Friday, December 21st, What's on Your Woodworking Agenda?

[John Moody]

Well here we are on 12/21/12 and the Mayan's missed the prediction of the World ending today. No big surprise there.

So here we are the weekend before Christmas. Many of you will begin the trips to be with family this long weekend, Many of you will have family in to your homes. I hope all of you have a very blessed and Merry Christmas and spend time with and cherish the time with family, even those family members that sometimes get on your last nerve. We never know when these are the last times we will be together. The Mayan's can't predict the future and all we have is the present. We are not promised anything in the future so enjoy the blessings you have now.

I hope you got all of your projects finished. Those handmade items will be things that family and friends will cherish. They have a part of the woodworker in each and every piece that is made. You hands rubbed over the wood and connected with it. That along makes it very special.

So share with us your plans this long weekend. What will you be doing for Christmas, at home, on the road, fixing a feast and taking something special to other family? Share with us your family tradition.

All of my family will be at my home on Christmas eve. We will all gather around the table and share our blessings from this past year. enjoy a wonderful meal with way too much food and then retire to family room and gather around the tree. We will read the Christmas Story of the birth of Jesus from Luke then pray and thank God for the blessing our family. I play Santa Clause and give out all the gifts. First gift goes to the youngest new member of the family and the second goes to the oldest member of the family, then they are handed out in random order. We call out the name of who receives the gift and who it was from. I always hold back one for the oldest so they receive the last gift. Everyone watches as each gift is opened before the next one is passed out. Hugs, kisses and thanks are given to everyone when the last present is opened.

The kids then take the boxes and play with them for a while and then can't decided what to do next, there are so many choices.

This year will bring a few changes for us. This will be my first Christmas without my Dad. He is the first of our family to depart so this will be very different. He loved Christmas and especially giving to the small children. Also my mother is suffering from Dementia and at times doesn't know what is happening. But we are still blessed and look forward to the time with her and my dad memory.

My wife's mother will go into assisted living on Wednesday, so this will be the last Christmas we will have with all the family at her house. It will be a great time and I am sure filled with emotion. God has blessed us with her and her ability to live at home for many years. She is 97 and will be 98 the 22nd of January. A long blessed and wonderful life and she has inspired a great family. We will have a new addition to the family that was born in October so it will be exciting to see the excitement in the children's eyes.

So I wish all of you a wonderful and blessed Christmas from all of my family to yours. Thank you for making this a great year here on TPW and for you support of WWP and Homes for Troops. You are some of the best extended family a person could ask to be associated with.

Blessings!

---

John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

[Harry Brink]

Good morning!! We're still here!

After a Santa visit to the rest homes in town, I'll be spraying the music boxes to have them ready for Monday.

I'll get some pics up this weekend.

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

[Mike Dillen]

Finishing up sanding on the quilt stand this morning and hope to get the stain on before lunch. This afternoon I would like to get the first coat of top coat on then the second tomorrow. I might just get it finished by Sunday. Unfortunately I go back to work Saturday evening. I'll post pics when it's completed.

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www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

[Allen Worsham]

Sounds like you will have a full and happy home this Christmas John.

I am still working on the 4 tea boxes and got behind a couple of days as I had a doctor's appointment this week and some testing which kept me out of the shop a couple of days. Yesterday I got all the pieces cut for the boxes and today I will get the final sanding done and get the exterior boxes glued up and get them oiled. The finish will be natural danish oil and then a few coats of satin top coat. Due to being a couple of days behind and that we are cold here and that will mess up the drying time for the finish, I won't have them completed until next weekend. That is ok as I only have 1 that was to be given out as a Christmas gift and I won't be seeing them until next week anyhow. Another one of the boxes will be a wedding gift for my daughter's friend who grew up in our home. The other 2 my wife has plans for which also means that she will want me to make more. 

For Christmas we will be having Tami's parents coming out from Yuma, AZ and will have all of the family over for dinner Christmas Eve. Christmas day we have no plans that I know of so we will play it by ear.

