Fun With Cedar Logs #2: A Rustic Impression of a Coat/Hat/Spur Rack

In assocation with my volunteer work the past couple of weeks with our church’s Vacation Bible Study, I built this wall rack to support the Western Theme of our VBS program.

I used some Thomas Molesworth ideas for my inspiration, and used Western Red Cedar logs for the wood. Since my recent trip to the Western Design Conference in Cody, WY, and Norm Abram’s Molesworth project on PBS’s “New Yankee Workshop” tv show, I have been yearning for a chance to express myself in this style of wood art.

I also added a photo showing my pickup truck with the second load of logs I gathered for the work. Did you notice the spar tire on the back of the truck? What would you expect, but a flat tire, when gathering cedar logs in the Flinthills? Flint rock chips aren’t good for tires.

The carving was done by free hand with a router, after transferring the artwork from a piece of paper to the wood using carbon paper. Molesworth painted the silouette black in his historic work, but in this case I tried painting the background instead with some extra brown paint I had left over from another project. I think next time, I will do it Molesworth’s way, I like it better that way.

The hooks are Kansas Whitetail Deer antler, sheds of course, and were left over sections after making knife and cane handles out of the rosette end of the antler. I have used antler hooks a lot over the years, and they make a great “look” to my way of thinking. I’ve even sold just hooks to people that found my work on the internet. Seems others like them also.

After the final VBS program, this piece was auctioned to support next year’s VBS program for $65.00 to the auctioneer’s wife. They are good friends, and I am glad they won the bid.

Thanks for looking,
Mark DeCou
www.decoustudio.com

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flint Hill's Artisan