Woodcraft – ReCreations

3 July 20233 July 2023

Paperbark birds

Walking along the river I found a long strip of bark from a paperbark tree (Melaleuca). The layered papery bark is very pliable and I’ve been experimenting with creating little birds from it. They are very ‘raggedy’ birds, but I liked the natural look and the colours and markings of the bark, so left it in its rough appearance. However, I have used a matt sealant to the surfaces to strengthen them. I also needed tiny thin wires between some of the layers to help hold their shape.

I’ve mounted the birds on branches, but instead of a traditional frame, I’ve cut into a frame to build the frame around the branch, so the branch extends beyond. Although they’re somewhat fragile as they’re not behind glass, I’m quite pleased with the effect.

9 October 20229 October 2022

Voyage

This new project is one of the most ambitious I’ve crafted. I was unsure of where to categorize it in my ‘gallery’ as it includes papercraft, recycled materials and woodcraft. It’s also the largest piece I’ve made – the frame is 50cm square.

The body of the ship and the seagulls are moulded with paper clay, and the waves formed from torn sheets of paper painted with watercolours. The masts are cut with a scroll saw from scraps of wood and jointed together. The sails are recycled cotton, cut from an old sheet. I tried different experiments to shape the sails as though a strong wind was blowing, before finally using a heavy starch, together with shaped paper supports behind them. The rigging ropes are made from unraveled cotton cord.

The frame is only 4cm deep, so once again I had to massage and adapt my original concept to fit, without losing its 3D perspective. (The original design was a 3-masted ship!)

While I can always identify aspects that could be better, overall I’m quite happy with the final project.

[Click near the top of the pictures to enlarge]

26 November 20214 July 2023

The Recycled Paper Boutique

This ‘boutique’ shop window was inspired by memories of dressing paper dolls as a child, together with my love of op-shops and sewing, although creating paper clothing is much more challenging than fabric!

The mannequins are shaped with a scroll saw from offcuts of mdf (medium density fibreboard). While mannequins don’t usually have hair, I’ve used wood shavings as hair made their hats look and fit so much better.

Paper scraps from office stationery, wrapping paper, craft offcuts etc, are shredded and mulched into paper pulp. The clothing is then constructed by experimenting with a variety of paper sculpture techniques; cast paper formed in plaster moulds (to give shape to the bodices and accessories), fluting and shaping the skirts by gently pulling wet pulp sheets onto fabric pieces and leaving them to dry, and by layering sheets of different coloured pulps together.

I’ve used mirror paper in the background to give the impression of a shop window, and also to show off the back of the models.

This piece was created for a Fringe exhibition in 2022 at Gallery 1855 called “Fashion – Make a Statement”.

9 February 2021

Splash!

This table centrepiece is scroll-sawed from 3mm mdf (medium density fibreboard) and painted in vibrant blues. My aim was to create a striking design that embodied the movement and energy of a water splash.

One of the qualities of mdf is that it’s more like compacted cardboard than wood. I used this feature to insert tiny threads of wire glued into the edges, to support the external droplets, making them appear to be suspended in the air. Well, they do from a distance!

The piece comprises 6 ‘fins’ that slot into a base, so it’s easily dismantled to store in an envelope. It is painted with acrylic paint and finished with a high gloss varnish.

25 October 202025 October 2020

Table Centrepiece

I wanted to create a table centrepiece that could be adapted for many occasions; formal, casual, day or evening. As I don’t have cupboard space for such decorative objects, it also needed to be designed to ‘break down’ and pack away flat.

This centrepiece consists of six ‘fins’ which slot into a base piece. The size of the circular base is 100mm, which will fit a variety of objects such as candles, vases of flowers or seasonal decorations. I’ve created this with 3mm mdf cut on my scroll-saw and painted in gloss white acrylic paint. I was pleased with the result so I designed some matching serviette rings.

When dismantled, the pieces all fit into a large envelope.

12 October 20202 November 2020

ReCreating for Christmas – Angels

Using my scroll saw and offcuts of 16mm melamine, these angels hold flameless tealight candles. There are two designs.

Once the shape was cut and sanded, I used white gloss acrylic paint on both the cut mdf edges and the surface. The wing outlines are cut from 3mm mdf and painted. I experimented with alcohol inks on synthetic paper and used the results to ‘fill’ the wings by gluing the paper to the back.

8 October 20202 November 2020

ReCreating for Christmas – Nativity candle holder

I’ve recently learnt to use a scroll saw which opens up a whole new world of design! As a “rookie”, I’m just using up scraps of wood from my husband’s work shed at the moment while I practise.

This nativity candle holder is made in pine. Because the figures fit together like a jigsaw, there was no room for error in the cutting! The base piece allows for the figures to either stand within each other, or to be separated.

I also made the white nativity below from 16mm melamine offcuts and painted the raw edges. The contrast faces are cut from unlaminated 3mm mdf, painted with a satin finish.