Creative Woodworks & crafts 2005-06, страница 19

SUPPLIES

Wood: Baltic birch plywood or wood of choice—one piece I /3" x 8" x 10" (recommended thickness for scrolling is 3/8". so three pieces of wood ore preferable) Tools: scroll saw with Pyirig Dutchman No. 2/0 spiral blades: drill with No. 68 bit: palm sander or sanding block; dremel tool w;th various grinding/sanding bits; files in assorted sizes; spring clamps Temporary-bond spray adhesive Flue painter's tape cr masking lape 220-grlt sandpaper Clear coat finish Mineral spirits Spray bottle

Aleene's tacky glue (cleor bottle) Felt (for backer)

The very first thing I over cut on o scroll saw was Dad's lest name. I cut it in a piece of cherry on a saw that was older

thar dirt. It had pin end blades and almost rcttled the fillings fforr my leelh. I knew sc little about scrolling at the time that I drilled holes in all the places where I needed to turn the blade. I remember how proud I was when I firs! completed if and I still smile when I think about how much he loved it. Lcok'ny back at the piece now, it was HORRIBLE. (Honestly, how many of us actually did great work the tirst time we turned on a saw?) Dnd never mentioned ihe crooked lines, the broken and glued-back pieces, or the terrible finish. Ho leved rl because i had taken the time to make it for him.

That year fcr Christmas, a large box from Dad arrived for rne on my porch. I hastily opened il lo find c scroll saw. While it may have been an inexpensive saw that didn't work ver,' well, I loved it because it came from him. My scrolling developed because Dad had purchased that saw for me and always encouraged and believed in my abilities. He was so proud of my accomplishments as a scroller that he told ever/one he talked tc about me and what I was doing. Recently, I was commissioned jo do a portrait of President Bush. When I told Dad, you could jusl hear Ihe pfde in his voice. You would heve thought I had told him my wife and I were hcving another child) I can't tell you how many people (whom I had never met before) asked me about the portrait of the President at Dad's funeral service.

When 1 told Dad I was going to quit ny full time job as a carperiler and start' scrolling and designing full time, he gave me unconditional support, despite the fact that I was the scle income earner in a household thai contained his only daughter and his grandson. After his passing, whenever I looked at the saw in my shop, I remembered Dad, his love, encourayenenl, and support, /hot is why scrolling had beccme so difficult for mo.

While designing and cutting this piece, I learned as much, if not more, about Dad as I ever had. The process was quite enlightening as well as very therapeutic. Dad was "The Village Smithy," making his living for about 40 years cs a blacksmith/farrier. He split that time between working at Museum Village in upstate New York as a 19th century blacksmith and at Itie New York Renaissance Festivcl repairing ormcr and caring for the horses, as well as demonstrating his blacksmithing techniques to the fair's many visitors. Moke no mislake, being a blacksmith wasn't just what he did, it was who he was. When Dad worked metal, he did it like the smiths of yesteryear. Ho used no plasmo cutter, no welder-just plain old heat and hammer. When ho look a piece of raw metal, he heated, hammered, and shaped "rt according Ic Ihe potential he saw for if. Once he touched it, it was changed forever.

He had much the same effect on those who knew end loved him, Dad could warm your soul with his smile and that wink of (lis. His words of encouragement and the wisdom he shared molded and shaped you. helping you reach your true potential, all the while without your knowledge. When he struck his hemmer on that hot metal, the sparks would fly out into Ihe forge, shedding light where there was dark and heat where 1 here was cold. When his life touched yours in whatever little way, the sparks of love and friendship would fly out into the world, adding warmth and light where before there was none, and you were chcnged forever. I am a better person just for knowing hirn. The world feels c little cclder and emptier without him.

One last thought before we get to the "how-to" part of Ihis project. I last spoke to Dad about a week before his passing, and os I hung up. I wrestled with telling him thct we loved him—something I had never said in so many words. I'm not a mushy, hearl-on-my-sleeve kind of guy. so it was difficult lor me. I decided he knew we loved "him and kept the thought to myself. It may be too little tco fate, but Dad, we love you and miss you.

I hope if you decide to cut this project you will tell people a little bit of whet I have shared with you. so his memory will

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trie vuiuge Smithy" shown here is rry falher-in-law, Patrick Henry Battista. Pat (he loved the fact that I called him Dad, so I will do that throughout Ihe rest of this article) passed away in December, and I found myself slruggling not only lo cope wilh my loss but also with resuming rry day-to-day activities. For me. a big part of daily activity is designing and scrolling now cuflings. Fcr the first time since I had started to scroll, I had absolutely no desire to design or cut; in fact, I dreaded the thought of turning on the saw. I realized, however, that Dad would have wanted me to carry on end continue developing the talents I have been blessed with, so I contacted Robert at Creative Woodworks & Crafts and told him of my idea to do a Iribule to Dad. Thankfully, he agreed, and I suddenly had the desire to both design and cut. 'The Village Smithy" is the result of that Idea, and I must say, out of all the pieces I have cut, it is the piece of which I am the most proud.

If you are like me, scrolling is an activity thai relaxes ycu. helps you focus, and lets you escape. Why. then, would I not want to scroll at a time when I needed that relaxation, that focus, ond, yes. that escape? Perhcps providing a little of my background with scrolling will explain.