Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In
3.5/5
()
About this ebook
that range from easy to ambitious. Inspiring readers with beautiful full-color photography of completed items, the guide is
packed with affordable and environmentally friendly projects for both inside the home and outdoors, including
Chris Lubkemann
Chris Lubkemann is the author of five best-selling whittling books from Fox Chapel Publishing, including The Little Book Of Whittling and Big Book Of Whittle Fun. A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself—and others—by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. Since that time, he has continued to integrate his woodworking skills with good old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world’s smallest branch carvings, and his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Read more from Chris Lubkemann
Big Book of Whittle Fun: 31 Simple Projects You Can Make with a Knife, Branches & Other Found Wood Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/512 Spoons, 2 Bowls, and a Knife: 15 Step-by-Step Projects for the Kitchen Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Book of Whittling: 43 Easy Projects Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhittling Twigs & Branches - 2nd Edition: Unique Birds, Flowers, Trees & More from Easy-to-Find Wood Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Little Book of Whittling Gift Edition: Passing Time on the Trail, on the Porch, and Under the Stars Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Whittling: Passing Time on the Trail, on the Porch, and Under the Stars Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Tree Craft
Related ebooks
Intarsia Woodworking for Beginners: Skill-Building Lessons for Creating Beautiful Wood Mosaics: 25 Skill-Building Projects Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWoodworker's Guide to Carving (Back to Basics): Straight Talk for Today's Woodworker Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/520-Minute Whittling Projects: Fun Things to Carve from Wood Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Classic Whittling: Basic Techniques and Old-Time Projects Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Whittling in Your Free Time: 16 Quick & Easy Projects to Carve in Wood Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCarving Animal Caricatures Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5A Handy Guide to Wood Carving Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScrap Wood Whittling: 19 Miniature Animal Projects with Character Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSimply Wood: 40 Stylish and Easy To Make Projects for the Modern Woodworker Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tiny Whittling: More Than 20 Projects to Make Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Creating Wooden Boxes on the Scroll Saw: Patterns and Instructions for Jewelry, Music, and Other Keepsake Boxes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWoodworking Band Saw Box Patterns Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Victorian Fretwork Patterns for the Scroll Saw Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCarving Deer: Patterns and Reference for Realistic Woodcarving Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCane Topper Woodcarving: Projects, Patterns, and Essential Techniques for Custom Canes and Walking Sticks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom Tree to Table: How to Make Your Own Rustic Log Furniture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCarving the Little Guys: Easy Techniques for Beginning Woodcarvers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Way of the Woodshop: Creating, Designing & Decorating with Wood Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Whittling: A Step-by-Step Guide to Wood Carving and Fun Whittling Projects for Beginners Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIntarsia Workbook, Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition: Learn Woodworking and Make Beautiful Projects with 15 Easy Patterns Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrafting with Wooden Crates and Pallets: 25 Simple Projects to Style Your Home Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhittling Workbook: 14 Simple Projects to Carve Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLearn to Carve Gnomes, Trolls, and Mythical Creatures: 15 Simple Step-by-Step Projects Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBe Creative With Woodworking Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCarving Figure Caricatures in the Ozark Style Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Book of Woodcarving: Everything You Need to Know to Master the Craft Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Wooden Utensils from the Bandsaw: 60+ Patterns for Spatulas, Spoons, Spreaders & More Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaking Wooden Puzzle Playsets: 10 Patterns to Carve, Scroll & Woodburn Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCarving Kitchen Tools Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNatural Christmas Crafts Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Crafts & Hobbies For You
Sharpie Art Workshop: Techniques & Ideas for Transforming Your World Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Modern Crochet Bible: Over 100 Contemporary Crochet Techniques and Stitches Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crochet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/540+ Stash-Busting Projects to Crochet! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Big Book of Maker Skills: Tools & Techniques for Building Great Tech Projects Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kawaii Crochet: 40 Super Cute Crochet Patterns for Adorable Amigurumi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rockhounding for Beginners: Your Comprehensive Guide to Finding and Collecting Precious Minerals, Gems, Geodes, & More Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWeaving on a Little Loom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Make Your Own Body Butter: 32 Easy, Inexpensive, Luxurious Body Butter Recipes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary: 125 Essential Stitches to Crochet in Three Ways Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Modern Amigurumi for the Home Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lit Stitch: 25 Cross-Stitch Patterns for Book Lovers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Year of Dishcloths Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrocheting in Plain English: The Only Book any Crocheter Will Ever Need Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The CIA Lockpicking Manual Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learn How to Play Piano Keyboard for Absolute Beginners: A Self Tuition Book for Adults and Teenagers! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Edward's Menagerie: Over 40 Soft and Snuggly Toy Animal Crochet Patterns Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hoop Dreams: Modern Hand Embroidery Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Morpho: Anatomy for Artists Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Practical Weekend Projects for Woodworkers: 35 Projects to Make for Every Room of Your Home Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCeltic Charted Designs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crochet in a Day: 42 Fast & Fun Projects Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related categories
Reviews for Tree Craft
3 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Tree Craft - Chris Lubkemann
tree craft
35 rustic wood projects
that bring the outdoors in
Illustrationtree craft
35 rustic wood projects
that bring the outdoors in
by Chris Lubkemann
Peg Couch, Style Editor
Illustrationforeword
Ilive in an old home and have several even older trees in the backyard. While these trees provide much enjoyment, they also provide a lot of opportunities for work. Each spring, when the mid-Atlantic ground begins to thaw and my gardener’s hands have been idle for the winter, I head to the yard to clear it of the twigs, sticks, and branches that these massive trees have dropped over the winter months. As I pile them atop my wheelbarrow, I find myself admiring the rustic bounty and thinking, I really should make something with all of this wood.
