Fish Pendulum Clock

With a degree in design and some carpentry skills passed down from her father, Libby Hodges of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., decided to try her hand at clock making. Her timing was perfect! Soon her vibrant and whimsical pieces, much like her personality, earned her the title, "The Clock Lady." Her love for nature and the ocean inspired her latest timepiece a fish pendulum clock.

Materials:

1/4" birch wood
1/4" poplar wood
1" poplar wood
balsa wood
fish stencil
wood glue
E6000 glue
4, 1-1/4" wood knobs
scroll saw with jeweler's blade
acrylic paint, green, aqua, cobalt blue, neon pink, yellow, orange, magenta, white
paintbrush
sea sponge
watercolor paper
yellow and orange dimensional paint in squeeze bottles
belt sander
hole punch
drill
X-acto knife
rubber bands
pencil
safety glasses
clockworks
pliers

1. Draw a freehand clock base design on 1-inch poplar wood (figure A). Cut out base design.

2. Draw a freehand clock face design on 1/4-inch birch wood. Cut out face design.

3. Draw and cut out three fish (figure B) on 1/4-inch birch using fish stencil. Tip: Stack three pieces of wood and cut all three fish at the same time.

4. Draw a seahorse design on 1/4-inch birch wood (figure C). Cut out three seahorses. Tip: Stack three pieces of wood and cut at the same time.

5. Cut out 12 pieces of sea grass in various lengths from the 1/4" poplar (figure D).