The most important action is the first one. Recording your creative ideas in some way. Carrying a small notebook in my pocket and keeping  one next to my bed is the best way to begin the process. A simple notation combined with a quick drawing (if it is visual) helps me to release the inspiration and move on to the next creative inspiration.  Some ideas will be more compelling and motivating than others and will require further clarification. A better visual representation is needed to find out if it is practical to move forward. A set of colored pencils and some sketch paper is a great way to get it down and on its way. Another way is a simple drawing program on your computer. Google offers a free drawing program with good tutorials to get you started. Either way you will have a dimensional view of what you want to create with a better understanding of the feasibility of pursuing a working model. From these notes and images, you can now prioritize your next move.

The second part of the process is to gather the materials needed  to create a working model. I first try to find what I need locally and then if anything is not available, I will search the Internet. The plan here is to find out what will work to bring my ideas to life, then if things turn out the way I envisioned I will try to find resources that will bring the cost down. One thing to remember at this point, your first model will most likely have some problems. Things may not turn out the way you thought. The materials may not come together as planned, but then again they might and you will be on your way to your next creation or line . This is a critical point in the process. Many times it will come down to your success or failure. It is the point where some people will get discouraged and quit. Others will be spurred on to making the necessary changes and moving forward. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes an idea may not be worth moving forward and sometimes it might. As you grow and learn in this creative process you will become better at knowing when something is feasible.  Many times I have stopped at this point and I revisited the project many months later with a fresh vision and determination to bring the idea to  a successful and profitable completion.  On the other hand, I may look back and was glad I didn’t move forward with my time and expense.

The third part to bringing your ideas to life is to share it with the world. To continue forward with your time and effort will only be worth it in the long run if people want what you have to offer. At this point you will need to expose your results to the general public. Not necessarily for sale because you probably haven’t built an inventory of any quantity yet but in a limited way just to get reaction. There are many ways to do this, for example if you make jewelry having friends and family wear your jewelry and ask them to record how many times they noticed someone looking at it or asking about it. If you know someone having a home jewelry party, craft show or if you are having one yourself, wear some of your new creations - take note of any reaction and interest. (Note: it doesn’t have to be jewelry, you can display anything: visual art, photography, sculpture, quilts).  If you have a new piece of wood art, a painting or a sculpture, you may find a restaurant or busy office to display your work. You will be surprised how many people are willing to help you out. For example, I contacted a couple of busy Veterinarian Hospitals and spoke with the owner with a proposition that I would do a Wood Portrait of their pet if they would allow me to display it in their office in a prominent spot. Make certain that the employees have a general knowledge of you and your work. Leave cards with the art and with the owner and workers.  If you are an established artisan, you can send an e-mail or postcards with and introductory offer for a new item and record the response.

The fourth part of the process is production. I am not talking about mass production, but what I want to do now is to refine the process, to reduce the amount of labor and cost involved - the best order to complete each item, the best tools to use, the best resources and materials. All these things will allow me to provide the best products and offer them at a price people are willing to pay and one that I can also make a reasonable profit. The ultimate measuring stick of success with a project is when someone is interested in what I have created enough to want to buy it. It is very rewarding to create beautiful objects, but satisfaction is completed with a profitable sale and a happy customer.

Getting your Art and Craft Ideas out of your head and into reality is no different than putting your work clothes on, one piece at a time. With repetition you will hone your skills and this will all become second nature. This is a process that I apply to create wall wood art, jewelry, wood portraits and many other mixed media fine crafts. You can apply the same process to any craft ideas, or visual art project that you want. Your comments and input are valued and encouraged by using the Comment Link Below.

The wide appeal of wood art is evident everywhere. You see wood incorporated in design and decoration applied in various ways (making bold statements not only in structural design and interior design, but also used as an accompanying complementary function in décor). There is always a place for the beauty of wood and its warm soothing effect on our everyday lives.

For the Designer, Craftsmen or Artist incorporating and creating wood art is a matter of taste and skill. Creating wood art has limitless possibilities. The types of tools available today are unmatched in availability, quality and specific purpose. With so many tools and information available, shaping and creating unique works of wood art has never been so popular. Along with that, there has been a tremendous increase in the variety of wood that is available to the serious craftsmen and hobbyist alike.

Finding your niche in this popular medium will take some analysis and development of skills in your desired direction. Determining tools and supplies needed, experimentation in design and technique, testing the marketplace and pricing will all come in to play. Last, but not least, is persistence and determination. This will be needed to hone and develop your skills. With that you will certainly develop your unique style and impact this growing art form.

Tips To Get Started

1. Build on the skills you already have (if you paint use paint in some way in your design)

2. Find ideas in books, magazines and the internet (find other art done in another material and recreate it, incorporating wood)

3. Use found material and develop ideas with them.

4. Start small and go from there (Ex: bookmarks, to wall art)

There are many resources available for the Wood Art Craftsman. Flood your mind with creativity, use books, the library, magazines and the internet for fuel. Carry a small notebook and record ideas and information as it hits you.

