A few thoughts

[Pastor-Ed]

Hi folks,
Sitting here intently avoiding work (funeral planning), and I was thinking about scrolling. I have been cutting ornaments for the last couple of weeks, getting out to the shop for an hour, maybe 2 every night. Here are a few thoughts from my experiences, (so I can put off thinking about my friend for a few more minutes)

You know, PRACTICE REALLY WORKS. Yep, it is amazing how much difference that hour an evening has made in just a short amount of time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no where near where some of the folks on here are, but the ornaments I cut last night are SOOOO much better than the ones I did a week ago.

In the same vein. It is worth the effort to cut things that challenge you. I have been cutting some really tiny and intricate (at least for me) ornaments (the little angels from the other mag). Yeah, I messed up a couple, but the challenge of controlling my cutting where little mistakes either really show up, or destroy the piece has made all of my cutting better.

I am too darn cheep. I plan the cutting of each piece to maximize blade life. Cutting the places where I will need a nice sharp new blade first, and then getting an extra 5 minutes out of each blade. I have done more damage by not changing blades when they were done, than I have by anything else.

Stack cutting is so cool. Cut once and get 4 ornaments! It also seems to help slow me down and I make less really nasty mistakes!

Lowes birch plywood is garbage!

Lowes oak plywood is expensive garbage!!

Making Christmas ornaments is getting me in the Christmas spirit much earlier this year. Time will tell if this is a good thing or not, but it is kinda nice right now.

Well, I guess I can’t put this off much longer. Thanks for listening.

Ed

[Bill Wilson]

Funeral liturgies must be difficult enough, but then to conduct one for a friend? That would have to be very tough. May God's Spirit be with you and guide you in your difficult task.

I like your observations. I too find myself planning my cuts based on whether or not I have a fresh blade installed. Not being cheap, just practical.

I started out in scrolling several years ago, making ornaments. I still enjoy it as much as ever. I usually wait until around Thanksgiving, then take every free moment and some vacation time and disappear into the shop for a few weeks. My wife knows where to find me, because she can hear the Christmas music wafting up through the floor from my basement shop. I really look forward to this time of year.