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

[lew]

Have the last 2 trivets to finish. The steamer is cooking as I write this. Need to bend and glue the maple strip around the oval trivet then sand/finish both the round and oval ones. Mimi is wrapping the the finished cutting boards and other trivets to be delivered between now and Christmas.

PVC seemed like a good idea at the time but.... 

Needs the edge band trimmed, sanded and finished.

In the clamps after steaming. Needs glued, trimmed, sanded and finished.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

---

Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

[John Moody]

That band is really going to set those off Lew. I really like it. Very Beautiful!

Lewis Kauffman said:

Have the last 2 trivets to finish. The steamer is cooking as I write this. Need to bend and glue the maple strip around the oval trivet then sand/finish both the round and oval ones. Mimi is wrapping the the finished cutting boards and other trivets to be delivered between now and Christmas.

PVC seemed like a good idea at the time but.... 

Needs the edge band trimmed, sanded and finished.

In the clamps after steaming. Needs glued, trimmed, sanded and finished.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

---

Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

[Mike Dillen]

Looking good Lewis. I wasn't sure about the trim band but Johns right it sets them off, like framing a picture.

Try the black schedule 40 pipe next time. It's less susceptible to warping from heat.

Does your wife know you borrowed her tea pot?

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www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

[Fred Wilson]

Love the banding on those.

As for me, ALL customer projects are FINISHED.  Just waiting on the last two to be picked up.  For the rest of the weekend - I'll diddle around on the new clock a little, fix some things around that need to be fixed (formally known as honey do's), Sunday Judy and I are going to a Christmas play at our local theatre.  Real "empty nesters" this year.  Kids and company are out of town.  Just the two of us for the first time in 48 years ! ! !  (Love the part about "just the two of us")

Merry Christmas All

and

To all, I'm outta here.

---

Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
Scroll Saw Forum Host

[lew]

Thanks for the idea- about the black PVC, Mike! Got the tea pot from the local Humane Shelter Thrift Store $2.50! 

Mike Dillen said:

Looking good Lewis. I wasn't sure about the trim band but Johns right it sets them off, like framing a picture.

Try the black schedule 40 pipe next time. It's less susceptible to warping from heat.

Does your wife know you borrowed her tea pot?

---

www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

[Gene Howe]

Lew, That's going to be really nice. Be sure to take some more pictures.

The I-Box arrived yesterday. Tomorrow, between making chocolate covered peanut butter balls, chocolate covered orange slice candies, Cracker Jacks and Peanut Brittle, I'll play around with the I-Box. Sunday will be dressing time for some rough oak. 

---

Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

[Ron Dudelston]

The next four days will be filled with family, friends and reflection on the birth of our Saviour.  This has been a truly wonderful year and we'll gather in the warmth of our home to share our blessings.  We here on TPW are a big family and as I reflect on the year, I have to include the wonderful friendshipps I have made here.  May God's Grace extend to you and yours during this most blessed time of year.

---

Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

[Phil Chestnut]

taking the next couple of days off from working on anythings and get things ready for Christmas. The I will start another Dulcimer. I am going to try and do a blog on how I make them. Please feel free to comment on it. Already have the  wood will be oak sides, poplar for the back and I am going to try aspen pine, but that could change. Not sure what would look good with oak.

---

http://www.prchestnut.webs.com/

[Mike Dillen]

John I got the Quilt stand sanded, assembled & stained. I posted pics on a separate post.

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www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

[Will Downing]

I don't often contribute, but here's what I've finished up for Christmas for my mother to put photos of the grandkids on.I milled the cedar down from rough stock and have to put either a wax topcoat or spray on some semi-gloss enamal to provide some pop.

We will be at the in-laws over the weekend, and I plan on doing several "honeydo" projects for them, as they are in their 80's and even tightening cabinet doors and installing pullout shelving is difficult.  Simple projects, but deeply appreciated.  Christmas day will be spent at home with my wife and children.  Then I'll deliver this down home next weekend and spent precious time with my family.

It has been a difficult time in our area, and for the men and women that I work with over this last week.  But it will not cast a pall over the holiday.  The Lord's blessing is over all of us, and this is the time of year to reflect on his love and celebrate his birth.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas.  Be careful as you travel, hug the ones you love closely and do a simple act of kindness for someone.  Be it a stranger or family.

