DickMira

Terrific report of your show with clear pictures. The display is beautiful with top quality scrollwork. Glad to hear that your fine workmanship was recognized and that the quality commanded appropriate prices. Great job! Dick

I would like to clarify a point about my "Fluffy" project. This is NOT a picture of my personal house kitten but rather she is a result of my artistic imagination in wood. In fact, I am a dog lover and have an "allergy to cats"! Historically, the four pet cats of my grandchildren all wanted to sit on my lap. They didn't know about my allergy but knew I really liked animals,

Excellent job creating the patterns and completing the scroll work. Paired together they will make a fantastic presentation in someone's home. Dick Mira

Beautiful job. I just love wildlife subjects. Great scroll work. Dick

Beautiful job...It certainly portrays the joy of Christmas! Dick Mira

People always get discouraged when they try something new and are not happy with the results. I will always remember when my oldest son was going to try out for little league; then said he wasn't going to because he wasn't very good. That day on TV was a program showing his favorite New York Yankees at their first spring training in Florida. Every player was shown making all kinds of mistakes and bad plays. I pointed out to him that with practice great improvement will be made. They turned out to have a great team that year and yes, he did join the little league team. Keep at it, whatever you choose to do! The improvement comes with practice

I agree with your assessment of the Chestnut wood, Ron. I would recommend it highly to anyone who is able to acquire some. It is beautiful to cut with a scroll saw and needs no stain when finishing. I was able to salvage some from shelves in a library of a home that was being torn down. Thanks for the fine comment. Dick

Thank you very much for your great comment, Dick. I started this carved fretwork in retirement after my children gave me a scroll saw and my wife gave me carving tools. I had never done scrolling or carving prior to starting this new hobby. I tell you this because you just need to keep at it and don't get discouraged.

Thanks for the nice comments and the "likes". The cat pattern can be found in Creative Woodworks and Crafts, Issue 121, in an article titled "A Familiar Pair of Cats"

This project was cut on a 16" x 10" x 5/8" piece of salvaged American Chestnut using patterns by Jacob Fowler and Sue Walters for the scrollsawing which I then modified during the carving process. It was stained with artist oil paints and finished with Minwax Polycrylic finish. The Chestnut seen in the background was not stained and this is the natural color of the wood. It was easy to see why Chestnut was so popular among the early American furniture craftsmen because of its workability and finishing qualities. Dick

Thanks everyone for the fine comments. Unfortunately, AI, I cannot locate the patterns or the designers of these pet dogs. Dick

Glad to have you back in the shop. Did the maid vacuum it while you were not in there?

Kevin, this summarizes why this creature was called "Troublemaker". Thanks for the great comment and a big welcome to the Scrollsaw Village Forum.

Black patches under the eyes give this troublemaker a masked appearance. Raccoons are cunning animals with great dexterity and an abundance of curiosity. They venture from the woods at night stirring up all kinds of trouble for farmers and home owners. This project utilized a piece of polished African Sapele 18" x 12" x 1", cut on the scroll saw and then carved. It was painted with artist oil paints and acrylic paints with a water based satin Minwax Polycrylic protective coat. Thanks for looking. Dick Mira

Yes, Melisssa, everyone of us understands what you mean. Life's issues always take priority over the fun times and the enjoyable hobbies. Hope things improve for you as soon as possible. Dick

Thank you, Melissa You have varied your scrollwork with carving. You need to do more and the time is now! Dick

Marie, you did a fantastic job. I love the fact that you incorporated many different woodworking and artistic techniques to create this beautiful art piece. Someone will be the lucky recipient of this piece of art! Dick Mira

I'm very glad to hear that, Jerry. This is a great project to start with because it is not too complicated. Other beginning students of carved fretwork projects have completed nice "tigers" with these instructions. Often, I have suggested to my students to start by using one of their LEAST FAVORITE scroll saw pieces that are finished and are at least 1/2" thick. Start your carving on this If it doesn't work out, not too much is lost but a lot of learning is gained! Have fun. Dick

Thank you very much, Jerry. If you would like to see more pieces, check out my posts on this forum or look at the Member Gallery where more projects are posted, To see the largest collection of carved fretwork projects', go to pinterest.com/dickmiraglia, and click on Wildlife Interpretations in Wood. I have published articles in Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts, Creative Woodworks & Crafts, and Carving Magazine. Most of the articles are detailed instructions with loads of pictures and show how to do the power carving with a Dremel or Foredom rotary carver and which bits and burrs to use after the pattern is cut with the scroll saw,. Unfortunately, the publishing company of Creative Woodworks and Crafts has ceased publishing all of its magazines and the old copies can be hard to find, Sometimes, Google search or Etsy can help locate these older copies. The below listings might help: Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts Fall 2008, issue 32 Tiger Creative Woodworks & Crafts April 2010, issue 147, How to Choose the Right Scroll Pattern for Carving CW&C, March 2011 issue 155, Blue Fronted Amazon Parrot CW&C, MAY 2011,ISSUE 156, Pride of Africa, Lion Head CW&C, March 2013, issue 171 African Giraffe CW&C, Feb 2012 issue 162 Gold Canyon Bobcat CW&C, June 173, issue 173, Claudia's Grand Canyon Elk CW&C, Dec 2012, issue 169, Great Horned Owl Hope this helps locate some of these detailed instructions for you. Dick Mira

Ralph, in my "Carved Fretwork" technique, the scroll work is completed before the carving is done.

Cut with spiral blades from a beautiful piece of mahogany that is 12" x 10 1/2" x 1 1/2" thick. Dick

This is a Modern Art interpretation of a Carved Fretwork Jaguar cut on a beautiful piece of walnut. Finished piece is 13" x 13"

This project was created on a cut-off from another piece of tiger maple with a defect in the left upper corner, A knot with a hole in the center was used to create the moon. The mountain simulation used tracings of the wood grain. Dick

Recently finished this little guy as part of my wildlife collection. Dick

Ray, this is a excellent way to get started. Because of the initial hesitancy to try carving scrolled work, I have suggested to students to start with an old scrolled project that is 1/2" to 3/4" thick and NOT one of your "favorite" works and try carving that. You are half way there!!!! When you see how this improves the overall affect, you will be pleased. To demonstrate this, I will post a simple project (a kitten) and a complicated project (an owl) to examine and see how it brings the animal to life!.