Workshop Variety Pack (2).

Cedar Birdhouses, Whale Art and Palm Chisels.

 Smaller models than usual, for smaller birds in smaller gardens.

Recently, once western cedar log cabins were under control (5 of 11 are already finished), I spent time on houses that should catch the eye of local gardeners, i.e., four small units that can be planted in a small garden. Two are in progress, above photo.

The four red cedar houses are now finished and are sitting atop metal poles and waiting for GOG1, June 1.*

The black metal pole plus house is about 6-feet tall.

Work continues on a hand-carved, art piece that will feature a blue whale. 

Palm chisels make quick work of removing lots of wee bits.

More to follow, so stay tuned.

*GOG1, June 1 is Gathering on the Green, a big local event coming up this Saturday in Wortley Village.

Please link to Workshop Variety Pack (1).

Photos GH

Log Cabins from Old Cedar (2).

Log Cabins Ready for The Green.

Five of 11 log cabins are finished, a week before GOG1, June 1*.

This week I will work on six more log cabins made from rescued western cedar from Joe Flagler's dock.

Now, Joe's new dock - on the Trent Severn waterway coursing through Fenelon Falls - will not be ready for rescue and turning into birdhouses and various other projects for another 20 - 30 years or more. So, 'til then, I'll just continue to putter around in my workshop, waiting for the inevitable call.

It will likely go like this:

"Hi, Gord? This is Joe. Do you want a load of nicely-weathered cedar 2 by 6s?"

"Well, I still have a dozen planks left from your last dock but I think I can use those up pretty quick. Same problem at the land-fill site as last time, Joe?"

The darker part of the face is rescued pine, as is the wooden spoon perch!

"Yes. Those beggars want to charge me $150 per pickup load of lumber if I drop it off at the landfill. Yipes, it would cost me an arm and a leg to get rid of this big pile of planks."

"Okay. I'll rent a moving truck, like last time, and see you in about a week."

"Thumbs up!" I'll say.

A sturdy pot scraper makes a sturdy perch!

While puttering in the future I will try to come up with a few new designs for rustic birdhouses because I'm running low on wooden spoons.

*GOG1, June 1 is Gathering on the Green, next Saturday, on the Green (behind the old Ed. Centre in Wortley Village).

Please link to Log Cabins from Old Cedar (1)

Photos GH

Workshop Variety Pack (1).

Log Cabin, Wee One, and One Whale!

Five log cabins are of good size and require a bit more trim before I can say, "Fini." Hopefully, they will be ready to bring indoors for storage by the end of this weekend.

What's that? Yes, Friday does look good for motorcycling - so maybe they'll all be finished by late Sunday. : )

Four smaller houses (made of fine red cedar, almost ready to be placed on metal poles) will be finished by next Wednesday, after a bit of paint work is completed.

Custom project. A faint sketch on a piece of old fir shelving.

Sometime today I will have a whale of a time with palm chisels, hoping to turn the above sketch into a finer piece of wood work, and thinking all the while about how to paint the beast and then frame it properly.

More positive progress to follow as days quickly go by toward my June 1st deadline.

Please link to Log Cabins from Old Cedar (1).

Photos GH

Log Cabins from Old Cedar (1).

Waste Not, Want Not.

Old cedar from Joe Flagler's dock.

I am making 11 log cabins that I should call "Joe Flagler Specials" because I rescued the cedar deck boards from Joe's dock 5 - 10 years ago, and it looks better every year!

I still have a bit of trim work to do in order to finish the first five birdhouses, e.g., a perch, roof edge trim, picket fence, windows, roof ridge, etc., so you will see a few photos in the next few days as progress continues.

You've been warned! : )

The two darker triangles atop the tiers of logs are old 'rescued' pine.

While working on this set of houses a fellow dropped by with cedar scrap from his sauna project. I said 'yes' to the lumber because it is just the right size and amount for three small bird houses I want to attach to three metal poles I rescued. Good timing, I say!

More to follow as Gathering on the Green approaches, June 1.

Please link to another birdhouse w Joe Flagler's cedar deck board at Rustic Harrison Specials (3).

Photos GH