www.toymakerpress.com
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011
In this Susan Burkhart exclusive we take a look at Susan’s incredible ability to create beautiful crafts. “ I am constantly pulled in all directions, wanting to try all the newest products and ideas in crafting. ” Susan Burkhart
“ I have been a crafter all my life. My father’s parents were both artists. I did not inherit their ability to draw or paint, but I do have an eye for color and balance. My mother came from a family of crafters. My grandmother and aunts were always making Christmas ornaments, bible crafts, embroidered items, or other projects. I remember asking for yarn and crochet hooks one year for Christmas so my grandmother could teach me to crochet. ”
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 –2–
“ My next foray was into scroll sawing. I would see holiday items cut from wood at craft shows, and again think, I can do that! ” Dude Ranch Full-Size Scroll Saw Plan Set
Using every square inch of wood stock helps keep the cost per toy at a minimum. Susan is scrolling two projects here for efficiency. She’s cutting out the Bunny Pals pattern and in the foreground are the cavities from the Dude Ranch patterns shown above. Both plan sets are from www.toymakerpress.com
www.toymakerpress.com –3–
Susan’s productivity is greatly increased by the gift tools and supplies provided by her husband. It’s wonderfully appropriate gifts like this useful group of sanding tools that keep Susan’s workshop alive and growing.
“I am 48 years old and have been married for 24 years to a wonderful guy who has been very supportive of my ever growing list of hobbies, gifting me on special occasions with various power tools.” “I am also a mom to two young men. The oldest is a math major at Harvey Mudd College and the youngest is a senior enrolled in the St. Louis Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students. And I have one very needy cat and three tanks of tropical fish. We live in Wentzville, Missouri which is about 40 miles west of St. Louis. I have a BS and MS in Agricultural Engineering and worked for the City of Fort Worth Village Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant full time until my children were born, and then part time until we moved to Missouri.”
Susan’s supporting family gives her lots of wiggle-room for her crafts.
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 –4–
“ I first started scrolling on my husband’s pin-end Royobi saw, but quickly realized I needed something a little more versatile. I now primarily use my Dewalt saw but also own an Excalibur saw. ” www.toymakerpress.com –5–
Susan’s engineering training is a great benefit when planning and organizing new projects. The results are obvious. Everything is carefully labeled and stacked.
It takes efficient use of every inch of available space to be a successful crafter. Susan has efficiency down to a science.
Keeping her materials and supplies in perfect order is important to Susan and requires a constant effort to prevent her work area from looking like Fibber McGee’s closet.
Susan started venturing into serious crafting about 21 years ago when she saw a gorgeous quilt and realized that she was capable of creating quilts of similar quality. She took a few classes and became active with the local
To Susan, the most important part of a crafts project is to first get organized, then plan carefully and finally push yourself until the project is completed with a high level of artistic quality.
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 –6–
quilting guild. The fabric/material stash and quilting book library soon followed. But most importantly, she learned the necessity of careful organization and planning for successful crafting. A quilt is a marvelously complex work of art. Almost all Quilters by nature are fun loving people but are also disciplined and neat as a pin with their work. Disciplined quality and precision while having fun are the most important parts of quilting that Susan brought to her broader
world of crafting. For Susan, every project begins with getting organized, planning carefully and then with focused discipline moving along efficiently until she is finished. It always works.
To complete successful projects you also need tools and Susan’s shop has no shortage of the equipment required to turn out her creations at an amazing rate and quantity. Her shop contains all the basic woodworking tools she needs to get the most out of her valuable time in the shop. Her husband makes sure that each tool is safe to operate, durable, reliable and right for the job.
Susan’s favorite tools in the shop include the drill press and scroll saws. Empty 5 gallon paint cans serve as a seat for scrolling.
Owning the right tools is important to Susan. Properly equipping and organizing her workshop has evolved over time. Building her shop is a labor of love that she shares with her husband and family.
This efficient arrangement is ideal for quickly smoothing the wood during the finishing process. The heavy wood office desk makes a solid base for the disk, belt and spindle sanders. The CarveWright machine (far left) is part of her husband Dave’s workshop.
www.toymakerpress.com –7–
Susan carefully organizes the work flow of each piece she creates. Planning for efficiency helps her keep her retail prices in line by reducing labor time to a minimum. This effort requires constant focus.
1. Wood blank is sawn to size and surfaces are sanded to a smooth and flat finish.
4. Details like eyes, axle holes and pilot holes for inside cuts with the scroll saw are added by using the drill press.
You can watch Susan make a Toy Dinosaur by clicking here.
2. Paper patterns are cut out and an adhesive is applied. The patterns are then positioned on the wood blank.
5. Finish sanding is completed after all of the scroll sawing is completed. A belt and disk sander are used for flat areas.
3. The part is sawn from the blank using a scroll saw. Great 6. The spindle sander is used to sand the curved edges. Susan care is taken to follow the pattern lines accurately.www.toymakerpress.com has increased her efficiency greatly with this special tool. –8–
Susan applies special techniques to create a natural finish for her crafts. She always uses eco-friendly, non-toxic products to produce hand-crafted toys that are safe, durable and charming. These toys were created using patterns available at www.toymakerpress.com Clockwise from left: Carpet Scooter Choo Choo Train Plan Set, Scroll Saw Patterns for Toy Dinosaurs Book (Apatosaurus, T-Rex, Andrewsarchus), Dude Ranch Plan Set.
