Tag: wood work

New card display

On By CarynIn Craft

I have had it in my head for a while to make a new card display for the greeting cards I have for sale at my favorite coffee shop. I wanted something artsy that would show off the cards, but also have a spot for a stack of cards and business cards. I decided the take a block of flame maple from my stash and combine it with some spiral wire card holders.

Photo description: hand made card holder with flame maple base with storage slot carved in and embedded wire spirals for also holding cards

I used a two part epoxy to secure the wires in the holes drilled into the wood, then finished the block with Howard Feed-n-Wax. The feed and wax is my kind of product: it applies easily and dries within 24 hours or less, plus it smells nice.

Photo description: card holder with cards for sale at The Full Cup in Weatherford Texas

The bouquet style display brings the cards up off the table and creates an eye catching arrangement.

Throwback Thursday: Box repair

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In December 2010 I repaired a jewelry box for my Mom.

Photo description: jewelry box after removing the old green lining and laying out all the parts to be cleaned and reassembled

I glued sections back together, cleaned the hardware and reinstalled, cut new mirrors, and lined the jewelry box with new purple velvet.

Photo description: restored jewelry box shown open

I regret not taking more in progress pictures of this one, but at the time I was not blogging and just need the photo record, not a detailed analysis.

Hat stand

On By CarynIn Craft

I’ve needed a hat stand for awhile now, mostly to block hats after I wash them. I decided to make one using a pretty block of spalted tamarind and some hanger wire so I could use it at the craft fair where I was selling all those hats I’ve made.

Photo description: finished spalted tamarind wood block with wire hat form holding a crocheted gray beanie.

I wanted to just have the thick wire so that I could adjust the size based on the hat, but the hat looked a little strange with only vertical support. I added a spiral of aluminum wire, which helps the hat, but looks strange without the hat. Hm. It worked fine at the fair, but I will continue to fiddle with the form.

Photo description: form without the hat showing all the wire

Macrame: Cedar branch

On By CarynIn Craft

I realized that I had a free substitute for the thin dowel I tried to use for a large macrame hanging: a branch from the yard. Not only do we have copious available branches, naturally shaped wood looks really nice with macrame. I even had a nice long cedar branch that I had cut a few months ago that didn’t work for the project at the time, that had been sitting out and curing. I stripped off the bark, which is much easier after the rain when the bark is wet, then let the wood dry. I used an oscillating spindle sander to get the remaining traces of bark removed, then sealed it with several applications of Howard’s Feed-n-Wax.

Photo description: curved smooth cedar branch set above the thin dowel with cotton cord tied on with larks head knots

Transferring the cotton cord from the dowel to the branch wasn’t difficult once I used some spare cord to tie it up above the dowel. Larks head knots are very stable, but very easy to remove.

Photo description: all the cotton cords transferred to the branch which is naturally curved not bent due to the attached weight

I left the old thin dowel hanging as a pattern line, and added a couple more guide lines to the wall using washi tape.

Now I have to settle on my macrame pattern. I initially intended a simple all-over grid, but my ideas keep getting fancier and I’m thinking of pockets and loops. Hm.

Throwback Thursday: wire frame

On By CarynIn Craft

I was tasked with making a trophy for a duct tape contest back in December of 2009. I found a block of wood from my stash, imbedded several hanger wires, then shaped them into a chalice.

Photo description: wire armature chalice set into a finished block of wood with routed edges

I covered the whole thing in strips of standard duct tape, then forgot to take a final picture. Hm. When it was presented, though, it was deemed way fancier than the requester envisioned. That’s what happens when a crafter gets their hands on duct tape.