Between the Shores | Driftwood Home Furnishings » Driftwood Furniture

The Sweet Taste of Creative Success Hits Me

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:32:53 +0000

Well, the cat is out of the bag. I finally unveiled what I have been making diligently for Christmas gifts to my wife. And she genuinely loved them, and after all this time I can tell if she does or does not like something. Plus, she gave me another clue, for the first time she did not tell me in the same conversation what she planned to also buy as gifts for those being given my driftwood creations.

Now, let me be clear, many a man may talk negatively about his partner, but I truly respect the fact that my wife is honest when I show her my work. It has put me on the right track numerous times, and for that she deserves praise, not mocking. While I started out trying to be humorous, I am one lucky duck. So, let me take this time to say loud and clear right here and right now – Honey you’re the best, don’t ever change.

The thing is though, I kind of wish you would buy a few store bought presents, because I am becoming really attached to some of those driftwood platters, but my interest in making more is non existent at the moment, and I do not see that changing in the near future.

What will I ever make next year to surpass this year’s gifts, I was not anticipating such a response? I guess a lot of pressure does come with success- ha ha. Oh, good grief….

Santa Gets Started on His Driftwood Presents

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:21:06 +0000

Ah, so here it is once again time to begin my work on those Christmas gifts. This year I have planned to make driftwood platters. I am anticipating that these will be received with great appreciation, as they do not have any of the issues that some of the gifts I have given in the past came with. To ensure happy recipients I considered small items, but not so small as to be considered trinkets or trivial in nature.

I hesitate to admit it, but I have come across enough of these for sale to believe they are quite in style. If I were creating for my own pleasure, I would never make anything simply because it was considered stylish by the general public, or those allegedly in the know as it were. But, as I want to see smiles when these presents are unwrapped, I am staying on the straight and narrow.

I have also been drafting the cards to go with them, and have come up with the following. This piece was first shaped naturally by the elements, and secondly carved by my hands. In that sense, please accept this gift from both Mother Nature and myself.

I’m off to get started, as I have ten in total to have done in time to ship. The rest I can procrastinate a bit on, as they will be hand delivered. I do not like to feel like a mass producing machine, so I look forward to breaking the work up.

The Time Has Come to Expand the Workspace and Storage

admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:10:29 +0000

I think that it would have been nice to have picked up a hobby that takes up less space. Instead, I collect the driftwood, store it for an unidentifiable time till I craft it into art or furniture, and then quite often I need to house the finished product till I find a buyer for it. Perhaps if I had known how much square footage I would have to devote to driftwood projects I would have taken up watercolour.

It has come to the point where I am faced with making a decision. Either I cut back on my craftwork, or I purchase something to house my pieces inside. This has been a longtime coming, and in reality I have gotten by for longer than many would have expected. This is where I should probably take a moment to mention how my spouse is an extremely understanding person, and without her patience and understanding I could never have gotten this far with my pursuits…. Thanks L.

Anyway, I must admit I have been dodging this for way too long, and the time to make a change is here. I only hope it can be done in a manner that I find harmonious with the surrounding environment, and one that is inviting so I will want to enter the structure to get creative, or store my beloved designs. Wish me luck, today is the day I take the plunge.

The Secret of My Driftwood Furniture Designs

admin — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:45:28 +0000

I have an admission to make. As I start to doze off to sleep I actually get visions of driftwood furniture pieces I have yet to make. The scene is usually started off with a collection of pieces of wood that I have collected, but not put to use. I float them around to make different configurations, instead of beginning with a certain chair style, mirror, clock or other item. I allow them to almost converge where they want to, well in reality this is certainly my subconscious doing all the work. By the time I am drifting into a nice sleep I have dreamt up a new table, bench or rack. So, while I would like to be able to claim that everything comes together seamlessly for me in my workshop, I secretly have a head start that came from counting driftwood, if you will, instead of sheep. For some, this might seem a bit odd, but for those who hear the call of the driftwood like I do, will know that it is just one more way that it becomes a part of your world.

The Very Desirable Driftwood Blackboard

admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:14:21 +0000

While enjoying cocktails at a beachside restaurant I looked up to see the most charming blackboard. It was of course partially constructed of driftwood. Nice bulky strips of driftwood were arranged to make up the frame of the board, but still light enough as to not make it impossible to hang on the wall. I will not give any further detail, or instruction on how to construct a driftwood blackboard because it is an obvious task.

However, I will let you know that I started to make my own version the very next day as a gift for my little sister who is enjoying her first year at university. Normally the stuff I make out of driftwood is not quite her speed, but I feel confident that this will be something she gives her seal of approval too. Plus, it is actually both useful and beautiful. Maybe her friends will like them, and she can start her own little business making them for the other students. Just a thought.

