Workshop Variety Pack (3)

Several Projects Nearing Fini!

Birdhouse platform ready for pick up or delivery.

I sold one of my large birdhouses recently - a four-plex - and the buyer needed a platform for it and pole. Luckily I just happened to have some spare wood and a metal pole back at the workshop.

"All part of the plan, Gord?" someone might ask.

"Yyyyyup!"

Someone also might ask, "What's that old birdhouse doing on top of the red platform?"

It's sitting around waiting for repairs. I'll get to it soon.

 The unpainted wooden collar goes into the ground, for stability purposes.

 Ten-foot metal pole and sturdy platform and wooden collar.

I just have to add four screws to the underside of the platform.

Next up: I need to paint a wee sailboat and add second coats to white items.

When the white paint is dry I will add a title to this piece.

"Whale at Play"?

"Barney Eats His First Sailboat"?

Stay tuned.

Please link to Workshop Variety Pack (2).

Photos GH

Whale Time (6)

Slow But Easy Progress.

 Palm chisels from Lee Valley do most of the real work.

To do smaller versions of the real thing (e.g., whales in relief) all one needs is a pencil for sketching, a clean slab of wood, and a set of palm chisels from a reputable dealer, like Lee Valley. And don't forget the elbow grease.

I will continue the slow but easy progress as time allows. I am spending less time in the workshop now that my first spring sale is over and as writing projects come to the fore. That being said, I will putter around in the shop, hoping to complete a few more 'whales in relief' as the summer temperatures warm up the shop.

With a bit of sanding (and more elbow grease) I was able to clean up the whale after the first coat of light blue paint made it look as if it had been eating paint balls for lunch. The dark blue paint was applied a few days ago and - after sanding again - the sky now needs a second coat.

Then I can add black to the whale, white to the water line and out side of the frame, and primary colours to the wee sailboat.

"Add black to the whale":

Next up: White water line and outer edge. 

Slow but sure will win this race and I bet I'll be done by the end of June, as long as other workshop projects (related to birdhouses and repairs) don't pile up.

More to follow.

Please link to Whale Time (5).

Photos GH

Whale Time (5).

It Swallowed a Paintball?

[Last look at the cleaner than clean version.]

Yesterday afternoon, once I'd returned from the YMCA and mowed the front lawn, I propped up the nice, clean version of "Whale at Play" on my work bench and applied the first coat of blue paint.

["Looks pretty good from way back here!" I say.]

For the most part the first bit of painting went fairly quickly. But once I started the fussy edge work and spaces in tight corners - things got messy!

["Hey! Stay inside the lines," says one side of my brain.] 

["Looks like it ate a bag of paintballs!"]

I agree, it does look like the whale enjoys a side dish of paintball with its krill. But, once the paint is dry, a light sanding will remove excess paint, and I'll have smooth edges where they are needed.

No problemo, I say.

More to follow.

Please link to Whale Time (4).

Photos GH

Whale Time (4).

Playing with the Third Whale.

["Whale at Play" unpainted]

I thought I would try an art piece smaller than the first two, on 12 by 12-inch white pine barn board.

So far, so good, I think.

[The whale seems to be having a good time at any rate]

While removing a layer of wood from number three, my mind went back to the nice large "rectangular" shape of number two, and an idea sprang to mind that will likely become whale number four.

Number Two:

["Remember me? I'm actually a citizen of Canada, eh."]

My next project will likely be "The All-Canadian Whale", sporting a Canadian flag, maybe even with a large plate of poutine. Or, half-price wings from Morrissey House, London?

There are still small piles of wood in the shop waiting to be sanded and then turned into lovely log cabin birdhouses too (like the one below):

["Nice perch," I say!] 

So, when time allows, the workshop will be home to summertime hobbies 'on the go.'

Stay tuned.

Please link to Whale Time (3).

Photos GH

Whale Time (3).

Extra Extra Photos of Gord's Whales.

I had good fun making these first art pieces. (Yes, I quickly overused the phrase "had a whale of a time.")

Next projects -

Whale with a Sail.

The All-Canadian Whale

Extra, extra!

Please link to Whale Time (2).

Whale Time (2).

Whale 2 - Voila!

[Deep-sea diver needs a rear-view mirror!]

[Ever thought of yourself as an entree?]

I could have called this piece of wood work "Swim, Forrest, Swim!" But "Fast Food" stayed on my mind because I was hungry at the time I reached for my metal letter kit and punch.

My first two whale-art-pieces now adorn my study and are inspiring a few other ideas, one already started as seen below:

[All the wood shavings make a good fire-starter.]

The whale and sailboat may be ready for sanding and painting by the end of this week, so I may have a wee sale of odds and ends in my driveway this weekend. Yard sale, birdhouse sale, whale sale - three in one!

Over the next ten years I'll actually have to have many a sale to help clear out stuff in my basement! Having a few hand-made pieces should make the sales a bit more fun.

More to follow.

Please link to Whale Time (1).

Photos GH

Whale Time (1).

Dry Wood and Palm Chisels. And Paint.

[My back deck is big enough for one blue whale.]

Now that I have finished a dozen birdhouses and tidied up the workshop I can give attention to two or three slats of wood that seem to be perfect for a bit of art craft.

A piece of fir from an old shelf - flat, almost knot-free, and easy to chisel - has been repurposed with a pencil sketch of a whale and help from a set of palm chisels. Removing a 1/8th-inch-thick (approx.) layer of fir from all the right places, one small stroke at a time, can be relaxing work. Sanding and painting the resulting surfaces can be the same.

Soon after I took the top photograph I added navy blue trim as a frame. More rescued lumber came in handy and looks pretty good, in my opinion.

["Singing the Blues" is ready for market, so to speak.] 

A dry piece of pine barn board (12 by 24-inches), rough on both sides, also took well to a pencil sketch, this time of a stylish, yet territorial and squared-headed whale. 

 ["Swim, Forrest, Swim!"]

[A few more details are still required.]

I have been spreading the news that my work in the shop will be slowing down as my research and writing efforts gradually increase (related to my Dad's Navy days). 

If another weekly column finds its way into my routine then expect to be informed on this space, or redirected to a new blog related to the new column.

And more whales will follow too, just for the fun of it.

Please link to Workshop Variety Pack (2).

Photos GH