Cutting them out like that would certainly take one back to the olden ways. It is difficult seeing in the picture, but how is the blank secure on the workbench that keeps it in place? I see a kwik clamp laying on the bench, but nothing attached to the blank.
I'm tempted to do what I've seen pics of Daniel Coats doing and cut a blank vertically instead of using a bandsaw, but the bandsaw sure is easy for this old guy.