My art ( if you can call it that ) is creating unique, and hopefully beautiful, furnishings from old wood that would otherwise be discarded or rot away.  Reclaimed hardwood exposed to the elements for many years is often very sound and beautiful once you get below the weathered surface.  I find my wood in the form of white oak planks that were sawn on-site many years ago for a now-dilapidated farm building, old cedar fence posts and pier pilings, fallen trees in the forest, and even logs found drifting in a lake.  While the wood is usually free, the time and labor required to find, transport, clean and shape it far exceeds the cost of new hardwood.  Typically, I use no stain so that the natural colors and imperfections are true.  My designs consist of dimensions and shapes that I conjure up as I go, depending in large part on the particular wood I have for the project.  As a result, no two items are ever the same.

If you would like for me to send you an email heads-up with a description or photo when I begin a new project, please write to me at sawdust-and-yuks@comcast.net.  Please tell me about yourself and the kind of items you are interested in.  

Here are a few project photos.  I will try to be better about taking photos of my work -- and take better ones.

See my Home Page for some fun browsing, including my brand of humor.

Long Coffee Table

For Sale

This table is from reclaimed white oak that was a stable gate for 50+ years in a barn.  It measures 60" long and both boards are as removed from the barn with uncut ends. The width is 21 inches and it is 18 1/4 inches high.  I added the bowtie connector at the split.  The legs are 6" X 6" pine timbers.  The grain is beautiful from the weathering.  The finish is satin polyurethane varnish.  Below are a few other views:
Click on the thumbnail images to enlarge 

On display and for sale at the Mill Village Gallery in the Five Points area of Huntsville, Alabama. 

Small Coffee Table
or
Dressing Bench

For Sale

This small coffee table (or, alternately, a bench) measures 44"L X 14"W X 18 1/2"H.  The top is a single 14" wide board of White Oak from a barn built from trees felled and sawn on-site -- as was the custom until 40-50 years ago.  You can still see the original circular saw tracks in the wood.  My intent was to plane enough of the weathered surface to see the beauty of the wood, but not so much that the saw tracks would be eliminated.  The underside was not planed so you can see the original aged condition of the Oak.  The legs are limbs from fallen cedars.  They remain sound because they never came in contact with the ground.

  View of saw tracks and bowties to secure a small split in the wood.

On display and for sale at the Mill Village Gallery in the Five Points area of Huntsville, Alabama. 

Farm House Table

For Sale

This farm house table measures 48" X 72" (4' X 6') and is very heavy.  The surface is 1 1/2 inches thick -- made of pine with an edge of cherry for hardness.  It is probably the last farmhouse table I will make because it is so difficult for me to move them around.  This has cedar pier pilings as legs like some of my other tables.  The top treatment on this one is a high quality oil-based hunter green -- distressed and coated with four coats of polyurethane semi-gloss spar varnish.  All surfaces (including the bottom) are painted, so it is suitable for outdoor use on a covered deck or screened porch. 

On display and for sale at the Mill Village Gallery in the Five Points area of Huntsville, Alabama. 

This link is a newspaper article featuring the Mill Village Gallery
with a photograph showing this table:

 http://blog.al.com/thebus/2010/03/mill_village_gallery_in_five_p.html

Coffee Table

Sold

This coffee cable is from reclaimed white oak dock planks.  Legs are from pier pilings that held up the dock.  I have planed off the weathered surface to show the beauty underneath from 40 years of exposure to the elements.  The ends have been left exactly as originally cut.  The table and legs are finished with MINWAX satin polyurethane.  The underside is not planed so the original weathering effects can still be viewed.  Here are other views:

This table is sturdy and heavy.  It is a beautiful and unique piece of furniture.

