re: Assembling the packet (at Last)

Brian and Abbas You guys crack me up. Thanks for a good laugh to get my day started!

I’m not sure about the glue Abbas, but you are thinking in the right direction. Some use cow gum, whatever that is, probably contact cement. I did think about that, but with the veneers being so fragile I was worried about breaking them while trying to get them apart, but It would be nice to have a non-destructive method.

After thinking about the nail holes overnight I’ve concluded that they really aren’t a problem. The holes in the grass will be eliminated when I add the little yellow flowers and I think I know what to do with the ones in the sky pieces. There are also a couple in the beard, but those will be replaced with some details when the beard is defined after the first cutting. That’s when I will decide if details will be added with knife cut, scroll saw or chevalet sawn pieces. It’s great to have lots of options.

All-in-all I am pretty pleased with the packet. My main worry now is if it will spin smoothly in the chevalet clamp as I saw today. It’s wonderful to be so excited about something at my age and the uncertainties make it even better!

I took a few minutes yesterday to cut out a random complicated piece with my craft knife using the window method (I’ve unsuccessfully tried this before), and for the first time I got a perfect match with the mating piece. More about this later.