A Few New Clocks

There's a lot of variation available in making clocks. I have every confidence that I will never run out of ideas for new ones, only time to make them. 

Here's a few of the newest ones:

Hard Maple Clock $55

This is solid hard maple, showing off the rings as well as the bark and features a 2 3/4" clock insert.

Eagle Mini Clock $45

Eagle mini clock made from pine, stained Minwax cherry with a 1 7/16" insert.

Wolf Mini Clock $45

Wolf mini clock made from pine stained Minwax mahogany.

As always, any ideas for your own personalized clock are welcome. Contact me at mapleridgecreations@gmail.com for consultations and pricing. 

Custom Puzzle: Stained Bassett Hound

So a little while ago I was at a show and I was approached by Rob. Really, this is Rob's story...but it could just as easily be yours.

Rob was interested in a puzzle, specifically my puppy puzzle. However, Rob was hoping for a bit more than that. He wanted to know if could maybe stain some colour spots on the puppy to make it look like his basset hound. Seemed like a nice idea, but I told him we could do better...

Rob gave me some specifics on the colours of his basset hound: black on the back with brown head and feet. 

After looking at some images of basset hounds, we moved to create a silhouette pattern and then did the custom stain job. Once the stain was dry I cut the image into puzzle pieces. 

Custom Basset Hound Puzzle $15

Personally I think it came out pretty well. There are no facial features (most notably eyes), but then I don't consider myself that sort of an artist and Rob hadn't expected any.

So how can Rob's story be your story?

If you have (or had) a dog that you would like to have become the basis of a puzzle, let me know. If you send me a picture that's even better. Almost any breed of dog can be done, capturing the particular characteristics that set that breed aside and colouring the puzzle to make it look like your particular dog.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Anchor of Hope and Zella's Christmas Craft Sale

Just a quick note tonight to let everyone know about 2 local sales in Madoc this weekend.

First off, I should mention Zella's Christmas Craft sale. This is a sales venue open Thursday, Friday and Saturday every weekend through the month of November. The sale features a number of local artisans selling Christmas decor, toys, baked goods and lots of one of a kind items that make great ideas for gifts.

The sale is located between Robin's Diner (at the lights in Madoc) and the laundromat and runs from 9am to 2pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For those who are curious, Zella is the woman who has organised the Friday Farmer's market in Madoc for the last few years. She's (I think) 91 years young.

The big sale of the weekend (at least  for the Madoc area) is the Boutique of Hope. This is a massive (read: over 100 vendors) sale to be held at Centre hastings Secondary School (CHSS aka the high school) in madoc this Saturday from 9am to 4pm. Proceeds go to the Anchor of Hope Pregnancy and Family Care Centre. See their facebook page here.

As for new things this week: yup. Working on nativity scenes, some special boxes and more. I might get a post up tomorrow with some pics but if I don't you'll have to catch me at a show or send me an email at mapleridgecreations@gmail.com to get your hands on it.

Hope to see you on the weekend.

The Joy of Finishing

It's been a long day in the shop and I'm not done yet, but i thought I'd take a short break for a quick post. 

Just for a bit of fun I thought I'd talk, just for a moment, about finishing. Specifically, why finishing is important. 

All of the pics posted here are of a small freeform carving I did from a piece of ash root a short time ago. Above and below are front and bottom shots after sanding was done but before finish was applied.

At this point it's not a bad looking piece (IMHO) but it's also not particularly eye catching either.

Here (above and below) are shots of the same piece after a couple coats of finish (clear shellac in this case). 

A little bit of finish can really make the grain pop and bring out the colour of the wood. 

I could talk for a long time about selecting finishes, what to use when, etc. etc. but for tonight I just wanted to show off the difference a little finish can make to a piece. 

I will be setting up at Zella's Christmas Craft show tomorrow (located between Robin's Backwoods Cafe and the laundromat in Madoc) and getting ready for the Boutique of Hope sale at CHSS on Saturday. Hope to see you there!

The Rest of November...

I've been behind in announcing my pre-Christmas sales this year, but here at least is the rest of the month:

November 15: The Anchor of Hope in Madoc will be hosting the first annual Boutique of Hope. The event will be held at Centre Hastings Secondary School in Madoc from 9 until 4. Over 100 vendors are expected to be in attendance. As this is a fundraiser there will be a $2 admission cost with proceeds going to the Anchor of Hope. See their facebook page here.

The 15-16 also marks the date for The Holiday Mama Market in Belleville. The event will be hosted at Momstown Belleville located at 100 Station Street in Belleville. Many local crafters and vendors will have their goods on display, so if you're in the Belleville area, stop in.
*Update: Due to a change of plans on my part, I will not be participating in the Mama Market this time. Go ahead and stop in anyway!

