Arts and crafts by Joyce H and Rex A Schildhouse.
We have a wide variety of interests in arts and crafts. Some are by Joyce, some are by us, some are by Rex. I bought Joyce a Circut Maker 3 for her retirement and a new Brothers sewing machine for her birthday in 2022.
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Comments can be sent to us via e-mail to raschildhouse@gmail.com.
This is a hobby activity for me, providing a purpose, usually a recognition to one or more factors of my life. A significant amount of my efforts are focused on making my Granddaughter and next door neighbor's young children smile. Many of my efforts are related to a career as a Naval Aviator / Commissioned U.S. Navy Officer. Much of what I make is in recognition of those that have supported me in my life such as my Wife, Daughters, Granddaughter, and Fellow Service Members.
If you have a suggestion for an item, please e-mail me the information at raschildhouse@gmail.com and I will evaluate it.
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Books Used or Referenced in Doing Arts & Crafts
Tandy Leatherwork Manual
By Al Stohlman, A.D. Patten, and J.A. Wilson
Published by Tandy Leather, ISBN: 1-892214-82-2
Subject matter: Leatherworking
Read and reviewed by Rex in October 2022.
I picked up Leatherwork Manual at the San Diego Tandy store on a recommendation. Informative and it was written before many advances in writing and publishing. Low resolution B&W photos and a slightly annoying writing style "All swivel knife parts have been omitted. . . and only the cutting part of the blade is shown, .." Lots of patterns and good guidance in the last pages. I think there are better books, based on technology of photography and printing available.
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Tandy Lacing & Stitching for Leathercraft Manual
Unidentified author, suspect Al Stohlman
Published by Tandy Leather, ISBN: 1-892214-79-2
Subject matter: Leatherworking
Read and reviewed by Rex in November 2022.
Tandy has a really good store site and staff here in San Diego, California. Their recommendations are normally pretty good. I stopped there yesterday, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, in search of a good book for stitching and sewing leatherwork. This book was recommended and, with Joyce waiting in the car, in a bit of a rush. For stitching & sewing there is ONE example. Yes, numerous lacing examples. However, my goal was STITCHING & SEWING. Missed my target.
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U.S. Military Related
A good friend, fellow Commissioned U.S. Navy Officer / Retiree, is Commander Henry James Bedinger. "Jim" was a Naval Flight Officer flying the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II with VF-143, the "Pukin Dogs," from the USS CONSTELLATION (CVA 64) during the Vietnam War. His mission as "Taproom 101" resulted in an ejection over Laos on November 22, 1969. Released from North Vietnam on March 28, 1973, LTJG Bedinger has spent almost 3 1/2 years as a Prisoner of War. Recently Jim decided to document his life story, his autobiography, in Patriot, Prisoner, Survivor, An American Family at War. It is available on numerous Internet sites.
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We Shall Never Forget Their Sacrifice Plaques
Entered or updated April 27, 2021. There are numerous different We Shall Never Forget Their Sacrifice Plaques. Some are made from plywood, others are made from Oak or Maple. The sizes vary as does the lettering style. With the numerous variables the milling time and prices vary. Here are some examples with pricing. It takes me about a week to make one and I normally do not "hold" inventory.
This plaque is made from 1/2" ACX grade plywood and is about 8 1/2" in diameter. It is representative of this file's production and takes about 4 hours to mill and several hours to paint.
This plaque is made from 3/4" Red Oak and is about 10 3/4" in diameter. It is representative of this file's production and takes about 5 hours to mill and several hours to paint.
This plaque is made from 3/4" Red Oak and is about 11" in diameter. It is representative of this file's production and takes about 6 hours to mill and several hours to paint.
This plaque is made from 3/4" Red Oak and is about 8 1/4" in diameter. It is representative of this file's production and takes about 4 hours to mill and several hours to paint.
This plaque is made from 3/4" Red Oak is about 8 1/2" in diameter. It is representative of this file's production and takes about 5 hours to mill and several hours to paint.
