As mentioned earlier in the week, I will be setting up at the Roseneath fair for the weekend. If anyone happens to be in the area, feel free to stop by (I'll be outside) and say "Hi".
Otherwise, I'll "see" you all next week. In the meantime, check out some other posts and maybe start doing some Christmas shopping :)
Friday, 27 September 2013
Thursday, 26 September 2013
Custom Clock Offer...In Detail
Ok, so a few of you have pointed out that my limited time custom clock offer is a bit vague on details. Or rather, what a custom clock order might look like is a bit vague. So I'm going to try to provide as much information on my custom clocks as possible.
What Can You Make Into A Clock?
First of all let me be clear: almost any design, shape, pattern, picture or idea can be turned into a clock. My gorilla pull toy (not on the blog yet) can be turned into a clock. A picture of your grandparents can be turned into a clock. Any solid cut word that I do can be turned into a clock. Any...well, you get the idea.
Clocks can be made out of any kind of wood. Plywood, veneer, cookies (not the baked kind, it's a round piece of wood cut from a log), and of course dimensional lumber. This might include a board from an old building, a cookie from a tree that used to be outside your house, timbers from an old ship or boat, or a nice piece of driftwood from your family vacation.
What Kinds Of Shapes And Sizes Can You Make Into A Clock?
Shapes are limited only by your imagination (and the laws of physics: I can NOT make 5th dimensional artwork into anything 3D. You know who you are...).
I have thought about posting some of my already existent patterns here, but frankly it would take too long. Feel free to look around online for samples of wooden clocks or email me requesting some samples.
Suffice it to say that clocks can be shaped like almost anything: boats, animals, people, buildings, etc. and they can be either 2 dimensional (cut from a single piece of wood with no significant depth) or 3 dimensional as with a box wall clock or a grandfather clock.
Size varies depending on a few considerations.
Clocks with traditional faces (such as those pictured here) are made with clock inserts which range from 1 7/16" to around 8 1/2" (I think I might be able to track down some 11-12" ones as well.
Clocks with dials and movements (no "glass" face) can be made in almost any size, with dials made from metal, wood or paper depending on your preferences.
A quick note on clock faces: There are a wide number of options available for clock faces. I will not try to list them all here, but they include different coloured bezels (the usually metal rim around the face), backgrounds, number styles and more.
What Other Options Do I Have?
Once the basic designs are dealt with (materials, shape, size, face) the remaining options are fairly simple.
Colour
I tend to stain a lot more than I paint. To me, if you're going to have something made out of wood, why cover up the grain? Ideally if you want a particular colour we can just use that kind of wood, but since walnut is around 5-7 times the price of pine...well, suffice it to say I use a lot of pine in custom work for folks.
To see some colour samples of what is available to me check out the Minwax website here: http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/stains-color-guide/ and the Watco page here: https://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=46.
Please don't choose from the Minwax Polyshades collection as it is a product I refuse to use. It's like the one failed Minwax product...otherwise those guys do great work.
I am also open to trying new products as long as I can obtain them (or you provide them). Minwax and Watco just happen to be what I can procure locally and without hassle.
Finish
The final decision is basically how shiny do you want it. Finishing options range from plain oil (low protection, easy maintenance and repair, low sheen) to paste wax (low protection, high sheen) to polyurethane finishes (high protection, available in matte, satin or high gloss).
And that's it. You've ordered a custom clock. I know it seems like a lot to take in, but once you have the idea the consultation (in person, email takes longer) is normally under 10 minutes. My favourite thing about making a custom piece is that it is the only one of its kind anywhere. Patterns are fine and many of them look great, but for a true heirloom piece, custom is the way to go.
The Deal
I've mentioned this elsewhere, but this seems a good place to reiterate it:
Until the end of October I will give a 10% discount on any clock. Not 10% off material, or labour but off the final price. This is a token of my appreciation to my many customers who have made the first few months of business successful. For those who think that 10% isn't much of a discount, please keep in mind that my prices are already phenomenal and I am a one man shop with pretty small margins already, producing one of a kind handmade products. 10% is pretty sweet!
Note: Discount does not apply to shipping costs. Shipping is billed at cost so I have no wiggle room in shipping prices.
What Can You Make Into A Clock?
First of all let me be clear: almost any design, shape, pattern, picture or idea can be turned into a clock. My gorilla pull toy (not on the blog yet) can be turned into a clock. A picture of your grandparents can be turned into a clock. Any solid cut word that I do can be turned into a clock. Any...well, you get the idea.