Do you have a question or a comment? Click the comment link below. Thanks for stopping by! Like this post? Publish It On Your Own Blog

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

Today’s woodworking craftsmen often use dovetail jigs to create these same joints with precision and speed. While they are strong and beautiful, the result is less personal and lacks the small inconsistencies that point to a true handmade look and feel.

There are many types of dovetail joinery, but one of the most beautiful and interesting is the Double Cut Dovetail. When done by hand you will discover this joinery is a truly unique and functional work of craftsmanship. This type of dovetail joinery makes a bold statement in drawers, chest and small boxes.

If you are interested in learning this technique and adding a true signature handmade statement to your woodworking designs, follow the simple and complete instructions by Martin Eckhardt. Martin is a fine craftsman and fellow contributor to the Lumber Jocks Woodworking Community. Thanks to Martin for helping myself and others learn this beautiful technique. It is truly an example of wood art.

P. S. When learning this dovetail joinery or any other, just remember there is a learning curve involved. Don’t start with difficult exotic hardwoods, give yourself time and practice often. You will improve as you go.

Your Comments are always welcome. If you are interested in future postings as they come available, don’t forget to subscribe to feed link at the bottom of the page.

Click Here to Learn Secrets to Selling Your Art

Woodworking Is Art

Here is the short list of things I would like to explore.

• Learning How to Make Molds for Casting
• Get Better Using My Airbrush
• Glass Fusing And Slumping
• Learning More Inlay Techniques
• Welding

After spending some time searching the internet and visiting different forums, I found a site made for people like me.

It is a video rental site with over 5000 Videos in 228 Categories. They have excellent videos in all the categories I am interested in and many others that I had never heard of. Overall it is a really nice collection of How To Videos that will enable you to explore and gain valuable knowledge in many hand-on craftsman skills.

The videos are $9.99 for a week. It may seem a little high, but I would rather do that than buy pricey videos and find out it was only a passing interest. Oh, by the way, I rented “Steve Bleile’s Arc Welding” and was very happy with the product and the information. The customer reviews on this one were excellent. When you click on a product you are interested in, just scroll down to see the reviews.

Click on the “How Its Works” link to get the details for the rental policy.

I hope this is useful to you and I am always interested in what you have to say, so please leave a comment by clicking the link below.

For now I have two things to pass on to you that really caught my attention while searching for a woodworking design and crafting idea books at Amazon.com.

First: Amazon.com has a new wireless reading device called “Kindle“. Here are some of the features.

1. It is only 10.3 oz
2. Holds over 200 books, newspapers and blogs. (With more storage on SD Cards)
3. Reads like real paper
4. You can find, buy and read instantly with wireless access
5. No computers or cables
6. You can bring it anywhere (doctors office, train, picnic, airport, etc.)
7. Over 100,000 books, newspapers and blogs with more added each day
8. No service plan or commitments
9. Long life battery

It is something that an information junkie like me could really use ( I hope my wife or daughter reads this post).

Second: If you are interested in the Kindle, woodworking books or anything at Amazon.com, You can instantly save $30.00 by signing up for an a Amazon.com Visa Card (It is a no annual fee card).

Search for the products you want. Then after selecting you item for the Shopping Cart you will see a banner add for the card with a button that say’s, Get Back $30.00.   Click that button and on the right side of the next page you will see a banner the says, Complete the 3 Easy Steps. Don’t forget to read the details of the card agreement to make sure it suits your needs.

Once you are done, the card number will be added to your account immediately, with the actual card mail out to you. Earning reward points with your new card is another added benefit. Three points for every dollar spent on Amazon.com and one point per dollar spent on anything else. When you reach 2500 points you will automatically receive $25.00 Amazon Reward Certificate in the mail.

The Kindle wireless reading device and many of the woodworking and crafting books have Free Shipping just look for it in the details of the product.

I’m not real big on having a lot of credit cards, but I like the idea of getting the bonus spending money with it.

I hope this information was helpful to you. Please leave any comments below. I would love to here from you.

Thanks, Richard

The wood was unused flooring from a local company that was moving to a new location and offered remnants for free on the Internet. How did I find this beautiful woodworking material?

Here is what you need to do to find all kinds of Free Stuff.

http://www.Craigslist.org has a variety of categories, but for the free woodworking materials, free tools and free craft supplies  in your area click on

1. Your State
2. Choose City
3. Go to “For Sale” Section
4. Then Click “Free”

Other Sections worth checking out are the “material”, “tools” and “wanted”.

The best times to check in for the latest posting are on Friday Evenings and Saturday Mornings. Don’t forget to check the past weeks postings because those items may still be available. If you are looking in the other sections other than the free section keep these points in mind.

