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I decided to celebrate the release of Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald by making a wand. However, I decided to use an unusual type of wood, that I had to go all the way to the coast to collect… Driftwood.

So… I went to see the movie and while it contained a lot of magical fun, some great effects and some great performances (mainly from Eddie Redmayne and Johnny Depp) it definitely had a lot of problems. There were far too many plots, with a lot of them being not that interesting (baby swapping antics especially). It also suffered from J.K. Rowling desperately trying to connect every possible character to the original Harry Potter Universe which made a lot of things seem unbelievable and silly. If the next film is entirely focussed on Grindelwald and Dumbledore with fun side quests from Newt then it’ll be great.

My rating for The Crimes of Grindelwald = 3 out of 6 Eggs

Make sure to give a big ol’ like and a happy little subscribe and have a lovely day!

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Tools ‘n’ stuff:

Record Power DML250 Cast Iron Mini Lathe: https://amzn.to/2Rmi6w3
Silverline 303159 Wood Turning Chisel Set: https://amzn.to/2DSKP99
RIKON Power Tools Chuck: https://amzn.to/2Qss2Ts
Clarke Bandsaw: https://amzn.to/2DT4Tbx
Danish Oil: https://amzn.to/2Qqxhmx
Wax Polish: https://amzn.to/2QrMeVE

Music is all by me.

Making a Magic Wand out of DRIFTWOOD – Woodturning for Wizards
Home Improvement Can Be Pretty Simple With Help

Most people do not realize that they can complete most home improvement projects themselves. By keeping an open mind and searching for new ideas and tips, the process of improving your home can become easier. As the following article will show you, there are many ways to make home improvement projects less expensive, less stressful, and less difficult.

Solar panels can improve your home. This may cost you a lot of money at first, but with electricity costs going up, you may discover it saves you a pretty penny in the long run. This saves you money on energy costs due to the use of stored energy. Solar power is a great solution for your home.

Even novices can repair leaky faucets. When you can deal with the issue quickly, you’ll save on your water bill. You can save significant amounts of money from these projects on your water bill each month.

In order to keep air from passing through door frames, get some sealant material and draft fighters. A draft excluder can be fitted beneath a door to prevent the loss of warm air and the introduction of cold air. Sealant strips provide a similar function when they are fitted tightly around a door’s frame. Just about any hardware store will have them in stock.

If you have chosen to do your own home improvement project, make it a point to purchase the highest-quality tools and materials. Purchasing high quality tools can be costly, but it is a very worthwhile investment. Materials that are of a better quality will stand up to wear and tear. Even though some quality tools can be a bit expensive, they save you a lot of money in the long run.

Stop thinking that home improvement is more than you can handle. It is important to keep an open mind when you make these repairs. The preceding article provided important advice for making home improvements. You can have an up-to-date, modernized home in very little time by using the advice provided.

Amazing Sculpture of greyhound by Jack Marsden Mayer

Vets aren’t all work and no play. Jody Burchall collects contemporary art and is
always on the lookout for great original art works to add to her collection. About 18 months
ago Jody commissioned a sculpture of her Italian Greyhound Blue from Jack Marsden Mayer an artist who works with driftwood, lives in the Ruapehu area and makes stunning sculptures
of animals. Jack has kindly provided us with this video of the creation of Blue.

See more of his work at www.animaldriftwoodsculptures.com

Watch out for his next project a full sized Kashin the Elephant which will be shown at Sculpture on the shore on the weekend of the 8th November www.nzsculptureonshore.co.nz

Blue – A sculpture in driftwood
Improving Your Home: Useful Tips To Live By

It makes perfect sense to want to better your home. Although it can be overwhelming at times, many home improvement projects can be accomplished by the average do-it-yourself homeowner. Whether you want to make home improvements in order to sell your home, or you just want your home to look nicer, the following tips will help you.

It can be very expensive to purchase new furniture. Sometimes you can find great bargains in second-hand stores or yard sales. You can find some great deals among things that someone else didn’t want. Some things require work, but by investing time, they can become an asset.

Think about what you’re going to do before you do it. When you plan things out, you ensure that you stick to a budget and get everything done properly. You will up your cost and time when you change up in the middle of your project. The contractors you hire will be much more satisfied if you have a plan before starting construction and you don’t deviate from that plan.

If you’d like to maintain the appearance of your toilets, put a bit of bleach into the bowl. Bleach has a strong smell, but it is terribly effective at killing germs. If you are really concerned about the smell, try scented bleach.

When you need professional help with a home improvement project, be sure that you and your workers draw up a written contract before any work is done. By having something in writing, you will be protected from extra charges and unfinished work. You’re in a dangerous position if you don’t have a contract.

When you hire a contractor for your project, it’s necessary to keep a file of all your records. Do not rely on the contractor to handle this for you. Keep a folder with all contracts and invoices relevant to the project you are doing. Then you and the contractor can just focus on completing the project.

Home improvement is not about overworking yourself. Applying these tips should help you design a better home for yourself and your family.

Sanding,cleaning , oxalic acid wood bleach part 1

Part 1 of two Driftwood Projects
Get Some Interesting Information On Home Improvement Projects

Many homeowners decide to take on a home-improvement project at one point or another. They can tell you that, particularly when a homeowner does not have much experience, a fine line exists between failure and success. Continue reading for some helpful tips on how you can plan your home improvement projects to be successful.

Arrange garage items in plastic boxes to keep organized. Label the boxes and stack them. This will keep vermin out of your things, and will let you have a tidy garage without spending much money.

