Been away awhile...

[KarenW]

lost the shop computer and while waiting for a replacement we started a patio remodel job that has taken over our lives.
Back up and running now and catching up with orders.
First is a re-do after an unexpected promotion.
Then a double portrait - Dad at a year old, daughter at a year old, Dad was killed the week he found out they were pregnant. This one is for Mom/Grandma.
Lastly is a piece for my own wall. Appropriate for us having lost everything in a house fire and now living in a nice little log home we built ourselves and are very content with.
We're also turning out LOTS of small signs with sentimental sayings that are selling like crazy at the Trade Days. SO glad I re-ordered the little bamboo planks!
Heading up this weekend to Keith's saw mill for some of that $2 cherry!

[signshoppe540]

Beautiful work, of course. I particularly like the sentiment on the third one.

[tonydude]

Nice plaques Karen. Glad your back and making saw dust again.

Tony

[gordread]

Nice work Karen. Glad to see you back.

Gordon

[Keith Hodges]

Glad to see your back at it. Wish I was going to be here this weekend, would love meeting you in person, maybe next trip. I'm needing to make another trip to the sawmill myself, just cut my last piece of Red Oak. Now for my stack of Cherry.

[KarenW]

Thanks guys - we were missing being in the shop but glad to have gotten the majority of the remodel on the patio done.

Keith - I have a feeling there will be many more opportunities to meet.
Thanks for the heads-up about your saw mill!

[KarenW]

An example of the small plaques that are selling.
These are super simple, take under 8 minutes to cut and by setting stops on the table we can change out pieces easily without having to re-zero every time.
We have friends who set up at various Trade Days around the state and send boxes of this and others with them. We set our price, he tacks on a few bucks for himself, they sell, we're all happy.

[WoodEraser]

Welcome back Karen,
Those plaques look great.
What size and price range?

[KarenW]

Hi Eric!
These are small, 6x8.25 bamboo pieces that I get for $2 each.
Zero prep other than a swipe on the combo sander to round the corners.
The file took all of maybe 3 minutes to set up, carving takes less than 8 minutes, couple of sprays with some color, a coat of shellac and I'm getting $15-$20 each, depending on the text.
It's like a production line and we can turn out about 25 in a short morning.
They're selling out at every Trade Days we send them to.
Not fancy, not earth-shattering but hey, if people want 'em, I'll make 'em.

[mmatarella]

To paint are you masking and carving through?