Around here it’s been too cold to do much outside so I’ve been in the shed doing some scroll saw work. The shed is my only heated woodworking space and it’s limited to small tools, like my scroll saw and marquetry work. Here is a fun projects:
They are bunny rabbit napkin rings. I’m cutting these out of some poplar I salvaged from an old drawer. I don’t remember where I got the pattern, but I’m planning on making about 15 of these. I’ll make some napkins to go in them and likely sell them at the church’s autumn quilt sale.
Here’s a more difficult project I’ve been working on:
This is a filigree cross and I made two by stack cutting:
This second still has the pattern attached. Basically you stack two pieces of wood together and cut them as a unit — kind of a two for one sale, cut once, get two. The wood is a walnut veneer over an MDF core. It’s cheaper and more stable than solid walnut (it won’t warp due to humidity changes).
I’ve made these before and I just love the pattern. This is the third set of these I’ve cut. I wanted to have these done by last Easter, but now they’re just in time for this Easter. I still have to get all the pattern and tape off these and make stands for them. No idea what I am going to do with them. I might give them to friends and I just might keep one for me.
The first time I cut this pattern was just after I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and I found the process of making them to be meditative and reassuring. The second time I made these was at about five years after radiation treatment when the docs declared that I was in remission. Over the last few years there has been a concern that I might be heading for a recurrence so I decided it was time to cut another set.
It takes about 50 hours to cut the pattern — there are a couple of hundred holes — I tried to count once but lost track around 70 holes. Each hole is very small and I have to work with a magnifying lamp and very small blades. Still, I find the process to be prayerful, meditative and oddly relaxing.
And so far there is no medical evidence that my prostate cancer has recurred, but the doctor does have me on a close watch. So much fun.
Anyway that’s if from the shop — if you need me I’ll be in the shed trying to find that block of maple I bought to make the bases.
Andrew's View of the Week 
Great job, love the cross and the bunny napkin rings. You’ll be ready for Easter this year with your new kitchen too.
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I’m looking forward to having these out for Easter.
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Yes, it will be so nice!
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What a lot of talents you have, Andrew. Those crosses would require such skill. I love the bunny rabbits and would buy them in a second if I saw them in a store. We’ve sorta lost touch. It’s good seeing your blogs again…
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I haven’t been blogging much in the last year, but you might see more this year.
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Wow, those crosses are stunning. My mind boggles at your patience and precision. And I’m glad to hear you have a clean bill of health!
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It is an exercise in patience, but precision … well a little bit. I mean I mostly stayed on the lines.
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Someone’s Easter table is going to look great with the addition of those napkin rings. And thanks for sharing a photo of a finished cross (don’t remember seeing one before). Your mention of the crosses and your cancer remission has me believing a higher power is at work alongside you. Very glad to hear about the “no medical evidence”.
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I do find the practice of cutting the cross to be both prayerful and meditative. It’s more than just cutting a fancy thing.
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Yay! I’m so happy I get to see the finished crosses. They are so beautiful! And I’m so impressed with your patience making them. I’m not sure I would have managed that well. The rabbit napkin rings are so cute! And how many people can say they made the wooden rings and will also make the cloth napkins to go with them. I love how multi-talented you are!
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I like to have a lot of difference skills — never get bored that way.
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That’s so great. Good for you. 🙂
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The bunnies are cute. The crosses are magnificent! Fingers crossed on your prognosis.
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The bunnies are fun to make.
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I do scroll saw work so appreciate the incredible amount of patience that goes into these. Beautiful!
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I’ve been doing scroll saw work now for about 20 years and I never get tired of making things — even if they take a long time.
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The crosses are amazing, Andrew! Praying re. prostate cancer. (I’m being checked for it currently as well.)
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So far the indicators show nothing more than needing to be watchful. And do get yourself checked out. It’s been 15 years since my original diagnosis and I’m still going. It pays to be early in treating this thing if you do have it.
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Your wood working projects are awesome!
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I do love the way this one turned out.
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Those are pieces of art. Wonderful work Andrew.
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Thank you — it’s one of my favorite patterns.
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Ah, I wish I had your patience.
Here is hoping the CA stays away.
Hugs from snowy, SC.
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It is an exercise in patience. Normally I can only work for a couple hours before my body/mind rebel and I have to stop.
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Beautiful work, Andrew. It is good to see you in the shop again. 🙂
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It’s very good to be able to get into the shop.
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Wow! Andrew, these are beautiful and truly a labour of love. Keep well.
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It’s a project that I really love.
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Just in time. Those are wonderful.
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Thank you!
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What positivity you create and spread around! Thank you for the lovely artwork, images and post.
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Thank you. I just keep getting drawn back to this cross pattern.
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The cross is beautiful and the bunnies are fun. Hurrah for doctors keeping a close eye on. . . Favorite Guy is dealing with the same thing, along with Parkinson’s (expensive change in meds, can’t tell if it’s helping) and a blood disorder. I hope he can do outside work as soon as it warms up some–or a lot!
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I figure all is going well as long as I can keep working — even if it’s just small stuff.
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Love the cross! Prayers for your cancer.
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It has become a favorite thing for me to make. There are a million other patterns I could cut, but I keep getting drawn back to this one.
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