So, it looks like it's been almost a year since my last post! Will try and do better...

It's a new year, so it's time to learn something new. A friend of mine has mentioned Zen Tangle a couple of times, so I finally googled it to see what it's all about! Who knew doodling could look so great?!

I started tangling, but found it harder than I thought without instructions. I'll take more time to watch the videos and check out the websites on it and keep practicing.

But - what to do with my tangles once I get going on this? Well - how about Zen Tangles in Wood!? (lol - what else would I think of?)

I've given myself a challenge - get some designs from tangling, and get them made in wood.

I'm thinking a couple different thoughts - fretwork ornaments, and a framed picture or two.

I'll post what I come up with here

Theresa

Happy 4th of July everyone!

We spent the day at my folks. Built them a raised bed flower garden in their front yard. Forgot to get pictures - will have to next time I'm there.

What else have I been up to? Got a few more listings on Artfire and Etsy. Both sites are having "Christmas in July" promotions - do a search for either "Christmas in July" or CIJ to see what everyone is offering. I've got my patterns ( http://www.talloakscreations.artfire.com/ ) for $5 each

And I'm reducing my Christmas ornaments at both http://www.woodngoods.artfire.com/ and http://www.woodngoods.etsy.com/ .

Tweedle Dee intarsia version is completed! I even managed to get him listed on both sites! :)

And I found out that my Draft Horse intarsia piece was featured on the site HandMade News. Here's the link to the article: http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=1965

Completed!


Sometimes it takes longer to finish a job then the rest of the job took! To catch everyone up, I glued up the dragon using a combination of wood glue and super glue. The super glue acts as a clamp while the wood glue dries.

Then I headed to the local glass shop to see if they could cut me some mirrors. I added a couple more coats of tung oil, then sprayed the wood with a clear sealer. All of this was done over a span of a few days.

The simple job of cutting the backer board, and gluing the mirror to the back took another week or so - But it is finished now. Ok, not quite completed - I still have to add a hanger on the back so it can hang on a wall!

WIP - Coloring continued.....

Looking at what I had done so far, I wasn’t pleased with the colors. It was too “orangish” overall. So out came the sandpaper and stains. I sanded off some of the body color, and used a couple of different colored stains to make it browner. Touched up some of the other areas making them a little redder.

Making any wood “white” without painting it is difficult. I have some white leather dye I’ve used. Most leather dyes are pretty easy to use and mix together. Then there is the white! For some reason the white dye is totally different – which I found out the hard way.
The first time I was using the dyes I would pour them in small plastic disposable cups to mix and use. So I did the same with the white dye. The fact that the white dye is in a glass bottle where the others are in plastic bottles didn’t set off any red flags. But the flags went off when the white dye was all over the paper bag and the cup had melted!

So I use either a glass or aluminum foil to hold the dye now. This project I put all the little teeth in the aluminum foil and used a q-tip to dab white dye on the pieces. I left them to soak overnight.

Once I’m satisfied with the colors, it’s time to get the finish out – I use a tung oil (that’s what it says on the can anyway). The dyes will bleed a little with the addition of the oil, so you have to be careful in handling the pieces. You don’t want the blue to rub off on the white teeth!

The wood is dry, and the dyes make them even drier, so they will really soak up the oil. Let them sit about 15 minutes, then wipe the excess off.

Let these pieces dry overnight. Tomorrow we start gluing!

Segmentation - adding color.

Now it’s time to add color!
I gather together my stains and leather dyes, q-tips, containers for mixing, and a couple of paper bags to work on. Dyes and Stains do exactly that – so wear old clothing when using them, and I suggest rubber gloves (do as I say, not as I do!! Lol)

After painting for years, it was difficult to get used to layering the dyes – With dyes, you put down your darkest color first, then sand, and layer a lighter color dye.

You can see the progression in the next few pictures – in the flame areas, I start with Red dye. Let it dry, and sand some. Layer of Orange dye is added. Again, let it dry, then sand. Last of all I add a layer of Yellow dye.

And with the dragon’s head, I started out with purple, then a layer of diluted blue.

Since I have only a few colors of dye, I tend to mix them to get the colors I need, so even using the same basic colors for a project later on, the colors won’t ever be the same. And I’ve found that the dyes can be diluted with rubbing alcohol, adding even more options to color with.

More tomorrow....

Segmentation - continued....

Place the segments on the extra copy of your pattern to keep track of what piece is what. I also mark the bottom of the wood with a pencil – I’ve found if I don’t do this I will shape the wrong side of the sections!

I’ve started shaping the sections using my dremel and sanding attachment. Use proper safety equipment – ear muffs, safety glasses, and breathing mask. Yes, this is what I look like while working! Lol
After rough shaping, assemble the pieces and mark with pencil where additional wood needs to be removed. Decide if any piece needs to be shimmed up, or lowered.
Finished with the shaping – now it’s time to sand. I use a belt sander for the larger pieces, but end up sanding each section by hand.

Tomorrow we add color!

Work in Progress – wood segmentation

I found a design by Chrestensen Burghout Designs that works well with both segmentation and intarsia styles of woodworking. I’m starting with Segmentation, and will post pictures and explain my progress over the next few days.

I had to enlarge the original pattern and print out 2 copies – one to cut from and another to use to keep track of the pieces. I had a piece of pine in my stash of wood that was the right width. It was warped though, so I had to sand it flat.


After hundreds of passes on my sander, it is flat, and about ½” thick – just the right thickness for the project.










I glue the pattern copy onto the wood using a glue stick. Then cut along each line, separating each segment of wood.


More tomorrow.....

Thursday Sweet Treat

Dreaming in Color

The blog, http://www.thursdaysweettreat.blogspot.com/ puts out a wonderful Friday inspiration theme each week. Anyone who wants to participate then has the next week to work on a project and send a picture in to the blog. This week's theme was Dreaming in Color, and this was my submission. Be sure to visit her blog to see all the other great submissions, and to participate if you want!

Celtic Sun mirror
I believe your dreams are a reflection of who you are, and only you can make them come true. I found some of the more colorful woods in my shop to make this mirror. The satin wood, purple heart, oak, and red exotic wood are all natural colored - no stains or dyes were used in the sun.