Holiday Ornaments for the Scroll Saw: Over 300 Beautiful Patterns from the Berry Basket Collection
Holiday Ornaments For The Scroll Saw By Rick and Karen Longbaugh Paperback, 115 pages Fox Chapel Publishing Whether you are new to the scroll saw or a veteran, Holiday Ornaments contains over 300 patterns (from the Berry Basket that will keep you busy year-round. Unlike some pattern books, Holiday Ornaments does not cover Christmas only but rather contains 13 different sections of patterns from Classics to Religious, Wildlife, Children and of course, a full range of winter holiday pieces. The patterns are cleanly printed with a gray background that copies well but shows where the through holes are for reference when cutting. Each section contains patterns from easy to complex, suitable for scroll saw veterans and those new to this machine, like me. I cut my first ornament at the scroll saw for this review, using one of the patterns from Holiday Ornaments. Along with the patterns, the Longbaughs provide in-depth instructions for everything from copying the patterns to selecting materials, blades and a range of common cutting techniques. The well-written text is supported with many high-quality photos that make important points very clear. When cutting is complete, they even guide the reader through common finishing and hanging of the new ornament. For the beginner, the information contained in Holiday Ornaments will help get you going quickly. After copying a few patterns, I followed the instructions for attaching the pattern to the wood and cutting it out. The result is shown in a photo in this review. It's a little shaky (my fault) but for my first try, it's great. The information and techniques are presented in a clear, understandable manner that makes using this book fun and educational. This is a good read for the living room easy chair or on the bench in the shop. Conclusions With a street price of only $16.95, (10-10,2005), Holiday Ornaments for the Scroll Saw is a must-have if you enjoy making things for your home or friends.If you envision a Christmas tree decorated by handcrafted wooden ornaments or you need a nifty gift idea, this attrative, 120-page volume is all you need to whip out enough ornaments for you and your friends.   Whether you are a beginner or an advanced scroller, you will benefit from the Longabaughs opening 7-page section that features tips and techniques for successfully and enjoyably handcrafting ornaments.  From selecting materials and blades to copying and transferring patterns, they guide readers through the steps to making beautiful ornaments.  High quality, color photographs illustrate tips like checking to see if your blade is square as well as techniques such as veining. In the remaining pages the Longabaughs provide 300 ornament patterns arranged by theme: angels and nativity; Santa, elves and snowmen, snowflakes and icicles; musical; wildlife; country; children; vehicles; religious; Victorian; wreathes; classics; and holiday greetings.  Photographs of finished ornaments are included throughout these pages.  The soft-cover book sells for $16.95.