And the storms continue....

This is beach at the end of our road

As you can see it is taking another battering from the winter storms this week

While the wild and wet weather is rather unpleasant, I can't help but wonder what treasures will be washed up, for me to find?

These four creations have new homes, the container ship en route to the UK

Another wreath is now on display and I am working on properly my most involved project to date

Who knew building a castle with 12 towers was sooooo time consuming?

Pictures to come

#christmas is coming!

Last day of my mini break

Took advantage of the sunshine and made these beauties

Getting a good stock ready for the Christmas market place at Campbell River Community Centre

Back to the regular job in the morning....😁

Special order #retro

At the sale two weeks ago, I was asked to make a special order

"Can you make a campsite with a retro camper?"

Of course I could,  love a challenge!

The buyer was thrilled, me too!

Signed up for the Christmas Bazaar at the community centre on 4th November 

I'd better crack on with some projects!

Sale time

It was time on Saturday to expose 50th Parallel to the public

To be honest I was nervous about doing a sale but on reflection I don't know why

It was fun to set up the stall and even better to meet and greet customers and other sellers

I wondered if I had enough stuff

 

 

 

 

As it turned out there was plenty

Great feedback and a number of sales

All in all it was well worth the effort and worry

In addition I made my largest Etsy sale this week, one boat and four more custom made boats

Out of choice I would not repeat stuff I'd made but that's what they wanted!

Finished off my weekend at a course to improve my Etsy store

Feeling pretty good and already planning another sale.....stay tuned!

We're home!

 

A very restful three nights on beautiful Quadra Island

Lucky enough to get out on the sea in Kayaks which was great fun

Arriving back on a driftwood strewn beach, what a result!

 

#driftwoodheaven

 

Only a small stash of goodies to smuggle back across the border into Campbell River.

 

Happy Man

 

Quadra

 

"Memories of Summer" September 2015

 

Off for a stay-cation on Quadra Island for three nights

A little cabin booked on Gowland Harbour

Hoping to Kayak and beach comb at the spit

(I am excited to go to the spit as it is usually piled high with driftwood, like a kind of heaven for me!)

Adventures in driftwood

It was another busy weekend at 50th Parallel

Getting prepared for some more adventures with driftwood

Spent a bit of time getting some preparation done 

I am really taken with the little birdhouse 

Got some vases drilled out too!

Stocks are building up, actually these are all the items listed on Etsy

And these are the extras

A sale on Etsy on Saturday for two boats, a special order mirror and a plaque with a sailboat 

Good times!

All work and no play

Have been off work for a couple of days (with a rotten summer cold)

However this gave me opportunity to get these boats finished

 

Larger than my normal boats, I could not resist the lovely shapes of the wood I had found

 

 

 

 

It's always a challenge what to mount them on, but I was able to slice up a nice piece of cedar which made a perfect stand

This boat had to been made due to the beautiful know at the front

This is a great example of why I love driftwood, every piece is so unique and adding a paint wash like this one simply brings out the texture and individuality of the wood

Onwards and upwards, houses, boats and flowers to make today!

You are Welcome

 

It is always good to get feedback form people who buy my creations

Two happy ladies this week!

 

 

and it is especially good to see them in situ in the person's home.

 

Big thanks to Sue Duval and Annette Rowan who are repeat customers, for their purchases and their praise and encouragement.

 

Rain in the forecast this weekend so having another stab at the wreath,

wish me luck!

 

Oh my god!

 

Another really hot weekend, so I decide to start thinking

about making Christmas goodies.

 

I have a wreath, which I made about five years ago

It has held up well and others might think that would be something different.

 

I used a wire floristry ring

it is not turning out well!

A rethink might be in order

 

On the Etsy front, another order!

 

 

This little special order boat is going to New York

 

Paired with a green tug boat I had already made.

 

I am consistently surprised by just how much interest my little shop has generated

 

 

More sales via Facebook page too...

 

The Boat featured in the video I posted last week

 

(which I love because it is unpainted so you get the full effect of the wood grain)

 

and two sets of flowers which were specially ordered.

 

I will post those pics when the buyers have received them!



Promotional Video Now on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ds5D8QU3rU

Just click on the link

The creative process!

 

The long awaited rain in the Campbell River area gave opportunity to stay indoors today

I always feel a little guilty that I'm not outside when the sun shines

We have a large garden, which takes a lot of up keep

 

Actually there's no reason I couldn't made driftwood stuff outdoors!

 

 

I let what wood I have collected, guide what the finished boat will look like

I've mentioned before, my first attempted looked like I'd tried too hard

These were never very pleasing!

 

This piece is already angled, so a tug boat seems the obvious choice

 

 

Safety first, I hold in place ready to cut (Love my thrift shop Workmate)

 

 

The rough edge looked great but it would be difficult to attach a cabin

The level surface won't distract from the great shape of this piece

 

 

This piece of wood already has some color so I'll use that

I mark the line to cut using the previously trimmed would to get an accurate angle

 

Next I select a flat piece of driftwood for the cabin roof and cut to size

 

 

Depending on the size of the boat, determines how I will join the cabin to the hull of the boat

One of my prized tools is my hand drill

Purchased on line this allows pre-drilling of delicate pieces of wood

Driftwood can often be unstable

Numerous times the wood will split (Usually followed by a selection of choice words!)

 

I often use a piece of bamboo skewer as a dowel to connect the two pieces

Drill both piece carefully, cut the dowel to size

Hammer into place and a spot of good glue does the trick

 

 

My work contains lots of recycled elements (is that an admission I'm a hoarder?)

Select some nails (I like rusty nails to add character)

 

 

Adding the details is the fun part

Cheap eyelets made great portholes (I've used washers in the past too)

I use 19 gauge black wire to make eyelets to secure wire detail or hold twine details

My set of pliers are another must have, in my tool kit

The Elmer's Tacky Glue is always at hand

The best brand for my craft at least

 

After a couple of hours, a splash of acrylic paint, drilling out a base and...Voila!

 

 

I love it! The natural tones and unpainted finish let you admire the beauty of the woods natural qualities.