In January 2018 we were still working on setting up the new-to-us house and I needed a place to feed Izzy the cat. We had a space in the corner of the master bedroom and the previous owners left a large old wood workbench with drawers on the back porch. I used the drawers as the structure for a cabinet, and cut sections of the workbench top for the cabinet top, bottom, and door.
Photo description: cabinet made from old workbench drawersPhoto description: inside of the cabinet, showing the open back
The door had a crack, so I used an old leather belt as strapping to reinforce it. It worked, because the door is still strong after 8 years.
Photo description: closeup of the leather strap showing the carving details from when it was a belt
I wanted a set of chimes for the front entry, so decided to make some.
Photo description: graduated chimes made from 1/4 inch aluminum rod hung with fishing line from a section of a cedar branch
I read that chimes are usually made with solid aluminum or brass tubes. Aluminum is easier to work with, so I purchased a set of 10 quarter inch rods that were each 16 inches in length for about $14. My first step was to make a small groove in some scrap wood to hold the rods while I drilled a hole in each end.
Photo description: scrap wood jig holding a aluminum rod and a hole drilled in the end with a drill press
Once each rod had a hole in each end, I used a band saw to cut the rods into different lengths, with about a 1/2 inch difference. I then sanded them to remove the burrs and sharp edges.
Photo description: 19 graduated aluminum rods with one extra originally intended to play the chimes, but was unnecessary
I found a scrap of cedar branch from a failed walking stick project and cut it to about 12 inches. I sanded it and finished it with Howards Feed-n-Wax.
Photo description: cedar branch being prepped for holes drilled 1/2 inch apart
I used steel stranded cable to hang the wood, and monofilament fishing line to string the chimes. The knots for the fishing line are all on the back of the branch. The chimes are strung with line that comes out the back and back in the front to increase ring time, and I found have a long line for stringing and a shorter secondary line for tying knots worked fairly well.
Here is a video of the chimes in action. If I get ambitious, I will tune them .
Here is the completed highland-coo-in-a-honey-pot shelf sitter, complete with clear UV coat and chunk of mesquite wood to keep it grounded.
Photo description: interchangeable shelf sitter with the door and honey pot painted shades of teal, and the bird house base painted white and gray to coordinate with my actual house, all sitting on a metal bench near the door entry
This is a cute project offered by the local Hobby Hut. I will be looking for the next painting day!
I went to a painting class at our new local Hobby Hut to do an interchangeable shelf sitter. Very cute design, there is a “bird house” base and the door and central design can be changed out. I painted the base at the studio but took the highland coo in the honey home to paint.
Photo description: interchangeable parts painted by me of a highland coo in a honey pot with three bees
The original design had antenna on the highland coo, which I didn’t care for, so I cut them off before painting.
Photo description: original laser cut wood highland coo bass with antenna Photo description: antenna removed with a band saw and the horns smoothed down with sand paper
I did have to fill the space on the next layer where the antenna were supposed to go, but some cutoff bits of wood and a heavy layer of paint did the trick.
I will post the glued together finished project once I’ve done a clear UV protectant spray coat. It has been raining almost every day, so I haven’t had the chance yet.
Last year my youngest and I assembled and painted a small wood birdhouse. I sprayed a clear coat of UV protection on it and left it in the garage to dry, for a year. The year was not intentional, life got busy, and whenever I would see it in the garage I was on a different mission. Then iNaturalist popped up a message that it is chickadee breeding season and showed a bird house the same size as the one we had in the garage. That was my sign.
Photo description: small blue and green bird house hung on ropes running under the tree branches
I found a length of chain and a spring hook and attached the bird house about 7 feet above the ground at the back side of the yard. I can just barely see the small house from my kitchen table, so now we wait and see if any birds find it acceptable.
Critters and Craft 