Thursday, June 12, 2014

June 12, 2014 

Hello John here AGAIN Around the Shop @ #GatsbyTimber

Had a great day today.  Today I documented a flying pig sign I do.  I have a order for one and wanted to show you how its done.  I missed a couple steps, but you get the picture.  If you have any questions please let me know :) 

Ok so lettuce begin lol.  By the way I keep working on this cool hope sign and a huge whale I been working on so here is what happened today! 

First my Sweet dog "Liv" a retired race dog was resting before our busy day !
LIV    
I need some coffee to get going.  My favorite cup is from a outstanding cafe in Athens GA called "Mamas Boy"  I do not eat there any more since changing my eating lifestyle.  It was such a yummy place while I was eating on the dark side ! 



Ok Here is the Pig I will be re-creating for today's customer Mary :) Etsy Shop #gatsbytimber 

This is a fun little pig to make!  Looks great anywhere bbq joints, mom's kitchen, diners, baby rooms, etc.

This is a hand drawn design I made.  I cut these out of sanded ply wood with a jig saw and scroll saw sometimes.

Here is the pig cut out.  I forgot to document all the cuts.  First thing I do is the tail.  I drill a hole then insert the jig saw to cut out the center of the curly cue.  If you do this last the tail is so fragile it can completely snap off the pig! From experience I have learned this.  I pass this on to you now!  If you lose a tail guess what???  YOu have to start over ML (maniacal laugh) That waste time and wood :)

Next above pics.  I sketch out all the lines of the pig freehand whoot whoot !  Up next we are gonna dremel the lines.  If you leave pencil lead on the surface it will show through the paint.  So it must go ! 


see what I did there we got rid of the pencil and laid down some Knarley lines that give depth and also give us a little canal for our paint to sit in.  Now lettuce distress it a bit.  We gone hit dis with a Hammer a lil bit!  "Hammer dont hurt em " if you do not know what that is bless your heart. 
Alright you done hit it with the hammer.  Not too hard you can break the pig so use restraint here.  Mercy shown is Mercy received.  You just wanna bang it up the dents and scratches will look really cool once painted.  I use both sides of the hammer.  The blunt end makes fat dents the claw on the back makes skinny dents and scratches.
Now lettuce put some pink on the pig!  This color kinda looks like a bubble gum pink.
Ahh yeah looking good!  I paint the pig only leaving the wings and feet because they get a different treatment. 

I use a plain white on the wings.  Looks good and its on and POPPIN  !  I did not take photos of the brown I used on the feet.  It is a leather brown color looks really nice on the pig.

Now what I do is paint in all the dremel lines we made earlier.  Its time for that !!!  On the pig we use brown and on the wings I use silver.  See what I did there , good.  The feet are done with the brown as well.
I apologize I did not show the finished product.  It looks just like the pig on the right.  I will tell you how it is completed though.  At this point I sand and distress the pig to take some paint off and scratch it up.  Distressing looks best after you practice a bit.  You cannot do it too uniformed or it looks like bad lol total Fail.  You want the true distressed look.  Don't over do it resist the urge to keep going. I use the leather brown paint or stain to make the pig look dirty, old , and antiqued.  I dab on paint or stain let it sit for a few seconds and rub it around with a old cloth/shirt.  The longer you leave it on the darker it will be so be careful until you get the hang of it.  Once you get that done the Pig is complete.  You can seal it or leave it be.  I personally like to seal the decor because things can splash on it or just things happen that could mess up your hard work.  So consider that.  So hope you enjoyed this let me know if you have any questions or comments.  gatsbytimber@gmail.com

Ok bonus I wanted to share with you a new sign I am working on.  I don't know how to put this.....but eh it is kinda a big deal.  It is a big sign well (whale) 2 signs actually.  It's a anthropologic lettered top with a huge patriotic whale below.  It is not yet complete but stay tuned.

 Apple Red paint
Taped up and painted

I like the way it looks.  I feel it is a little too clean ya know too perfect.  I wanna dsitress it and age it a bit. 









