| Project by Bob Babcock | posted 2219 days ago | 7179 views | 9 times favorited | 23 comments | ![]() |
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I built these gates and arbor 8 years ago with my daughter as part of a larger project to build a water garden she designed (she was 13 at the time, precocious little bugger). It’s amazing how well they have held up…they are just plain white pine.
Strangely enough the folks at Sunset books have just recently asked if they can include it in a new DIY book coming out this summer….not too shabby for my 1st serious project. That and all the response and comments I’ve gotten (both here and elsewhere) on my Lyptus gates that I built for my brother have made me decide to start a business doing site furnishings, decks, fences, gates,pergolas…etc…
These are my favorite kind of woodworking projects so even if it never makes a lot of money it will still be fun.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
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23 comments so far
jockmike2
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10636 posts in 2418 days
#1 posted 2219 days ago
Nice looking arbor and gate. I hope my wife don’t see this. Shes been wanting those same things for years. Nice. jockmike
-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -
MsDebbieP
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18320 posts in 2332 days
#2 posted 2219 days ago
and “I” DID see it…. oh Rick!!! :D
Magnificent. I was actually just looking thru a book about trellis and arbors. I haven’t decided exactly what I want (or where) but I WILL get one!!!
Congrats on the well-earned honour of being asked to be included in a book. Bravo
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Bob Babcock
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1804 posts in 2257 days
#3 posted 2219 days ago
Made of willow Debbie? lol
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
MsDebbieP
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18320 posts in 2332 days
#4 posted 2219 days ago
oh thanks.. I hadn’t thought of that!! hahaha.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
CharlieM1958
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14865 posts in 2390 days
#5 posted 2219 days ago
Beautiful project.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Phil Brown
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219 posts in 2229 days
#6 posted 2218 days ago
I have a water garden dug in the back yard. It sure would look nicer with one of your arbours in front.
-- Phil Brown, Ontario
Bob Babcock
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1804 posts in 2257 days
#7 posted 2218 days ago
There is a funny story to the arbor, gates, and fence.
We weren’t originally going to include a fence. My concern was about our dog….a black lab/shepard mutt that loves the water. I could just see her diving in and her claws tearing the liner. So we decided on a fence…Now we had to make the whole garden bigger or it would look silly in a fence….so now we have three times the amount of work to do. No problem..just keep plugging away.
We finally get it done…..we go inside, shut the gate…..the dog comes over and opens the gate and walks in….she actually pawed the latch to spring it open. To this day I have no idea where she learned that trick.
She has never gone in the water, just uses it as a big drinking bowl…she even has her own spot she has dug out in one corner under the trees to keep cool. I frequently will find her and the cat both sleeping in there.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
woodspar
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710 posts in 2271 days
#8 posted 2218 days ago
Really nice Bob. I would like to make one like this for my yard. It is amazing what dogs can do.
-- John
MsDebbieP
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18320 posts in 2332 days
#9 posted 2218 days ago
that is funny…. extra work and the dog just walks in hahaha
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8681 posts in 2471 days
#10 posted 2218 days ago
Beautiful gate, & yard.
You don’t need a doggy door on your house then , but maybe you don’t trust him with a key. LOL
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Chip
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1904 posts in 2264 days
#11 posted 2214 days ago
Beautiful work Bob. What more can you say about outstanding craftsmanship like this. Thanks a lot for sharing.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt!
LJ
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106 posts in 2239 days
#12 posted 2164 days ago
Bob,
Beautiful! The arch is exquisite, especially having a double gate.
I too have done much outdoor construction. We’ll need to share stories.
-- Peace, LJ http://beam.to/4goldens.org
mot
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4912 posts in 2208 days
#13 posted 2164 days ago
I’m glad this came around in Pulse! That’s some really nice looking work, Bob!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Bob Babcock
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1804 posts in 2257 days
#14 posted 2161 days ago
Thanks all. This was one of my favorite projects. My daughter and I had a great time doing it. It’s a special place. If you sit quietly in the stone chair a steady parade of birds come in to drink and bathe. Once the flowers start blooming the hummingbirds are always in there. With the sounds of the waterfalls it’s a nice place to get away from it all…even briefly.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
Damian Penney
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1139 posts in 2162 days
#15 posted 2157 days ago
Agree with all the above, lovely :)
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
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