From: Tom Pritchard

Location: Madison, Indiana

Amateur or Pro: Amateur

Finish Used: My Santa painted with simple acrylic paint then rubbed with brown shoe polish. The polish gives it a antique look.

Wood Species: Basswood

Project Description:
Every year I carve a Santa to give out as gifts. This year here is another. The basic square look seemed to appeal to me. Adding the star added a little more character to this project.

And I should probably mention that we’ll be selecting our three favorite submissions and giving them 1 year Guild Memberships. Already a member? No worries. We’ll tack the time onto your account!

The second, and more difficult, challenge is coming up with a gift guide for the spouses, friends, and families. Although woodworkers are fairly easy to buy for, the list really doesn’t change all that much from year to year. Let’s be honest, our industry doesn’t exactly exude innovation, and fortunately it doesn’t have to. Most new developments are little more than incremental improvements or inventions of things we didn’t know we needed. So its difficult to keep this list fresh and interesting.

Now here’s the good news. The old buying guides and projects are still quite valid! Of course prices, availability, and my waistline may change. So what I decided to do is aggregate all of the old posts here for your convenience.

Gift Guides:

2006 Holiday Gift Guide
2008 Holiday Gift Guide

Keep in mind that if you are doing any shopping at Rockler.com or Amazon.com, using our links will help support the show. Of course, Guild Memberships and anything in the TWW Store makes for great gifts too!

Gift Projects:

End Grain Cutting Board
Pencil Holders
Collapsable Magazine Rack
Contemporary Desk Clock
Picture Frame
Keepsake Box
The Advent Calendar

Have suggestions for projects or gifts of your own? Let’s hear ‘em! In fact, I’d love to hear what’s on your gift list this year!

In the second part of this three-part series, I continue with the construction of the main grid-work. I show you a cool trick for cutting small dowel pieces and then the assembly begins. For small parts like this, I actually have a cool method glue-up that involves the use of two different glues. I then cut the triangle shape using a circular saw and a guide, which works surprisingly well. Finally, I add the mitered trim pieces and our Advent Calendar proper is fully constructed!

Want to build along with me? Download the plans and start making some sawdust:
Advent Calendar SketchUp Plan
Advent Calendar PDF Plan

Associated Shop Journal Posts:
Jig For the Advent Calendar
Tiny Door Hinges
More Tiny Door Hinges
Distressed Painted Finish

Other parts in this series:
Advent Calendar Part 1
Advent Calendar Part 3

Welcome to the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide. Many of the items mentioned in the show can be found in The Wood Whisperer Amazon Store.

Fine Woodworking’s 102 Contemporary Designs – $12.99 at the Taunton Store

Lee Valley’s Miter Hook – $8.50

Lee Valley’s Plane Screwdriver- $12.99

Painter’s Pyramids- $5.99 for a 10-pack

Self-Centering Drill Bit Set- $28.99

Plug-Cutter Set – $43.99

Earlex Spray Station – $339

Black & Decker Auto Wrench – $19.99

Workbenches By. Chris Schwarz- $19.79

Craig Stevens Woodshop 101 for Kids $19.99

Charles Neil DVD’s

If you are interested in Wood Whisperer DVD’s and Gear, check out our store!

And if you are interested in joining The Wood Whisperer Guild, or if you would like to buy a membership for a friend or loved one, you can do so here!

Music provided by the Podsafe Music Network at Music.Podshow.com:
Christmas Time Around the World by: Geoff Smith
The Christmas Song By: Calvin Owens

This is a replica of a nut cracker that I remember from when I was a kid. It’s made out of walnut from a tree in my wife’s grandmother’s front yard, and I’ve made a whole bunch of them for family and friends. You place the nut in the hole and tighten the smaller bolt, until the nut cracks. This is a great nut cracker design, really, because you have lots more control, and don’t get pieces of shell flying across the room, or crushed fingers.

It’s a pretty handy Christmas present because it’s relatively quick to make, small, and nobody has usually seen anything like it. Then of course you have the visual pun of it being shaped like a nut. The finish is Tung Oil, three coats. The threads are cut using a tool from Highland Hardware, size 3/4″. The center hole is 1 3/8″.

I don’t know about you guys, but for me, there’s nothing like a good (insert December holiday here) surprise. And if you want something woodworking-related, its very difficult for our friends and family to buy the things we need and want without ruining the surprise. So here is my little attempt at a solution: The Holiday Gift Guide!! I have a few suggestions in each category for gifts that nearly all woodworkers would appreciate. Even if you already have some of the items on the list, I bet you wouldn’t mind having a few more. So don’t be shy. Share this video with your friends and loved ones and say, “anything from this video”. Hey, its better than underwear right?