Saturday, September 18, 2010

Next step

Ok so I bought up some bins and some dowels.  Everything is set up to try out my first truck.  Can't wait to start, but of course I have to wait for monday.  We'll see if I can find a few minutes to start the cutting.  I have the idea of how I want to do it.  I just hope it works out the way I want it to.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Dump trucks

I love making toys.  I find it very fun and rewarding.  I'm always looking for new ideas.  Mainly I want to make them durable, easy, and cheap(for mass production reasons).  So I was poking around on the scroll saw woodworking and crafts message board when I came across this little dump truck.

Dumper by Sam Johnson
I love the look of this little guy.  The idea of using the yellow stacker bin was genius.  I'm pretty sure I can find those at Dollarama.  The truck itself is very plain and the bin doesn't even dump.  These are for sale for 29 euros for a small one and 49 euros for a big one.  Not sure what the is in our money but someone said 29 euros is about $45 usd.  I can't believe that.  It doesn't even dump.

I think I can improve on this.  I'm sure the kids will like it.  I've never had a complaint about my cars before, so I've got a good feeling about this one.  I have a drawing already mocked up of how I want to do it.  Now it's just getting the bins and some more dowel and I'll make up a prototype.  Can't wait to post it and show you.  I definitely won't charge that much for them either.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Christmas

It's coming up on Christmas.  Ok it's still a few months away, but when you try and make your own presents for people you have to plan in advance.  This year for the kiddies I'm thinking puzzles.  I have to go to the dollar store and see if I can find some old calendars to get some good sized pictures to laminate onto the wood.  Then it's just as easy as cutting them out.


I made some puzzles last year for Christmas, but due to limited painting time they never got finished.  So they will probably get added to the presents this year.  I also have some ornaments that never got done either, so those will most likely be added on this year too.


Still not sure what to make for my wife.  Don't really know what she would want.  I'm usually so clear on this that it's kinda bugging me that I can't come up with anything.  Oh well I'll keep brainstorming and maybe I can come up with something fun. 


The first year I made her something it was a wooden bracelet.  Then the second year was a locking money box with a heart shaped key.  Now I don't have anymore ideas.....yet!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The first post

The first post always seems to be the hardest.  I have had blogs before, but they never really lasted all that long.  I think I will try to keep this one going for as long as I can.  I will promise myself to log in at least once a week to post something.  I will try to remain relevant to my life and what's going on in my little universe.  I can't promise that every post will make sense, but I will do my best. 

I want to make this a blog about my life and the things that I do.  I am a very crafty person with a diverse love for making things.  All kinds of things.  I try to keep it open to any possibility.  I will use this blog to sort out ideas and see if I can get feedback into the projects I am working on or planning to work on.  I write and record music, do some woodworking, sew stuffed animals, and recently am working on making some kites for my daughter(she's 3 and very adorable). 

So I'm not guaranteeing that this will only be about my creative projects, but that will probably be the bulk of it.  I hope you enjoy it.