Making Memories While Making Pens

Since I started making pens and pencils I've given a lot of them as gifts. Recently I gave my nephew a pen for his birthday.

Zane's Pen

He loved it but asked if I could make him pencil, I suggested that next time he was up that we could make it together.  His older sister liked that idea also, she even picked out the blank she wanted to use.

I got the blanks ready and next time they were up we made the pen and pencil. I had each of them start out by practice turning a piece of scrap before turning the actual project.

Trinity ready to turn

Zane concentrating on the work at hand

Zane's Cherry mechanical pencil

Trinity's confetti pen

It was a lot of fun to work in the shop with the kids. They both seemed very proud of what we made together.

Pretend Projects

I have two little helpers who come out to the shop some and they come up with all sorts of ideas of what we should make while they are out there. Unfortunately most their ideas are bigger than our time allows, or would require way more planning than is possible while the helpers are around. They have some good ideas and it is a lot of fun to listen to them explaining their ideas.

Recently one morning my daughter came out to the shop and wanted to make a wand. So we found a small piece of maple and she helped me turn the main part of the wand. We sized the handle to her hand. She likes to catch the chips as they some off the lathe. While she was napping I finished sanding the handle and applied a finish. She wanted a star on the end but I thought a star would be too good of a weapon. So I cut a heart out of cherry and glued it to the wand.

Little brother has been playing knight and pirates lately and his favorite sword was a pastry brush. I found some thin (3/8") cherry and glued some walnut on to build up a the handle and then roughed out a sword shape. The shape of the sword could use some refining but it sure made a little boys day when I brought it in from the shop for him, I need to steal sometime when he is asleep and give it a finish.

Cutting vines

After getting the sword he asked "where's my shield?"

Both toys were made with the stipulation that if it was used as a weapon it would be destroyed in the wood stove.

Black Friday Shop-ing

I didn't see anything I had to have from the black Friday ads so instead of venturing out into that mess I went to my messy shop. It was a good day in the shop, I worked on the lathe and turned a maple Christmas ornament and made a pine snowman. The snow man didn't come out how I saw him in my head but my wife liked him.

this is my favorite ornament yet

snowman in the rough

 After I painted him my wife painted on a face and buttons. Still needs some sticks for arms and I am going to carve a nose for him.

I had some good help painting the snowman.

The kids came out and worked in the shop with me for a while. They colored, and played with blocks, and then we built some of the build and grow kits from lowes.

Friday afternoon I took advantage of the warmer temperature and put Christmas lights on the house. I like to think this is just Phase 1 of lights because I would like to add more.

My supervisor kept an eye on me while I was on the roof.

I don't enjoy going up on the roof but it is a nice view from up there.

It was a decent day and this kind of shop-ing is way better than the other. (unless you are buying tools, then its okay)