| Project by mpounders | posted 660 days ago | 1627 views | 5 times favorited | 21 comments |  |
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I struggled for weeks on a design for this contest and didn’t really have any ideas, until July 4th. I finally got this finished at midnight! I wanted to do something that would surprise people when they looked at it, which would startle them in some way, which would be something they would not expect from a birdhouse. I have seen a lot of beautiful furniture posted on this site ….maybe I could do a birdhouse that had details like a fine piece of furniture? Maybe like something that royalty may have commissioned? Or like a gypsy wagon?
I wanted something that contrasted simple materials and construction, with the elaborate details of the carvings. I wanted something to remind you that it is only a birdhouse. This is a simple design for a birdhouse, something you wouldn’t find too difficult to build with your kids. Just four walls, a roof, and a bottom, all cut out from pine scraps.
Since that part seemed so easy, I decided to do a little carving to fancy it up a bit. The carvings are all low relief and are based on flower and leaf designs. For the back, I modified a dragon design with leaves and flowers and changed the dragon to have more of a bird-like face (he should scare away any intruders). The roof is carved with an oak leaf design I created. I wanted it to appear like leaves over-lapping to form the roof. I used a scroll saw to cut out the edges and then undercut them to thin them out and make the leaves to appear more curled and natural. I also turned and carved the perch and the mounting pedestal. I detailed and highlighted the carvings with wood burning to bring out the details; no paints were used in creating the sepia-toned effects!
This is a functional bird house, sized for Carolina wrens similar to the one (an earlier carving) in the pictures, and would be ok for outside use, although it may end up just being displayed. The bottom removes for cleaning and the cherry base will function as a baffle or squirrel-guard when the house is mounted on a pole.
From a distance, the house wouldn’t appear to be anything special. It really just looks like a birdhouse. But I hope that it will surprise and intrigue you as you look closer….that the viewer will appreciate the elaborate details on such a simple object.
I always welcome any comments and hope that you think this entry may be worthy of consideration for this contest.
-- Mike P., Arkansas, http://mpounders1.blogspot.com
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21 comments so far
WayneC
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9596 posts in 2266 days
#1 posted 660 days ago
Wow… This is over the top. What a wonderful carving. I love the bird as well.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Eli Adamit
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321 posts in 1458 days
#2 posted 660 days ago
woooow, You succeed to achive all your goals in this project. It is so nice, so unique. Instead of you, I would keep it at my living room and not outside, exposed to the ravages of nature. The birds will not appreciate the aspect of art in this project.
-- Eli Adamit, Israel
JJireh
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37 posts in 1168 days
#3 posted 660 days ago
2 Thumbs up! Very nicely executed.
mtnwild
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3474 posts in 1696 days
#4 posted 660 days ago
Sweeeeet!!
Best looking roof I’ve ever seen. Beautiful motif, excellent job. Love the wren too.
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
Roger
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9191 posts in 973 days
#5 posted 660 days ago
just nuttin but awesome!!
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
Maveric777
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2593 posts in 1245 days
#6 posted 660 days ago
Mike, looks to me you nailed the goals you where shooting for. IMO…. I could see this commissioned for royalty. Proud for ya…. Very well done!
-- Dan ~ Texarkana, Tx.
Greg The Cajun Box Sculptor
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3776 posts in 1477 days
#7 posted 660 days ago
Super nice !!! Definitely a birdhouse that should be on display inside your house and invitation only for the birds.
-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com
Mark A. DeCou
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1947 posts in 2574 days
#8 posted 659 days ago
a masterpiece Mike!
-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com
Porchfish
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472 posts in 701 days
#9 posted 659 days ago
Do we have the winner here ! I haven’t seen the likes of such a creation ! Fantastic ! Fantastic !
-- some men see things that are and wonder why, I dream of things that never were and ask why not .... rfk
mpounders
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598 posts in 1064 days
#10 posted 659 days ago
Thanks all for your kind comments! I was not sure if I would get this completed for the contest… I kept adding things to be carved! Here are some more closeup pictures…...you can see all the in-progress pictures here.#
-- Mike P., Arkansas, http://mpounders1.blogspot.com
Bearpie
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2474 posts in 1187 days
#11 posted 659 days ago
This is overkill for the birds who won’t appreciate the time you put into it but will appreciate the shelter! You did a superb job on this! If I had 10 thumbs you would get them all!
-- Erwin, Jacksonville, FL
GaryK
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10263 posts in 2157 days
#12 posted 659 days ago
Excellent job!
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
mmh
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3034 posts in 1891 days
#13 posted 658 days ago
Beautifully designed and executed! I love the leafed roof and the additional floral details.
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
rance
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3856 posts in 1329 days
#14 posted 658 days ago
Looks like you baroque the mold with this one. Great job.
-- Backer boards, stop blocks, build oversized, and never buy a hand plane--
mpounders
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598 posts in 1064 days
#15 posted 658 days ago
I was going for baroque with this one!
-- Mike P., Arkansas, http://mpounders1.blogspot.com
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