Choosin' Ups
203 Pieces, 9 Inlaid Figurals
Cutting: From Genuine Finished Maple with Unfinished Ash Figural Inlays
Approximate Size: 10 1/2 inches x 8 1/2 inches
Completed on: July 21, 2009
Original Artwork: "Choosin' Ups," copywrite Norman Rockwell
Cutting: From Genuine Finished Maple with Unfinished Ash Figural Inlays
Approximate Size: 10 1/2 inches x 8 1/2 inches
Completed on: July 21, 2009
Original Artwork: "Choosin' Ups," copywrite Norman Rockwell
A Brief History of the Baseball Bat
In professional baseball, only wooden bats are permitted to be used. Traditionally, because of the need for a strong wood with resilience, Ash has been used to make bats. It is a natural hardwood making it tough and very strong, but it is also elastic. Other instruments benefitting from Ash's qualities are such things as tool handles and bows.
Recently, in modern baseball, Maple wood has gained popularity. This transition to maple followed the introduction of the first major league sanctioned maple baseball bat in 1997, by craftsman Sam Holman. The first player to use it was Joe Carter of the Toronto Blue Jays. Barry Bonds used the bats the season that he broke Mark McGwire's single-season home run record in 2001 and Hank Aaron's career home run record in 2007.
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I tried to do something with this puzzle which I think is fairly unique, and was certainly a challenge to cut.
This puzzle is made up of 203 pieces and features the artwork of Norman Rockwell. The boys in the painting are performing the traditional ritual of "choosin' ups" by stacking hands on a baseball bat.
Since baseball is a game of nines, the puzzle contains nine Figurals. The unique twist is that all of the Figural pieces are inlays. While the main puzzle board is cut from finished Maple, reflecting the present, the Figurals are all made of unfinished Ash, reflecting the past and providing a nice contrast.
The image on the front of the puzzle remains consistent and intact despite the differing species of wood underneath.
(Above imaged flipped for illustration)
I used several "drop outs" in the puzzle, including the area between the boys' arms.
I used several "drop outs" in the puzzle, including the area between the boys' arms.
This puzzle was cut as a gift for my brother Mike who is a baseball fan and recently turned 42 years old. I "hinted" this into the puzzle by giving this boy a stategic number on his back.
Here are some of the Figurals shown from the back, demonstrating the Ash inlays. The "42" image is flipped for clearer interpretation.
Buff the Magic Dragon can be seen flying in close to witness the results of the "Choosin' Ups" contest. These two photos show how I was able to inlay different wood for the Figurals, but keep the overlying puzzle image unchanged without interuption.
