Garage Sale Finds

Garage sales have started agian, but so far pretty slim pickings for the crafter. However, I did come across a stocking stuffer package from Lee Valley. They have such tricky tools, and this assortment meant was a gem. All of this magic for a buck!

Can't go wrong with the surgical scrubbers, to clean painty hands, scrub vegetables or remove stubborn stains from clothes before laundering!
Must admit I had to refer to the printout to see how the pocket screwdrivers were used - how do people think of such handy- dandy items!
The spring shears are always a welcome addition to the sewing box, and the pocket magnifier went straight into hubby's wallet.

Next, I spied a little bedroom set  (perhaps by Avon?)  which would make a charming roombox.

What about these 2 for my Santa's workshop?

And how could I pass. Up this charming alpine style roombox? As if I don't have enough unfinished projects in my stash!

Build up Steam to bend wood

Chris from Canada wrote:
When I made my HS "rattan" furniture I was using chair caning which was to be softened either by steaming, or soaking for 24 hours followed by a dunk in boiling water. I didn't have the time to soak them, nor was their any way I was going to heat up my kitchen by using the stove let alone stand over a kettle of boiling water holding the cane pieces in the steam. So instead I placed 3-4 layers of wet paper towel in a glass cake pan, followed by a small plate and put the pieces of cane on that. Tightly covered with vented plastic wrap and "cooked" on high for a few minutes, the pan built up a good head of steam under the plastic wrap which made the cane moist and quite flexible, but didn't leave it dripping as the cane was not in contact with the wet towelling. I've used the same technique on basswood for some curved drawer fronts, and even gave it a second steaming (just to even out the curve a bit) while it was still strapped to the 3 pieces of dowel and scrap wood I had used as a form, without causing any problems.

BTW, this also often works to release something you have glued incorrectly without damaging the parts, even after the glue has cured for 4 weeks. It works for hot glue, carpenter's and wood glue, tacky and craft glues including WeldBond, Eileen's and Sobo, but NOT with Hypo-Cement, super glues, common plastic model glues, Gorilla Glue or rubber/contact cements. I haven't tried it on any other glues so far, as I tested only the glues I had on hand, gluing wood scraps together, labelling them, and then trying to steam them apart a month later. Not a truly scientific approach, but it was a good way to check what would work, so I would know in case I ever had to correct a gluing error. Not of course, that I would EVER glue a carved door panel on upside down or a chair arm inside out, let alone do something as dumb as gluing the middle floor of a 3-level house in backwards and not notice until 6 months later, when returning to the project and attempting to glue in the staircase. :-D

Working on a workroom project?

Tiny woodworking - fascinating! Watch this video.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignArticle.aspx?id=31688

Workshop tools

Rita in Germany has a wonderful site full of her work. You will be sorry to leave!
A fabulous site, with English translation. Run your cursor over the windows to see the different sections in her site. The lower floor is empty, but I am sure Rita is working to fill it!
This scene shows a monastery with a worktable and simple tools.
http://www.rwgermini.de/diesaeulendererde.htm

Paint Tins

Doreen Playter has done it again!
http://doreensminiatures.blogspot.com/2009/08/paint-cans-brushes-and-wallpaper.html
http://doreensminiatures.blogspot.com/2009/08/back-to-work-on-jennifers-bedroom.html

1. Measure a real paint can to get the approximate dimensions of the can.
2. This TUT uses a 5/8" dowel, cut into pieces 5/8 inches long and painted silver.
3. Cut small circles of paper, scored to give a "lid" look, paint them silver and glue to the top of the can.
4. The labels came from real cans of paint scanned, stitched and shrunk to the right size.
5. Glue little black circles to the spot where the handle would go in.
6. Make holes into the can through these circles.
7. The handles were made from silver wire bent in shape and fitted into the holes.Make small circles with different colours so that when I am using them for a scene, I can put it on top of the can as if it is an open can of paint the colour of the room.

Try making small circles with different colours to put on top of the can as if it is an open can of paint the colour of the room.

Basement, Laundry and Workroom

Fay Zerbolio from St. Louis, MO has made this fabulous vignette!
http://fayzerplace.homestead.com/basement.html

Her home page is:
http://fayzerplace.homestead.com/index.html and you will find even more fantabulous things there!

Workshop Tools for Around the House

Doreen Playter made her David some tools to get on with the job of finishing Julie's house.
http://doreensminiatures.blogspot.com/2009/05/tools.html

• Hammer was a Fimo head on a tooth pick
• Saw was a Fimo handle on a blade cut from a tin foil cut strip
• Level was made from Fimo with a juice straw piece for the level gauge marked with marker
• Mallet was a bead on a toothpick
• Measuring tape was a printie glued into a black piece of Fimo with the side painted silver
• Mitre box was three pieces of scrap wood that I cut angles in
• Paint brushes were made with the ends of pencils flattened around the end of a chopstick and then glued onto a large brush - when dry you cut the bristles to the small brush size (I showed how this was done on my blog awhile ago)
• The other tools, the pliers, wrench, screwdriver and square were stickers that I glued back to back on a piece of cardboard and added a Fimo handle to them.