1. Save some cash by negotiating, they usually are flexible
2. Keep your money and trade a product or service
3. Save your gas, ask if they can deliver

One other idea: If you have a place to store some items, a lot of what I see here in my area can be sold at garage sales. This might be an opportunity to donate items you have collected to your Church or Favorite Ministry to be sold at a garage sale fundraiser.

The Freestanding Cupboard above was built following a fine joinery tutorial and cupboard design by Mike Dunbar in “Fine Woodworking” Oct 2001 No. 151.

Like most plans that I follow, I made some changes to the dimensions and design. Most notable, I used  contrasting wood for the door panel, different hinges and a simple cove molding profile.

If you check in to Craigslist, you might find some very suprising free stuff. Keep taking the steps to improving your skills and expanding your creative talents. Always remember that a good craftsman isn’t one that doesn’t make mistakes, he or she just knows how to fix them. 

Okay, it’s not the bookmark of the future, but follow these simple instructions to create bookmarks that are functional, desirable and profitable.

Before we get started with the first installment of the bookmark tutorial series, let me point out the four criteria I was trying to meet with this simple, but profitable project.

1. I wanted an unconventional contemporary looking bookmark. A design that someone would want to hang on to, like a good pair of sunglasses. One that I would be disappointed to lose.
2. I wanted a unique and inexpensive gift product priced between $6 and $10.
3. I wanted a product that could be used as a calling card. Like a functional business card. Painting, writing or burning your Name, web-site and phone information somewhere on it.
4. I wanted a product that can be produced easily, quickly and with little  material cost. Most can be made from scraps and a small amount of shop time.

This design fits all this and is an opportunity for You to grow your woodworking or fine crafts business. 

To Start:

Cut four strips of wood (I used Tulipwood and Black Walnut for this example) 1/8 inch x 2 inches x 2 feet. Caution: Cutting thin strips can be challenging and dangerous. Use proper precautions and feather boards. Keep your fingers away from the blade with push sticks and protect your eyes.

Tip: Open the back side of your fence by 1/32 inch to prevent burn, limit blade marks and help prevent binding. This will reduce sanding time later.

I then tape the four strips together with blue painters tape to form a bundle. Crosscut the bundle into random lengths (using a crosscut jig will help prevent tear out). For this demonstration I cut a 1 inch, 2 inch, 3 inch, 4 inch, 5 inch and 6 inch length. Keep the bundles in order this will help you later during assembly.

For the next part you will need a simple right angle jig to assist you in designing, gluing and clamping. Nail a couple of scraps about a foot long together to form a right angle.

Begin your design blank by laying one six inch strip in the jig and add more layers to your desired width (mine is about 1 1/4 inches wide). Tip: Because of slight differences in thickness, keeping pieces cut from the same strip on the same plane will give you a better fit). End with another six inch strip.

Once you have a look that you are happy with, carefully remove the bundle from the jig and place it on its side. Place a piece of wax paper in the jig. Then brush woodworkers glue on the inside of the first piece and place it into the jig. (Note: Don’t overdue it with the glue. A nice even coat will due). Take each layer, add glue on the away side and rebuild the design into the jig. Use a piece of scrap to add to the outer side and clamp the bundle into the jig. Leave it to dry overnight.

After removing from the clamps, clean up the profile sides with a belt sander or running it through the table saw. Then carefully cut the bookmarks to desired width. I usually cut mine just shy of 1/8 inch around 3/32 inch. Caution: Cutting thin strips can be challenging and dangerous. Use proper precautions and feather boards. Keep your fingers away from the blade with push sticks and protect your eyes. Remember if you leave the back end slightly open you will reduce burn and blade marks and reduce the chance of binding.

From this blank I got ten bookmarks. We are now ready to sand with 100 grit sandpaper then 220 grit, removing any imperfections and burn marks. It can be done by hand or with an oscillating sander.

This is the time to burn your contact information into the bookmarks, if that is the look you desire. I usually write mine with a fine tip pen or marker after the first coat of spray sealer. This will prevent bleeding into the wood grain. For a nice even finish, thread a wire through each piece, attach each end, separate and spray with Minwax fast-drying polyurethane satin finish.

A light sand with 320 grit and apply another coat of spray sealer and you are done. Congratulations!!!

Tip: If you make several bundles you will reduce your setup and shop time and increase your bottom line. Here is my Top Recommendation to grow your business and become a Thriving Craftsman. 

I hope you found this tutorial to be beneficial to you. Don’t forget to subscribe to my feed at the bottom of the page. Share this website and stay in touch. More from the Bookmark Series and other useful and profitable Fine Crafts to come.

 http://www.amaco.com/amaco-relief-sculpture.html

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The Fine Craft of Webcomics

Here is a link to a new book that just came out. I just recieved it and it has a lot of information to help you get going. Webcomic strips are growing fast and there isn’t much info out there to teach people to get it out on the internet. Release your Inner Comic, Get This Book.   How to Make Webcomics