Here's an update and activity log of toy-making since last month's update: We continue with our virtual Toy Workshops, that is, everybody working remotely in their own shops.
Boxes are still moving in and out of members shops and into sanding homes, sealing booths, finishing booths, and wheel assembly areas. Some places in town are opening up and there are a few places you can eat and be served if you desire. Here's a recap of the last few weeks and the movement of boxes.
May 9, 2020: (Day before Mother's Day)
I worked on a cutout for Mother's Day. Kathie is somewhat allergic to real flowers in the house, so there you go!
Hair keeps getting in my eyes - so I ordered head bands from Amazon!
May 11, 2020
Harley P brought some critters, some cut and some still to cut. He's hoping to do some gardening soon.
May 12, 2020
I checked in with Harley S and he's doing fine, plowing snow just to get out of the house.
Eye doctors are open now, ready for business. 😊
May 13, 2020
Dentist is open too, so went for cleanings. Ralph lives next door to the Dentist, so we dropped off 3 boxes of toys (amoebas, ATVs, and bears) to Ralph for installing wheels. Afterwards, we shopped Menard's - got some hardware, set of 4 wheels, some taco shells, soup, and plate hangers. (All because of the quarantine effect.)
May 14, 2020 (raining most of the day)
Eye surgeons open too, so set up more appointments. Developed Quarantine Effect (QE) Basement Shelving plans. Work on recycled four drawer cabinet. Install air reel on ceiling in shop.
Got pictures from Danny today showing progress on the Fire Bell:
May 16, 2020
Jerry and Patsy dropped off boxes of double heart boxes and ladders for firetrucks.
Revised QE Basement Shelving plans for basement due to major error in estimate for Bill of Materials. Also added a third shelving unit to the project, for critters in new shop.
May 17, 2020
Kathie sealed a large group of toys (212) which included trucks, sharks, tow trucks, delivery trucks, love bugs, hear boxes, and ladders. Order paint brushes from Amazon.
May 18, 2020
Kathie went to dentist for a new crown. I went shopping for materials for the QE Basement /Critters Shelving project. Bought tie downs so 2x4s wouldn't fly out on the highway. Got gas for truck: $1.43 per gallon... worth recording here!
Toy Program: Ken dropped off two boxes of toys ready to be sealed. He also picked up two boxes of oak basketball game parts to mill. Al picked up four boxes of toys to edge router. Rick texted that Ralph had dropped off toys ready for inventory: 24 bears, 29 ATVs, and 19 amoeba cars. As of 5-18: 410 toys from 2019 + 347 = 757 toys
Meanwhile. we moved tubs from mechanical room to den. Larry helped me download materials thru basement window to a holding area. Cleared the mechanical room of leftover supplies from the Basement Finishing project of 2011. Staged some material in shop to cut to size on table saw. In garage on sawhorses, I cut OSB to size for shelves and then downloaded it thru the basement window as well. Moved miter saw and air compressor to the basement, as well as the pin nailer to nail down molding on the stairs.
May 19, 2020
Toy Program: Spray finish toys: turtle banks, PT cruisers, Jeeps, small bugs, paddles, puppy ears, puppy dogs, hippos.
Received notices from Mary Jo and Bel that they had hand-sanded toys ready for pickup.
To-Do List of tasks for special toys:
Haircuts (3.5 months) - YAAAY! Paul Douglas dropped off 3 boxes of toys hand-sanded and ready to finish. I built shelf frames for QE Shelving project.
May 22, 2020
Toy Distribution Run today - dropped off and picked up 8 boxes of toys from Mary Jo and from Bel, took 53 Turtle Banks to Rick, and four boxes of toys to Ralph for installing wheels.
Assembled two QE shelving units in basement: 2' deep x 7.5' long x 7" high. Installed shelves on shelving frames.
May 23, 2020 (rain/hail/mild temps)
Watched son's online High School Graduation from LaPorte, IN.
