Friday, December 16, 2011
Making Wooden Figures
In October we bought a scroll saw for $50 on Craigslist. After much
adoring and drooling over wooden toys and figures that we just couldn't afford, I
told Hans it was time we learned to make our own. I was impressed with how emphatically he agreed! So we picked up the scroll saw and made our plans. I bought a sheet of
pine, traced our figures, and he started cutting.
At first I was worried about ruining the surprise for Hannah, but I think she has enjoyed being a part of the process even more than the end products!
While some of the patterns were my own creation, I derived a lot of inspiration from Pinterest. :) Our Nativity set probably won't be completed this Christmas, but that
hasn't stopped Hannah from playing with and recognizing the characters
in their rough cut form. Childrens' imaginations are very resourceful that
way. :)
Now comes the even longer and more tedious task of sanding, sanding
sanding. I'm trying to be very zen about my sanding. I want them to feel
smooth and warm to the touch. By the time they are all sanded, painted
and polished, we'll either be sick of the project or have a life long
hobby. Either way, we're happy in the moment, and that's all that
matters, really.
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11 comments:
They are beautiful! I also bought a scroll saw recently to make some wooden toys, but we live in an apartment until next summer, so it's in storage for now. I can't wait to have a house and "play" in the garage too!
Oh, I totally know how that feels! We only just moved into our first house. Good luck to you on the move next summer, and thanks for stopping by!
These look great, I started not long ago too, and now I'm addicted!
I love that idea and would really enjoy trying that myself. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, those are beautiful already and what great savings! Is the scroll saw really that easy?
How fun!! I have gone the other route of having a friend who is good at woodworking do all the cutting, etc. for me and then I finish the toys.
dionne - it really is that easy! Since we didn't have an instruction manual for our saw, we watched youtube videos on how to change and "tune" the blade, and tips for cutting. The internet is a fabulous teacher! :)
Yes...you'll have to figure out a way to cope with the sanding!! They are looking wonderful, though, and I think it's a great lesson for your little one...
seeing the hard work and time these playthings take to make!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you, Heather. I always feel like there's a delicate balance between letting my child SEE me make things for her, and letting her be surprised. Most times it boils down to not having enough alone time to get anything done! I should place more value in what the process might be teaching her. That is a gift that will last a lifetime, while a surprise only lasts a moment!
Love the nativity!!
I want to be a scroll now! But I am not sure I want to spend so much time sanding. =)
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