Dragons from Wales - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Sarah · 08-25-2009, 03:23 PM

Hello all

I'm Sarah and I make Fretwork Dragons up here in the Welsh Mountains. I've just posted asking for some help as I need new drive belts.

But this is what I do.

Sarah

wood-n-things · 08-25-2009, 03:42 PM

Gee whiz why don't ya try something a little more complicated....?

Welcome aboard, and are you kidding me. That is Awesome....Fantastic...superb...I'm gushing...Thanks for sharing. Gotta clean the drool off my keyboard.

Gypsum · 08-25-2009, 04:39 PM

Now that's a DRAGON! Excellent.

VB... · 08-25-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wood-n-things

Gee whiz why don't ya try something a little more complicated....?

Welcome aboard, and are you kidding me. That is Awesome....Fantastic...superb...I'm gushing...Thanks for sharing. Gotta clean the drool off my keyboard.

Ummm....... Holly Cow!!!

WOW!

VB...

scrollpup · 08-25-2009, 06:07 PM

I haven't come across your post about needing help, but if it involves storing that dragon,I would by all means be willing to help ya out! Thats AMAZING!! Do you have a web site or photo page we can look at? Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor......

Jerry

Pajaro · 08-25-2009, 06:35 PM

HOKEY SMOKEY. I don't know what to say, I am speechless.........You just put a whole bunch of fretwork scroll sawer's on alert. Beautiful, that is scrolling pushed to the limits. Is it your design also?

Arcy · 08-25-2009, 07:03 PM

Hi Sarah,

That's a mighty fine dragon! Can you tell something about how it's put together? It looks like the fine details may be painted onto a superstructure made of different layers of scrolled wood?

--Rob

fnirt · 08-25-2009, 08:16 PM

I think I speak for all of us when I say "that's incredible, and can we get a lesson on how to make one ourselves?" Very nice!

dragyn · 08-25-2009, 08:25 PM

UUUUuuuuuhhhhhhh, WOW!

Nice intro Sarah. Great way to set the bar pretty high, before anyone knows there is a bar to be set!

May I ask, where are you located in Wales? I mean besides the Welsh mountains, of course!

Sarah · 08-25-2009, 09:34 PM

well thanks for the warm welcome guys

I'm in a little village called Llanwrtyd Wells, been here since march as have moved back with the folks while I figure out what's next for me, and I then set about converting one of dads barns into a workshop come studio which is where you can find me with a big grin on my face even on the wetest of welsh days

I used to make jigsaws and bookends and that order of things when I was younger and tho there has been a big gap (about 15 years!)I must say I'm enjoying using my saw again...had been a while. The local shop keeper here and I had a chat about me supplying some wooden crafts and it was her who mentioned dragons and well after that I was off.
They're all made from 9mm Birch ply.
And yep all the designs are mine and each one is individual, which is what I like about it lol.
The one in the photo was the first I made and there was a huge amount of 'can I?' going on. It has a 4ft wingspan and is about 4 and a half feet long. The main section is made from 3 pieces with jigsaw joins, then there's a fillet that forms the thickness of the chest and belly and then the legs on top of that so it's 5 thicknesses glued together. Theres also a 3mm 'crown' on the head.
The membrane between the wings is painted acetate.
The detailing is a combination of pyrography (had just gotten the tool and wanted to try it out) and painted finish (mostly on the oval scales). The dragons I've made since have been painted and more brightly coloured. And some have a different type of wing altogether.
The wings are fitted into slots left out of the front leg pieces and also supported by thin wedge fillets. They we're originally unfixed but the shop owner requested they be glued in place in case they brained someone lol.
I basically cut the wings first so I have time for the acetate painting to dry, then I cut the body and legs and assemble those, then glue the membranes in place and finally add wings before painting.
For me the trickiest part was figuring out how to glue the acetate half way between the wodden supports on the wings and once I cracked that it was all plain sailing.
Am hoping to make a really huge one with joined wings at some point in the future but am supplying 2 shops now and don't have so much spare time for experimentation.
Don't have a website up yet tho one planned.
There are photos of all the others I've made so far so please email me and I can send a zip if people are interested, rather than use up bandwidth on the forum

Be happy to talk people through how to make one.
And I have alot of old designs for jigsaws, bookends, teapot rests and all sorts for scrolling out of hardwood ply if anyone is looking for a project.

email is:
trustno1arm2theteeth@hotmail.com
or
herebedragons@hotmail.co.uk

Sarah x

08-25-2009, 03:23 PM	#1
Sarah Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 168 Blog Entries: 12	Dragons from Wales Hello all I'm Sarah and I make Fretwork Dragons up here in the Welsh Mountains. I've just posted asking for some help as I need new drive belts. But this is what I do. Sarah

