"Sky Gems" Puzzle - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Scrolling Days · 10-02-2009, 04:09 AM

I liked the idea of cutting this puzzle because of the possibility of incorporating some nice fretwork into it. While not as intricate as John's gorgeous "regrettable" puzzle, I'm happy with how it came out.

I just finished the cutting two nights ago. "Sky Gems" has 401 pieces with 17 Figurals and 4 Picture Elements. It was cut from 1/4" Cherry ply. This puzzle was made for my best friend's mother, a puzzle enthusiast, who is recently laid up recovering from hip surgery. This will, hopefully, keep her busy for a bit!

I incorporated a personal technique I've begun adding to certain puzzles, insetting gems directly into the puzzle board. You can see the red gems along the waist of the largest balloon in the picture below.

Here is a picture with the Figurals and Picture Elements removed.

I wasn't surprised to see some hot air balloon Figurals come into the puzzle, along with an old fashioned bi-plane and a few birds.

Scrolling Days · 10-02-2009, 04:09 AM

...and I laughed when I saw this Figural appear from, ahem..... mid-air. I hope he holds onto that rope tightly!

If you look carefully, you can see a horse by the barn, and a turtle.....on the roof ?! This little guy has been visiting a bunch of my puzzles lately, and I'm finding him in the most unpredictable places for a turtle to be!

I thought Buff, my Signature Piece, came out looking really cool in this puzzle!

wood-n-things · 10-02-2009, 06:00 AM

Awesome....Nuff said...

JohnB · 10-02-2009, 06:07 AM

G'day Shawn,
Another fantastic puzzle mate. I just love the way you incorporate the figurals into the picture.

This was one of the best ideas I never had, having a Puzzle Board.

Now I can go to the one place and admire the work of people like yourself, Carter and John. along with others.

I reckon though, that psych would find a mean streak amongst the best puzzle makers.

scrollpup · 10-02-2009, 06:08 AM

Reminds me of a song I think. Something like this.....

Buff the puzzled dragon....
Lived by the river............
In a land called....... ? Buffalo? Naw that can't be right! they stink! ( hehehe)

Another awesome puzzle Shawn! You should make a slide show of them- that would be too neat!

Jerry

Sally · 10-02-2009, 10:05 AM

Delightful puzzle Shawn. You keep the bar very high. Someday I might get close. Yours are wonderful to see. Thanks for taking the extra time to post them.

KtownScroller · 10-02-2009, 12:00 PM

401 pieces! That will keep BF's mom busy. You did a nice job with the detail and the gems are a nice touch. I like the picture and the figurials also.

sawdustus · 10-02-2009, 12:37 PM

Beautiful job Shawn. I love the pattern, the style of cutting and the figurals. Makes me want to try my hand at them. I am positive that BF's mom will love doing it many times.

george

iohonnes · 10-02-2009, 01:30 PM

Shawn, beautiful work as always. The dropouts are smooth and wonderfully appropriate! You have a great eye for figurals, too. I don't have the patience to design figurals like that, but I know that puzzle assemblers just love them.

Wood Dog · 10-02-2009, 01:49 PM

Sweeeeet puzzle Shawn....love it. Do you decide before hand on the figurals, or do you create them on the fly? I assume you do not use a pattern? Fretwork sure is a nice touch, and because of John, and you I expect to see lots more of it. Nice touch for sure, and something I intend to try also. Learning from each other is the name of the game! What a great forum.