This Year’s Driftwood Christmas Gifts

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:23:20 +0000

As Christmas gifts this year I made hat racks from what else, but of course driftwood. I rifled through my mighty collection of driftwood pieces and merely sanded and lacquered them, in the hope that they would work in the different styled homes of the recipients in their simplest form. None were very large, or bulky, but still substantial enough to hold several hats well. Upon completion, I had done six of these pieces, and looked forward to watching the faces of those friends and family as they opened the wrapping. I did avoid giving anyone who has previously been given a driftwood article before yet another this year. I understand it is an acquired taste for some, and that my enthusiasm for this work is best shared in small doses.

Finding Driftwood Furniture on Display in Unexpected Places

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:59:43 +0000

While attending a sweet potato festival in Portugal last weekend, I happened upon some very talented driftwood artists. I was surprised to find them exhibiting at this event, but nonetheless was pleased with my luck. As is often the way, I was enchanted most by the furniture, but what really got my attention was that the prices were sky high.

For a country that is on the verge of more economic woes, I was flabbergasted that there was a client base willing to spend hundreds of euros on a lacquered driftwood bench. For the consumer, this is not the best of news, but as a fellow artist, this made me smile. For, the product is a unique item, and in my humble opinion, can sometimes be the most beautiful piece in a whole house. I might add that there were other things I truly enjoyed at the fest also, like the free samples of regional wines, and an abundance of pastries all made of sweet potato. Good times indeed.

The Pros and Cons of Mass Marketed Driftwood Furniture

admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:57:53 +0000

Seems like out of nowhere driftwood furniture is becoming a mainstream item. Specifically, there are driftwood mirrors cropping up everywhere. From some of the most basic of furniture shops to some of the highest end stores there is now a plethora of these pieces. And I got to tell you, I am not sure how this makes me feel. For I have known for decades that driftwood makes some of the most interesting, beautiful and unique furniture around. But, when it becomes popular, oddly for me it seems to become a tad tarnished. This feeling leaves me almost as quickly as it found me, and it embarrasses me a tad to say it at all. But it is true.

I know that the mass marketed items are not the real deal. For, a large part of what makes driftwood items special is the process of reclaiming them and reinvigorating them. For a unique piece of furniture made from driftwood, you should consider looking for a joiner that specialises in using driftwood to make individual pieces of furniture. There are many designs and types of furniture that can be made from driftwood with a number of articles with tips online to explore. To make carbon copy pieces is no substitute. Still, on the other hand, there is a part of me that is excited by the prospect of others finally embracing the beauty of driftwood also. I guess I just wish it was created through a more authentic and thus personal process.

The Inspirational Book on Driftwood Furniture

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:18:38 +0000

If you are looking for some inspiration for your next home improvement project, and you are a fan of driftwood, then there is a book you need to pick up. The title is Driftwood Furniture: Practical Projects for Your Home and Garden and it was written by Derek Douglas back in 2003. Inside, he shows you how to make wonderful chairs, tables, benches, arbors, and much more. In total he covers nineteen projects that can be completed by a newcomer, or experienced driftwoodsman.

All of the projects are covered in depth, and include a list of the materials required, illustrations and tips to help you along. Plus, due to the age of the book, it can be found at really low prices. However, the authors ideas are still practical and engaging. The final products are whimsical and fun, but also functional in many cases. Each project would make for a nice touch of personality to improve your home or garden. In addition, even after you have completed all of the driftwood pieces in the book that you like, it is the kind of thing that will prompt you to go on to design your own objects.

Driftwood Alternative Christmas Tree

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:15:14 +0000

Stop the presses! While browsing the net I came across a show stopping new kind of Christmas tree, one made entirely of driftwood. It is for sale on the Wooden Zone website, and it is a spectacular Christmas tree alternative in my opinion. Just imagine it, no pieces of a traditional tree falling to the ground during the course of the holiday season. No need to spend oodles of money on tree decorations, nor having to negotiate with the family over who gets to put which ornament where. Instead, you get a gorgeous tree that can be used year after year and will look as good the thirtieth time you put it on display as it did the first.

What makes the trees so appealing, other than being made of driftwood, but the artistic and meticulous manner in which it has been positioned. In fact, some of the pieces in the collection do not have crosses on the top, so you could definitely leave them out for show all year long. I should mention that these decorative trees are part of a limited edition Christmas collection, so there is no telling if there will be more, or others available next year.

Since these trees were the first thing I saw on the Wooden Zone webpage, I will now return to browse the rest of their collections. Looks like they have some very interesting stuff for both the interior and exterior. Nice to see they have pieces in both their pure forms and burnished with oil.