It seems as though it was only a few weeks ago we were starting a new year and here we are almost at the end. Christmas is just a few days away and hopefully you have all your shopping done and the shop projects finished or close to finishing. I fall into that close to finishing category.

I am working to finish about five projects so I may be working up till Christmas Eve. Tonight I have to finish this Toy Box. The customer will pick it up first thing in the morning and head out to have Christmas.

So here is the toy chest right now.

Doesn't look much like a toy chest yet. I will get the panels glued at lunch time today and then put together tonight. I don't have to finish it, just have it sanded so I will make the dead line on this one.

All of this is poplar and it all came from the same tree, but when I started planing there were several boards with this red color. First time I have ever seen this in poplar.

I have seen that in Elm, but never in poplar. Oh well.

So what about you, what is on your woodworking agenda this weekend? Are you doing the mad rush to finish projects and taking it easy and everything it done? Spending time around the fire roasting chestnuts and watching White Christmas? We hear at TPW want to know what you are working on, so please post those plans and projects and share them with us.

What are you waiting on, post those projects and pictures.

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John Moody
Site Administratorhttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com
“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.†Shaker Saying

Thanks for update, John.  As for me, shopping is done and Christmas projects are shipped.  Only have three more projects to complete to be shipped next week.  Have two projects here at the house to be picked up.

Merry Christmas one and all.

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

John,

I have never seen red in Poplar before either and I have used a lot of it over the years.

I have to finish painting the children's rocking chair today as I have to drop it off to my sister next week before Christmas for her to take to my niece who gave birth to a son a month ago. It is 6 pieces with 2 sides, 1 back, 1 seat, 1 front stretcher and 1 locking key. It is being done in 4 primary colors red, blue, green and yellow. I got everything painted except for the front stretcher and locking key which will both be yellow. Since they are the smallest and easiest to do, I saved them for last so I don't get color contamination with over spray. Our weather here in So. Calif. has fluctuated considerably. We were up in the 80's when I was getting ready to paint and setting things up in the shop, but then the temps dropped down into the 40's-50's and rain which has slowed down the paint drying process. But today I will have it all wrapped up as the rain has gone but it is still chilly today.

Here are a couple of pics of a previous rocking chair that I made in the same color scheme.

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Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

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

“Our greatest fear should not be that we won’t succeed,
but that we will succeed at something that doesn’t matter.â€
D.L. Moody

I lost my chance to get much done this week.

The one day the temps were up to 42* in the shop I had too many other things going on. The next day it was 20* and snowing so most everything is on hold until after Christmas.

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

John, Better hurry! Red poplar...weird, but sorta neat, too.

Allen, That rocker is really sweet. I'll bet they'll love it. I do like the color scheme. Nice paint job, too.

That's a bummer, Harry. No heat in the shop? Elves on strike?

I managed to remove and remake the three drawer fronts I screwed up. The design doesn't allow for protruding pulls. So, I make divots with a 33mm Forstner and then a piece of 1/4" walnut is inlaid across the divot. I'll try again but this time I'll do the divots and inlays BEFORE gluing up the drawers. Wish me luck. I need luck as skills are limited.

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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

No work for me for a while. Had surgery on my left knee so will be out of the shop for a while. Here is a photo of one of the last things I got finished. So maybe I will get time now to draw up and design a few pieces I need for the shop. Cut from Black Cherry and Hard Maple.

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

Wow, Wayne. That is really, really nice.

Hope your knee get's to feeling better quick. 

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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

Very nice Wayne. I am scheduled to have my right knee scoped on jan. 3rd. Welcome to a new year.

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John Moody
Site Administratorhttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com
“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.†Shaker Saying

Wow John. You start the new year the way I ended mine. Best of everything with yours my friend.

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.