Tree Craft: 35 Rustic Wood Projects That Bring the Outdoors In

Using Found Wood to Create Natural Décor

If a tree falls in the woods, odds are author and woodworker Chris Lubkemann will hear it and create something out of it. For years, Lubkemann has been transforming twigs, branches and fallen trees into artfully designed yet functional pieces for the home, from candle holders and coasters to coffee tables and curtain rods. With insight into picking the right piece of wood to the basic techniques of cutting, trimming and shaping, Tree Craft takes you on a journey that is both creative and inspiring.

The five chapters in the book are divided into the areas of your home where the 35 stylish and practical projects can be used. Aimed toward those with a general appreciation of wood, while the projects don't require a large amount of carving, they are interesting in the fact that they use natural pieces of wood that can be turned into unique and useful items with some creative tweaking. Reusing Mother Nature's beauty inside your home is a great way to add warmth and rustic elegance to any décor.

Chris Lubkemann is the author of five best-selling whittling books from Fox Chapel Publishing, including The Little Book of Whittling and Big Book of Whittle Fun. A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself—and others—by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. Since that time, he has continued to integrate his woodworking skills with good old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world's smallest branch carvings, and his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.