Big Shoes to Fill - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Janette · 06-10-2009, 09:30 PM

I just had a lovely visit with Lucielle Crabtree. She came to MY shop and brought me several of her unfinished pieces to finish and sell. Those of you who have been around intarsia for awhile probably know of her. She and her son David have been around since right after Judy Gayle Roberts brought this great art form out into what it is today.

Lucielle and her son David were the first to show and sell it in California, he was the first to texture his work and Lucielle has done 2 books on Intarsia as well. They quit doing it a number of years ago - mainly due to her health and she has entrusted me to finish 3 pices of hers that were cut out and partially shaped. What's cool for me is that these are going to be the only 3 pieces...ever..to have her and I both involved in making them. Here is a picture of her and I in my front garden holding a finished piece of her design of a rose and rose bud. That's what the 3 pieces are of. She has very beautiful shaping technique and some of the pieces are quite thick. the rose itself is about 1 1/2 thick Jatoba. I plan to take lots of angle shots of it to use as a guideline. I consider it an honor that she has entrusted me with finishing these last 3 pieces of hers. They will be up for sale when I'm finished. If I can, I plan to get her to sign them as well.

JanetteandLucielleCrabtree.JPG

wood-n-things · 06-10-2009, 09:38 PM

Quite the responsibility and what an honor. I can think of no-one else more deserving of her trust. You will do her proud. You must be gushing.

Janette · 06-10-2009, 09:44 PM

Definitely gushing! I had met Lucielle and her daughter a few years ago at a show we did on the coast and have met her at the same show a couple of times since. She is such a sweet lovely lady - but had definite ideas about how to do things

She instructed me on what needed to be done with the pieces and what to watch for and be careful of. You can bet that these will be the most finely finished pieces I have ever done!!

jim_mex · 06-10-2009, 09:55 PM

Janette - you thoroughly deserve such a honour and I agree totally with Mike's comments. I for one can't wait to see your WIP's on these projects if you are allowed to share them.

Heartiest congratulations!!!

groverd · 06-10-2009, 10:28 PM

congrats. . i will also be awaiting WIP's. . the rose is very nice. . .

Bluebird · 06-10-2009, 10:43 PM

Janette, I can't see anyone else up to taking such an honorable challenge! You certainly deserve it. Congratulations! We are proud of you!

Jim McDonald · 06-11-2009, 12:08 AM

Looks like the rose has been passed to a very worthy successor.

I know you feel a tremendous responsibility, but I don't think Lucille would have made such a gesture without full knowlege that she was putting her work in the best hands possible.

From viewing your posted work here and on your site, I know the pieces will be over the top when you get finished.

JohnB · 06-11-2009, 01:13 AM

G'day Janette,
The way you fill big shoes is to put on extra pairs of socks

Just thought I'd bring you down a bit before building you back up .

If I had a masterpiece that I wanted finished competently, I reckon you'd be my 1st choice.

When you complete those pieces, I'm sure they'd make a bomb in an auction.
You go Girl, just don't out do the Master

Sally · 06-11-2009, 01:26 AM

Very exciting. Your talents are certainly up to these projects. The rose is beautiful - will there be a pattern?

Wood Dog · 06-11-2009, 02:00 AM

Now that's the ultimate CHALLENGE........Lucielle certainly knows who to pick to continue her work. Awesome rose. Good luck.

