What To Do?

[gilljc]

For two or three years now I have been playing away with a variety of techniques initially making little boxes with lids using segmentation, fretwork and double bevel inlay. I have ventured into making toys (not really for me) and most recently have been making candle trays from Sheila Landry's patterns.
I have a friend who attends craft fairs here in Aberdeenshire with the cards and knitting and sewing craftwork she does, and takes bits and pieces for me (I am a driving instructor and am out causing mayhem on the roads on craft fair days)
She is suggesting that she would run a table for me, but I would need to have more smaller items, up until now I have only really made things that take my fancy, can anyone suggest what would be a good start?
Obviously I have seen loads of brilliant things on this forum, but I don't know whether I can use your ideas or really even how to get started with them.
Sorry to ramble on, hope you can help me

Gill

 

[Chippygeoff]

Hi Gill. I started off like you and now I attend at least 2 craft fairs a week and I am doing very well. My problem is keeping up with demand and I work very long hours. I make over 100 different items in various hardwoods. I would suggest you have a look at my facebook page, Wooden crafts from Wales. I only have about half my things on there as people tend to steal the patterns without asking so I don't put new items on there any more. Have a look and if there is anything you fancy send me a PM with your e-mail address and I will send you any patterns that you would like to try. Everything I make has to be quick and easy to make but all the items I display at craft fairs are very good sellers.

 

[Samfire]

Hi Gill, I am relatively new to scroll sawing and have made two or tree boxes but found them to be time consuming, so I am also looking for other projects. By the way, what is a double bevel inlay.
Chippgeoff, I would like to check out your Facebook page, do you have a link.
George

 

[gilljc]

Hiya
double bevel inlay is a technique I found when googling. it involves laying two layers of veneers or thin wood (I found about 3mm easier to work with, often laying veneer onto birch ply) and then cutting with blade at an angle, so that one layer drops perfectly into the other. If you cut in one direction top layer drops down, in the other bottom layer pushes up - my pride and joy was a box lid showing a piper super cub flying through a valley - took three goes - aeroplanes are not forgiving!!!
it is quite wasteful, but can be lovely keep persevering - scroll saw work is time consuming, but I find it quite therapeutic
Gill

 

[powertools]

Chippygeoff
What can I say, like many people I am approaching retirement and would like to be able to make a few pounds to supplement what will be the meager income doing something that I enjoy.
Your work in the main is what I like to produce and you give me the inspiration to think that this may well be a way forward for me.
Any chance that you would like an apprentice for a day in order that I could learn from you experience?

 

[Chippygeoff]

Hi Powertools. I would love an apprentice. I have people come to me from time to time as they want to learn the finer points. If you are approaching retirement I can think of nothing better than scrolling to pass away the hours. I have been scrolling for many years but 3 years ago had to give up work due to a disability. I then became a full time scroller and its the best thing I ever did. You can earn some serious money with a scroll saw but its long hours when I am not at the craft fair and when you are making many of the the same item it can get a bit tedious. Some months ago I made 1000 hearts for a school, now that was boring work. In the main I love what I do.

 

[powertools]

Hi Powertools. I would love an apprentice. I have people come to me from time to time as they want to learn the finer points.

If only you meant that and you weren't 250 miles away from me I would be there like a shot.
I think that if I spent a day or two with an expert I could learn more than I could in months on my own.

 

[martinka]

Hi Powertools. I would love an apprentice. I have people come to me from time to time as they want to learn the finer points.

If only you meant that and you weren't 250 miles away from me I would be there like a shot.
I think that if I spent a day or two with an expert I could learn more than I could in months on my own.

Walk it, PT, it's less than 200 miles that way.

 

[powertools]

Hi Powertools. I would love an apprentice. I have people come to me from time to time as they want to learn the finer points.

If only you meant that and you weren't 250 miles away from me I would be there like a shot.
I think that if I spent a day or two with an expert I could learn more than I could in months on my own.

Walk it, PT, it's less than 200 miles that way.

Well you are about the same distance in another direction but one day I may well come and see you and we can reminisce about the days when we both made a living welding the floors back into Ford Escorts etc and life was much simpler while are both sitting at our A1 saws wearing our legs out.

 

[Chippygeoff]

There is no substitute for hands on experience. As you say, you can learn more watching someone than you can left to your own devices. I get a huge thrill when I show someone something they have struggled with and then get them to do it the same way. I had a lady from manchester come for a visit, despite e-mails and video links she struggled to master what I was trying to show her and yet within 5 minutes at my scroll saw she had it to a T. I saw a guy rendering a wall one day and it looked like a piece of cake so I had a go rendering an old brick workshop some years ago, for 2 days I struggled and just could not get it and in a the end a friend who was a builder came and did one wall for me and then watched me while I did the rest. The moral of this is that when you see someone who is very good at what they do it looks so easy.

 

[Bryan Bennett]

Hi Gill I make coasters and bookmarks for friends and personalize them with there names.I have just received today my Creative Woodworks and Crafts magazine for November on opening there is a pattern for Salt and Pepper pots.They appeal to me and I will probably make them at a later date.If I can help in any way just ask.

Bryan

 

[gilljc]

Thanks Bryan, will keep that in mind she has a few boxes that she has had for a while, and some Sheila landry designed candle trays and little collapsible novelty bowls and a couple of name plaques, made a keyrack which I was pretty pleased with til I dropped it on the kitchen floor and both cats and one of the letters pinged off
She is taking them along to a craft fair tomorrow, but not sure how well they will do, its just a 2 hour village hall do