10-02-2009, 04:09 AM	#1
Scrolling Days Jigsaw Puzzle Maker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Along the Lower Niagara River Posts: 1,214 Blog Entries: 5	"Sky Gems" Puzzle I liked the idea of cutting this puzzle because of the possibility of incorporating some nice fretwork into it. While not as intricate as John's gorgeous "regrettable" puzzle, I'm happy with how it came out. I just finished the cutting two nights ago. "Sky Gems" has 401 pieces with 17 Figurals and 4 Picture Elements. It was cut from 1/4" Cherry ply. This puzzle was made for my best friend's mother, a puzzle enthusiast, who is recently laid up recovering from hip surgery. This will, hopefully, keep her busy for a bit! I incorporated a personal technique I've begun adding to certain puzzles, insetting gems directly into the puzzle board. You can see the red gems along the waist of the largest balloon in the picture below. Here is a picture with the Figurals and Picture Elements removed. I wasn't surprised to see some hot air balloon Figurals come into the puzzle, along with an old fashioned bi-plane and a few birds. __________________ Shawn Ferguson Come visit at The Ferguson Puzzle Company ! Last edited by Scrolling Days; 10-02-2009 at 04:16 AM.

10-02-2009, 04:09 AM	#2
Scrolling Days Jigsaw Puzzle Maker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Along the Lower Niagara River Posts: 1,214 Blog Entries: 5	...and I laughed when I saw this Figural appear from, ahem..... mid-air. I hope he holds onto that rope tightly! If you look carefully, you can see a horse by the barn, and a turtle.....on the roof ?! This little guy has been visiting a bunch of my puzzles lately, and I'm finding him in the most unpredictable places for a turtle to be! I thought Buff, my Signature Piece, came out looking really cool in this puzzle! __________________ Shawn Ferguson Come visit at The Ferguson Puzzle Company !

10-02-2009, 06:00 AM	#3
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,478 Blog Entries: 1	Awesome....Nuff said... __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out!

10-02-2009, 06:07 AM	#4
JohnB 1 Tin Soldier Rides Away Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Posts: 4,859	G'day Shawn, Another fantastic puzzle mate. I just love the way you incorporate the figurals into the picture. This was one of the best ideas I never had, having a Puzzle Board. Now I can go to the one place and admire the work of people like yourself, Carter and John. along with others. I reckon though, that psych would find a mean streak amongst the best puzzle makers. __________________ Regards John "The Golden Mile" I got holes in both of my shoes Well I'm a walking case of the blues Saw a dollar yesterday But the wind blew it away Some of my Stuff Retired Medically Unfit WA Police Officers

10-02-2009, 06:08 AM	#5
scrollpup Avatar by Casey Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hot Springs,Arkansas Posts: 1,732	Reminds me of a song I think. Something like this..... Buff the puzzled dragon.... Lived by the river............ In a land called....... ? Buffalo? Naw that can't be right! they stink! ( hehehe) Another awesome puzzle Shawn! You should make a slide show of them- that would be too neat! Jerry __________________ Two wrongs don't make a right....they just even the score...

10-02-2009, 10:05 AM	#6
Sally Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Renton WA Posts: 1,027	Delightful puzzle Shawn. You keep the bar very high. Someday I might get close. Yours are wonderful to see. Thanks for taking the extra time to post them.

10-02-2009, 12:00 PM	#7
KtownScroller So much better :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA Posts: 2,665	401 pieces! That will keep BF's mom busy. You did a nice job with the detail and the gems are a nice touch. I like the picture and the figurials also. __________________ - Rick

10-02-2009, 12:37 PM	#8
sawdustus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,975	Beautiful job Shawn. I love the pattern, the style of cutting and the figurals. Makes me want to try my hand at them. I am positive that BF's mom will love doing it many times. george __________________ A day without sawdust is a day without sunshine. George delta 650, hawk G426

10-02-2009, 01:30 PM	#9
iohonnes Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 166	Shawn, beautiful work as always. The dropouts are smooth and wonderfully appropriate! You have a great eye for figurals, too. I don't have the patience to design figurals like that, but I know that puzzle assemblers just love them. __________________ http://www.puzzlesdelmeeple.com

10-02-2009, 01:49 PM	#10
Wood Dog Senior member--Absolutely Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 3,451	Sweeeeet puzzle Shawn....love it. Do you decide before hand on the figurals, or do you create them on the fly? I assume you do not use a pattern? Fretwork sure is a nice touch, and because of John, and you I expect to see lots more of it. Nice touch for sure, and something I intend to try also. Learning from each other is the name of the game! What a great forum. __________________ WD

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