November 21-22 I will be at the Quinte Christian High School Fall Vendors Market. This was a huge sale last year with great products all around. QCHS is located at 138 Wallbridge Loyalist Road on the West end of Belleville, just North of Hwy 2. See their facebook page here for more info.

November 29-30 I can be found at the Cooper Craft Sale. Located just a few minutes off the beaten path North of Madoc at the Cooper Women's Institute. Not a big sale, but there's no admission, and there are some great finds to be had. Homestyle cooked food will be available as well and it's not too late to order something custom and handmade from some of the area's best craftspeople. See their ad for the event here.

I should also mention that through the entire month I will have a table at Zella's Craft Show, located next to Robin's Cafe in Madoc. The store is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through to the end of the month, from 9am to 2pm. Several vendors are represented there, so especially if you're a local, check it out.

I'm still making plans for December. Hoping to visit Amazing Coffee again this year, but we haven't set a date yet. If you know of a sale or event in December, or would like to have me in your area, send me an email at mapleridgecreations@gmail.com.

QCHS Looking for Vendors

Just a quick note to any local artisans or crafters.

I received an email from the folks running the QCHS Fall Vendors Market saying that they still have some space at their sale this year.

Anyone interested should call  613-827-2343 or email Anita at qchsvendorsmarket@gmail.com.

I was there last year and had a great time and I will be returning this year.

See the poster for more information.

Direct Ordering through the Blog

Up until now, I have not sold items directly through the blog (this website), only showcased some of what I have made. I have sold through a number of other venues (such as etsy, ebay, farmer's markets, etc.) but since all of these venues have limitations to them and even craft sales generally limit the amount of things I can showcase, I have decided to begin selling directly though the blog (hoping to get a proper website up sometime.

"Jesus is the Reason for the Season" Custom word art for client: $40

What I will be doing is going through all of my previous posts (or at least the ones featuring products) and posting prices to them. These will either be in a prominent spot in the article or under a photo of the products. Along with this will be a contact link to allow easy communication between the customer (you) and the vendor (me).

Batman and Superman logos $10 each. Other logos available.

If you see something that interests you, simply click the contact link, put the item name in the title (or make a list if there's multiple items), put your address in the email and I will respond with a total price (including shipping) and a paypal request for the total amount due.

32" tall giraffe puzzles $65 stained; $50 unstained

If the request is for a custom order, or if there are any questions, I will clarify those through either email or phone (your choice) before proceeding to the paypal request.

Custom woodburned bookmark for client: $5 each, pricing based on details of order

Is PayPal secure?
Yes. Very. These guys practically invented internet financial transactions and they continue to provide very secure transaction services. It is more dangerous to order pizza with your credit card than it is to pay online using PayPal.

Rearing stallion accent piece: $30 each; 5 or more $25 each

How will this affect shipping costs?
Shipping will be calculated at cost, which means that my customers will get the best shipping prices I can find. With most online venues (such as etsy or ebay) shipping is typically estimated, which means that vendors estimate high so that they don't lose money when shipping. Since I will be calculating your actual shipping based on your postal code, the weight and size of total order, as well as price shopping among different shipping companies to see who provides the best service for the best price for your order.
Local customers will have the option to make arrangements to pick up their order to save shipping.

Assorted key fobs: $5 each; 5 or more $4.50 each; 10 or more $4.00 each

What about bulk discounts?
Where applicable I will post price break point for items. For example, if an item is $10 each for 1, it might be $8.50 each for 3, and $7.50 each for 10 or more. This way you will know what bulk discounts you will receive before you place your order. Shipping discounts will not apply since you'll already be getting the best price on your total order.

Walnut mantle clock $55 each

What about international orders?
I can ship to your country but I am not responsible for any possible taxes, duty, tariffs, etc. which may arise. It is up to you to be aware of import regulations in your country or district. Canadian orders are, of course, no problem. USA orders have never been a problem. If you are unsure, let me know and I'll do a bit of research and get back to you.

Precut inspirational words $10 each; 5 or more $8.50 each; custom words please inquire

What about oversize items or unique pieces?
Large items (such as furniture) will have shipping calculated based on the best shipping provider. A final price will be sent to the customer to confirm they want the item and are willing to pay the shipping price before the PayPal request is sent.
One of a kind items like carved bowls and abstract carvings, will be marked as "Sold" as soon as a transaction is finalized. If a customer is interested in a piece after someone else has begun the purchase but before the item has been paid for, they will be notified of this and given a "runner up" status. If the first customer fails to remit payment or if they decline based on shipping fees, the "runner up" will be given priority.

Triceratops riding toy $125 each

What if I have questions?
Please feel free to email any questions or inquiries at mapleridgecreations@gmail.com. I will do my best to answer them promptly and clearly.

 I have posted a selection of products throughout this posting as a sample of what I plan to do with other posts. If you are interested in anything shown or have any inquiries regarding custom orders, please click this link and I will be happy to respond ASAP.