birch bark wristlet

I was asked to make a small purse out of birch bark

 It's laced together with waxed thread and has a canvas liner with a zipper

I harvested the bark from a dead, but standing tree trunk and split the bark to be thinner and more flexible.

Jeans

I know I've been posting mostly sewing projects recently. I'm a bit short on space so sewing in my room is one of a few creative outlets I have access to.
Without further ado...
I have created Jeans

 I'm still not the best at documenting the creative process but I at least took pictures of the pieces .

I'm using a button fly again. I like the way it looks and I can't get a jean zipper anywhere nearby,

 I still need to do some stitching at the belt and make the final button hole

The next step is to make belt loops then shrinking in the wash.

Field bag

 For this project I kind of started out by copying a concept from Filson

http://www.filson.com/products/field-bag-medium.70232.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=luggage/field-bags&fmetaProduct=1019

Since when you're not out in the woods (or fields for that matter) a smallish satchel is basically a purse. So I decided to add a waist belt to try to make it more manly. the bag is mostly recycled tent canvas with some leather belly straps.

The waist belt has 2 mini belts near the pack to attach anything you would normally put on a belt, like a knife or hatchet. You know, to make it more manly. It currently holds my knitting but it could hold things like shotgun shells for hunting or tools for fixing cars or more knives. Again, more manly.

You can also wear it with just the waist belt. So I've essentially created a purse/fanny pack hybrid. Except much cooler than it sounds.

canvas pants

These are the second pair of pants I've made from recycled tent canvas.

 The first pair lacked a few features I wanted to try such as internal pockets (same basic construction as jean pockets), back pockets, double fronts, and a centered fly. For the first pair I used an odd side flap and buckle arrangement. Not the best fitting design.

They fit snuggly right now so I'm not sure if I'm going to add belt loops or not.

Leather Boots

I've been wanting to make some boots for a while now. I used a moccasin toe design.

I assembled one boot with the raw leather to make sure all the proportions were all right, then disassembled it in order to condition all the pieces with wax.

I then punched and set brass eyelets for laces and glued on a rubber sole cut from a welcome mat

 Finished product after a few weeks breaking in

Loom

I'm getting into weaving, but don't want to buy a loom. so...

It's a smallish table loom, about 12 inches wide with a "gear" and pin system for adjusting tension.

The heddle is made from Popsicle sticks and is not the greatest. Eventually I want to buy a professionally made heddle, some things are best left to the experts.
 

Slings and Arrows

I've been working on more primitive weaponry, I made one leather rock sling

I can sling golf-ball sized rocks about 100 yards

I've also been making more arrows for my bows. A friend and coworker shot a turkey last month and gave me the wings to use for fletchings.

The shafts are cedar, leftovers from making paddles.

the arrow heads are dull broad heads cut from stock steel

Modern Kayak Paddle

I've been trying to use up the cedar I have left over from making greenland style paddles. I came up with this design from modern kayak paddles

I added asymmetrical maple tips to bind the laminated blades together and add tip durability 

Of course I used birds-eye maple

Trevor has been knitting (Vermont edition)

 pair of small fair isle mittens

Alpaca and wool socks

'cello 2 part 4

The 'cello is done! Mostly that is. The body is done and strung, and it plays. All that remains is the electronics. Here's the finished product

The "body" is a set rotating pieces that allow you to grasp the instrument with the legs like a standard cello.
the folding mechanism was a tedious and frustrating thing to make, but the results are worth it. 

hopefully if the electronics go smoothly I could have it fully done in a few weeks.

'cello 2 part 3

It's been a long time since I've posted but trying to get back in the grove. Most of my time in the shop has been working on the 'cello, smoothing the body and doing all the measuring and drilling for the strings and tuners as well as making the bridge.

Here is the neck in a rough state

This is the present condition. Fingerboard and nut are glued on. Tuners are in place, and the body is shellacked.

The bridge is a modified traditional design made to accommodate five strings. I split it out of a straight grained firewood billet.

 Tuners with cut-outs for better alignment on tail-stock

I drilled and placed brass threaded inserts in the back for the faux body to attach

more knitting

'Cello 2 part 2

The 'cello is coming along well. I have the profile cut out and being smoothed with lots of planing and scraping

 The finger board is almost cone except the concave hollow at the end.

The bridge is also coming along, the blank has been cut out of a split and dried maple billet (piece of firewood) and I am slowly bringing it to final thickness.

A slightly blurry but closer look at the birds-eye grain on the finger board

Compass plane

This little project turned out much better than I thought it would. First off, it was only 8 hours between cutting out the tool and the tools first cut. including glue drying time. Secondly, it works great. Thirdly, It replaces a $40 tool for only $3 which was the cost of the cheap trimming plane that i used for the blade and cap iron

I am aiming to repeat this on different types of planes using circular saw blades cut up to make blades, and tapped scrap steel as cap irons.
It cuts well even in birds-eye maple, which is also what is made of. I would like to get a few coats of shellac on it, except I'm always using it.

Goals for next plane; a narrower, even mouth and more camber.