Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Russell M. Blood (Dad) Working in his Shop

Dad never had an adequate shop all his life until his retirement years.  He worked with an absolute minimum of tools (usually old and battered), but he produced magical works of creative woodwork and craftsmanship with what he had.


Monday, January 25, 2010

Proposed Rules of the Blog - Or How Can We Make This Fun and Effective

Because there will be some grandchildren posting to the blog, and because all 6 of the original (aren't we though!) group have administrative "opportunities", I would like to suggest that, in order to be consistent in how things are posted, and to not discourage the amateur (me) postee, that parameters are discussed briefly here at the beginning. Then when we have found that wonderful common ground, someone who knows how, or can tell me how, can post this information on the right side of the blog so those of us (me) whose memory doesn't hold important information longer than in the moment will have a point of reference. So here goes my attempt:
The purpose of this blog is to give all of us a place to post photos we have taken of the marquetry we have in our possession. This can also be a place to post any historical information, stories, etc. so there is a complete story for the next generations that will add to the meaning of the pictures as they are passed on to them.
In taking photos of the marquetry, my private researcher suggests that we should set the digital image size to 1600 x 1200, which should allow us to print an 8x10 at 300 dpi and get a clear picture. 200 dpi may still work. Truthfully, I don't know how to do this, but I suspect there is a way to find out. Dwight? Elizabeth? Judy? Steve?
This blog may build slowly because everyone has lots going on, so for me, it is just important to stay with it and eventually it should pull together. Because some people are more familiar with posting stuff on a blog than others, I would like to suggest that if one of us posts something it should stay as originally posted, that way those of us (me) who may do something a little cockeyed won't get discouraged.
So here you have it. Please add your comments and then we can all post our photos so they can be printed in a way that the prints can be framed and hung.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

RUSSELL M BLOOD'S FIRST INLAY


This was Dad's first attempt at an inlay in 1935. He used a utility knife and embedded the veneer in a piece of fir plywood. This piece knocked around the back room of the old shop in Penrose for years. The back of it was used as a cutting board for trimming veneer or cutting leather strips. Ann and I used it as a serving tray for her dishes at a high tea in the back room. I was totally surprised to find out that this primitive piece that I have always loved was appraised at a higher value than some of his newer pieces.