Opp - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Back2Jake · 02-02-2007, 02:39 PM

Well there are several things OPP can stand for, from the lyrics of rap music, to Ontario Provincial Police, but in this case... Other People's Patterns.

Sometimes I get so intertwined in doing Chrestensen Burghout Designs patterns that my list of OPPs grows to an huge stack. This week, and maybe next are dedicated to OPPs for me.

I have been asked what I think of OPPs and if/why I would cut them. One fella simply suggested I "design my own, based on the OPP", which I am sure went into a conversation on why NOT. LOL.

Ricki walked in the kitchen last night and said she liked the fish puzzle I was painting. When I said thanks, and let her know where I got the pattern from, she looked at me as if I had two heads. "Why are you doing it then Mom?" was her question.

I explained to Ricki that this was a very important thing for me to do. I am one of them, I am a scroller. Sometimes I get so caught up in drawing ideas on paper and then fashioning them into wood, I loose myself. It becomes addicting. By cutting OPP's, I am grounding myself to the bigger picture. I see something through the designer's eyes, and not my own. I am following their feeling/perspective at that moment.

Ricki asked me if other designers do this, which lead me to ask Sue when the last time she cut an OPP was? LOL. It appears to be a practice we both take seriously.

There has been a lot of talk about creating our own patterns on the forums lately. This is a great exercise, one I personally believe helps scrollers evolve. However, don't forget from time to time, to cut OPPs. They have much to offer.

Take care
Toni

Bruce · 02-02-2007, 03:12 PM

Although I don't get the chance to cut OPP's very often I agree completely with you Toni. Other people of course see the world slightly different than I do and it's reflected in their designs. The Celtic Moon is a good example. It's not one that I would have thought of but it really appeals to me and is one that I would consider doing.
That's what makes having many other artist out there making patterns so great, it gives us so many more possibilities.

Gill · 02-02-2007, 03:22 PM

I've been known to cut the odd ChrestensenBurghout design

.

I'm looking forward to cutting some of Neal Moore's patterns soon from his Animal Portraits in Wood book. It's got some great projects and innovative techniques that I can't wait to tackle.

I agree with you, Toni - if we don't tackle other people's projects from time to time, we risk getting stale and missing out on new developments that can inspire us to better work.

Gill

Sue Chrestensen · 02-02-2007, 03:49 PM

I look forward to doing some new patterns over the next week as we get ready for the show in London..I did a couple of small fretwork patterns yesterday (something I rarely do and when I do it becomes obvious why LOL) and again realized how much different it is then segmentation / intarsia... makes me appreciate the skills and drive we all seem to have to make the projects which are shared on this board!
I do have fun tho and look forward to doing more patterns drawn by others

me thinks there is a G. Dexter Design waitng for me to do soon

Gill · 02-02-2007, 04:18 PM

Go for it, Sue!!!

I'm on tenterhooks now

.

Gill

02-02-2007, 05:25 PM

I don't know, but seems to me that if I didn't cut OPP's then I wouldn't be on this forum... I would have never purchased a Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine... Which leads me to believe I probably would have never purchased a scrollsaw because I would not have a desire to cut out some fantastic patterns.

Whether they are from Pro's or Amateur OPP's, I have a desire to cut them both, outside of anything I might design... It's the nature of this scroller.
The problem is... there is just not enough time!

Rolf · 02-02-2007, 05:35 PM

I can't say it any better than Grizz.
Right now I cut only other peoples designs(with rare exception)
It has given me insight on what really appeals to me. This way when I do have time to dabble in the real design world I will have some direction.

Back2Jake · 02-02-2007, 06:07 PM

Of course you have a point regarding OPPs Grizz.

However, my original post on the thread was directed at those who DO design a number of projects, whether they post them or not.

Most scrollers, (all the scrollers I know personally), have started with OPPs, but several evolve to designing their own. As I mentioned, there is a big movement on the forums and in the magazines regarding pattern designing. I am not sure how many scrollers do take up the design process and stay with it. This forum has several scrollers who design, and I am sure if I mentioned them by name there would be too many and I would forget someone.

Jediscroller · 02-02-2007, 07:40 PM

I would never limit myself to only my patterns. I love cutting OPP's. It allows me to explore other techniques and styles and with a little luck learn something as well.

Neal Moore · 02-02-2007, 08:12 PM

Just finished cutting and staining an OPP. I searched and searched for a suitable subject to design as a gift for our local Volunteer Firefighters. I was on the phone with a scrolling friend from Ohio and mentioned what I was doing. Seems as if back in 2005 he ordered 3 patterns from JGR and never got around to cutting the fireman. He gave me the pattern and it's just what I had in mind!!! Saved me several hours of searching and drawing and I was able to get right to work. Problem is, mine looks a lot like Groucho Marx wearing a firefighters helmet!!! LOL!!!