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Jim's Key Case
The first question asked and answered, Henry James Bedinger, Commander, U.S. Navy, Naval Flight Officer, Retired, spent 3 1/2 years in North Vietnam as a Prisoner of War. My Country owes him more than it will ever give him and his Wife, Laura. I have the privilege of having lunch with Jim every once in a while.
Jim's key case was dying from time in service and he could not find a replacement he liked. The base of this is a Tandy Leather hardware only kit for about $3.00. The lightweight leather was cut to 5" x 4" so, folded, it is about 2 1/4" wide and 4" high. the base is riveted in place, as is the snap. The sewing, done by hand, took about 3 hours and the each strand of thread was about 8' long to ensure it was done in one piece.
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Jim's Christmas Ornament
Questions about why it is in Military? Ckeck the previous entry, Jim's Key Case.
Joyce downloaded the Naval Flight Officer Wings of Gold from somewhere on the Internet and made Jim a Christmas ornament. It is about
Christmas Related
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Candycane Countdown to Christmas - August 2022
Joyce found the basis for this somewhere on the Internet and I did not quite care for its total image. Using the source as a guide, I modified it. The first photo is the first run. With a 90 degree V Bit going 1/4" deep. The letters run together. The Bean LOVES it like this. The second photo is with a 60 degree V Bit also to 1/4" inch. MUCH BETTER.
The countdown starts on December 1st with Christmas being "!!". The slots will hold a candycane up to diameters just over 1/4". The cleats hold it off the wall. Milling time was just over 3 hours for both the V Bit and the 1/4" End Mill. The entire board was masked, then milled and finally spray painted.
60 degree V Bits at 1/4" depth. Much nicer. A total of five have been made.
Thanksgiving Related
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Thanksgiving Turkey-2022
Joyce has had this pattern for quite some time and finally sewed it - with her new Brother's sewing machine. Numerous pieces with lots of stuffing - like a turkey should get for Thanksgiving.
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Easter Related
Easter Bunnies
Easter Bunnies were made for the Granddaughter and the neighbor kids in mass. They are in various colors and slightly different sizes. Generally about 6" wide and 11 1/2" high, made out of ACX grade 1/4" thick plywood. Finished with Glidden High Gloss paint in pink, blue, green, and purple.
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Easter Eggs
Easter Eggs were made for the Granddaughter and the neighbor kids in mass. They are in various colors and slightly different sizes. Generally about 5 1/2" wide and 7" high, made out of ACX grade 1/4" thick plywood. Finished with Glidden High Gloss paint in pink, blue, green, and purple.
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St. Patrick's Day Related
4 Leaf Clovers - St. Patrick's Day
4 Leaf Clovers are made out of 1/4" thick ACX plywood and measure about 6 1/2" square. They are finished with Glidden Gloss Green paint.
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Animal Memorial Plaques
Animal Memorial Plaques are made to specifications. They included numerical dates, short name, approximate profile, and heart or other easy symbol as appropriate. The actual size depends on the information. These are approximately 22" wide and 3 1/2" high milled on 3/4" thick clear Pine. The detail is Rust-Oleum color paint and then final coated with exterior grade clear gloss finish.
This is the preproduction preview of Buster's Memorial Plaque.
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Animal Profiles
Animal Profiles are "powered" by my Granddaughter. Her first requests were Mickey and Minnie and those are copyrighted and trademarked. I generated these without reference to the size, ratio, or positioning of any Disney items in my CNC program. If they were Mickey and Minnie based, they would also be painted black. Mine are in pink, blue, green, purple, etc.
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Male Mouse Ears
The Male Mouse Ears are made out of 1/4" thick ACX plywood and measure approximately 7 1/2" wide and 8 1/2" high. You get to add in additional details as you desire. Colors include green, blue, pink, and purple. Felt tip pens and craft paints work great on these.
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Female Mouse Ears
The Female Mouse Ears are made out of 1/4" thick ACX plywood and measure approximately 7 1/2" wide and 8 1/2" high. You get to add in additional details. Colors include pink, blue, purple, and green. Felt tip pens and craft paints work great on these.
