Altered Blocks

In one of the yahoo groups - in this house and garden - Susie La Fond is having a round robin with blocks. [each person will alter one side of the block] I decided to start early and got out some of the blocks that the boys played with when they were younger. I have several sets, one from Ikea that is nice, another nicer set that an old friend made for my oldest, out of maple, then another that has a lot of pine pieces in it.

The idea is that you are to alter the face of the block, then the sides, each block, depending on shape has 5 to 6 sides. I grabbed my scrap box and went to town. Don't think to much just sort of let things flow. Before I knew it I had 25 to 30 blocks with at least the first side finished. I think it is best to do one side on a bunch of the blocks and then start on the second side. Then, the third etc. After that you can go back and add details, embellishments etc. These are my first round.

I think these will look very cool as adult blocks to play with on a coffee table. You could just sneak a block here or there, a window sill or shelf. It will be fun to have as an ongoing project. Susie says she has done well over a hundred. I can see that. Beware. It is very addicting.