06-10-2009, 09:30 PM	#1
Janette Intarsia Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 2,327 Blog Entries: 4	Big Shoes to Fill I just had a lovely visit with Lucielle Crabtree. She came to MY shop and brought me several of her unfinished pieces to finish and sell. Those of you who have been around intarsia for awhile probably know of her. She and her son David have been around since right after Judy Gayle Roberts brought this great art form out into what it is today. Lucielle and her son David were the first to show and sell it in California, he was the first to texture his work and Lucielle has done 2 books on Intarsia as well. They quit doing it a number of years ago - mainly due to her health and she has entrusted me to finish 3 pices of hers that were cut out and partially shaped. What's cool for me is that these are going to be the only 3 pieces...ever..to have her and I both involved in making them. Here is a picture of her and I in my front garden holding a finished piece of her design of a rose and rose bud. That's what the 3 pieces are of. She has very beautiful shaping technique and some of the pieces are quite thick. the rose itself is about 1 1/2 thick Jatoba. I plan to take lots of angle shots of it to use as a guideline. I consider it an honor that she has entrusted me with finishing these last 3 pieces of hers. They will be up for sale when I'm finished. If I can, I plan to get her to sign them as well. JanetteandLucielleCrabtree.JPG __________________ Janette www.square-designs.com

06-10-2009, 09:38 PM	#2
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hamilton, Montana Posts: 6,042 Blog Entries: 1	Quite the responsibility and what an honor. I can think of no-one else more deserving of her trust. You will do her proud. You must be gushing. __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. I don't make mistakes..I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong. Mike's Wood-n-Things

06-10-2009, 09:44 PM	#3
Janette Intarsia Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 2,327 Blog Entries: 4	Definitely gushing! I had met Lucielle and her daughter a few years ago at a show we did on the coast and have met her at the same show a couple of times since. She is such a sweet lovely lady - but had definite ideas about how to do things She instructed me on what needed to be done with the pieces and what to watch for and be careful of. You can bet that these will be the most finely finished pieces I have ever done!! __________________ Janette www.square-designs.com

06-10-2009, 09:55 PM	#4
jim_mex 'Senior' member - no way! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pachuca, Mexico Posts: 2,396	Janette - you thoroughly deserve such a honour and I agree totally with Mike's comments. I for one can't wait to see your WIP's on these projects if you are allowed to share them. Heartiest congratulations!!! __________________ Jim in Mexico “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” -Albert Einstein

06-10-2009, 10:28 PM	#5
groverd Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: washington state Posts: 451	congrats. . i will also be awaiting WIP's. . the rose is very nice. . . __________________ Grover D RBI Hawk 226 and Dewalt 788 http://groverd.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php

06-10-2009, 10:43 PM	#6
Bluebird Intarsia member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Laurentians, Quebec Posts: 707	Janette, I can't see anyone else up to taking such an honorable challenge! You certainly deserve it. Congratulations! We are proud of you! __________________ Henriette "People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be" - [Abraham Lincoln] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HCorbeil Wood Mosaics web page --> Updated of Feb 2010

06-11-2009, 12:08 AM	#7
Jim McDonald Sawdust Maker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Muncie, IN USA Posts: 1,128 Blog Entries: 9	Looks like the rose has been passed to a very worthy successor. I know you feel a tremendous responsibility, but I don't think Lucille would have made such a gesture without full knowlege that she was putting her work in the best hands possible. From viewing your posted work here and on your site, I know the pieces will be over the top when you get finished. __________________ Jim If it cannot be fixed with a hammer--must be an electrical problem. "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

06-11-2009, 01:13 AM	#8
JohnB 1 Tin Soldier Rides Away Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Posts: 5,202	G'day Janette, The way you fill big shoes is to put on extra pairs of socks Just thought I'd bring you down a bit before building you back up . If I had a masterpiece that I wanted finished competently, I reckon you'd be my 1st choice. When you complete those pieces, I'm sure they'd make a bomb in an auction. You go Girl, just don't out do the Master __________________ Regards John "The Golden Mile" Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you. Some of my Stuff Retired Medically Unfit WA Police Officers

06-11-2009, 01:26 AM	#9
Sally Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Renton WA Posts: 1,644	Very exciting. Your talents are certainly up to these projects. The rose is beautiful - will there be a pattern?

06-11-2009, 02:00 AM	#10
Wood Dog Senior member--Absolutely Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 3,940	Now that's the ultimate CHALLENGE........Lucielle certainly knows who to pick to continue her work. Awesome rose. Good luck. __________________ WD

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