In the shop, Skeletons and Baby Bear Puzzles

Buy a Skeleton

Buy a Bear Puzzle

I'm not sure why anyone would want to buy a skeleton for Christmas, but my grandson has included one on his wish list. I typically make skeletons from 1/4-inch poplar, but since I didn't have any available, I decided to cut a skeleton from 3/4-inch wood and then split the pieces in half.

The bear puzzles are crafted from 3/4-inch pine. I finished one puzzle with an oil-and-wax blend, while I dipped the other in diluted shellac. I prefer the oil and wax finish for pine. I'm not entirely sure what occurs when pine is dipped in shellac, but the pieces are tighter afterward.

 

Handmade Wooden Miniature Birdhouse Christmas Tree Ornament

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My Birdhouse Ornament Collection
All My Ornaments

Discover the charm of a handmade wood birdhouse ornament, perfect for the Christmas tree. Crafted from select-grade hardwoods, each ornament is hand-sanded and finished with a custom blend of oils and waxes, utilizing traditional woodworking tools.

These miniature birdhouses are each unique, showcasing expert craftsmanship. The final touch is a blend of beeswax and mineral oil that enhances and protects the natural beauty of the wood.

This collectible ornament serves as a delightful decoration or a thoughtful gift. With 42 different birdhouse ornaments available, starting a charming collection is easy. Each piece promises to bring joy to all who admire it.

Approximate Size:

• Height: 3.5 Inches
• Width: 1.25 Inches
• Depth: 1.25 Inches

Every piece created is handmade from natural wood, making each ornament distinct. Variations in appearance, such as wood grain, color, and knots, add to the character and charm, reinforcing the one-of-a-kind nature of each item. These variations are normal and are not considered defects.

For specific looks or sizes, feel free to contact me before placing an order. Every effort will be made to accommodate special requests.

Handmade in Tallahassee, Florida, USA. 

 

 

Hippopotamus Christmas Tree Ornament: 283 Ornaments Finished and Ready for Shipping

 

My Etsy Shop

While it may appear simple, this project involved significant work. It took several weeks working a few hours a day to get to this point, and it will take two hours to get them packed for shipping. 

 

This is my first time working with black limba wood. It was easy to cut with my scroll saw; however, the hardness of the wood varied quite a bit, so I had to pay close attention to stay on the pattern lines when the cut transitioned from hard to soft wood. When finishing some parts, the wood soaked up shellac like a sponge, and most of these areas required two coats of shellac.

Handmade Miniature Birdhouse Ornament

Buy This Ornament
My Ornament Collection

Discover the joy of decorating with a unique collectible: the handmade Miniature Birdhouse Ornament. Crafted from select-grade hardwoods, this ornament captures the essence of traditional woodworking. Each piece undergoes a meticulous process, hand-sanded and finished with a special blend of beeswax and mineral oil, ensuring both beauty and durability.

Measuring about 3 inches in height and 1.25 inches in width and depth, this birdhouse ornament fits perfectly on any Christmas tree. Its charming design adds a delightful touch to holiday decor, making it a fantastic gift idea or stocking stuffer. With a collection of 42 distinct birdhouse ornaments available, this piece stands out as a potential cherished heirloom.

Every ornament is one-of-a-kind, showcasing the natural beauty of wood. Variations in grain, color, and texture provide each item with a unique character. These differences are not flaws; they contribute to the charm of the piece. It’s essential to embrace the individuality of handmade items when selecting a special ornament to grace the holiday season.

If there's a specific look or size desired, contacting me to inquire before making a purchase ensures satisfaction. Each ornament, handmade in Tallahassee, Florida, embodies a personal touch that mass-produced items simply cannot match.

Celebrate the season with a piece that tells a story — the handmade Miniature Birdhouse Ornament is a perfect choice for anyone looking to add a personal touch to their decorations.

 

Crafting a Forest of Christmas Tree Cutouts For A Custom Order

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My Other Christmas Items

The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means it's time for festive crafts. Recently, I had the pleasure of working on a custom order to create a small forest of Christmas tree cutouts. The client requested 20 trees in total. 

I cut each tree by hand from 3/4-inch pine using a scroll saw. Once the cutting was complete, I carefully sanded each piece to ensure a smooth finish. Now, the trees are all ready to be painted.

While I usually keep some Christmas tree cutouts in stock for such occasions, this request for twenty trees is more than I had in stock, so I made this batch. If you don't see what you want, please ask.

I can't wait to see how they turn out after painting.

Making A Zero Clearence Inser For My Hitachi C12RSH Miter Saw

My Etsy Shop

 
I am currently working on a project that requires cutting wood at a 10-degree angle. I usually don't work with angles other than 90 degrees. Until now, my zero-clearance insert for my Hitachi C12RSH miter saw was simply a piece of hardboard attached to the saw with carpet tape. This setup worked well for several years, but I ran into issues when I needed to adjust the saw's angle; I had to remove the hardboard each time. By the way, I wouldn't recommend using carpet tape for this—it took me over an hour to remove it from the saw.

Now is the time to create a better zero-clearance insert. I use blue painter's tape to hold the two pieces of the plastic insert that came with the saw together, so I can remove them and use the factory insert as a template. This method worked well enough for me to trace the pattern onto a piece of plywood that was the exact thickness needed for a zero-clearance insert. However, because the tape was flexible and the factory's insert holes were slotted, locating the screw holes proved challenging. As you can see in the photo, I messed up two of the holes.

While working, I discovered that the factory insert spacing matched that of the plywood I was using. Next time, I will place a piece of wood into the slot.

Hippopotamus Christmas Tree Ornament Project: Sanding the Hippos

My Ornament Collection

The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means it's time to get crafty! This year, I've taken on an ambitious project: creating a large collection of Christmas tree ornaments in the shape of hippopotamuses. It sounds whimsical, right? However, the process is far from simple, especially when it involves sanding 283 of these little beauties!

Sanding one ornament isn’t a big deal. You can typically get it done in a few of minutes. However, when you're facing a daunting total of 283 ornaments, the task can quickly become overwhelming. After some calculations, I’ve figured that each ornament takes about 2 minutes for each of the four sanding steps. So, when you multiply that out, it comes to a whopping 2264 minutes of sanding! That’s over 37 hours of work dedicated solely to sanding.

The ornaments are crafted from black limba wood, chosen for its beautiful grain and dark hue that adds an elegant touch to the holiday decoration. I can already envision how stunning they will look adorning the Christmas tree, each one a unique piece of art.