May 24, 2020
Update toy inventory list: As of 5-18: 410 toys from 2019 + 347 = 757 toys
May 25, 2020 Memorial Day
Ed brought 3 boxes of hand sanded toys ready to finish. Ed returned 3 boxes of toys yet to be cut.
May 26, 2020
Kathie went to dentist for a second new crown. So, I dropped off four boxes of toys to Ralph's for installing wheels. Mow grass.
May 27, 2020
Received word that Bel has four boxes of toys hand sanded and ready for finish.
May 28, 2020
Al Oines dropped off four boxes of toys ready to seal. Ralph has finished installing wheels on the four boxes delivered on Tuesday.
Julian is keeping busy during lockdown - working in the Shop - I received photos from Julian's shop today:
May 29, 2020
Design shelving for critters in new shop, based on the size of a xerox paper box. Cut parts to length. Build shelf frames. Add legs.
May 30, 2020
Toy Run today:
May 31, 2020
Kathie sealed toys (98) today. Now have toys available for hand-sanding.
Our June event for the Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation fundraiser is cancelled.
Darwin and Lauree dropped off two boxes of critters, brought scraps for Rick for making rotors, brought thin toys ready to router/spray. They took home heart boxes to add felt inserts. They also brought thick poplar for use in toymaking.
PS - Attention Band Saw Owners - Darwin has 3 new bandsaw blades to give away - they are 3/8" x 67 1/2" long. Give him a call, if you can use them: 430-5728.
June 1, 2020
Talked to Danny Green today about the Wood-turning Special Interest Group. He may have a few small informal sessions during the upcoming months. Has been applying coats of polyurethane to the Fire Bell.
I sprayed toys (362) today including McQueen racers (30), Rabbits (16), Whales (20), Dachshunds (30), Turtle Pull Toys (22), Old Volkswagen (20), Thin Fire Truck 2 (37), Love Bugs (90), Small car 2 (27), Small car 3 (29), Tater Bugs (31) and Slim Rabbits (10). As of today, there are approximately 460 toys in the final stages of sanding and spray finishing.
June 2, 2020
VOTE and take a load of items to Hot Springs for Recycling. Grass is growing.
Hair keeps getting in my eyes - so I ordered head bands from Amazon!
May 11, 2020
Harley P brought some critters, some cut and some still to cut. He's hoping to do some gardening soon.
May 12, 2020
I checked in with Harley S and he's doing fine, plowing snow just to get out of the house.
Eye doctors are open now, ready for business. 😊
May 13, 2020
Dentist is open too, so went for cleanings. Ralph lives next door to the Dentist, so we dropped off 3 boxes of toys (amoebas, ATVs, and bears) to Ralph for installing wheels. Afterwards, we shopped Menard's - got some hardware, set of 4 wheels, some taco shells, soup, and plate hangers. (All because of the quarantine effect.)
May 14, 2020 (raining most of the day)
Eye surgeons open too, so set up more appointments. Developed Quarantine Effect (QE) Basement Shelving plans. Work on recycled four drawer cabinet. Install air reel on ceiling in shop.
Got pictures from Danny today showing progress on the Fire Bell:
Jerry and Patsy dropped off boxes of double heart boxes and ladders for firetrucks.
Revised QE Basement Shelving plans for basement due to major error in estimate for Bill of Materials. Also added a third shelving unit to the project, for critters in new shop.
May 17, 2020
Kathie sealed a large group of toys (212) which included trucks, sharks, tow trucks, delivery trucks, love bugs, hear boxes, and ladders. Order paint brushes from Amazon.
Kathie went to dentist for a new crown. I went shopping for materials for the QE Basement /Critters Shelving project. Bought tie downs so 2x4s wouldn't fly out on the highway. Got gas for truck: $1.43 per gallon... worth recording here!
