The Owls Marquetry

Dad made this marquetry for Ron's birthday in 1984. It may have been the beginning of his series of bird marquetry pictures. (Ron has a small collection of owls.) This is another experiment, following Ann's lead, to see if I can get better color definition.

A Small Piece of Marquetry

Sweet Memories

This picture hung in my little bedroom in Penrose. When I left home, it went with me. I don't think I even asked. It has moved with me more times than I care to count, and has always given me a sense of peace, a corner of home, and a sweet memory of Mother and Dad. The ironic thing is one day this picture disappeared. I couldn't imagine what had happened to it, but with all the moves I suspected it had become one of those move mysteries. Then, when Beth and Jerry moved into our basement apartment, there magically appeared on the wall the missing picture. She laughed and said that when she left home, she just quietly wrapped up the picture and took it with her - a piece of home - that has kept her company for several years. I suspect "Silent Night" (at least that is what I have always called it) was needed to keep someone else feeling connected to family and home.

Ralston, Wyoming 1942

This piece was done the year I was born. On the back, there is a woodburned note that says "Russell Blood, Western Woodcraft, Ralston, Wyoming". On the front it says "Russell Blood 1942".

The Castle #2

I will leave the other castle photo for comparison's sake, but I believe this is a better photo. I have used the 70 watt full color spectrum bulbs from Lowes (cheap) and they have made a difference from the first photo that is currently on the blog, where I used two, more expensive flourescent full spectrum bulbs (60 watt). Please try printing both and let me know what you think. Criticism is welcome. Once I get this down pat, I can take all of my photos and cross this off my to-do list.

The Castle

This piece was completed in 1961, the year I graduated from high school. The Castle, as it has been known in family circles, was truly a masterpiece. It hung above the piano in the Penrose house, and as visitors would come and go, there was a lot of admiration for Dad's work. I must admit I really wished for this marquetry piece, so when I found my name on it at the Cody house, I felt a twinge of guilt. But I quickly got over it! Dad was a true master of this art.
Note: This appears slightly faded on the blog. Please try printing and let me know how it looks.

The Fight

This is the second "older" piece Dad gave me many years ago. AT the time it had some damage in the lower left hand corner, and that is still there. I can't seem to repair it, no matter how much I try - probably need to consult the experts! This piece has the remnant of a sales tag on the back, but the price is missing. However, I recognize the tag because Steve (I think) and I would play with them over in the shop. This also has the Russell Blood, Western Woodcraft, Garland, Wyoming stamp on the back.

An Early Piece

There is no date on this piece and there is a little damage on the left side. One day when I was spending a little time with Dad in his shop in Tumwater, WA., he pulled out a couple of the old pieces he had done years ago, and asked if I would like them. I suspect he never quite knew how important each of his marquetry pieces were to each of us, no matter how old or what little flaw he may have seen in a piece. Whenever I look at this piece I am reminded of two things - first, the event that is depicted in this silhoutte and the sacrifices that were made in the early years of our country, and second, the time frame in which these were made. On another piece I will post, there is still the remnant of a price tag, back in the days when Mother and Dad were selling these pieces for a minimal amount of money, in hopes of putting a little money in the survival fund.

One of my favorite pictures

Dad completed this picture in 1983, according to his signature on the back.
Here's wha'cha do. Use a tripod and use the timer on your camera. I did make the white box, so the picture stands inside the white box. It isn't hard to do - just a little foam board, or cardboard painted white, lots of white duct tape, and two little lights angled just right to keep the glare off the picture. I did not use a flash, and had the inside lights off, so the only light was from the two little lights. They were set so the light bounced off the sides of the white box, but did not create a glare on the picture (almost - I have just one glare spot on this picture). It was tricky to get the picture level, but with a little measuring and watching the angle of the camera, that issue was solved. Have white box, will travel.

Russell Blood Marquetry

I'm not sure why I have the photo of this picture in my files, but here it is. I think this was at my house for awhile, but it lives at Elizabeth and Ron's house. History?

Old Rancher Revisited

While laying out the OLD RANCHER to make a couple of cupboard doors I thought that I noticed something different in the pattern that I was using.  I went to the files and dug out the original pattern and here is what I found.  Father had doodled on the pattern, trying to decide how he should sign his name as any young artist would.  More importantly on the bottom he wrote "1937," was this the year he introduced the rancher to Molesworth?  That would be my guess.  You'll probably have to blow it up to get the details.
By the way my pattern was slightly different for some reason so I dug deeper into the files and found several copies that Mother had dittoed off, probably at the church.

Russell at work on another project

If I am not mistaken this is the old scroll saw Dad used from the very beginning . Steve, please correct me if I am wrong.

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.

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.

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.