Look to your kitchen when you want to get an idea of where to begin home improvements and updates. Start with the walls; if there are grease stains, mix up a 2 to 1 solution of TSP and water. This mixture will not only remove grease but also prep the walls for a new coat of paint. Use shades of tan to paint the kitchen and you will be surprised at how much better the room looks.

Tailoring pillows to suit a teenager’s tastes is not that hard. Just take some old pieces of clothing with interesting patterns, cut and sew into a cool pillow cover. This can add personality and lighten the mood in a young teenager’s private space.

If you cannot find the right sized screen to replace one you are missing, it is simple to make one yourself. You can purchase a frame kit in any size. All you will have to do is attach the screen with a cord and a special tool. Some windows take a special kind of screen, but you can add an external screen to any window with easy to attach adapters.

As noted at the start of the article, many homeowners with little experience can encounter difficulties when preparing for a home renovation. If there is no help from a pro, there can be one fine line between failure and success. Use the tips in this article to start a project and carry it out effectively.

Last minute project before I head off to the Yukon.

Making a walking stick from driftwood
Great Home Improvement Tips You Should Know!

Do you feel it is time to redo your house and create the home you have dreamed of? Whether you’d like to brighten up your kitchen, or would like to boost your curb appeal, there are all kinds of home improvement projects that can help you get what you want. It can be a lot of fun to do renovations, and you will be gaining experience. It can be easily done if you keep these simple, but effective, tips in mind.

You can handle repainting your porch on your own. Make sure the paint you choose is of good quality. Make sure you use the same paint type as the existing paint. Oil-based paints make good trims due to their longevity but are bad ideas outside on decks or flooring, since snow makes them slippery.

Be certain to dust all accent decor often. Dust bunnies can start creeping up after a few days, and that encourages allergens to interfere with your life. When you dust your accessories, you clear away dirt and check for fleas, spiders and ants.

Use a sponge on your drywall. Rather than sanding the seams in your drywall, sponge them. A wet sponge can smooth the seams of drywall just as well as sandpaper. This also alleviates dust production caused by sanding.

Connecting PVC pipes is easy and only requires you to use PVC primer and cement. Without these items, the pipes won’t stay together and liquids may leak from them. Make sure the pipes have no water on their surfaces.

It’s possible to learn how to do any improvement to your home on your own. Even the professionals found it necessary to learn in the beginning, so you can too. Use the above advice and you will find out how you can become skilled at making your home lovely.

Telecaster made from epoxy and driftwood

Amazing epoxy guitar made from Driftwood and resin
Solid Advice When Trying To Improve Your Home

Home improvement means more than a new floor. In order to get your home just right, you have to plan ahead and do research on your projects. To increase your home improvement prowess read these tips. You can create the home of your dreams, and save money while you do it.

To save some energy yet still light up your yard, switch out your standard porch lights for lights that operate on a motion sensor. You can turn on the lights yourself or adjust how sensitive it is.

Think about getting a combo washer-dryer unit if you are limited on space in your laundry area. Combo units are stacked and take up half the room. The ease of having the same machine both wash AND dry your clothes is an added bonus!

An over-the-range microwave may be the best solution if you need space in the kitchen. An over-the-range microwave replaces the range hood. This type of microwave is available in many prices with a wide variety of options. Most of these units have a recirculating air filter rather than an actual vent, so they work best for people who do not require a kitchen vent.

If you find that water is leaking underneath your sink or from your tap refrain from attempting to fix it on your own. Use a container that is big enough to hold the liquid and contact a professional plumber.

If you’re purchasing new furniture, it’s best to avoid pieces that have busy upholstery. If you choose a love seat with an elaborate floral print pattern, you just decided on your home decor in advance. Purchase furniture in solid colors and dress them up with your accessories. Add pillows and throw blankets in a variety of patterns and colors for an interesting mix and match effect.

Any and everyone can enjoy working on home improvement jobs. Becoming skilled at it takes time; if you are just newly starting out, be patient as you grow your abilities. If you are serious and determined, then pay close attention to what you are doing and you should feel proud of all that you accomplish.

Horse outside the Nevada museum of art

Driftwood horse sculpture
Turn Your House Into A Home

Learning more about home improvement will save you money and keep your house in good shape. The following information will let you know if it is worth tackling the project on your own or if it is best left to someone that does it for a living. When in doubt, the smart thing to do is call a professional.

The most important step in making home improvements is to make sure your home will look the way you want it to. You can improve your home through personal panache.

To save some energy yet still light up your yard, switch out your standard porch lights for lights that operate on a motion sensor. You can turn the light on manually, and on many models, you can also adjust its sensitivity.

Don’t forget about safety. There is a level of risk in any project that you work on, so make sure to read the instructions on power tools and ask for help from store associates if you need it. You can find help and information about your project by accessing an online tutorial.

Don’t settle for a drab or ordinary living space; the simple addition of colorful prints and patterns can transform your everyday world. Put some type of exotic animal print on accessories in your living room to get the pizzazz you desire.

Most supplies for home improvement projects tend to be items that would be valuable theft targets. Always see that all materials are fully secured when nobody will be around to watch them. If a property is secure–all entries and windows are able to be locked–storing supplies inside is a good idea. If you house is not complete, and impossible to lock, consider buying a lockable container.

As you now know, you must be aware of your limits when making home improvements. Following the advice provided here can prevent errors that could wind up being costly or even catastrophic. You may want to live by the motto that it’s much better when you ask someone for help than living with regret.