Much ado about Logs! So many uses, so little time.

Ahh logs. What can I say about them that hasn't already been said? Everyone loves logs, right?

After recently acquiring several new logs, I wanted to write about their many uses. For those who haven't realized how useful a log can be, I am pleased to help out and give you a few fine examples:

Take these logs, for instance. They could be used as artwork  in your backyard. A bunch of these standing on end would be quite unique. No one else will have "art work" like yours! Or, if you want to impress the neighbors, put them in the front yard - everyone will be talking about them.

 If that is not your style, how about a one-of-a-kind, great-for-relaxing, put-your-feet-up, good old-fashioned footrest. It doesn't get much better than this.

Or, how about a pizza holder log? Just order the pizza, have it delivered, put it on the log - you don't even have to get out of your chair - and Whaaa-laaa! Dinner is served.

Last, but not least, how about a log chair. It is perfect for sitting and with another as a footstool, can you say lounge chair?

Everyone needs a log, and you know, I just might know a place where you can get one. Ahem. Just follow this link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108028057/log-stump-table-wood-table-night-stand

If that isn't your style, I have plenty others to choose from. I will sand them down and make them presentable and post them online.  They may not be 100% level, but they are great to look at, wonderful to put your feet on to relax, and the best pizza holder ever. :)

Cindy

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Skunks, skunks, and more skunks!

This is not wood related, but kind of funny, so thought I would share. :) 

Last night I took my kids to Discovery Park on our way home from dinner. I thought it would be fun to walk around for a few minutes before going home. We got out of the car and about 50 feet away, we saw a little black and white....skunk??? We were amused as it was the first time we had seen one in person. He was kind of cute so we kept watching him. A few minutes later we noticed a few more skunks coming out of the bushes. Then a few more. And a few more and even a few more after that! Pretty soon there were about 20 of them. It reminded me of Gremlins - they kept multiplying! 

My son wanted to get a better look and he kept inching closer to them. Being that they were about 20-30 feet away, I didn't think we needed a better look, but then again, I am not a teenager...

He got closer to the group of skunks who were just hanging out, doing whatever it is skunks do, all with their tails down. My son got closer still and all at once, tails up! I told my son to back away slowly. I also told him that if he gets sprayed, he was walking home. ;) Lucky for him he didn't get sprayed and was allowed back in the car. I wanted to share as it cracked me up. Have a wonderful weekend!

Cindy Breninger

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Plywood, Boards and Halloween Logs!

We have been hard at work in our garage. A friend is building a new house and gave us a ton of the leftover plywood and boards. My son got to have his pick - he was like a kid at Christmas! We needed a shelf in the garage, so a shelf is what he built: 

 Also, for a long time I have wanted to take a log, hollow it out, like a pumpkin, and carve things in it. I couldn't figure out how to do this until last night. After several fails and two broken drill bits, I finally did it! :) 

I made this one a little rustic tree. It was actually a lot harder than it looked. But, when I turned on the battery operated tealight, oooooh! it looked sooo pretty!

So, I am going to list this and work on some Halloween themed ones over the weekend.

If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.

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From cave-like drawings to the hanging flowers pots.

Hi all!   Well, it is official, I officially draw like a five year old!

The "Spike" is a dog and the "Fluffy" is a cat. Just wanted to clear that up for you. :)

This is just a typical Saturday afternoon at my place. Once I start cutting, there is no stopping me!

I went through a "concrete" phase. Still in it, actually. But, my log items seem to sell a lot better so I make more of those, but I have high hopes that someone out there somewhere will love my concrete items and buy them.

My sister turned the BIG 40, so this is for her.

I love the look of concrete and glass. This was my first attempt to fuse the two. Needs work, but I like it. It is a one-of-a-kind, that's for sure. :)

And last, but not least, my hanging flower pots! They started out as hanging tea light candles, but the chains got so hot that I thought I should make it into a cute, sunny flower holder. :)

That's it for me right now. Just checking in and letting you know what I have been up to. If you have any ideas of what you would like to see me make, please feel free to pass it along.

Cindy

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Meet Neil the Russian Tortoise, er, Sir Neil.

 A wrote a few months ago I wrote about our Russian Tortoise, Jeff, who passed away.

I am happy to report that my son saved his money and bought a new Russian Tortoise! (Or, an RT as we Russian Tortoise owners like to say.)  Without further ado, meet Neil the Tortoise! He is named after my son's hero, Neil Armstrong.