The technique is simple.  Sanding rubbing , and then I add a stain to give the old aged look.  Like the pig I will dab the stain on then either I dab with the cloth or wipe it hard to smear it.  You want it to look genuine and that will take practice.  You can do it!  Like I said it is not finished. I want to finish the Whale with something cool.  In the area on the head the blue part It is needing something.  I am thinking gold stars or gold something. The whale will hang below the HOPE sign.  Stay tuned  !    I plan on having these up for sale in my shop soon  https://www.etsy.com/shop/GatsbyTimber


 That is all for today I will try to be back tomorrow :)

#gatsbytimber #vineyardvines #whale


“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” -Jesus


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

June 11, 2014 Year of our Lord


Hello everyone John here from Gatsby Timber  check me out on Pinterest, Instagram , Etsy , Ebay


I am just starting my first blog.  This blog is for my creative side!  I call my shop/studio Gatsby Timber.  I make custom decor, art , furniture , etc.

      One of my many gifts God has blessed me with is this.  I make most items from free things I acquire (legally of course). I love The Lord Jesus with all my heart.  I tend to mention Him quite often. I want to personally thank Him for what He did and continues to do for all of US.  Some may say they do not believe in God or think it is silly to believe.  I was once a non believer.  I was blind.  God blinds us sometimes. (Interesting I know)  I truly believe and Hope one day you will believe and if you do already you are blessed and you were chosen(the Elect) before the beginning of time. I have seen God do  many miracles. I see God working everyday.  I will take it easy today on my preaching today. I hope you will continue to read my blogs.  I will not judge or condemn anyone. I have missed many friendships and times of joy by looking with my earthly eyes.(Judging books by the cover instead of reading the inside) Selling my items is not about money. I like blessing people. I like seeing Joy in people.  It truly is better to give than receive. Jesus was right.  I will interact and accept Anyone ! Like I just said it is not about the money.  The Lord is my life He provides for me. I do not depend on selling items online I just enjoy the gift I have received and sharing it..  I urge you to give me a chance. Do not let my love for God steer you away.  We are all children of God . You will be treated as such.  If you are interested in talking please let me know old sport. Gatsbytimber@gmail.com

  Alright first off grammar Nazi's remain silent !  I am happy with the way I communicate and feel in this case criticism will be futile and a distraction to the coolness that will ensue. 

Whale where to start? lol

This little fella is what got me started on Etsy.  I saw this little Vineyard Vines logo and thought hey that is way cool.   I cut it out of wood and painted it up. People actually dig these a lot.  These are for sale on Etsy in my shop.


  One day the Wife (Beyond Beautiful Woman of my Dreams) and I were at a flea market.  Let me tell you I love flea markets, antique stores, thrift shops etc.  I have what some people would call a strange brain.  I see beauty in many areas our everyday lives.  It is hidden everywhere among us take a close look you shall see. I like to make stuff out of free stuff I told you !  I am getting off the story.  So I see a real antique dynamite blasting machine.  I really want this thing. I think I have always wanted it since the road runner and coyote cartoons !  If you are too young to know what that is bless your heart!.  A blasting machine is a old school tool that detonates dynamite. So I see it and I ask the man "how much fur dat dynamite box there?"  He says "I 'll give you a deal  $399" .   I replied "Good Day Sir!"  I then decided I can make my own.  Pictures below .   I plan on making ones that look just like the originals soon.  I have made some that actually have a real toilet plunger in them !!  https://www.etsy.com/listing/191165950/tnt-dynamite-plunger-real-toilet-plunger?     Well something really cool happened to me !  A blessing from The Lord Jesus.  A real movie producer contacted me!   He did not tell me at first why, but needed a box and HE wanted MINE !!! ML Maniacal laugh . He needed a prop.   He needed it quick and I did not think it could happen.  Money was not a issue timing was however.  He is in Chicago and I am in Atlanta.  Ben Mahoney Productions Videos that Rock on Vimeo. Check him out!  Tell him I sent you.  Well he is shooting a commercial for Chef Boyardee sweet dude.  So I got him the box just in time I tell you The Lord Jesus got that box there. So yeah it is featured in a upcoming Chef Boyardee commercial.  Pretty knarley ehh





Well I guess I will wind down here for today.  I will try to post up everyday or other day or when I can lol.  I am working on some American flag stuff.  Hey I have an Idea if you are reading this consider passing me a idea of something you would like to see created.  I love to help people so if you need a tutorial or DIY let me know I can recreate just about everything. I pray someone will read this and let us have a good time please Drop me a line :) sincerely -John



Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me. - Jesus