Workers Of Wood

The internet can be a huge inspiration, and quite honestly, that's where I get my ideas. Some templates I buy (when it's too much trouble to do them myself) others I look at and think "I have GOT to make that!" This was one of those.

The first picture is the prototype. I made it and took it to work to get feedback. One girl asked where I bought it from After I assure her I made it, she then tells me that I should add a cardinal to it, and how she loves her cardinals. The second girl (not as enthusiastic about it) said it needed lights. While I agreed (and really wanted lights) this is easier said than done, in this case. All the lights at the local stores (even craft stores) were 6 ft lights. I needed half that... Amazon to the rescue!! Ordered same-day Sunday, and that evening, I found the birds I had compound cut some time back and set it up to finish. Monday (roughly 6 a.m., waking up with my cup of joe) I painted the bird, and hot glued him, as well as the fairy lights (I may have done the lights Sunday night) and took it back to work. Huge success. Good thing I ordered a slew of those lights... I was told (before adding the lights and bird) by the girl who wanted the bird, that she would gladly pay $25 for it. I think that's the hardest part: pricing out the stuff. I can't take how much time I put into them, since most of the time it's a first run, so there's a lot of time that goes into it; adjusting, correcting errors, etc. Oh well. This one is complete, and now to work on more.

The lights certainly change the look and seem to bring it to life. I agree with you on pricing. I try to imagine what something would be worth if I were to try and mass produce it.

I fully agree Barb. I see things on the internet or even while pushing a shopping cart behind my wife. I may come across something that I have her take a picture of and in a while, I may just make my version of the item. I have posted some of my builds on the forum in the past, but I never seem to show how it was made.
This time I had Sandra come out to the shop as I began each phase of this last project, to video how it was done. I also tried to explain my ideas and how i planned to do my cuts and the why of it. I'll probably never make a living as a show man, but I wanted to do this in this way, this one time. I made one of these a long time ago for my oldest son and just wanted to make one for no reason except the fun of doing it.
As soon as this one was finished, Sandra laid claim to it and has it displayed as a center piece on the living room coffee table. I don't imagine that anyone will be cutting on it anytime soon.
The video is a bit long since it covers several days of gluing and drying. I hope you will indulge me and let me know what you think.
Also, my 14-year-old grandson is taking wood working in school for the first time this year and he came by each evening to see how it was going. I had him do the oiling of the board in the last segment. He enjoyed that. He night join the WOW one day, or not.



Bushwhacker

Great job, Bushwhacker!

Nice Barb. The light do set it off.

@Bushwhacker yeah, a little long, but VERY informative! Your wife sounds like such a sweetheart! I sound like a buzzsaw when I'm talking, and she sounds like a graceful hummingbird lol not sure I could cut on it, either LOL GORGEOUS!!

Agree ,the lights are a really nice touch