A bird in the hand is worth..... a bunch!!

[fd_cox]

Dipping is the way to go. & the Bird houses are really cute.

[sawdustus]

They look great Cathy. I think they would sell like hotcakes for $10. I'm thinking of taking a table at a local festival day "Market Place" in July and if I do, some of those will definitely be on the table. Thanks for sharing all the information.

george

[Rolf]

They look great Cathy I also think that Janette's pricing is on the money. I will have to make some for my Christmas fair. The only thing I will do is paint the hole flat black.

[paul44224]

I just finished doing a few of them. I was thinking that they could also be cut using 3/4" wood, then drilled slightly in the back, and epoxy a magnet in the hole. And also, instead of hanging them, use a piece of dowel through the bottom for a plant pick.

Paul

[Janette]

I've been selling them for $10 and people don't blink at that. I gave some to the gallery I sell some work at to see how they go. Since the gallery doubles the price - I don't think they'd go for $20 so I'm taking $7.50 and we'll try selling them for $15. Last batch I made 6 of them in 2 1/4 hrs so $10 is a pretty good return. Depending on which style - some go a lot quicker than others.

[Hobbyhorse]

That is a great display Cathy, and yes I would certainly dip them and probably in an oil.

Rhys

[Cutting Cathy]

Wood Dog, I do plan on adding the eye screw, I just don't have any yet.

Matt, Dog is right. You can get the patterns from either of those places.

I think I will start at $10.00 and see how it goes. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!! Thanks again for the nice words. I'll post pictures when they are finished!

[Haggard3230]

Those are cool Cathy. I made some of those just in time for my last show and sold them for $5.00 each easy.

[Wood Dog]

Matt the pattern for birdhouses and birds are Diana Thompson's compound designs.
Scroll Saw Patterns by Diana Thompson at Scroll Saw Inspirations
Some can be found in Creative Woodworks & Craft magazine May 2011 issue.

[DWSudekum]

Great work Cathy. Dipping is the way to go for those.

DW

[m_r_dxn]

They look great! I'd like to cut some of these myself. Where is this pattern set from? I've cut a few small 3d birdhouses w/ perch before and painted them for cabinet door knobs. I just freehanded them though.

[WoodCarverOH]

I've made and sold about 24 and leave natural and have been getting $10 ea.
Instead of using the cut out bird I go to Hobby Lobby in the miniature doll house area and get a package of birds (12) for $1.99. They are the right scale.

[KtownScroller]

Don't have any suggestions. Only want to say that the birdhouses came out exceptionally well. They are very cute items that will sell fast. Nice work Cathy!

[wood-n-things]

I would not charge $5.00. My word if the material is $1.50 you say. & a little less than an hour per each item. That is $3.50 for your labor. You work cheap, way too cheap. That does not include wear and tear on your equipment and incidental costs like shop space and electric etc. I understand we rarely get out of a piece what we put into it monetarily unless we can stack cut em...<wink> You are only going to get what the local traffic will pay though. I'd still try $10.00 for them.

[Lou]

Cathy, those are fabulous! Great job! I've been making some of those myself lately but I don't tthink they look as good as yours! I'll post pics soon and you can judge that for yourself.

I finished mine with the same Old Masters Gel varnish that I use for intarsia, but after reading this thread, I kind of like the dipping idea. You get such great ideas from those who have gone before you! I'm also using the tiny eye bolts for hangers like I use on my bird ornaments.

I'm planning to sell them at my next show (and through my website) and was going to start out at $10 each and see how it goes.

Be sure and post a pic with the finish on. They look great now, but they'll look even better then.

Lou