tend to agree with Greasemonkey...........with practice you'll find what works best for you. I use spirals almost exclusively........I absolutely love them. I've not had a problem with jaggy lines with them, but had a heck of a time with the regular blades. I also think it's like using a sewing machine lol. I do believe you are hooked lolol. I felt exactly the same way when I finally made something other than designer firewood. There is a such a huge variety of things you can do with a scroll saw......it's just almost intoxicating! I can't wait to see your work.........I'm sure you did a great job on your first projects. And just think..........they only get better and better! Christina

Norm is retiring! OH NO! Well I guess he deserves it after so many years...........but it's so sad! I'll miss it so much. I'm sure they will keep the reruns going forever but it just won't be the same. Hopefully he's retiring from it to do another show for us..........I hope I hope. I gotta have my Norm fix..........New Yankee Workshop reruns are on several times a week here. I love that show! Christina

What a fabulous photo Greasemonkey......Sue is right, they all look very proud of their projects and well they should be! They did a great job. I think it's so cool that Home Depot does these kids project days and kudos to you and your brother for taking the time to spend with your kids this way. Great for you and the kids too! Thanks for sharing your fun with us. Christina