Hear are some tricks for you to turn out beautiful woodwork. After you trace your pattern and start sawing, always try to saw out your pencil lines because these lines are very hard to sand out and as they say, time is money, you need to sand your project right. Start with 80 grit sandpaper, then go to 100 grit, and finish with 220 grit, this will make your work shine. Finish with a clear oil finish or paint and your work will make you proud. Thank you for reading my article and I will be talking to you soon, together we will do beautiful woodwork. Uncle Mel

Cutting Shallow Mortises and Tapers on Small Pieces

I am not saying that in forgiving you will forget everything or that you should place yourself in that situation again – you will not forget, but you will not hurt like you did before – the wound will heal and you will be able to look back without feeling hurt or shame or anger, because in forgiving, you release, you let go of everything. In releasing everything, you release yourself, and you release the Lord to come in and heal you. Let him deal with the person who hurt you in His way. He knows what He is doing and He will bring justice and righteousness and peace into the situation; if not now, then in eternity when everyone is brought before his throne for judgment.

In the morning we had things to do, and buses to take, and trains to catch, but she wanted me to meet her friends [women] at a small gift shop one owned by her friend, and so I did, we all four then sat at a cozy table by a garden and a glass window separating the garden from us, and had coffee and crackers. Again the Japanese can be good hosts, just make sure the family is OK with mixed blood. I purchased some postcards, and then we had to get back to our apartment, and on our way to Kyoto.

Later the furniture became curvilinear in both structure and ornament. It was elaborately carved, painted, and gilded, with small pied-de-biche, dolphin’s head, scrolled, round, or square feet. The pieces were numerous, the canape, commode, armoire and escritoire were finely developed. Superb Aubusson tapestry, embroidery, needlework, damask, large figured velvets, leather and caning were used. Metal mounts were works of art in brass or ormolu. Everything was formal, stately and sumptuous.

Chapter one: Tokyo, Day One and Two

Cut the wooden pattern (e.g. Dinosaur or a bird) using a band saw or a scroll saw. The next part is to use the sand paper and smooth out the rough surface of the raw material. Make sure that there sides of the product are also smooth so that there will be no wood splints.

The Ryokan; a cobblestone alleyway led to this small [guesthouse, house, or inn of sorts], in Japan, it is called a Ryokan, with sliding doors; the room is clean, uncomplicated, a table with cushions; a hanging scroll as a centerpiece. No swimming pool or weight room, not anything like the five start hotels in New York City; we had reservations, not sure if we needed them. I would call their room minimalism, but its simplicity was beautiful and different, even the sound of the sliding doors made me feel like I was in Asia. They had even a place for my shoes, while I put on wooden sandals. Strange I thought, but cool. Kikue made all the arrangements. Some of these simple rooms cost up to $800 a night. The Ryokan date back to 1603 AD [the Edo period]; by tradition these are called Inn’s, and come in all sizes, mine was small, original wooden inn authentic I would say.

Good plans are the basic foundation for good woodworking projects. If you follow the steps above, you will know that others could follow behind you and complete the project you have designed. Who knows, you may want to turn your woodworking hobby into your own little cottage business.

We stayed two days in the Ryokan, and used that as a steppingstone to other activities throughout the area. Meeting with Kikue’s girlfriend in Kyoto, and going to the temple, Lunch for $100, and to the Geon District. Lunch was an assortment of foods, all Japanese cuisine that never got me full.