Clocks can be made out of any kind of wood. Plywood, veneer, cookies (not the baked kind, it's a round piece of wood cut from a log), and of course dimensional lumber. This might include a board from an old building, a cookie from a tree that used to be outside your house, timbers from an old ship or boat, or a nice piece of driftwood from your family vacation.
What Kinds Of Shapes And Sizes Can You Make Into A Clock?
Shapes are limited only by your imagination (and the laws of physics: I can NOT make 5th dimensional artwork into anything 3D. You know who you are...).
I have thought about posting some of my already existent patterns here, but frankly it would take too long. Feel free to look around online for samples of wooden clocks or email me requesting some samples.
Suffice it to say that clocks can be shaped like almost anything: boats, animals, people, buildings, etc. and they can be either 2 dimensional (cut from a single piece of wood with no significant depth) or 3 dimensional as with a box wall clock or a grandfather clock.
Size varies depending on a few considerations.
Clocks with traditional faces (such as those pictured here) are made with clock inserts which range from 1 7/16" to around 8 1/2" (I think I might be able to track down some 11-12" ones as well.
Clocks with dials and movements (no "glass" face) can be made in almost any size, with dials made from metal, wood or paper depending on your preferences.
A quick note on clock faces: There are a wide number of options available for clock faces. I will not try to list them all here, but they include different coloured bezels (the usually metal rim around the face), backgrounds, number styles and more.
What Other Options Do I Have?
Once the basic designs are dealt with (materials, shape, size, face) the remaining options are fairly simple.
Colour
I tend to stain a lot more than I paint. To me, if you're going to have something made out of wood, why cover up the grain? Ideally if you want a particular colour we can just use that kind of wood, but since walnut is around 5-7 times the price of pine...well, suffice it to say I use a lot of pine in custom work for folks.
To see some colour samples of what is available to me check out the Minwax website here: http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/stains-color-guide/ and the Watco page here: https://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=46.
Please don't choose from the Minwax Polyshades collection as it is a product I refuse to use. It's like the one failed Minwax product...otherwise those guys do great work.
I am also open to trying new products as long as I can obtain them (or you provide them). Minwax and Watco just happen to be what I can procure locally and without hassle.
Finish
The final decision is basically how shiny do you want it. Finishing options range from plain oil (low protection, easy maintenance and repair, low sheen) to paste wax (low protection, high sheen) to polyurethane finishes (high protection, available in matte, satin or high gloss).
And that's it. You've ordered a custom clock. I know it seems like a lot to take in, but once you have the idea the consultation (in person, email takes longer) is normally under 10 minutes. My favourite thing about making a custom piece is that it is the only one of its kind anywhere. Patterns are fine and many of them look great, but for a true heirloom piece, custom is the way to go.
The Deal
I've mentioned this elsewhere, but this seems a good place to reiterate it:
Until the end of October I will give a 10% discount on any clock. Not 10% off material, or labour but off the final price. This is a token of my appreciation to my many customers who have made the first few months of business successful. For those who think that 10% isn't much of a discount, please keep in mind that my prices are already phenomenal and I am a one man shop with pretty small margins already, producing one of a kind handmade products. 10% is pretty sweet!
Note: Discount does not apply to shipping costs. Shipping is billed at cost so I have no wiggle room in shipping prices.
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
More Hummingbirds! Free stander decor
Who doesn't love hummingbirds?
This small decor item stands around 6" high and features what everyone likes to see outside their window: two hummingbirds sipping from flowers.
Just because the season is getting late for real ones doesn't mean you can't see hummingbirds all year round.
Solid pine stained Golden Pecan (Minwax).
A reminder of my custom clock event. I've been urged to hold it over for one more month so it will run to the end of October. However, I've decided to sweeten the deal even more. Instead of the 5% discount on all clocks I've decided to bump it up to 10% (maybe it's the Christmas spirit).
So there it is: order any clock until the end of October and save 10% off the regular price. Email me for more details, designs or ideas for your custom clock.
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Hummingbird Pedestal Candle Stand
Candle holders always seem to be popular, and one of the great things about them is there's just so much room for personalization that you can really make them your own. This is another great pattern from Steve Good (and I really need to have my wife take some better pictures of it!).
3/4" pine construction throughout and stained with Circa 1850 Walnut Danish Oil, this pedestal stands about 9" high to the top of the hummingbirds with a small platform in the middle to support a small jar or cup style candle (though once you buy one, what you put on it is up to you). Four hummingbirds surround the platform, as though preparing to sup from the candle.
A great decoration or gift for any hummingbird enthusiast, there is (as always) room for custom touches. Different colours, sizes and finishes are a start, but the hummingbirds could easily be swapped out and replaced with various other images.
