Iguanadon

I'm a puzzle nut, always like seeing new ones. Very nice.

As always, thanks for all of the responses, input and information. I've gone ahead and signed up for PayPal since I have an account with them. If there is a delay of a couple of days in receiving the funds that's not an issue for me. I'll put it to the test the weekend of July 4th and if I run into any issues I'll report back. Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out here.

Hi All, As I'm a newbie at doing the vendor/booth/sales thing I'm thinking about being able to accept debit and credit cards. My first Saturday nobody asked to pay by card and were happy and able to pay cash. Today I had 3 or 4 requests to pay by card. I have a Paypal account so I'm leaning towards their tool but wanted to check with those of you using Square or Paypal or any others that are out there for your thoughts and experience with them. This is the Paypal option... https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/credit-card-reader Thanks for any and all feedback and/or recommendation. Thanks, Iggy

Outstanding, thanks DW, this will be very helpful in getting me started with Inkscape. Greatly appreciated.

Is this even possible is the main question... See these links of wood puzzles I cut, breeds of dogs with the name of the breed being the puzzle pieces. I do these from existing patterns. What I'd really like to be able to do is offer my customers an option for me to do their pets name instead of the name of the breed. http://screencast.com/t/wrpwj0UX2lI http://screencast.com/t/dDdnET2rbH For example a Jack Russell named Willie. So what I need to be able to do is have the various dog breed body shapes saved, pull up the appropriate shape, type in WILLIE and have it fill in the shape/form in place of JACKRUSSELL Any guidance would be appreciated... especially if it simply can't be done, just let me know. Thanks in advance, Iggy PS - I've downloaded Inkscape but never used it before, so I'm a total newbie.

Very nice Jim. I enjoy making and giving away items any chance I get.

I'd like to place an order for one of the business card holders. ;-) Nice work.

Thanks Don... not bad for a guy with almost no power tools other than a scroll saw. ;-)

I use the shrink wrap bags linked below. I bought a heat gun, but a hair dryer may work. It works very well for my items and being able to do it for customers at the farmers market is great so they can easily carry the item back to their home/hotel. I don't even put it in a bag or anything, just shrink wrap it and hand it to them. Here's the end result. http://screencast.com/t/csGaaLXvg https://www.amazon.com/Shrink-Transparent-Packing-Pieces-Thickness/dp/B01BA36BH6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1466017317&sr=8-6&keywords=shrink+wrap+bags

Thanks Travis, I wasn't aware of there being a membership option, I'm glad you mentioned it. I just paid my dues. You run a great site with a lot of great contributors and members. Thank you All. Iggy

Very nice Jim, I hope you hear back soon with an order. I created something for my home state and went the easy route of wood burning a heart for the tourists (and possibly residents) to remember their visit to Carolina Beach. I didn't display any last week, my first week at a summer farmers market, but I will be this Saturday and will see if folks like them. http://content.screencast.com/users/Iguanadon/folders/Jing/media/80e3a6c8-3e0c-4273-abf8-fdfba3764a1c/2016-04-16_1519.png

Here's a pic from a different angle. Square trim stock strips screwed onto1/8th inch plywood shelves. The goal was to keep it light weight, yet strong. http://content.screencast.com/users/Iguanadon/folders/Jing/media/b82c10b9-b417-4a9c-b288-37b7c7146b16/2016-06-15_0722.png

Thanks. Designed in my tiny little brain. The trick was making the gaps just the right size. I used a piece of scrap poplar which is what I use to make the puzzles from and squeezed between the square strips as I screwed them in place. I even thought ahead and added 4 sheets of paper as a "shim" to allow a small amount of extra space so they'll fit in place without being too snug. I had a couple of tight spots but was able to sand just a little bit to get everything nice and even.

Wow, I step outside to paint the display I built and you guys shut the entire site down on me... ;-) Well, here it is... http://content.screencast.com/users/Iguanadon/folders/Jing/media/87881e48-c701-44df-85a2-b1221103bcb8/2016-06-12_1903.png I like how it turned out. We'll see how it does in the real world on Saturday.

Thanks for the feedback on the pricing. I almost went with $30 instead of $25 but didn't want to stretch it. My cost per item is less than $3. I have some start-up costs to recoup which should be covered if I have about 3 more weeks like this, then I'm riding the gravy train. Haha.

Kevin, we'll call me a "minor league professional". Single A ball for now. ;-) P.S. - I just built a stair step shelving "thing" to display the dogs in a standing position and the wind won't knock them over. As soon as I spray paint it later or tomorrow I'll share pics.

Tino, I use this. I apply with a small brush and then after applying to all pieces I go back and wipe off the excess. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KSV38NC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tino, I use this. I apply with a small brush and then after applying to all pieces I go back and wipe off the excess.