An all-natural polish is applied to each toy that adds a warm, deep glow that compliments the beauty of the wood. Learn how to make your own natural non-toxic paste wax by clicking here.
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 www.toymakerpress.com –9–
“ The first time I sold an item, I was just in awe that someone was willing to pay money for something I had made. ”
Susan’s sister is an accomplished Teddy Bear artist. She sells her crafts and Susan’s in this charming retail store. Her bears are also available for sale on the internet at www.agapebears.com.
I never really thought about selling my crafts. My sister is a talented Teddy Bear artist and owns Agape Bears (www.agapebears.com) in Arlington Virginia. She attends bear shows, and likes to visit the Teddy Bear Jubilee show in Kansas City. One day she brought me a pattern for a jointed crocheted teddy bear. After I put together a few, she included them in her booth at the show. Watch Susan make Dragon Jewelry by clicking here.
Susan’s sister is an accomplished Teddy Bear artist and sells her crafts on the internet at www.agapebears.com. She’s provided priceless advice on marketing crafts.
“ I decided to open my store on Etsy this past summer. It has been quite a learning experience. ” I opened my store on Etsy on July 10, 2011. It can be difficult to get noticed on a website that has millions of items listed each month, and it can take some time to develop a following through the use of teams, treasuries and social media. My crochet patterns have been my biggest success so far, but I’m hopeful that my jewelry and scroll saw items will eventually develop a following as well.
When you join Etsy, you’re joining a community of helpful, knowledgeable sellers. You can share ideas in the Etsy Forums, collaborate with other Etsians on an Etsy Team or attend an online workshop. Etsy shoppers are looking for handmade goods, vintage items and craft supplies. You’ll reach the ideal customer for your products on Etsy. Setting up shop on Etsy is easy, free and takes only a few minutes. You can customize your shop with a banner, profile, shop policies and more. You’ll get your own URL for your shop based on your username, http://etsy. com/shop/username My sister entered a beaded bear necklace I had made in the show auction. It was so well received I started designing bear jewelry for sale. Scroll saw teddy bear ornaments soon followed and then scroll saw bear key chains.
Etsy values your safety and and doesn’t share your email address with anyone. All sensitive information, such as billing information, is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL).
To learn to sell on Etsy go to http://www.etsy.com/sell?ref=so_sell
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 – 10 –
This actual page is an s Susan napshot of ’s i Etsy s nter net tore.
ed ebrat ar y l e c n Susa r annivers 1 yea , 201 her 1 y July 10 s on Et
– 11 –
Susan Burkhart Wood Toys
Patterns for toys are available at www.toymakerpress.com
Carpet Scooter Choo Choo Full-Size Scroll Saw Plan Set
Toys shown are available for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/OohLookItsARabbit
Bunny Pals Full-Size Scroll Saw Plan Set
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 – 12 –
Susan Burkhart Wood Toys
Patterns for toys are available at www.toymakerpress.com Red Planet Rockets Full-Size Scroll Saw Plan Set
Toys shown are available for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/OohLookItsARabbit
Londonberry Farm Full-Size Scroll Saw Plan Set
www.toymakerpress.com – 13 –
Susan Burkhart Wood Toys
Patterns for toys are available at www.toymakerpress.com
Toy Dragons, Knights & Fair Maidens Book shown: Lindworm Dragon (left), European Dragon (right) Marsupial Dragon (opposite page) Toys shown are available for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/OohLookItsARabbit
Carpet Buddies Full-Size Scroll Saw Pattern Set shown: John Candypig
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 – 14 –
Susan Burkhart Wood Toys
Patterns for toys are available at www.toymakerpress.com Noah’s E-Zee Animal Ark Full-Size Scroll Saw Plan Set
Toys shown are available for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/OohLookItsARabbit
www.toymakerpress.com – 15 –
Susan Burkhart Crochet Originals crochet winter ermine
Crochet Originals are available for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/OohLookItsARabbit
crochet mole
crochet summer ermine
crochet horseshoe crab
Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 – 16 –
Susan Burkhart Crochet Originals crochet bacteriophage virus available as a pattern only
Crochet Originals shown is available as a pattern for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/OohLookItsARabbit www.toymakerpress.com – 17 –
Susan Burkhart Crochet Originals Woodcraft Originals are available for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/OohLookItsARabbit
crochet tick
crochet vulture Wood Toy News August 3, 2011 – 18 –
Susan Burkhart Jewelry Originals Jewelry Originals are available for purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/OohLookItsARabbit
www.toymakerpress.com – 19 –
The Toymaker’s Library Volume 2 All 4 Books for
$67.95 ($79.80 value) or $19.95 each
Now available as Printed Hardcover Books or PDF Downloads
Order online at www.toymakerpress.com or Call 1-888-962-4714
Book 1
Build Wood Toy Trains
Book 2
Little Village Toy Plans for Table Saws
Book 3
Snazzy Toys for Scrollsawers
Book 4
Build Big Wood Toy Trucks
Order online at www.toymakerpress.com or Call 1-888-962-4714
Wood Toy News August 3, 2010 – 20 –