Black and White Birdhouses

Various Projects on Hand

I had a very busy day - and a tall birdhouse display - at the recent Gathering on the Green in Wortley Village, London, and am now back inside the workshop, working hard at building up my stocks again.

The B & W dust is a-flyin'.

Link to B & W Wee Side Job

Photo GH

Larger Red Cedar 2

Hammerin' and Singin'

 "Space is getting tight inside the workshop"

Four small western cedar birdhouses are almost buried now under eight larger cedar houses, and I'm almost out of room to turn around. So, I'd better not add more stock to the mix. After all, ten barnboard birdhouses are hiding under the pile somewhere.

"Darker cedar equals richer aromas. Yummy!"

"No paint required on a rescued western cedar roof"

The roof slats are going on quickly. Some slats will get a paint job, others will remain as they are... all natural. One western cedar board was especially dark and fragrant. I don't know if birds appreciate the aroma but I sure do.

Oh, and if you heard me singing along to Billy Bragg's old tunes yesterday, sorry about the noise.

Link to Large Red Cedar 1 

Photos GH

Custom Birdhouse 6

Getting Ready for the Roof

This large four-plex didn't get much attention after May 13 because I travelled to Vancouver Island to do a bit of research re my Dad's Navy days.

"Other small birdhouses need some attention as well"

Well, I'm back and have applied a coat of light orange/peach and am now thinking I definitely have to darken things up. So, I will mix and stir some paint and see what happens. Custom birdhouse means custom colours.

"Yes, I really need to darken things up to

match the client's garage/music hall"

After I apply a final coat of paint (or two) I will attach four roof panels - waiting in the wings - and design the dormer. I think that will be a fussy job but... I like to experiment.

Link to Custom Birdhouse 5

Photos GH

Basic Western Cedar 3

Two Coats of Red

 "First coats of red are a-dryin' before trim time"

The eight small and basic cedar birdhouses are coming along nicely. Four got the red roof treatment - classy numbers now - while the other four got buried by other larger models inside the workshop. Soon I will add a bit of trim to each one and place half of them in storage.

"Small cedar models dry beside a 'wee side job' - large four-plex

Why just half? 'Cause the half w red roofs got snapped up even before the second coat was dry.

I wasn't expecting that to happen, so sometime next week I will start another batch to fill up the empty spaces on storage shelves.

Busy times, for certain.

Link to Basic Western Cedar 2

Photos GH

B & W Wee Side Job

Ready for Scrap Heap?

I admit, the wood is from the scrap box and the old toys have seen better days. But together they say something.

"Don't just throw us away!"

Link to B & W Barnboard BH

Photos GH

Wee Side Job 4

Dinky Toys and Hot Wheels

I have the old lumber. I have the old toys. Why not combine the two in some way?

I think I'm onto something.

Link to Wee Side Job 3

Photos GH

Larger Red Cedar 1

Getting Started

A few days ago I started building eight small western cedar birdhouses and yesterday I painted the roofs of four of them. As the paint dried I set up my sander outside the workshop, then turned to eight larger cedar birdhouses.

A breeze was blowing... thumbs up, I say.

How will they look? Stay tuned.

Link to Basic Western Cedar 1

Photos GH