Sarah's magpie - Finished! + WIP photos - Page 12 - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

jim_mex · 11-06-2009, 11:39 PM

Iridescent update -

Well I drew a blank at the cosmetics store but i think the girls had a good giggle. Lots of glittery stuff which probably looks great on young girls nails but not for my Maggie! But - and this will put a smirk on Bob's face - I have found something interesting in the form of Acrylic Pearlizing medium. Applied on it's own it gives a white pearly finish to anything its rubbed on which does pick up the light but still not what I wanted.

A bit more playing and I found that if i rub alcohol based green dye into this pearly lustre it will turn it from white to green and after drying and applying some poly top coat it doesnt look bad at all. Still not up to Sarah's Interference medium but not a bad substitute.

I can't fully evaluate this because its grey and miserable out at the moment so I think I'll wait for tomorrow and the chance of sun before committing to using this technique

Thanks Bob for the idea. It could turn out to be a pearler!

jlyn069 · 11-07-2009, 06:48 AM

Jim,
Sorry you did not find what you needed at the cosmetic store. I had to giggle at what I know you went through with the girls at the counter. LOL. I do hope you find what you are looking for over the weekend.
Jackie

Sarah · 11-07-2009, 01:24 PM

lol a beard and lipstick=always a winner Jim

Sarah

Jan · 11-07-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim_mex

Iridescent update -

Well I drew a blank at the cosmetics store but i think the girls had a good giggle. Lots of glittery stuff which probably looks great on young girls nails but not for my Maggie! But - and this will put a smirk on Bob's face - I have found something interesting in the form of Acrylic Pearlizing medium. Applied on it's own it gives a white pearly finish to anything its rubbed on which does pick up the light but still not what I wanted.

A bit more playing and I found that if i rub alcohol based green dye into this pearly lustre it will turn it from white to green and after drying and applying some poly top coat it doesnt look bad at all. Still not up to Sarah's Interference medium but not a bad substitute.

I can't fully evaluate this because its grey and miserable out at the moment so I think I'll wait for tomorrow and the chance of sun before committing to using this technique

Thanks Bob for the idea. It could turn out to be a pearler!

I think what Jackie was talking about isn't the glittery stuff. There's a clear iridescent nail polish which has only a slight purplish sheen. If you can't find it at a cosmetic counter, try a nail salon if there is such a thing in your part of Mexico. I'm working on the toucan, OK?

Jan

jim_mex · 11-07-2009, 08:10 PM

Hi Jan - It was the iridescent stuff I was looking amongst the nail polishes but that doesn't seem to have landed yet in our neck of the woods. I've now got Norma looking in the nail salons as you suggest as I don't think even I'm brave enough to step foot over the thresholds of these dens of gossip, iniquity and sin!

Meanwhile the 'stained' pearly lustre seems to have some mileage judging by the results of my tests which i'm not sure can really be appreciated on a PC monitor, but here goes

The results look a bit bland here but buffing the finish in as Ed suggested with his acrylic idea produces a nice subtle effect I just thing i need to take a bravery pill before risking the technique on my magpie.

Ok, back to that wing - I need to stop playing and get this thing finished! LOL!

jim_mex · 11-08-2009, 02:09 AM

This last chapter is dragging on!

As my mate John would probably say - its 'brass monkey' weather in what should be reasonably warm and sunny Mexico and my plans to finish 'maggie' today have been shelved in favour of hot chocolate with a liberal dose of tequila!

This is where I finished before the cold got to me . Things were looking good after ebonizing the mahogany until I realised I'd forgetten those darn wings tips on the 3 lower maple wing feathers - marker pen anyone? - and my scroll saw tabletop is too cold to think about cutting them tonight

Just need to do this, then backsand the lower wing feathers and give Maggie the eye tomorrow followed by the finish

I'm not sure how I should mount this project- on a backer or against a full backing board in a frame. I'm open to ideas here but no rush because i doubt I'll get around to this until after I'm back in business after the op

When this is finished, and at the risk of exposing all my mistakes, I'll take some decent shots in natural light from all angles to show how I shaped this and I'll put them together for viewing in a small slideshow

Stay tuned for the final installment.... and to Sarah, how's your finger nails. none left I bet to take that iridescent polish -LOL!

Cheers!

Jan · 11-08-2009, 02:55 AM

[QUOTE=jim_mex;237849]Hi Jan - It was the iridescent stuff I was looking amongst the nail polishes but that doesn't seem to have landed yet in our neck of the woods. I've now got Norma looking in the nail salons as you suggest as I don't think even I'm brave enough to step foot over the thresholds of these dens of gossip, iniquity and sin!

Oh ye of faint heart!

Jan

jlyn069 · 11-08-2009, 07:45 AM

Jan,
That is exactly what I am talking about. Clear polish with that purplish tint. I have ceramics with that tint and now that I think about it, I wonder if there is some kind of ceramic finish that would do that.
Jackie

jim_mex · 11-08-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

I wonder if there is some kind of ceramic finish that would do that.

Hi Jackie - your comment brought out the dark side of my humour! As I'm am industrial ceramist by profession my first thought was 'I don't somehow think my maggie would stand the application of a ceramic lustre at about 850 degs C without first disappearing up the furnace stack in smoke and ashes!' I guess that really would result in an ebonized bird!

Sorry! I know exactly what you meant but I couldn't resist a smile to warm up the start of the day!