When we first brought him home, we weren't sure where we were going to put the swimming pool we had for Neil to live in, as our cats were eyeing it as a brand new, huge litter box. (Anyone want some cats???)  That wasn't going to work, so we went to the hardware store and bought some plywood, some 2X4's and some screws. 

My son went to the garage and started working away. He made this 4 X4 foot by 2 feet high, one of a kind, custom tortoise cage. He even put some plastic netting around the outside and screwed it down.

I love how he made the cage to keep the tortoise in and the cats out - genius!   

I am pretty sure Neil is happy. He looks happy, well, as happy as a tortoise can look. He is so cute and really fast. Well, fast for a tortoise, that is.

On a side note, one of my friends was saying he needed a fancy name, so she dubbed him "Sir Neil Payton Willfred Armstrong of Sacramento". 

I kind of like the Sir Neil.

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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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Bringing out the beauty in redwood.

I brought home a piece of redwood over the weekend. I took off a thin strip of it, sanded it down and drilled a hole.

It was looking a little dull, so to make it really stand out and bring out the beauty of the wood, I added a clear topcoat. Redwood is really pretty on its own, but once you bring out the colors, it is gorgeous.

I then added a clock mechanism in the back, a few clock numbers on the front, the hands and whaaaalaaaa! It's a redwood clock! 

Have I mentioned lately how much I love to make things from pieces of wood?  

If you are interested in this clock, or maybe you would like me to make you a custom order, please feel free to contact me here or at www.etsy.com/shop/DeerwoodCreekGifts

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It's log! :)

It's log! I saw this log and had to take it home. How could I not, right?  

This log is pear and is a really pretty color. I couldn't wait to get it home and get it cleaned up.

While I was working on another project, my son decided he wanted to take the bark off the log. I will never turn down a kid who is offering to work, so I let him have at it.

This was after 15 minutes or so.

About 45 minutes. Bark is a lot harder to get off a log than I thought. Well, than my son thought, I should say.

But, it was worth it! This log is beautiful!

I sanded it down and am letting it sit for a month to dry it out.

But, in the meantime, it makes for the best workbench I have ever had. I think I am going to sand it down again and then add a clear top coat. Might turn it into an end table. Maybe add a piece of glass and make a small table. I am thinking of selling it, but I really do like having it around, so might get more logs and make another.

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The Anchor Clock - The Conclusion.

Whew! It is complete!

I didn't want to list the finished clock as it was a gift for someone and I didn't want to spoil the surprise. But, now that it has been given, here it is:

I love how it turned out and am going to make the last two remaining anchors I have and put them on Etsy. I bought three, just in case I messed up the first one and then the second. But, luckily, I didn't mess them up and have two left over.

If you would like to see the listing for this, it is
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Making My First Clock - First of Many!

Having never made a clock before,  I never realized how much work actually goes into making them. I thought I could buy the anchor, buy the clock, insert the clock and whaaa-laaaa! instant clock. Nope.

The anchor turned out to be too thick for the clock to fit through, it did not come with a hole drilled in it nor did it have the back cut out for a place to put the clock mechanism. Off to the garage I went. 

First, I measured how much I needed to cut out from the back of the anchor so I could insert the clock mechanism. Then I drilled a hole all the way through.

After I measured what I wanted to cut out to fit the clock mechanism, I figured I would drill out as much as I could and then use the dremel to sand away the extra wood. (I don't have a router, so my options were pretty limited.)

I was going along just fine with the drill when I heard a sound I didn't want to hear. Snap! Part of the anchor broke off. But, as Bob Ross used to say, "There are no mistakes, only happy accidents." Bob was right. Having that part broken off actually made it a lot easier to cut out around the circle where I drilled.

At I first tried to cut out the extra wood with the jigsaw, but it was too powerful and almost broke the wood even more. I then took the dremel and sanded it. It got to the point where the wood was smoking from the heat from the dremel, so I put that aside to let it cool down.

I then took off the other side of the anchor, as it was much easier to sand that way.

I didn't have a way to cut the ends off the anchor as the dremel was too hot and the jigsaw was too powerful,  so I went and got a good old steak knife from the kitchen. It worked like a charm!

Thank you steak knife! I then cleaned up the wood, brought it inside and glued it. It is now sitting in my kitchen awaiting me to finish it. Going to paint it, add some customized words and some rope. Should be really cute when it is done. :)

I love making things when I have no idea what I am doing. It is fun to figure out. Makes me appreciate clocks a lot more, that's for sure.

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