But what to make and how to make it are the questions that usually put an end to my creative daydreaming and pull me back to the task at hand. This book, however, provides the answers.
As I pile the twigs, sticks, and branches atop my wheelbarrow, I find myself admiring the rustic bounty and thinking, I really should make something with all of this wood.
The desire to make things by hand, and more specifically, to make things from found objects, is at the heart of the handmade craft movement. While many crafters were not thinking about sustainability ten years ago, today’s crafter has become conscientious—and we want our homes to reflect that. Rather than purchase mass-produced items, we want to decorate our living spaces with handmade items that add beauty and reflect our personality. Wood is the perfect medium to do so.
Decorating with rustic wooden accents typically stirs up images of wilderness lodges and country cabins. And, while the objects in this book would certainly be right at home in those settings, we’ve chosen to showcase the projects in this book in a more eclectic fashion. You’ll see polished silver, glass, and linen paired with items made from twigs, sticks, and branches to create a modern look that is both elegant and earthy.
The wood you find in your yard or out in nature can be transformed into beautiful and purposeful items in a variety of ways. As you will see in the following pages, a small twig can become a key chain, a branch can be sliced to make a set of chunky coasters, and a downed limb can become a hardworking coat rack. Many ideas are shared inside this book and many more ideas will most likely come to you on your own. No two pieces of wood are the same. Let the wood speak to you and see what creative ideas you can develop.
Working with found wood is not difficult but does require some basic skills, which are covered in this book. Most of the projects can be made with a simple hand saw and/or drill. If you don’t know how to use these tools, I encourage you to get familiar with them. A power drill should be no more intimidating than a sewing machine. After a bit of practice with these basic tools, you’ll be able to create every project in this book.
Many thanks to author and craftsman Chris Lubkemann for so thoroughly answering the question of what can I make with all of this wood?
Chris has been honing his woodworking and whittling skills for a lifetime and has a tremendous talent in seeing the hidden potential in each and every piece of wood. The artful choices he makes in where to cut the wood, whether or not to remove the bark, and when to round the edges take his work from simple to spectacular and will help yours do the same.
I hope these projects will inspire you to get outdoors, pick up some sticks, and make something beautiful!
Illustration—Peg Couch, Style Editor
Illustrationcontents
introduction
how to use this book
getting started
CHAPTER 1: decorating
Bud vase
Candlestick holders
Centerpiece ring
Necklace
Pendant
Photo frames
Planter
Table art
Thanksgiving tree
CHAPTER 2: dining
Coasters
Kitchen utensil tree
Name logs
Napkin rings
Salt and pepper shakers
Wooden spoon holder
CHAPTER 3: living
Clock
Coat rack
Coat tree
Coffee table
Curtain rod
Hooks
Jewelry tree
Lamps
Magnets
Umbrella stand
CHAPTER 4: playing
Checker set
Croquet
Tightrope walker
CHAPTER 5: working
Business card holder
Letter opener
Desk set
dedication and acknowledgments
index
introduction
Most of the carving and whittling projects described in my previous Fox Chapel books have been on the smallish side, rarely using branches more than 1" (25mm) in diameter. Also, the majority of the work has been done with a knife...in my own case, with a two-bladed pocketknife.
Many of the projects in this book are quite different in several respects. While there is a decent amount of cutting and trimming with a knife blade, much of the shaping here is done with other tools: a saw, hammer, chisel, drill, sander, draw knife, and possibly a few more.
This book is aimed not particularly at woodcarvers, but rather at folks in general who appreciate wood, have an active imagination, are creative, and like to work with a few basic tools. Of course, I’m hoping that quite a few woodcarvers, too, will find some of the ideas in this book interesting, not because there is a lot of actual carving involved in a given project, but simply because it involves a natural piece of wood that, with some creative tweaking, can be transformed into something that is unique and useful.
Have fun!
—Chris Lubkemann
how to use this book
This book is organized into six parts. Getting Started focuses on finding the wood you need, as well as covering some of the techniques you’ll be using to create the projects in the following pages.
IllustrationCHAPTER 1: DECORATING (page 18) is all about projects to fill your home with eco-chic elegance. These beauties can show up anywhere: knothole photo frames in the hallway, branch candlestick holders on the mantelpiece, a stump planter on the front porch, a twig bead necklace around your daughter’s neck.
IllustrationCHAPTER 2: DINING (page 48) is chock-full of tree craft pieces to deck out your dining experience. Dazzle your dinner guests with natural salt and pepper shakers, coasters, napkin rings, and more. Bring a touch of the outdoors into your kitchen (in a good way!) with a unique utensil tree and wooden spoon holder.
Illustration