Jacked Up Logs and a Fish Birdbath

  My weekend started with a bunch of new logs. I love thinking of all the new things I can make. I turned on some music, got out the skilsaw, the drill, the dremel and the sander and went to work. I was out in the garage for hours and loved every minute of it. Below are some of the things I made.

One of my favorite things I make are these split-log candle holders. I think they are beautiful. They look very simple, but are very time consuming.

These start out as dirty, sliced logs. Not the prettiest things to look at. There is a television show where they "jack up the bride" by putting on the veil and maybe a tiara, they "jack her up" and make her look pretty. I like to think that about the logs. Not so pretty at first, but once they get sanded and clear coated, they get jacked up and are beautiful.

A project I am currently working on is a custom order. It is going to be a fish birdbath. I am pretty new to working with concrete, but I love the idea and couldn't wait to get started. I first put down some plastic and freehand drew the shape I wanted. It is 19" by 11".  Then I put the concrete between the lines and hoped for the best. 

 I then added the sides and the rocks. I am hoping it comes out and looks as great as I think it will. I am going to give it a few days to dry and then add the spar urethane as a clear coat. My son keeps checking on it and now wants me to make one for him.  I have to say that so far it is much better than I even imagined. I will post new pictures in a few days of the finished fish. 

I love working with logs and concrete. Had someone told me a year ago I would be doing either of these things, I would not have believed them. I really stumbled into all this by accident, but it was the best accident in my life. I hope to keep improving and making new things. I hope people will continue to enjoy them.

Take care.

Cindy

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My, what a fabulous pocket!

As much as I love working with logs and concrete, I am also finding I love to sew. Sewing is one of those things I have always wanted to learn, but never knew where to start. I am fascinated when someone shows me their newest sewing creation - mainly because it is such a mystery to me how that started from a piece of fabric and is now something useful - so I am more than happy to try to figure it out. 

I recently acquired a sewing machine and took a few sewing classes. These classes were wonderful as I had no idea what a bobbin was, or a footer, or even how to thread the machine. But, since learning the basics, I am starting to get the hang of it.

I spent Friday night hanging out with the machine. I found the cutest material, it is light green with cute little ladybugs and I wanted to make a cute girls' dress. How hard could that be? It looked easy....but things are not always what they appear to be.

Oh, head's up for new sewers buying patterns marked "Easy": Easy does not really mean easy. Trust me on this and I will explain. I bought a pattern that was labeled "EASY" but it turned out to be anything BUT easy. Unless their easy means you will be sewing for six hours, cursing at your machine, walking away from the machine, coming back, and then finally getting it right at 2:00 am., it was not easy. But, I am not one for quitting, so I had to finish.

About 2:00 am, a miracle happened, a moment of triumph - I finished the little dress AND I added a pocket! This is only amazing as the pattern did not include a pocket and I figured out how to make one and sew it on.  To a veteran sewer, or even an intermediate and maybe even some beginners, that would be no big deal, but to me, it was huge. I finished the dress AND sewed on a pocket! Like I said, a moment of triumph! I have to take them where I can get them.

Here is the little dress I made. Please go on and on about the fabulous pocket. haha

Cindy Breninger

www.etsy.com/shop/DeerwoodCreekGifts

Do what you love, but do it carefully.

I have been busily working away lately and I try to always keep my tools in good shape. I like to make sure they are sharp and working correctly. (After my son had to get stitches in his leg, I am very aware of the damage a dull drill bit and a power tool can do in a matter of seconds...)  But, sometimes, no matter how new or sharp of a tool, they can still break.  

I bought this drill bit not too long ago and was in the middle of making some candles and a few jewelry boxes when all of the sudden the drill bit lost its grip and spun off the log. It just missed my leg by about an inch. It happened so quickly, I didn't even realize what had happened until I examined the drill bit. The center point was gone, missing. Where was it? I quickly did a check - was it embedded in my leg and I just wasn't aware of it yet? I checked again and luckily it wasn't. 

I searched for a few minutes, but never did find that missing drill bit tip. I realize that there wasn't anything I could have done to prevent this, but sometimes that is just what happens. Such is how it is working with power tools. 

Anyway, when working with power tools, please be as safe as you can. Accidents can and will happen and it only takes a split second. I don't think you should stop doing something you love because it is dangerous or because of what "might happen". If you find something you love to do, just do it as safely as possible so you can continue to do it for a long time to come. 

To this day, I never, ever use my skilsaw with the 12" blade without first doing a thumb and finger check. I also always think of the wise words from the man who sold it to us. Those words were, "Be careful. This thing will take off a finger before you even know it was cut off!" I like to keep those words in my head to keep my fingers safe. :)

Take care.

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Hot off the presses. :)

Hi all! Here are some things we just finished making. :) 

We have a vase/pen holder,

a toothbrush holder,

a sliced log collage,

a three-piece mini log tealight candle set,

and a log tealight candle holder/ring bearer box or jewelry box. :) 

And this is me working away. :)

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