Sarah · 11-08-2009, 01:49 PM

Wow Jim that's looking amazing.
And yes my small store of patience was long gone :P Well work the wait tho I must say.
The ideal 'frame' would be a cut and shaped one that looks like natural branches...which has open space then the bird, no filler :P
Also tip the bird so it's head and neck are almost level horizontally, have the wing tips and tail cross the frame and you'll keep he feeling of motion and lightness. I just think that after the back cutting would be a shame to ground this on a solid background. A descrete backboard maybe the answer.
I'll sketch up what I mean about the frame and post it a bit later, no time now am cooking a roastie dinner...
Smiles all round here for me, I think it looks just perfect.

Sarah

11-06-2009, 11:39 PM	#111
jim_mex 'Senior' member - no way! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pachuca, Mexico Posts: 1,788	Iridescent update - Well I drew a blank at the cosmetics store but i think the girls had a good giggle. Lots of glittery stuff which probably looks great on young girls nails but not for my Maggie! But - and this will put a smirk on Bob's face - I have found something interesting in the form of Acrylic Pearlizing medium. Applied on it's own it gives a white pearly finish to anything its rubbed on which does pick up the light but still not what I wanted. A bit more playing and I found that if i rub alcohol based green dye into this pearly lustre it will turn it from white to green and after drying and applying some poly top coat it doesnt look bad at all. Still not up to Sarah's Interference medium but not a bad substitute. I can't fully evaluate this because its grey and miserable out at the moment so I think I'll wait for tomorrow and the chance of sun before committing to using this technique Thanks Bob for the idea. It could turn out to be a pearler! __________________ Jim in Mexico “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” -Albert Einstein

11-07-2009, 08:10 PM	#115
jim_mex 'Senior' member - no way! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pachuca, Mexico Posts: 1,788	Hi Jan - It was the iridescent stuff I was looking amongst the nail polishes but that doesn't seem to have landed yet in our neck of the woods. I've now got Norma looking in the nail salons as you suggest as I don't think even I'm brave enough to step foot over the thresholds of these dens of gossip, iniquity and sin! Meanwhile the 'stained' pearly lustre seems to have some mileage judging by the results of my tests which i'm not sure can really be appreciated on a PC monitor, but here goes The results look a bit bland here but buffing the finish in as Ed suggested with his acrylic idea produces a nice subtle effect I just thing i need to take a bravery pill before risking the technique on my magpie. Ok, back to that wing - I need to stop playing and get this thing finished! LOL! __________________ Jim in Mexico “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” -Albert Einstein

11-08-2009, 02:09 AM	#116
jim_mex 'Senior' member - no way! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pachuca, Mexico Posts: 1,788	This last chapter is dragging on! As my mate John would probably say - its 'brass monkey' weather in what should be reasonably warm and sunny Mexico and my plans to finish 'maggie' today have been shelved in favour of hot chocolate with a liberal dose of tequila! This is where I finished before the cold got to me . Things were looking good after ebonizing the mahogany until I realised I'd forgetten those darn wings tips on the 3 lower maple wing feathers - marker pen anyone? - and my scroll saw tabletop is too cold to think about cutting them tonight Just need to do this, then backsand the lower wing feathers and give Maggie the eye tomorrow followed by the finish I'm not sure how I should mount this project- on a backer or against a full backing board in a frame. I'm open to ideas here but no rush because i doubt I'll get around to this until after I'm back in business after the op When this is finished, and at the risk of exposing all my mistakes, I'll take some decent shots in natural light from all angles to show how I shaped this and I'll put them together for viewing in a small slideshow Stay tuned for the final installment.... and to Sarah, how's your finger nails. none left I bet to take that iridescent polish -LOL! Cheers! __________________ Jim in Mexico “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” -Albert Einstein Last edited by jim_mex; 11-08-2009 at 05:28 AM.

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11-07-2009, 06:48 AM	#112
jlyn069 Jackie Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 202	Jim, Sorry you did not find what you needed at the cosmetic store. I had to giggle at what I know you went through with the girls at the counter. LOL. I do hope you find what you are looking for over the weekend. Jackie

11-07-2009, 01:24 PM	#113
Sarah Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 135 Blog Entries: 12	lol a beard and lipstick=always a winner Jim Sarah

11-08-2009, 02:55 AM	#117
Jan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 167	[QUOTE=jim_mex;237849]Hi Jan - It was the iridescent stuff I was looking amongst the nail polishes but that doesn't seem to have landed yet in our neck of the woods. I've now got Norma looking in the nail salons as you suggest as I don't think even I'm brave enough to step foot over the thresholds of these dens of gossip, iniquity and sin! Oh ye of faint heart! Jan

11-08-2009, 07:45 AM	#118
jlyn069 Jackie Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 202	Jan, That is exactly what I am talking about. Clear polish with that purplish tint. I have ceramics with that tint and now that I think about it, I wonder if there is some kind of ceramic finish that would do that. Jackie

11-08-2009, 01:49 PM	#120
Sarah Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 135 Blog Entries: 12	Wow Jim that's looking amazing. And yes my small store of patience was long gone :P Well work the wait tho I must say. The ideal 'frame' would be a cut and shaped one that looks like natural branches...which has open space then the bird, no filler :P Also tip the bird so it's head and neck are almost level horizontally, have the wing tips and tail cross the frame and you'll keep he feeling of motion and lightness. I just think that after the back cutting would be a shame to ground this on a solid background. A descrete backboard maybe the answer. I'll sketch up what I mean about the frame and post it a bit later, no time now am cooking a roastie dinner... Smiles all round here for me, I think it looks just perfect. Sarah