My first rose project

[Rolf]

I have been asked by a friend to make an easel to support an original Kinkade painting of the beauty and the beast for his wife (BD present)
I decided to make a frame instead.
He asked if I could do a rose on it. Well I took a Kathy wise design (recent issue) and modified it to suit my needs. It is about 12" long. Bloodwood, Lignum Vitae and poplar stems.
It is still in shaping mode. The lignum is cool stuff, I shaped the leaves and the set them in the sun for a few hours and they turned green again.
They were a light brown you can see the difference in the picture.

[Woodworking Plus]

Looking good Rolf.
Lignum is fun stuff to work with. Considering it is one of the most dense woods it cuts very nicely and is easy to shape.

[wood-n-things]

Nicely done.

[Jan]

Very nice design and work, Rolf. Your friend will love it. Where do you get lignum vitae? I haven't found it and would like to.

Jan

[Rolf]

I bought this from Jeffries when I took the Judy Gale class. Doing a little more digging I think this is the Argentine lignum Vitae
Argentine lignum vitae from Griffin Exotic Wood is one of the online sites that has it.
I looked at the end grain under a microscope. But it doesn't matter as long as it turns green.

[woodsman]

Very nice Rolf.

[Fran1942]

Really nice, Rolf. Does it stay green after you put a finish on it?
Fran

[Stefang]

Nice work Rolf. I've never actually handled any Lignum Vitae, but I was surprised to learn that it has been used right up to recent times as bearings for ships drive shafts and lubricated with water. It was amazing to see the color difference in your photos.

Mike

[Rolf]

Thanks for the nice feedback.

Fran, I will let you know in a few days. I am going to do a couple of scraps with my normal finish ( Bartleys Gel Varnish satin) and see what happens.

[Woodworking Plus]

Hi Rolf
The lignum does maintain it's dark green color but because it is a very oily wood sometimes the greenish oil will bleed onto the adjacent wood if it is not sealed. I use poly to seal it.

[Spirithorse]

Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing and God Bless!
Spirithorse

[Tango]

Rolf that is a job well done. You friends wife is going to love her BD gift.
Donna

[Rolf]

Rose frame is done

And I have one day to spare.
Made the frame out of curly maple, and since the painting that will go in it is about 1.5 inches thick I extended the frame with cherry. It is also the first time I used a spline in the mitered corners and doweled the but joints at the top.
This is hard to photograph. but the colors are close.

[JimSawyer]

I'm unfamiliar with the artist, but it looks like the frame may be worth more than the painting...
That's just superb Rolf...!!!!!

[Woodworking Plus]

Outstanding Rolf !!!