This concludes my post heavy day. Tomorrow expect to be back to only one post. Preparations for the Roseneath fair will be keeping me busy and I've no shortage of custom work to finish up either. Please remember to try and get orders in well before you need them.
Fish Tank
So you 'd like to have pets, but here's the thing:
You're allergic to cat hair, you don't like small, yappy dogs and don't have the space for large dogs. Birds are loud and your fish, well, they keep going down that porcelain highway that apparently leads to the ocean (eventually).
So why not get some pets that are affordable, low maintenance (just an occasional dusting!), quiet and can be tailor made to suit your decor?
That's exactly what you get with this fish tank. A Steve Good design, it can live (so to speak) in any room in your house, leaves no mess and costs nothing to feed!
Seriously though (and to avoid potential lawsuits) these aren't real fish (anyone remember their disappointments with sea monkeys?) just a bowl and fish cut from solid 3/4" pine and stained Minwax Golden Maple. Standing around 8" tall it can (of course) be made in almost any colour to best suit your decor or tastes in wooden fish.
Keep watching today for more products, updates and news.
Monday, 23 September 2013
"Lucky" Horseshoes
So after yet another hare-brained week I think we've finally got things fairly straightened out with computers and internet connectivity. Hopefully this will be a post filled week showcasing lots of new stuff from the past 3 weeks or so.
Before I go further into the post, I'd like to announce that I will be attending the Roseneath Fair this coming weekend. Roseneath is a pretty little town but a little off the beaten path. It might be worth finding though, if only to go to the fair and see one of the last wooden carousels around (reputedly build in the early 1900's). Of all the fair's I've been to this year, this is the closest to the Durham/Toronto area, so any of you from those areas might have a bit of fun in the country if you take the time to make the trip up. I'l be parked outside somewhere in my little tent booth. Now, onward...
Speaking of fairs (see how I segued into that?) these were originally made up for the Madoc fair a couple weekends ago. While it's nothing new for folks to turn horseshoes upside down for good luck, I think it's safe to say that these add a bit of a new dimension to that somewhat aged premise.
These aren't bent out of pig iron or sweet steel, just solid pine, but hopefully they won't have to stand up to the rigours of being trampled by horses either.
The "Lucky" cowboy is surrounded by stars on his bucking bronco and is stained (I think) Minwax Early American. The horseshoe has "hammer" or "T" ends and the font is (I'm pretty sure) Cooper Black.
The "Lucky" horse has nail holes cut into the shoe, stained Circa 1850 Walnut Danish oil and has "L" shaped ends and a basic sans serif font that I'm not entirely sure of just right now.
As always, I encourage you to feel free to "order off the menu" so to speak. Almost any word could be cut into the bottom of one of the horseshoes, and various images could be placed between the "arms" of one of the horseshoes. In short, you could order a one of a kind, custom gift for someone, whether they're a horse lover, country lover or just a plain old lover of neat wooden curios.
Be sure to keep an eye on the blog this week for lots more updates. Don't forget about our month long clock special, and right now I'm booking in Christmas/Craft sales in various locations, so if you'd like to have me in your area or happen to know of a sale that you think would be worthwhile for me to attend, please email me the relevant info. I may also soon be starting a referral/benefits program to run until Christmas, but that's still in the planning stages. That's all for now!
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Custom Clock Offer Held Over
So last week I made an offer to knock 5% off all orders on custom clocks that were ordered by the end of the week. It seems it was a good offer and so I've decided to extend it for a limited time AND to extend it to ALL CLOCKS.
Just to make sure you're paying attention. Every clock that I make for you that you order while this offer is on will be 5% off the normal price. Doesn't matter if I design it or you design it or it's one that I've already done before. All clocks that are ordered (not just picked up off the table) will be 5% off.
I haven't decided how long this offer will end, might be the end of this week, might go to the end of the month. Don't dilly dally, contact me now.
*Note: The PC with all my pics on it is having connectivity issues this morning so at the time of posting I can't put pics of clocks up here. Check previous posts to see some samples.
Just to make sure you're paying attention. Every clock that I make for you that you order while this offer is on will be 5% off the normal price. Doesn't matter if I design it or you design it or it's one that I've already done before. All clocks that are ordered (not just picked up off the table) will be 5% off.
I haven't decided how long this offer will end, might be the end of this week, might go to the end of the month. Don't dilly dally, contact me now.
*Note: The PC with all my pics on it is having connectivity issues this morning so at the time of posting I can't put pics of clocks up here. Check previous posts to see some samples.
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