We noticed this gorgeous wooden iPod today on Flickr produced by talented Austin area modder ZapWizard.

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It's not just a case either. The fully-functioning fourth generation iPod is actually built into the wood enclosure. The author states that he used a Dremel rotary tool to create this case. The wood is African Padauk.

There are lots more pictures of the entire build process located on ZapWizards Flickr page. Beautiful work!

Gail at WoodTalkOnline posted a great list of motivational tips to keep in mind when working on your next woodcraft project. They aren't just limited to woodcraft either-they seemlessly translate equally as well to almost any project.

Check it out here

One of the greatest things about technology is how it's allowed designers and craftsman the ability to create a virtual mockup prior to construction. Although CAD technology has been used for years by architects, industrial designers, and artists, the software can be expensive and the learning curve is less than what we'd call "gentle".

Enter Sketchup. Sketchup is a 3d modeling tool distributed by Google that may revolutionize the way you design.

What's cool about Sketchup?

Well, for starters:

• It's very easy to learn. Just follow the brief tutorials and you'll have it figured out. The interface is intuitive and the tools are easy to understand. In fact, you'll probably learn it so fast you'll actually have fun using it!
• It's powerful. You can create designs as simple as a chair to as complex as a skyscraper. You can even map textures or photos over a 3d object to make it appear more realistic.
• Google's 3D Warehouse is a repository for 3D objects that other Sketchup users have created and have chosen to share with the community. You can download these objects for free and integrate them into your projects
• A huge community forum is always willing to provide assistance should you run into snags.
• It's system requirements are not demanding and will effortlessly run on most modern computers.
  
• It's available for both Mac and PC.
  
• And the best part...the personal version is 100% FREE. No adware. No spyware. No gimmicks. Google distributes it for free with the hope that people will utilize it to help Google with their Google Earth project. Of course, you can use it for whatever you want.