Coffee Table

Sold

This coffee table is like the one above with a couple of exceptions.  The legs are made from oak beams that once supported a barn roof and the table ends are capped with dark maple.  The table and legs are finished with MINWAX satin polyurethane.  The underside is not planed so the original weathering effects can still be viewed.  Here are other views:

Dimensions are: 47"L  X  22 3/4"W  X  19"H.

Coffee Table

Sold

This rustic coffee table is made from light and dark wormy maple.  It measures 24" X 49" (2' X 4').  The legs are cedar pier pilings.  The table and legs are finished with MINWAX HelmsSpar semigloss polyurethane.  This is a unique item -- not another like it.  

Farm House Table

Sold

This is a past project that I have already sold.   The edge is trimmed in American Cherry with wedged pegs around the edge into the pine.  The legs are four different cedar pier pilings (varnished with spar varnish).  On the top, I used a high quality semi-gloss varnish.  The bowtie is an inlay using the exotic wood purpleheart.   

                         View of Edge and Apron treatments.

  
Farm House Table

Gallery Display
Not For Sale

This table is made from pine with cedar legs recovered from old pier pilings.  I have  this one on the screened porch of my lake home.  Being pine, I expected some cupping, warping and plank separation.   (I actually wanted it.)  But, after six years outside, it hasn't happened.  This could be due to the numerous coats of spar varnish.        

 
Farm House Table

Sold

This is a past project that I have already sold.  This table was made from Wormy Maple (my favorite hardwood for rustic items) and trimmed with American Cherry.  Like the pine table above, this also uses cedar legs recovered from old pier pilings.   

 
Rustic Lamps

For Sale

Two lamps made from old cedar pier pilings.  I just couldn't get the light right for taking a very good photograph.  

On display and for sale at the Mill Village Gallery in the Five Points area of Huntsville, Alabama. 

 
Mallard Over Marsh
Stained Glass

For Sale Soon
in a rectangular
barn wood frame

Mallard over marsh -- currently in a round red oak frame.  Total diameter 24".  Currently being re-framed using reclaimed white oak from an old barn.  My vision is to use heavy rusted chain to hang it.  When completed, I will put this back on the market.  

 
Stained Glass
Oak Frame

For Sale

I call this "Victorian Oak".  It measures about 22 1/2" high and 12 1/2" wide.  I made the frame myself.  The corners are pegged and the chain is centered in holes at the top.    

                   This view in a window, showing the rose-colored glass.

On display and for sale at the Mill Village Gallery in the Five Points area of Huntsville, Alabama. 

Stained Glass
Peonies

Gallery Display
Not For Sale

This is called Peonies.   23" in Diameter in a round red oak.   In my bedroom window.

Stained Glass
Oak Frame

For Sale

This is a Victorian Rose in an oak frame that I made.  Overall it measures 18" X 12".  The corners are pegged and the chain exits centered holes at the top (like the Victorian Oak shown above).  

On display and for sale at the Mill Village Gallery in the Five Points area of Huntsville, Alabama. 

 
Stained Glass
Oak Frame

For Sale

This has a 4" X 6" clear center oval with etchings of wildflowers in an oak frame that I made.  The corners are pegged and the chain exits centered holes at the top (like the Victorian Oak shown above).  Overall it measures 17" X 11".  

On display and for sale at the Mill Village Gallery in the Five Points area of Huntsville, Alabama. 

 
Interesting

Gallery Display Only

I think this is interesting.  It's not a project -- just an experiment.  I was recently visiting my Grandfather's old dilapidated home place on some land I still own in North Alabama.  I used to spend time there as a kid when he lived there.  That was over 50 years ago.  Well, the cedar fence posts (and fence) that surrounded the yard and garden are still there.  This one easily broke out of the ground.  I removed the fence wire and nails and brought it home as it seemed heavy and solid -- although it looked rotten on the surface.   After washing off the "crust" and letting it dry, I cut 4 inches off the top and bottom.  It is solid and red on the inside and still has that strong cedar aroma.  After at least 60 years outdoors after the tree was cut down.