Toy Program: Ken dropped off two boxes of toys ready to be sealed. He also picked up two boxes of oak basketball game parts to mill. Al picked up four boxes of toys to edge router. Rick texted that Ralph had dropped off toys ready for inventory: 24 bears, 29 ATVs, and 19 amoeba cars. As of 5-18: 410 toys from 2019 + 347 = 757 toys
Meanwhile. we moved tubs from mechanical room to den. Larry helped me download materials thru basement window to a holding area. Cleared the mechanical room of leftover supplies from the Basement Finishing project of 2011. Staged some material in shop to cut to size on table saw. In garage on sawhorses, I cut OSB to size for shelves and then downloaded it thru the basement window as well. Moved miter saw and air compressor to the basement, as well as the pin nailer to nail down molding on the stairs.
May 19, 2020
Toy Program: Spray finish toys: turtle banks, PT cruisers, Jeeps, small bugs, paddles, puppy ears, puppy dogs, hippos.
Received notices from Mary Jo and Bel that they had hand-sanded toys ready for pickup.
To-Do List of tasks for special toys:
- Paddle games - need ball/strings
- Ring toss - need ball/strings
- Helos - need rotors
- Puppy dogs - need ears
- Firetrucks - need ladders
- Tow Trucks - need hooks
- Heart Boxes - need felt
- Turtle Banks - need plexiglass
Haircuts (3.5 months) - YAAAY! Paul Douglas dropped off 3 boxes of toys hand-sanded and ready to finish. I built shelf frames for QE Shelving project.
May 22, 2020
Toy Distribution Run today - dropped off and picked up 8 boxes of toys from Mary Jo and from Bel, took 53 Turtle Banks to Rick, and four boxes of toys to Ralph for installing wheels.
Assembled two QE shelving units in basement: 2' deep x 7.5' long x 7" high. Installed shelves on shelving frames.
May 23, 2020 (rain/hail/mild temps)
Watched son's online High School Graduation from LaPorte, IN.
May 24, 2020
Update toy inventory list: As of 5-18: 410 toys from 2019 + 347 = 757 toys
May 25, 2020 Memorial Day
Ed brought 3 boxes of hand sanded toys ready to finish. Ed returned 3 boxes of toys yet to be cut.
May 26, 2020
Kathie went to dentist for a second new crown. So, I dropped off four boxes of toys to Ralph's for installing wheels. Mow grass.
May 27, 2020
Received word that Bel has four boxes of toys hand sanded and ready for finish.
May 28, 2020
Al Oines dropped off four boxes of toys ready to seal. Ralph has finished installing wheels on the four boxes delivered on Tuesday.
Julian is keeping busy during lockdown - working in the Shop - I received photos from Julian's shop today:
May 29, 2020
Design shelving for critters in new shop, based on the size of a xerox paper box. Cut parts to length. Build shelf frames. Add legs.
May 30, 2020
Toy Run today:
- Pickup toys from Ralph, inventory and tag and deliver to Inventory at Rick's: Ducks (20), Small Bugs (30), PT Cruisers (31), and Hippos (17)
- As of 5-30: 410 toys from 2019 + 445 = 855 toys
- Drop off 3 boxes of blank critters to Rick's for cutting
- Picked up 120 rotors from Rick for helos.
- Pick up two older TVs from Rick for Recycling.
- Ralph needs wheels and axles and glue.
May 31, 2020
Kathie sealed toys (98) today. Now have toys available for hand-sanding.
Our June event for the Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation fundraiser is cancelled.
PS - Attention Band Saw Owners - Darwin has 3 new bandsaw blades to give away - they are 3/8" x 67 1/2" long. Give him a call, if you can use them: 430-5728.
June 1, 2020
Talked to Danny Green today about the Wood-turning Special Interest Group. He may have a few small informal sessions during the upcoming months. Has been applying coats of polyurethane to the Fire Bell.
I sprayed toys (362) today including McQueen racers (30), Rabbits (16), Whales (20), Dachshunds (30), Turtle Pull Toys (22), Old Volkswagen (20), Thin Fire Truck 2 (37), Love Bugs (90), Small car 2 (27), Small car 3 (29), Tater Bugs (31) and Slim Rabbits (10). As of today, there are approximately 460 toys in the final stages of sanding and spray finishing.
June 2, 2020
VOTE and take a load of items to Hot Springs for Recycling. Grass is growing.
