Category: Craft

Doors, so many doors

On By CarynIn Craft

I had some time and was able to put together the final three chicken run doors and as a bonus, a new door for the catio! The old door was a cheap screen door from the big box hardware store, and the screen would come out at the slightest breeze. So now there is a treated 2×4 frame with welded wire door on the catio. It needs paint, but it is a strong sturdy door now.

New catio door

The catio has shifted slightly, and where I made sure the door was square, the opening was not. So we (my eldest helped), hung the door to swing in instead. It works and the gap is not big enough for a cat to squeeze through.

Apple spoon

On By CarynIn Craft

Here is another apple wood spoon, but with an apple tree design wood burned into the handle. I’m really enjoying making these utensils!

Flame maple

On By CarynIn Craft

I found a piece of flame maple at a woodworking store and made three utensils: two spoons and a spatula. The “flames” in the wood grain really shine once the utensils are finished!

For these I hollowed put the bowls of the spoons first, then used the bandsaw to cut out the rough shapes. Then on to the band sander to get to the final shape. I used 120 grit sandpaper to remove the sander marks by hand, then smoothed with 220, then 400 grit. I wetted the utensils and let them dry, then sanded again with 400 grit. I then used a pencil to draw in maple leaves on the spoons and a dragonfly on the handle of the spatula, which provided guidelines for wood burning the images. Finally, I finished with four applications of food-grade mineral oil. I did not use olive oil because I read that olive oil can go rancid and effect the taste and smell of the food.

The spoons were Mother’s Day gifts (yup, this was awhile ago), but I am keeping the spatula!

Finished flame maple spoons
Spoons and spatula laid out in pencil on board
Unfinished shaped utensils
Finished spatula (this one is for me!)

Fold down seat

On By CarynIn Craft

Oh the quandary! To be able to sit with the chicks, but not have the seat covered in chicken droppings.

I had an idea for a fold down seat. I used scrap 5/4″ decking for one seat, and 2x4s for the other, chain, connectors, eye screws and bolts, and heavy duty strap hinges. To keep the seat in the upright position, I used a carabiner to hook it to the poultry netting. All the hardware is rated for a load of at least 320 pounds, so it should hold up to people sitting on it.

I set the first one a little high, but both my eldest and husband are taller than I am, so that is probably OK. I set the second one a little lower for my youngest and I. The poultry wire back is surprisingly comfortable.

Seats folded up

Seats folded down

Update:

The carabiners were not holding the benches upright enough, and the chickens were roosting on them, so I replaced the carabiners with gate hooks that catch the eyes I used for the chain. Much better!

Gate hook latch for seat

Hand Painted Thank You Notes

On By CarynIn Craft

When you have a child with special needs there are many people at school who help and interact with her daily. I love that my daughter wants to get them all a present, but making that many things is hard for her, so we come up with things we can do in steps. For this year’s thank you cards, she picked a bold outline font from a filtered list, and I printed them on card stock. We then set her up with watercolors and turned her loose painting! Because the print is bold and water colors are light, they came out readable every time. She started out trying to color carefully, then quickly moved to broad strokes. All of them came out lovely, and unique!

Hand painted thank you notes

To write in each note, we will do a few at a time so it isn’t overwhelming (for either of us!!)