08-25-2009, 03:42 PM	#2
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hamilton, Montana Posts: 6,037 Blog Entries: 1	Gee whiz why don't ya try something a little more complicated....? Welcome aboard, and are you kidding me. That is Awesome....Fantastic...superb...I'm gushing...Thanks for sharing. Gotta clean the drool off my keyboard. __________________ 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

08-25-2009, 04:39 PM	#3
Gypsum Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 128	Now that's a DRAGON! Excellent. __________________ Dan When you have a lot to do, it's always best to get your nap out of the way. Margene Lett

08-25-2009, 06:07 PM	#5
scrollpup Avatar by Casey Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hot Springs,Arkansas Posts: 1,926	I haven't come across your post about needing help, but if it involves storing that dragon,I would by all means be willing to help ya out! Thats AMAZING!! Do you have a web site or photo page we can look at? Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor...... Jerry __________________ Work your fingers to the bone, and what do you get? Boney fingers.....Boney fingers.....

08-25-2009, 06:35 PM	#6
Pajaro Going back to who I am. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: How can you have fun in a place where dogs aren't allowed. Posts: 2,129 Blog Entries: 1	HOKEY SMOKEY. I don't know what to say, I am speechless.........You just put a whole bunch of fretwork scroll sawer's on alert. Beautiful, that is scrolling pushed to the limits. Is it your design also? __________________ Pájaro Pete Hombre del pájaro www.pajarostudiowns.com Member " Scrollsaw Association of the world " Excalibur EX-21 fanatic One of the Chosen few "If you play with things that can eat you, you're going to get eaten" (Tarzan) . "

08-25-2009, 07:03 PM	#7
Arcy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle(ish) Posts: 943	Hi Sarah, That's a mighty fine dragon! Can you tell something about how it's put together? It looks like the fine details may be painted onto a superstructure made of different layers of scrolled wood? --Rob

08-25-2009, 08:16 PM	#8
fnirt Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 10	I think I speak for all of us when I say "that's incredible, and can we get a lesson on how to make one ourselves?" Very nice!

08-25-2009, 08:25 PM	#9
dragyn Local Goofball! Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,012	UUUUuuuuuhhhhhhh, WOW! Nice intro Sarah. Great way to set the bar pretty high, before anyone knows there is a bar to be set! May I ask, where are you located in Wales? I mean besides the Welsh mountains, of course! __________________ Dragyn (Oh my! Another Mike! ) It's a good thing my head is attached to my ... ... Has anyone seen my head?!?

08-25-2009, 09:34 PM	#10
Sarah Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 168 Blog Entries: 12	well thanks for the warm welcome guys I'm in a little village called Llanwrtyd Wells, been here since march as have moved back with the folks while I figure out what's next for me, and I then set about converting one of dads barns into a workshop come studio which is where you can find me with a big grin on my face even on the wetest of welsh days I used to make jigsaws and bookends and that order of things when I was younger and tho there has been a big gap (about 15 years!)I must say I'm enjoying using my saw again...had been a while. The local shop keeper here and I had a chat about me supplying some wooden crafts and it was her who mentioned dragons and well after that I was off. They're all made from 9mm Birch ply. And yep all the designs are mine and each one is individual, which is what I like about it lol. The one in the photo was the first I made and there was a huge amount of 'can I?' going on. It has a 4ft wingspan and is about 4 and a half feet long. The main section is made from 3 pieces with jigsaw joins, then there's a fillet that forms the thickness of the chest and belly and then the legs on top of that so it's 5 thicknesses glued together. Theres also a 3mm 'crown' on the head. The membrane between the wings is painted acetate. The detailing is a combination of pyrography (had just gotten the tool and wanted to try it out) and painted finish (mostly on the oval scales). The dragons I've made since have been painted and more brightly coloured. And some have a different type of wing altogether. The wings are fitted into slots left out of the front leg pieces and also supported by thin wedge fillets. They we're originally unfixed but the shop owner requested they be glued in place in case they brained someone lol. I basically cut the wings first so I have time for the acetate painting to dry, then I cut the body and legs and assemble those, then glue the membranes in place and finally add wings before painting. For me the trickiest part was figuring out how to glue the acetate half way between the wodden supports on the wings and once I cracked that it was all plain sailing. Am hoping to make a really huge one with joined wings at some point in the future but am supplying 2 shops now and don't have so much spare time for experimentation. Don't have a website up yet tho one planned. There are photos of all the others I've made so far so please email me and I can send a zip if people are interested, rather than use up bandwidth on the forum Be happy to talk people through how to make one. And I have alot of old designs for jigsaws, bookends, teapot rests and all sorts for scrolling out of hardwood ply if anyone is looking for a project. email is: trustno1arm2theteeth@hotmail.com or herebedragons@hotmail.co.uk Sarah x

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