Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Birch wood coffee stir sticks fan
- 21 September 2011
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Drill tiny holes into 18 Birch wood coffee stir sticks. Go slow- the wood splits easily. I use a Styrofoam base to cushion the sticks.
Insert wooden skewers into the holes as spacers. Leave the bottom last hole empty for the pivot skewer
I used two skewers to measure the space between the slats. Glue each skewer into position with wood glue.
Cut the spacer-skewers flush with the wood slats
File the wood smooth. I used my nail file from my tool bag because it is so delicate, but you can also use sanding paper wrapped around a skewer.
Cut 9 rounded tips and glue it in, to neatly finish the top edges of the fan
To create the pivot: Press a skewer through the last hole of all the slats. Wiggle the skewer almost all the way through and cut shorter. Do not glue all the slats. Add just a dot of glue to the front and back so that the skewer does not slip out. You can also use a wire loop or ribbon but I wanted my fan to be all wood.
Open the slats to fan out
Brew a strong cup of coffee and use the coffee grounds to stain the wood. You can also use any water based paint.
See the Tutorial below on more detailed instructions on how to stain wood using natural juices and spices
Glue in a few twigs to extend from the space between the slats and add the flowers
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Tutorials
The fine sections of grass are securely woven and interwoven and resting on the wooden slats. It looks very fragile but is secure enough to use.
Guide the fall leaves into the slats with the long length of a needle
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The fan is made from 18 coffee stir sticks and dressed with a veil of grass, fall leaves and Viburnum berries
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