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Miscellaneous
Feathers for Veterans - Tandy Leather
This is a Tandy Leather project from July 2022. On CAVArts.org Tandy hosted a Make a Feather for Veterans session and I made two. This is the first. The process was pretty simple and enjoyable. Tandy, working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is going to hang these in various VA buildings, if they get their way. This photo is the front and back of the same feather.
Hair-on Fringe Bag - Tandy Leather
This is a Tandy Leather project. In their class session, Saturday, August 13, 2022, I spent about 3 hours working on this and chatting with the rest of the attendees. Pretty simple design and kit, #4190-99. Assembly time is about 45 minutes and it is listed as not suitable for less than 3-year olds. Since it is stitching with a needle, maybe a bit older than that.
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Water Bottle Fob - Tandy Leather
Another Saturday, August 14, 2022, Tandy Leather class project. The Water Bottle Fob is kit # 44269-00. You get to emboss it with whatever pattern you like. I chose an anchor, kind of Navy oriented. And then boxed it in with another tool. Kind of fun and pretty simple. Riveted together. Just fun.
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Prestamped Belt - Tandy Leather
Working on getting skills up, I purchased a prestamped belt from Tandy Leather and started painting. With numerous paints, some failures requiring repainting. And that may be a misstatement as there are dyes, gels, and paints as well as sheen finishing on this belt. Once completed I lined it. Total time involved is probably 20 hours.
This is the start of this belt.
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Craft Boards
Using the leather working tools and the tools for the Circut showed that we needed SOMETHING to keep them organized. The CNC machine solved this. I think I made three total boards. All 1 1/2" thick, two pieces of 3/4" birch plywood. Milling time varied due to size and the actual milling. Total construction time was about 8 hours per board.
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Sawdust T-shirt - Circut
Joyce has made numerous t-shirts. This one got giggles from The Bean. This was June 20, 2022.
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Stitch Mug - Circut
Joyce made this decal for one of Becki's coworkers sometime around June 11, 2022.
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Science Clipboards - Circut
Joyce made these for use in our daughter's classroom sometime around May 28, 2022.
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Hawaiian Spirit T-shirt - Circut
Joyce made this for spirit day at her school about May 27, 2022.
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Garden Gnome - Circut
Joyce made this garden gnome sticker to her garden would be protected about July 22, 2022.
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Garden Dirt Sticker - Circut
Joyce made these garden stickers to her garden about July 22, 2022.
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Tandy Workshop Projects
At the Tandy Leather store here in San Diego they conduct free classes every few weeks. These are SOME of the results of two different classes. Tandy supplies all the materials and loans you the tools. The classes are normally about two hours long. And, it is hands-on. The Tandy payoff? Learning which tools I need to buy and how to use them. Because of those classes I have purchased numerous kits and tools.
At home praticing and texting examples.
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Tandy Coin Purse
From the Tandy selection of kits. This was bought for The Bean. Simple sewing and staining.
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Tandy Guitar Strap
From the Tandy selection of kits. This started out as precut leather and the rest is my work. The stamping took about 3 hours, the painting took about 3 hours, and the stitching took about 10 hours. At the start each strand of the thread was about 24 feet long. When complete the saddle stitch used all but about 1 foot of each strand. The design is drawn in Microsoft Word and then increased or decreased in size to fit the width of the leather.
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Leather Stitching Pony
There are numerous options to hold the leather while stitching. I decided rather than spend the money, use itesm I had in the workshop. This is on a lazy susan system and you can lock it at any rotation position of about 15 degrees. It works REALLY well.
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Autumn Signs
Joyce made these using blanks from one of the local craft stores or bargain stores. She is having fun with her Circut Maker system. (And that makes me happy.)
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Sharri's Christmas Gift
The Bean's paternal grandmother is a crafter to extreme. Joyce made her Christmas present using a combination of a frame from a craft store, some flowers and lettering cut on her Cricut Maker, and all put together.
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Becki's Christmas Gift - 2022
Joyce made Becki's Christmas present with a frame from a craft store, flower templates and lettering cut with her Cricut Maker.
