BH-Shed

Community Craft Workshop in Burgess Hill and Mid Sussex

Member’s Blogs

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Eric

Folk Art at BH-Shed

Folk art is a general term used for handcrafted objects made within a community’s everyday life, often reflecting local traditions and used to decorate products.  It is mainly done by self-taught artists who develop skills within the community and our Shed is an ideal place to practice these skills.

Folk Art covers many of the activities currently done during Shed sessions such as willow weaving, wood carving, turning, scroll saw work, pyrography and products decorated by hand painting.    Many folk-art products are everyday items embellished with floral, natural and abstract themes.   Products can include furniture, chopping boards, coasters, clocks, garden things.   Recent examples include coasters depicting local scenes, garden trugs, owl toilet roll holders and very recently, Dala style horses. 

Often these products require members to work together.  For example, our Dala horses were first carved by members and then hand painted by Heather, a canal boat artist.

We are … Read more..

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Eric

Beautiful Dala Horses

In the 18th century Swedish province of Dalarna, foresters roughly carved wooden horses during breaks.  They would take them to the village where carvers would complete them before others painted them in elaborate colours and floral patterns, a technique called Kurbits.  It became a traditional cottage industry that still exists today, and these treasured horses are still popular today as gifts for toys and for décor. These BH-Shed versions made by Eric in oak were hand painted by Heather who is also a canal boat artist. The base coats are a special child safe paint from Finland and the patterns are a special paint used in canal boat art.

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Eric

Tim’s Bench

Tim asked us to repair his old bench and move the arms a little higher. We really hate to scrap anything, but on close inspection it was clear the rot had set in. Alas, it was beyond repair. Instead we offered to make him a new one with arms tailored to his needs. He did a trial fitting – you can often do that with our products, and was very pleased. Now he has a sturdy bench that’s just the job and will last a good while.

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Eric

Dennis 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!

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Eric

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.  

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Eric

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..

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Eric

Flickering 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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Jas

Tony’s 1930s Capri Speed Boat kit -12 March 2024

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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..

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Jas

Recycling Tea leaves March 24

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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..

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Jas

Brian Burford’s Furniture Raisers March 24

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BUILDING MY OWN: Flat bottomed furniture risers (13 March 2024)

I come to the Shed twice a week and I had some guidance from the supervisor on wood turning. We serviced the wood turning lathe before starting.

What I made
Multi-purpose Chair risers raise furniture to a level that makes sitting and standing easier and are easily attached to your favourite piece of furniture. Can be used on a table, bed or sofa.

How long: 1st one took 2.5 hours, the other 4 took 45mins each.

Wood: soft wood (cheap as chips), could use heavyweight oak.

Equipment: Chop saw, wood turning lathe, Pillar drill.

What I did
I used lots of eye-muscle coordination. I drew a template of a prototype, found a piece of timber from the wood store. It started as a block.

Top Tip! – If moving furniture around regularly, it would need a deep recess so the … Read more..

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