Thanks. I'm working on making a display that will hold the dogs upright. I created some quick, simple stands for the first week and now that I learned how windy it can get coming off the small lake where the event is held, I need something a bit more substantial. I make the dogs and sea critters out of poplar and I use a #5 to cut the outline and then switch to a #3 for the individual piece cuts. I then finish the item using butcher block mineral oil/conditioner. The dinosaurs I use pine and a #7 blade and then dunk each piece in watered down non-toxic paint and wipe off the excess.

I look forward to it Steve. I'll be there this coming Saturday again, but then it's a staggered schedule, pretty much every other Saturday, so be sure to touch base with me before you trek down here to be sure it's one of my weeks.

Good idea about the flip album. I did take one snapshot with me to show folks along with the blades http://content.screencast.com/users/Iguanadon/folders/Jing/media/d48d3e8f-3f5c-4291-a167-195fcf17599f/2016-06-12_0654.png I was thinking of having that photo blown up and turned into a banner with a message saying something simple like "Every Item Is HAND-CUT" After the first couple of folks asked what machine I was using, I made sure to start off my little pitch with "I have over 175 dog breeds to choose from and each one is individually hand-cut."

With yesterday being my first show EVER, I was prepared to learn a lot of lessons and was prepared to be overwhelmed with things I hadn't thought of, but it all went incredibly smooth. I had looked into Square in case I did get a lot of "Oh sorry, I don't have cash." but that didn't come up once, so I'll hold off on that for now. Vacationers tend to have cash on hand as a general rule. As far as pricing, I charge $25 for the dog and sea critters and $20 for the dinosaurs. And on my pricing sign, as well as mentioned when people ask the price, $5 of each sale is going to a dog rescue that my wife and I are associated with. So, I'm clearing $20 and $15 respectively. Based on the pricing of items at other booths I feel in line and nobody balked at the price. My goal isn't to make a ton of money (I still have a good paying day job), it really is to drum up business so I can cut more puzzles, I simply enjoy doing it. I of course have some start-up costs that I'd like to recoup and then just be able to pay for the hobby and yesterday was a nice start. Next week I may only sell 2 items, and I'm prepared for that.

Thanks, business cards are on display and with each purchase I shrink wrap the item with a card stuck inside. Interested in seeing what comes of "word of mouth" via email and Facebook page.

Quick background... Here in Carolina Beach we have a Farmers Market during the summer months. Produce and food make up about 25% of the vendors and the rest are artisans, crafters, etc. Well by the time I thought I might like to take part, the website said they were filled up for the season, no more applications being accepted. I live 3 blocks from where it's held and I strolled down to it last week while folks were setting up their tents, etc. I struck up a conversation with one of them, they pointed out the guy that runs it for the town and I introduced myself, showed some pictures of my dog puzzles and BOOM, he says he can fit me in starting next week. GREAT! Oh wait, I've never done any type of event, show, etc... I don't even have a tent!! Well it was a fun week scrambling to get everything together, and things couldn't have worked out any better. It runs from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays and in that 5 hours I sold 21 pieces. Dog puzzles, dinosaur puzzles, sea critter puzzles... It was amazing. I had told my wife that if I sold 5 I'd be happy and if I sold 10 I'd be ecstatic. I'm doubly ecstatic. I'll be there again next week and then every other week for the rest of the summer. They limit each vendor to only 8-10 weeks, they like to rotate in and out. I think that'll be a good thing because I only do this as a hobby and I have to make replacement items after each event. Anyway, just wanted to share. It was a great experience and met a lot of nice folks including other vendors as well as vacationers and residents. Once I no longer have a full time day job, I'll enjoy doing this in retirement for sure. A picture of my "booth" and as a refresher, snapshots of the items I make. Oh, and it's funny how many people ask me what computer generated cutting machinery I use... "None, all hand-cut with a scroll saw, and here are the blades I use..." Makes for a nice visual. "Yep, one slip and I have scrap wood or kindling." :-) Iggy

Iggy Update - Just got back from Home Depot with the 10,000 BTU unit, it's going to work very well I think. I cut a hole to vent it, I wrapped the exhaust hose with insulation (which made a HUGE difference and I'll likely buy more insulation next time I'm out to double wrap it). I have it set up in a spot so it's blowing directly on my back and neck... very cold air, it felt wonderful. Have to see how it does at lowering the overall temperature in the entire shed when it reaches 90 in there, but having it blow directly on me will be good enough as it slowly cools the entire space. Full test tomorrow. Gonna be hot and humid and we'll see how it goes. P.S. since it doesn't get too cold here during the winter, I use a small space heater and the work light I use when doing finish work puts out a lot of heat so I just turn both of them on while I'm in there and I'm comfortable.