Jim Blume

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.

Awesome cut. Thanks for showing it off. You should be proud. I try to let everyone know this and yet sometimes forget. You and the other folks who see some value in my patterns and do such an amazing job cutting them keep me motivated to continue attempting to make even more. Thanks for that.

Awesome as always Kris.

God knows that there are enough other places to discuss any subject you can name. Let's keep this scrollsaw related as sort of a safe haven, a place to get away from things so to speak. And even then, the discussions here can sometimes be a bit testy when brands, types of blades, techniques and even how to affix a pattern are discussed. Please just state your case and avoid domination or calling out others for not doing it your way. In other words, let's be adult about things and enjoy our craft and maybe even use this forum to help and encourage others.

Great cut and you did a great job modifying the pattern. I do make some of my patterns into ovals as well, but never thought about doing it to this one.

Worthwhile causes for sure. Will try to get the creative juices flowing.

I suspect that if we all were to write a list of the 10 things we are most grateful for, at least 5 of them on each list would be the same. And there is nothing wrong in that. I had an old man tell me one time to go beyond the typical list of things and find the eleventh thing you are thankful for. Once you begin to go beyond your typical answers, 11 becomes 12 and so on, ever increasing. It is really amazing how many things we have to be thankful for, although it is easier to go along with those who tell you how bad things are. Today as I attempt to consider something to add to my ever increasing list of things to be grateful for, I suppose it might be time to thank all of the folks who have allowed me to be helpful to them in whatever small way it was. Yes, I am thankful to and for them, and that I can still find something purposeful to do in each new day.

I am so glad to have designed a pattern at 11 X 14 that you cut at 8 X 10. I'm impressed dude. Some of us can't see that good....LOL Well done.

Perfect Frank!

Awesome job for sure.

Awesome cut, but next time put some pink flamingos in there too. LOL

Wonderful use of that old wood. Well done.