The Burgess Hillbillies
Fun in the garden. This little feller Howard, his brother Henry and sisters Lilibet and Mabel were big sellers at the Fayre. They hold a 4 inch flower pot.
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Community Craft Workshop in Burgess Hill and Mid Sussex
Author: Eric
Mick’s Patio Table
Mick made this table from scrap and recycled wood. The top was assembled with biscuit joints and the legs with mortice and tenons. The herringbone top effect was made using pocket screws. It took him 3 weeks to make and he finished it in a sage colour preserver.
Lovely job Mick.
Summer Fayre 25
Great day. Lots of people, lots of sales, lots of interest. Many thanks to everyone who helped with prep, products and day.
Read moreDennis and the Art of Carving
Dennis saw an African primitive style statuette in our St Peter & St James charity shop and thought: ‘Now there’s a carving challenge!’
From a suitably sized Ash log, Dennis turned, drilled and chiselled the wood to create this intertwined figurine. He then sanded and stained it to give a rustic effect to complete this intriguing three-month project.
What made it particularly challenging is that it is carved from a single piece of wood, the figures are completely separate and whilst totally interlocked can be opened to provide a handy stand. It’s simply amazing Dennis!
Introducing GP Team ‘Shed’
Lee who joined recently, made his first products for the Shed, learning scroll saw, band saw and pyrography skills along the way. He said: ‘For me making these cars has given so much joy. While I was making them my thoughts would wonder to hoping they will each find a home where they are able to emit the love and joy that went into their being.’ Well they will certainly make pole for our first events this year.
Read moreSunflower Trellis
Early blooms – lovely willow sunflowers made by Sally in the workshop bring Barry’s trellis to life whilst the climbers get going.
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Vintage Hand Carved Cake Stand
This lovely cake stand has been sympathetically restored to near original condition. The project involved making missing parts, repairing damaged ones and restoring surfaces. In complete working order it has four hand-carved, leaf patterned plate trays which fold down for storage: a great centre piece for any afternoon tea party. Each tray can hold plates up to 8 inches (20cm) . If anyone is interested in this stand or would like something similar, please let us know.
Bringing more colour to lino prints
These lovely practice pieces were created by Belinda in one session using the reduction method. Pioneered by Picasso, colour can be easily added to bring prints to life. Sessions run every Friday in the workshop between 9.30 and 12.30.
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Linocut Reduction Technique
This picture is called ‘Jacqueline with Glossy Hair’, by Pablo Picasso and master printer Hidalgo Arnéra (1992) using the reduction linocut technique. In a series of steps, print areas in the same colour are carved away before a print of the colour is taken. The process is repeated with another colour printed on top of the previous print, then repeated for every colour until the complete picture emerges.
I created a copy in order to learn the technique after watching a video by Christina Taylor, a Conservator at the Harvard Art Museum (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg6FowI4h8o)
My copy is less clear and the print less even than Picasso’s. This is because I used a very small size (6 x4 inches) whereas the original is over 7 times this size. Larger sizes allow finer cuts and accuracy of registration which is important when using the reduction technique. I used acrylics for speed, … Read more..
Read moreFlickering Flames
Candles by Don S, Feb 2025
‘Want to make two candle holders with flickering flames? One hour at The Shed. Simples!’
‘So, one year into retirement. What can I do with my time? Do you like woodwork? asked someone. Actually, yes I do. Why not try The Shed, they said. OK, I’ll give it a go. Great tools, great skills, great blokes. I’m hooked.
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New Home for STEM Bridges
Four different Bridge Building Kits were delivered to Burgess Hill Academy today. The academy wanted these kits to support their bridge Design and Technology sessions. They were originally made by BH-Shed for Sheddingdean Community School’s STEM Fayres prior to the Covid Pandemic. They were also used during our Shed Loads of Fun event last year. The four different kits show the evolution of bridge design and construction from Roman times to the present day, and are a practical way for students to learn about the principles of bridge engineering.
Tony’s 1930s Capri Speed Boat kit -12 March 2024
About me
After a severe illness I found myself at a loose end, I’m feeling well now and getting back into life and doing things. I was told about the BH-Shed as I don’t like to do things on my own in my den. I haven’t sailed but like to kits with my grandchildren.
The Capri is a semi-scale Model Boat with fittings, stickers and plastic windows. It is assembled from plywood inside and natural mahogany outside, the parts are laser cut with spruce strips.
How long: from 6-weeks to 3-months
Instructions
It isn’t as straight forward as it’s led to believe but I found my way through with some help from the Shedders.
Glue pieces together in a certain order with special wood glue, tapes and pins.
Two coats of glue and gloss acrylic.
I painted the other side with Halfords spray paint and gloss in acrylic.
Finish it … Read more..
Shedder’s Yacht Wall shelf – 12 September 2024
A team of Shedders Kevin, Mike & Barry collaborated to make this product, seen online. They say you will need to have moderate knowledge of woodworking and lots of arms to hold all the parts!
What we made:
Yacht shelf in French cleat which is an interior hanging system that holds extraordinary weight on it’s 5 shelves. Simply designed for mounting or hanging items from a wall.
Basically it’s bevelled (cut out), horizontal rail or ‘wall’ cleat. Secondly, a bevelled part, the “object’ cleat slides into its corresponding wall cleat. No nails needed.
Dimensions: height 64cm, width 59cm
How long? 2.5 to 3-hours, with a team of 3 Shedders.
Wood: recycled scraps from the wood store. Equipment: Band saw, Jig saw, plywood and glue.
What we did:
We used lots of eye-muscle coordination.
Draw a draft on paper, cut the corners rounded and smooth.
Band Saw to cut the wood, … Read more..
Recycling Tea leaves March 24
There’s no denying our Shed wouldn’t run quite as efficiently without the humble cuppa! We recycle materials to give them a new purpose including tea bags. I tear the bags open to air dry, used tea leaves are eco-friendly and biodegradable. Leaves contain different elements that influence plants. Tea contains tannic acid to enrich the soil & deter pests, I’ve already noticed fewer slugs in 4 weeks, although slugs play their part in the eco system. Composting them if you don’t have soil, just plant your seeds in the tea leaves. Mulch the leaves to give a loose covering and spread across the soil. Other uses includes, crafting, dyeing materials: Simmer the used leaves in water to give a natural dye for wood stain, paper or fabrics. Simply boil used tea leaves and strain the liquid and use as dye.
Good luck
“Don’t use poisons that cause suffering and contaminate … Read more..
Keith’s Bud Vases
BUILDING MY OWN: Single Stem Bud Vases – (13 March 2024)
My wife told me to! She showed me a picture and said can you make that? I said I know a man who can help me ha!
What I made:
Single Stem Bud Vase holders
How long?
The large 6-inch vase took one and a half days, the smaller 4-inch vase took one morning.
Wood: simple scaffold planks – Equipment: Plastic test tubes (bought online), Band saw, Scroll saw. Electric drill, Bobbin (vertical oscillating spindle) sander.
What I did:
I used lots of eye-muscle coordination.
Band Saw to cut them square,
Bobbin Saw and Scroll saw to cut the hole on the larger vase.
On the 4-inch vase, I used a drill bit to drill the hole right through.
Sanded the wood with the bobbin sander which is handy to sand curved shapes.
Note – I originally made the … Read more..
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