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Saturday 25 September 2010

...craftsman next door


Ed, cheers Heather, but it's the DH belonging to the lady next door! LOL! just to clear up any confusion! lol


If you've ever been on my facebook page, you might have heard me saying that I'd love to move to a bigger house, but I'd need to take my neighbours with me, well I wasn't kidding, I have the very best neighbours, they're just the loveliest folks.

Now the man of the house next door doesn't think that he's crafty but he is, he makes these clocks among other things. He makes all sorts of wee clocks, some have smooth finishes like this one and some are fashioned from pieces of tree trunk with the bark still on them, he made fabby wee tabletop decorations for his daughters wedding and there were some cracking little night light holders.

Now I'm a pushover for wooden stuff, my dad was a joiner by trade (that's like a carpenter to you US ladies) and I think these wee clocks are brill and I just thought I'd pop a wee pic up on my blog to show you - see, real craftsmanship is still alive and well in Ireland!

17 comments:

  1. Your hubby is very talented. My hubby likes to make me bird houses and feeders. I am so lucky.
    My grandfather use to make furniture from wood. It isn't an easy craft to master. I think anything handmade with love is the best that there is.

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  2. What a lovely clock! I love the fun decorative clover at the bottom. I wish I had a crafty dad who could have made me some cool table decorations for my wedding! How awesome! I think its so neat to have such a cool talent!

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  3. Such a sweet clock, Claire! Yes, definitely take those neighbours with you when you finally go! My DH is a maker of fine furniture (cabinetmaker in the UK, but in North America people think he makes kitchen cabinets LOL!) We appreciate seeing others are still making things, small or big,from wood, by hand.

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  4. This is so lovely - I agree.. I think working with wood is a very difficult craft to master! What a beautiful piece to add to a mantle or hutch!

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  5. So pretty! Thanks for sharing, Claire!

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  6. What super talented neighbours you have Claire! I love this wee clock with the Shamrock! What an awesome gift idea!

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  7. This clock is just lovely Claire! the light wood and pretty cut out shamrock are so nice! It's great to see hand made things in this world of mass production! I'd love to see pics of his other creations that you mentioned!

    Watch out - people are going to ask to buy them - and you'll have to ship them out with your stamps! - will they fit in the padded envies??? LOL!!!

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  8. Gorgeous, love things made from our natural environment. Claire, it is so great that your neighbors are willing to move with you..LOL
    Tell the NDN's DH that he is very talented with the wood! Maybe he prefers talented to crafty.

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  9. It is a beautiful clock.. I do have something like this but with no shamrock....natural wood (is there unnatural wood?) is just the best. Tell the neighbour he should be at craft fairs....and there is a big one at christmas at the Linen Green....

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  10. I just had to comment today Claire. My grandpa was a joiner, so I definitely knew what you meant. It must be a day for memories because everything you said brought back memories of him. he was Scottish so he used a lot of the words you were using, wee, cracking --and he also made things out of wood. I've got boxes and tables that he made--out of wood from the original pilings of London bridge. Yes--that one, in London! Amazing he? Thanks for the memories. Wish I was sitting there with a cuppa tea, having a chin wag--the memories would really be pouring back.

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  11. This lil' clock is darling Claire! Yes indeed, your neighbor is quite a skilled wood worker! That lil' shamrock is the cutest thing! :) TFS

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  12. My dad was a carpenter too, and a very good one at that. He taught me how to make bedside lockers how to do a mortise and tenon joint right {apparently VERY important}!! lol.

    That is a beautiful clock, I'm sure a few of those on ebay would be snatched up in a heartbeat.

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  13. What a darling clock! I've seen similar clocks, but never with a cut out! Does he sell???

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  14. It's so lovely to see any sort of hand crafted work, especially of wood! The clock is lovely! Who wouldn't want such a piece to gaze at every day!

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  15. It's nice to hear that woodworking is alive and well! This clock is lovely, and I'd love to see a pic of the other kind, with the bark still on. I bet it's gorgeous!

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  16. This is just adorable and very creative, Claire. You are a lucky lady to have such talented neighbors. It's encouraging to see that the art of hand crafting household items is still alive. In our world of use and toss, it's lovely to see items made of such quality that they would last for generations. Thanks for sharing your find with us!

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  17. Ooooh would you look at this!!! Just so beautifully finished.... Smooth I'll bet, not a splinter anywhere ...... What a treasure!

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