Jim Blume

I really do love the rustic style of framing. Might have something to do with me being sort if rustic myself. LOL

Awesome work and presentation. The 2 of them do complement one another for sure. I believe there are a couple more in that series that would be a nice addition for a collage. As to trying out your new router, it looks like you have it mastered quite well.

Sorry I didn't see this request sooner. Hope this works for you

My wife used to get upset at the dudes who told their wives that our work was "laser cut". To keep her calm, I made her a sign like this pattern, and taught her to simply point at the sign when confronted with one of those folks who knows it all.

In the 1930's Will Rodgers noted, "Common sense isn't common." I wonder if we will ever learn.

Thanks all. 29 and holding! Sorry I missed this in a timely fashion. Been busy as most of us are getting the last-minute things finished for Christmas.

It's the holiday season, so it's all good. But trust that in 20 years she will remind you of it.

We have had the crystal Nativity set for years. I decided to design a fretwork lightbox for it as an early Christmas present for my wife. She is speechless. Win Win!!!

My theory on frames is that your eye should go to the portrait and not the frame. Therefore, I would use a simple frame and a narrow matt to further set the portrait off, something like Dave did there with the wolf.

Present for my wife, not yet completed. 12 X 12", papercut pattern cut with a scrollsaw on a 2 stack 1/8" BB. Deciding on the color for the backer and frame.

Sounds like an awesome trip, time spent visiting family, and your awesome scrollsaw work included, priceless.

I think it looks great that way. You did an awesome job. That pattern, like many of my insane patterns is a little crazy anyway with the weeds and twigs. Sometimes what I refer to as "Table Editing" makes a pattern even better than originally designed.

Well done. JZ patterns are not for the faint of heart, but you zoned in perfectly.

Perfect in every way.

Awesome project and really well done. I love what you did there. Basically, with these pencils, we are using the water-color pencils like you would a water-based stain but you have a great deal more control as well as a better selection of colors. I do a little more blending which adds some additional dimension, but mine are all done on portraits which are way flatter than Intarsia to begin with.

I just noticed this thread and posted some comments and a few pictures to hopefully help folks out a little. If anyone needs anything further, I'd be happy to help if I can.

Yes. I use either a satin finish spray or a water based sating or matt varnish to protect the colors.

I do use watercolor pencils a great deal. I seldom color the entire image though, but rather blend a little color here and there to give the idea. Lots of folks are equally good at doing their scroll saw projects, and something as simple as a little color can set you apart from the rest. There are many videos on U-Tube which show blending techniques and so on, but I basically played around on a few small items to come up with what worked for me.I start out really lightly and then add more over top if I want it darker. I use a soft artists brush with a slight amount of water to blend the colors, and also bought extra white pencils to use as a blending tool as well. You can always sand it off it you don't like the results. The pencils can be used on wet or dry materials, though I prefer starting on a dry surface with light pencil marks and blending it in toward the center. You can blend 2 or more colors and if you remember "where the shadows are and work dark to light, you can further enhance your projects. Once completed, I do seal the entire project to set the colors, with any clear matt finish spray or water-based matt or satin varnish. I have had folks tell me that over many years, the colors have not faded, so I must be doing something right. Here are a few examples of what I do. I am sure with a little practice you can do as well but probably better, Good luck and enjoy.

Finished a couple of new patterns for the Christmas season, "The Birth of Christ" 385 cuts, and "Blessed Mother and Child" 170 cuts. My boss lady and I finished cutting them today. I will post the patterns in the new patterns section if anyone is interested.

Awesome job. Next time cut it at 11 X 14. LOL But with that being said, it's amazing you got it done in 8 1/2 X 11. You da man.

Not sure what the shipping would have cost, but with my order being 10 sheets of 1/8", 2 sheets of 1/4", and 60 2' x 8" pieces of various hardwood seconds, I believe I saved a bunch. Besides that, fuel is $3.00 a gallon, it's all rural, a nice drive with little traffic, and we do enjoy a little trip now and then.

Just got back from a trip to my favorite supplier. We are fortunate that they are only 109 miles away, so when we buy a big amount, it's worth 10 gals of fuel to save any shipping costs. They are awesome folks, a family owned and operated business, always eager to please, and provide excellent materials. Check them out if you haven't already. https://ocoochhardwoods.com/

Great job on that for sure. I have it stacked ready to cut and I hope I can do it as well as you did.