Ron Tremback and Patti Robertson |
Solar Woodcuts Guest - Doug MacDonald - Cast Stone Artist |
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We have designed and created fretwork full time since 1992. We continue to innovate in our designs and our technique. As well as making the more traditional fretwork subjects such as, wildlife, we are well known for our more esoteric subjects, such as, ancient symbolism. We believe that Canadian made arts and crafts are some of the best in the world and are excited to be part of this still growing movement. Ron Tremback sets up, saws, and contributes to the design process. Ron has been an artisan for more than 35 years, making everything from moccasins to houses and cabins. His love of fine detail and intricate designs led him to become a professional fretwork artist 18 years ago. Patti Robertson is our main designer, creating an eclectic mix of images to produce our more than 450 current designs She also assembles and finishes the fretwork items. Patti has more than 25 years experience as an artisan creating many different kinds of arts and crafts. She has experience in weaving and knitting and has formal training in upholstery. She has also done papermaking and beeswax candle making, and has given workshops in these art forms. We have now exhibited at more than 300 shows during our 17 years of creating fretwork. Often people ask us if we use a laser machine or some other computer controlled device to produce our fretwork. The answer to this is a definite “no” as we produce our creations using similar techniques to those that have been in use for centuries. How Fretwork is Created
Fretwork involves the intricate sawing of wood with many inside cutouts. The first stage of the process is creating the design. In the design process, we not only need to produce inspiring designs but they must be structurally sound and still be one piece of wood at the end of the process. We use special laminated hardwoods to provide structural integrity to our intricate designs. After selection, we sand the wood by hand. We then glue the paper design to the wood with non-permanent glue. Next we drill holes in the areas to be cut out to provide entry points for the saw blade. The next stage is the sawing of the wood with a scroll saw. We use many different sizes and varieties of blades depending on the thickness and species of wood and the amount of fine detail in the pattern. The blade is threaded through an entry hole, the piece is cut out, the blade is disconnected, and the process is repeated until the piece is finished. We then give the project a final sanding by hand and clean up the cuts with needle files and small sandpaper strips. We then dip each piece in a combination of either linseed oil or hemp seed oil and citrus thinner both to bring out the natural beauty of the wood and to protect the piece. We have two standards for choosing the materials and finishes that go into our creations:
We are very conscious of the health of the people who live with our creations and of our own health. We are also concerned about depletion of the world’s forests. We choose our ingredients with these principles in mind. We consider our work an art form. The woodworking process is made much more enjoyable by making our own patterns. We have no employees in our operation and spend most of our time making and marketing our craft. Our craft business is the main source of income for our family of three. We treat our business as a very serious endeavor with quality and customer service our main considerations. We are continually exploring new designs and techniques as part of the process in our personal growth. Demonstrations and Workshops
We now demonstrate at all outdoor shows we attend. We power our scroll saw with a small gel cell battery. Ron spends at least 80% of the time at the shows working on the saw. People come away with a new appreciation for our creations after they have seen them being made. Children often spend hours watching Ron’s wizardry on his Canadian made saw. Appreciative young people sometimes ask him for his autograph! We also offer workshops for both children and adults at various events. We bring eight hand-operated fretsaws and all the materials so people can make a piece of fretwork that they then take home. |
