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Well, after 2,250 miles, we're back home in Canada from our roadtrip to San Francisco. We had a great trip, and while driving through Southern Oregon, we stopped at a Myrtlewood woodcraft factory. They had lots of intarsia and scroll saw items for sale by local artists, all made from Myrtlewood. While there, I asked the lady in the store where I could buy some Myrtlewood and she said "Come with me" and took me through a back door which was a huge workshop with commercial-size bandsaws and other machinery. She showed different piles of Myrtlewood stock, told me to take my time and look around. I finally settled for a nice burl of Myrtle which cost me $15. I would have purchased more pieces if I had the room in my vehicle, but didn't. Now my problem is to decide what to create with my burl. It will obviously need to be a sign of some sort.. just trying to decide what to 'say' on the sign.

My wife and I have decided to take a driving trip down to San Francisco, leaving our home here in British Columbia next Monday, July 11th. I've been to Los Angeles and San Diego, but never been to SF and really looking forward to taking a ride and the cable car system. Seems fitting enough, seeing that I was employed for 36 years with the transit system here in Vancouver, Canada. We will also be spending some time savoring the beautiful Oregon coast, where we have vacationed many times.

My 'Seaside Pelican' consists of 82 pieces of wood cut from Oak, Walnut, Mahogany, Pine and Yellow Cedar. Some of the pieces are of different thickness to give dimension. Two coats of varnish applied and mounted on a 24" x 24" birch backing board and framed. The height of the intarsia itself is 18". Pattern by Kathy Wise is in the summer issue of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine.

I absolutely love this.. a job very well done. Beautiful. Hope it doesn't get stolen from you.

Brett, I shape my smaller pieces with my Dremel tool, and larger, heavier shaping on a drum sander in my drill press.

I saw this project in the summer 2011 issue of SSWW magazine and since I had some of the same wood on hand, I decided to give it a go. All the owl pieces were cut on the scroll saw, then shaped, sanded, glued back together and painted with acrylic paint. The backboard and bottom front pieces are (varnished) Cedar. The twigs and artificial moss were hot glued into place to ensure permanent placement. This project stands 14" in height and weighs a couple of pounds. The item can be hung on a wall or can be free standing on a table, mantle or shelf. I have to admit, this project was a 'HOOT' to make!

Very nice, Ray... my dog would guard that with his life!

Yep, I'm going to take your advice guys and dip it in my oil. Thanks.. not a bad idea. Trevor

Sold this item this morning. Guess I'll have to make a few more. Doug, they are little triangular pieces of wood that are inlaid into the frame. I didn't make the frame, bought it at the Dollar Store.. for that price I can't be bothered to make the frame myself. Trevor

I'm not a MJ fan either, but I've just listed it on Vancouver Craigslist for any die-hard fan that might be interested in it.

I just completed this project this afternoon. Cut from 1/8" Birch ply, orange oil applied to enhance the wood grain, mounted on colored backing board and framed as shown. Size is 8" x 10". Pattern by Steve Good.

I actually completed this project several weeks ago, but finally got around to taking a photo of it. Cut from 3/4" Purpleheart. I've just left the wood in its natural state, no lacquer or varnish.

To answer both questions: (1) the bowl is 5"x7". (2) I did the inside sanding with a drum sander before glueing on the bottom piece, the outside I sanded on my 4" belt sander when the bowl was complete.

Made this bowl yesterday. Cut from 4 layers of 3/4" Oak with Watco Danish Oil applied. Pattern by Steve Good.

Don, yes, I routed out the back before cutting without a backer and it worked out very well. I believe it was a #3 blade that I used. Had some 'fuzzies' after cutting, but nothing serious that my mini files couldn't take care of.