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sutistoy
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Re: New... sorta
I envy those who have space. I am glad to have what I do, but my neighbors drive me nuts, and it'd be nice to one day have some more freedom in what I do at home... we have inspections here regularly, so I feel like I'm borrowing my own home, basically. I try and manage to work where ever I am, but I still have a closet full of untouched wood. One day I want to have a house of my own and a workshop/ studio. Ah, if only the lottery numbers would come to me....
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2/27/2009, 9:16 pm
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Saijen SilverWolf
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Re: New... sorta
You need a place like we have here. We rent, but our landlord pretty much allows us to do whatever we want, where-ever we want.
We live on a bit over 100 acres, in a small farmhouse. The land here is partially wooded, so access to wood sure isn't an issue....especially cedar. Cedar will take over everything if it's not kept on top of, so young Cedars are cut down here regularly. (We're about to get a wood burning stove, though, so we'll allow the cedars to grow more to use for wood to burn for heat in the house). I just don't have the talent that you do to create such beautiful pieces of artwork. Ohhh that I did!!
What do you use to oil the wood with? My Step-father used linseed oil, I think. He was making these using some Native American designs..a bear paw print, a bovine skull, inserts of turquoise into small knot holes in the wood, and he would follow the natural lines of the wood that were a bit deeper than others with color...for DH, a turquoise color, for me, purple. He made a crosscut pattern at the hand hold and left the wood natural for about 2 feet, then he stained the wood a rich, dark color for about 2 feet, then the rest was left natural till about 6 inches from the bottom..and it was stained the rich dark color. They are very pretty. I'll have to get some pics of them to post. While they are pretty, they are not near as indepth artistically as yours are. I may have to eventually get you to create a dragon walking stick for me....which I will more than gladly pay you for.
What I REALLY want is a one of a kind cane (Frequently I have to use a cane to get around) that would make people do a triple take  . I'll find someone to make me one, one of these day. Just hope I can afford what I want LOL
--- Blessed Be,
~*~ Saijen ~*~
~~*~~  .~~*~~ |
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2/28/2009, 6:55 pm
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sutistoy
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Re: New... sorta
I haven't tried anything with bone yet, though I had bought a couple of horns at a traders a few years back with the contemplation of trying making drinking horns. Trouble is, no one could tell me what you treat the insides with to make them usable for drinking. I'm sure I'll get around to trying stuff out with them sooner or later..
I haven't used oils before on the wood... just mostly stains and waterproof sealers. I may wind up using oils of some kind on what I have in sotrage here, because I'm finding a lot of cracks and aging going on. A freind of mine makes bowls from wood and uses oil, so I consult him when I get to that stage finally.
The one thing that put me off from the idea of making a go at selling these was the shipping. Anything unusual in shape and heavy is hugely expensive to ship. I had a fishing pole I Wanted to ship to my son for Christmas. I couldn't seem to find a box to fit it ( yes it was broken into its respective parts, but it stillwouldn't fit in every box I tried). I took it to UPS. Now, this thing probably weighed less than five pounds. It was going to cost me thirty dollars to ship it. I paid 20 for the pole. I shipped it elsewhere, needless to say. I Can only imagine what something large and heavy and lenthwise bigger than most stuff, would cost, not to mention how to pack it to protect the more fragile portions ( fingers and toes always seem to get snapped off, even just from tipping over sometimes). The other thing that put me off from a try at a business is the time factor. Right now, these are "in between time" wanderings. I like doing them, but I am doing school and trying to wrangle work and soon a divorce, etc etc. I get less time than I'd like. I'd hate to tell someone I'd have it in two weeks, and then not be done. IN fact, I did have one person who had asked me to make one for her, with specific things, and I started on it a long time ago, but then suddenly never heard back from her. I dunno if she moved or if something bad happened. She was writing me fairly frequently, but she was an older person with bad arthritis in her hands and health issues, so I was concerned and inquired of some folks there about her but never heard back. So, I have a piece of wood with the beginnings of what she wanted.. a rose and a type of cross.. sitting in a closet somewhere. One day I may just finish it anyhow, as she had wanted it. I have been thinking about trying to make something small for my own grandmother, who turned 90 this year. Where does the time go? And here we are getting ready for another jump ahead in hours this weekend. So much for sleeping....
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3/4/2009, 10:46 pm
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sutistoy
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Re: New... sorta
A place like that sounds very comfortable. I'd live in a place like that any day, though I dunno if I would with a young kid. Probably not. As it is, I don't much care for the medical services where I live. On one hand, the therapist for my son's speech has been great, but the regular doctor is just a joke. He doesn't even remember what I bring my son in for in previous visits, half the time. He's slow to get things done. The hospitals here also suck. But, better than none, I guess. At current costs, I'm surprised any hospitals stay in business.
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3/4/2009, 10:49 pm
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de Corbin
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Re: New... sorta
LOL - yeah, shipping is terrible on anything which is "over" - over sized, over length, over weight. I had to mail order a long ash pole once, and the shipping was actually more than the price of the wood.
When I use wood, I generally use boiled linseed oil. It's very easy to apply (wipe on, wipe off), but it does not provide a lot of weather protection. It is, however, easy tio repair if it gets scratched or worn (wipe on, wipe off ). However, it will add a yellow tinge to anything it's applied to, so if you are using colors, it might turn your blues greenish. It's best to paint colors on top of a finish.
When doing commission work
To avoid the problem of people backing out of comissions, the usual method is to divide the price of the thing you are making into thirds.
You (the artist) gets the first third when you accept the commission (this pays for the time you spend in designing the piece), the second thrid when your design has been approved by the client (so you can buy the materials you will be using), and the final third when the work is completed and ready for delivery.
This way you don't end up working for nothing if the client backs out, and the cost of your time and materials is covered.
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3/5/2009, 7:42 am
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sutistoy
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Re: New... sorta
Well. in this case it was partially a favor anyhow. I hadn't considered myself anything close to professional. I just wonder what happened, is all. Future projects will be more defined. Most of the time, I don't have to buy too much in the way of supplies; I find my own wood, and towards the end I might have to get some sandpaper or some finishes, etc. On occasion I have to get a bit or two. I'm still pretty much learning as I go. SOme of the projects I have seen in magazines I couldn't come close to.
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3/5/2009, 9:00 pm
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sutistoy
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Re: New... sorta
Sure, but there is for me the matter of tools. SOme projects I have seen require stuff I couldn't have here if I could afford it anyhow... table saws, scroll saws, etc. Those sorts of tools kind of make me nervous anyhow, but there are some types of projects that require them, pretty much. I'd love to have one of the mini chainsaws I saw advertized in magazines but they are mondo expensive. As it is, I think I am about to totally wear out my poor dremel.....
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3/12/2009, 2:07 pm
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DebbrahF
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Re: New... sorta
That is how I ended up with my rotary tool... think mini dremel on steroids.
I can carve finished surfaces. I can engrave titanium. And it holds like a pen... 
I finally gave in and found the money after playing with it at a show. One of those "I touched it, it is real, it works, MUST HAVE" moments.
I need a lot of other tools to do woodwork though... one reason I haven't done much. I either have to buy expensive, not right/how I want them, pre-made peices to carve on or get bunch of saws and finishing tools... and I don't have a good place for them. 
I enjoy glass.... I LOVE wood. Sigh
---
For good or ill, luck and opportunity are 90%+ preparation...
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3/13/2009, 2:57 am
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