Will

[John Morris]

Will, that is an outstanding piece of work!!! Thank you so much for posting here for all to see. The finish is really going to pop it! It is now, but after the finish, wow!

Will, sounds like your going to have a wonderful Christmas, and I wish the same for you, have a wonderful Merry Christmas sir and be well and safe in all that you do, and Happy New Year.

 Take care buddy and see ya around! Come on back!

Will Downing said:

I don't often contribute, but here's what I've finished up for Christmas for my mother to put photos of the grandkids on.I milled the cedar down from rough stock and have to put either a wax topcoat or spray on some semi-gloss enamal to provide some pop.

We will be at the in-laws over the weekend, and I plan on doing several "honeydo" projects for them, as they are in their 80's and even tightening cabinet doors and installing pullout shelving is difficult.  Simple projects, but deeply appreciated.  Christmas day will be spent at home with my wife and children.  Then I'll deliver this down home next weekend and spent precious time with my family.

It has been a difficult time in our area, and for the men and women that I work with over this last week.  But it will not cast a pall over the holiday.  The Lord's blessing is over all of us, and this is the time of year to reflect on his love and celebrate his birth.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas.  Be careful as you travel, hug the ones you love closely and do a simple act of kindness for someone.  Be it a stranger or family.

Will

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

[lew]

That wood is gorgeous!

Will Downing said:

I don't often contribute, but here's what I've finished up for Christmas for my mother to put photos of the grandkids on.I milled the cedar down from rough stock and have to put either a wax topcoat or spray on some semi-gloss enamal to provide some pop.

We will be at the in-laws over the weekend, and I plan on doing several "honeydo" projects for them, as they are in their 80's and even tightening cabinet doors and installing pullout shelving is difficult.  Simple projects, but deeply appreciated.  Christmas day will be spent at home with my wife and children.  Then I'll deliver this down home next weekend and spent precious time with my family.

It has been a difficult time in our area, and for the men and women that I work with over this last week.  But it will not cast a pall over the holiday.  The Lord's blessing is over all of us, and this is the time of year to reflect on his love and celebrate his birth.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas.  Be careful as you travel, hug the ones you love closely and do a simple act of kindness for someone.  Be it a stranger or family.

Will

[lew]

Love that design!!

Mike Dillen said:

John I got the Quilt stand sanded, assembled & stained. I posted pics on a separate post.

---

www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

[Gene Howe]

Black walnut?

Phil Chestnut said:

taking the next couple of days off from working on anythings and get things ready for Christmas. The I will start another Dulcimer. I am going to try and do a blog on how I make them. Please feel free to comment on it. Already have the  wood will be oak sides, poplar for the back and I am going to try aspen pine, but that could change. Not sure what would look good with oak.

---

http://www.prchestnut.webs.com/

[Phil Chestnut]

Gene would love to use Black walnut. But it's as hard to find around here as hen teeth. I could order from Folk Craft, I can get some booked matched for something like $24.00 pulse shipping that would be two pieces 4" x 32" with a thickness of 1/8" (finished to 120 grit).

---

http://www.prchestnut.webs.com/

[Phil Chestnut]

Will that is a beautiful piece of work. I'm a big fan of Cedar

Will Downing said:

I don't often contribute, but here's what I've finished up for Christmas for my mother to put photos of the grandkids on.I milled the cedar down from rough stock and have to put either a wax topcoat or spray on some semi-gloss enamal to provide some pop.

We will be at the in-laws over the weekend, and I plan on doing several "honeydo" projects for them, as they are in their 80's and even tightening cabinet doors and installing pullout shelving is difficult.  Simple projects, but deeply appreciated.  Christmas day will be spent at home with my wife and children.  Then I'll deliver this down home next weekend and spent precious time with my family.

It has been a difficult time in our area, and for the men and women that I work with over this last week.  But it will not cast a pall over the holiday.  The Lord's blessing is over all of us, and this is the time of year to reflect on his love and celebrate his birth.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas.  Be careful as you travel, hug the ones you love closely and do a simple act of kindness for someone.  Be it a stranger or family.

Will