November through December Part 3

It was coming fast our daughters 40th birthday, I'd made the pens as requested. Sue was busy in the Kitchen as well as spinning,weaving, gardening and chores. Oh no I wasn't sitting about doing nothing secret project on the bench yet to be relieved.

Cooking well nothing new coming up from Christmas just making four Gingerbread Houses in one go as well as cookies.

These three Gingerbread Houses below showing back and front were for our Children down in Sydney. The cookies for friends down there also. Now what was she thinking????

Somewhere in between all of the above she had time to do some dyeing.

 A Sunday drive up to Woodford to pick up and buy some fibre very nice Grey fibre which was originally from Tasmania not the Alpaca we went for. However sue got to have a play on a Wind Wheel.

 

She did get time to sit and relax........well sort of sorting dyed fibre.

 Add to these things making eight jars of Mustard Pickles two of which went to Sydney to a mate desperate as he'd run out of Sue's home made and had to resort to a commercial brand. 

It made the Christmas Tree just in time for New year hand made lace.

November through December Part 2

We had Den back again this time to construct and install a vine climbing frame for Sue's Jasmin, took Den about 4 hours to construct, bore the holes pour the cement have it set up.

Since then Sue has slowly constructed a new garden along the fence line plants include are as follows :- Jasmin, Lavender, two varieties of Gardenia, Pineapple Sage, Butterfly plant (vine) which is to the right post. A scattering of Marigold and a Salvia on left side of post some I've forgotten.
 

I'm missing some photos of all the plants in will post them when I locate or take new ones.

November Through December Part 1

Hope all had a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.

Since the previous post in November things happened in all directions.

These are in no particular order of events, projects etc.

In the wood work department the need to update an tool handle made 40+ years ago at work (so you can say it was factory made) became a reality. Along with making a similar one for another similar tool. These being a Flat profile Body File and a 1/2 round also which the two blades I scored at a sale during the year.
The timber is Queensland Qulited Maple from Richard which I mentioned and had a photo of back in June -September.

 Roughed out top & right is the 1/2 round
Below is the flat frame with a very different horn for better grip.

 Right out of the scrap I made a very small hand held bow sander.

 Left is my 40+ year old Oregon body file handle it has seen many jobs over that time.
Below the underside where the file impression has been left in the wood.

Although I drilled the holes for the dowel at 3/4" 19mm the dowel at hand wasn't large enough so I used bicycle inner tube o help secure the strip of linishing paper. I will turn up better fitting dowels to secure it.

Started  Last January when I made my cousin Keith's wife Avis her Lazy Susan, this Camphor bowl has sat in the Cole Jaws all that time. In comparison the gain and colour was vastly different out of the one bit of timber.

Inside has been oiled with Macadamia Nut oil as it will be used for food. The underside is yet to be finished???? An experiment in colouring wood about to happen.

 Sue requested I whip up a Russian style drop spindle out a piece of timber she like in the workshop, from memory it is Celery Top Pine. A little light for this use but she likes it.

 

A repair to my two draw tool box, just prior moving the runner on the top draw right side decided to loose bearings and headed south. I finally ordered from McJings at Yagoona four new draw runners and replaced the lot. That however cost me more than the runners as I had to buy an air rivet gun also none of my hand ones would pull well enough the 5/16 riverts which were all sealed type.
 

Four Plus Eight

Our daughters 40th birthday is not far off we had asked what she would like as a gift?? It just so happened she had dropped her fountain pen nib first onto a tile floor days before. Come to think of it it was the first pen I turned (I knew i should never have started Sue was supposed to have made it)

Oh well.

I sent Bel over to see Adrian at Trend Timbers to see what kits and blanks they had, just so happened Adrian had a two pack of the same kit style which he was able to replace the nib straight away. One happy daughter. I got Bel to send the remaining full and nib-less kit up hoping I in my spare parts had also a spare. Sure did!

Then to choose blanks, that took a while some emails and phone calls back and forth resulting in a White theme like snow. The two Barons one became False Ivory the other White Wedding.

The choice for the two Pristina fountain pens which resulted in White Frosting (close enough to snow) and Perl Opal.



















I rang an old client who also have a thing for fountain pens he request three more he'll get first pick of three Queensland Red Gum Cross cross cut, one Wenge, one Huon Pine Burl or from two of the Mackay Flame Cedar he is more into timber than acrylic. There is one more White Frosting in that group.

 

Left to right
Baron with False Ivory, Baron with White Wedding.
Pristina's
Perl Opel, White Frosting, Qld Red Gum cross cut, Wenge, White Frosting,Mackay Flame Cedar, Huon Pine

To Save Or Not to Save?? First of Long Projects Completed

The Ipswich Historical Society Spinners &Weavers had a small two shaft loom which had seen better days, the main frame made of ply had de-laminated in a few places. Sue brought it home and I had very quick first inspection (I do mean I glanced over it went hum yeh ok not really taking it in). She had brought two home or was it three so long ago I can't recall.  Ah it was three Sue repaired one, I did a small few fixes on the other but the wee little two shaft got constantly sidelined.

Finally Sue brought it out one day sat it down in front of me asking what glue she might use to fix the lamination bits with?? I looked up and saw a far greater sight than what she could see. The whole side I was looking at had started to separate not just at the edges but right along the edge and top layer and half way through. The other side wasn't much better.

I hate being the bearer of bad news. Could it be saved? What can you do? Is it better to turf it? What will it cost ( I hate that question)? Can you do a quote?

An sms to the powers to be and a Facebook message some weeks latter I got the go ahead as the ladies collectively had to decide.



Dismantled and read to mark out new patterns.

On dismantling one side the centre layer of plywood fell out no help required.



New plywood sides cut and fit, a bit of tweaking, two new end caps fitted to retain the back and front beams. Sue made new Hedles more than doubling what was on it after I assembled.

Hopefully it will last a few years and get many new weavers interested.