Oh Charlie, that's GREAT!
The lacewood is a wonderful choice for the wings. I tried so hard on my
dragonfly to get the right effect but simply could not figure out how to
make it with all of the little details and not have my wood chip all to
pieces so I chose to go with a more fluid pattern.

Can you teach me about the vinegar and rusty nail treatment?
Pretty please?

I sure do enjoy looking at your work

Kate

"charlieb" wrote in message
...
Another "Piano Wire Piece". The slight breeze of someone
walking near this thing will set it to moving. There's a slightly
oversized hole in the bottom of the dragon fly body so the
piece will rock on the spring wire AND turn.

Since the wood was plain old poplar I sprayed it with silver
paint then a clear layer of blue over that. When it was all
dry I added some "gold leafing" (even though I'm certain there's
no actual gold in this stuff). Eyes are black Sharpi'ed and the
whole thing got three coates of Deft spray laquer. Wings are
lacewood veneer with 0.015" spring wire CNed to the front
edge of each wing. THAT was the tricky part. Only glued
my fingers to a piece once - OK - twice.

The turned base is black walnut with every other "layer"
ebonized with the good old vinegar and rusty nails solution.

There are fun to do - and ladies like them - as do young
kids (Don't Touch!).

Fun this woodworking thing

charlie b