Steve's Blog

My insurance company recently asked for some photos of my modest empire. They'll give you a bit of an idea of where I work hidden away in the Australian bush.

Click this photo to see the slideshow  Read More......

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Julie-Anne runs a local business making cakes for special occasions. It seems to be quite successful and keeping her busy.

A recent request was for a 80th birthday cake for a sailor. She had tried to make an anchor from icing sugar but it kept collapsing. So she contacted me for a wooden one.

This gave me an idea. Read More......

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I've always liked this spotty fish pattern even if it hasn't been a great seller.

But, when recently, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority approached me for a trophy to give to the local school that had done the most to protect our reef I decided to resurrect this design. Read More......

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Chris sounds as if he's on a steep learning curve with his scroll saw.

Hi Steve,
Got the computer for my 60th and the scroll saw for my 61st (Oct). Can't manage either but think the computer might be easier. Keep breaking blades and can't cut a straight line, practice, practice, practice. Have ordered a few books from library so that will help.
Your work is fantastic.
Regards
Chris 

I suspect he's using the wrong blades. These are the blades I've tried. Read More......

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I've just received this question from Ron who's working on the dolphin bookends.

I have just cut out the Dolphin book ends, and can you or any of your colleagues tell me how other than wrapping sandpaper around my finger to try and get the dolphins to look rounded.
Yours Sincerely.
Ron

Good question, Ron. This is how I do it.
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I've just found a great online resource for creating video slideshows. What do you think?

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Marc sent me this photo of his work last year.

I've lost Marc's email, sorry mate, but saved the images because they look so good. Click here to see both the photos Marc sent.

He has taken one of the dolphins from the Dolphin Sculpture Plan and mounted it on its own base using a perspex rod. Too easy and looks wonderful. Read More......

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It's not often I get emails from what used to be Persia and is now Iran. Five years I got one from Mastanah Shakibi who was enthusiastic about intarsia and asked me some woodwork questions. Emails have been flowing between Australia and Iran ever since.



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I often get asked what I use for the backing of my intarsia projects. In my case the answer is plywood. In Ian Christie's case the answer is nothing.



On the left is the front of his intarsia. On the right is the smooth back. Read More......

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Terry recently sent me a few photos of his work. Well, more than a few really, 60 photos. That's right, sixty.

The quality of some of the photos is not the best (sorry Terry, I've tried to improve them as much as I could) but they will give you a good idea of the range of subjects available for intarsia.

This motor bike is a beauty. I wish I'd designed it. You can see the rest of Terry's images here.

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