Customer Reviews

Making Twig Furniture and Household Things

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is full of great information. The projects are easy enough for a beginner. The instructions are simple to understand. I used this book for my 4-H kids. They made the lamp table and all received blue ribbons. The next year they tackled the love-seat and chairs, again, blue ribbons.

The simple elegance of twig furniture evokes nostalgia for our rural past & conjures up an appreciation of the natural beauty of wood. Half the pleasure is learning to identify while wandering the woods collecting materials. The other half is seeing a settee on your front porch that could have been there 100 years ago. This is one good book; clear instructions, materials lists, diagrams & drawings. If you're itching to make yourself some furniture or mirror frames or bark baskets & you can't persuade someone to give you this book, go out & get it yourself. Fascinating!

The examples of things that can be built are very interesting. However, when I followed the directions for the folding chair the measurements for some of the lengths of wood and the measurements for many of the holes that were to be drilled were totally inaccurate. If the author actually built this project, then the errors are in the review before publishing. Since there are no measurements on the drawings that are shown, the text must be accurate. I will try some other projects andhope thy are more accurate.

Using this book, I made several of the pieces of furniture shown, I had to modify the backs and arms of the chairs since I wasn't using willow, but it was easily done. I liked the fact that it told you what size pieces of wood and lengths you would need to make the projects, it made it a lot easier.

Of course if you have a big ice storm like we did, the building materials are no problem to find if you live in a forest!

I too tried the folding chair and it is impossible to assemble as described. I've made and attempted other pieces: Chaise Lounge (completed, but had to figure some things out myself); Wattle Chair: Could not complete. You cannot build a chair with nails - it does not hold together. Seat instructions confusing, couldn't get it to work. Many hours wasted. Grapevine & Willow frame: completed but it is not very strong - again nails used, being nailed into soft pith wood does not work;Basket Planter: Top of basket sides will not hold if directions are followed. I have made this basket a few times but have had to adapt and change it radically for it to work and be strong.Hostess Stand:worked. I keep trying these projects because the ideas look so great. I've never done any woodworking before and have encountered a lot of frustration with this book. Plan on figuring out the construction for yourself. You may want to use junk materials for a dry run.

I very much wanted to make the folding chair, because I was intrigued by the design. I spent many hours gathering, cutting, and drilling the wood, only to find that the lengths, positions of the holes, and directions, made no sense when it came to the construction. I have not tried any of the other projects in this book, but would be very hesitant to do so, based on the non-results of this project.

My first experience ordering from Amazon. The book arrived sooner than predicted, in very good shape. I would definitely order from this supplier again.