Crafty Canadians

These flowers made from wood shavings look just like the real thing!

Iam a long-time resident of Prince George, B.C. I was born here back in 1925, but have resided in other places over the years, including Kelowna and Toronto. Now, however, I am permanently back in Prince George, for the rest of the time left to me!

In addition to photography and writing, creating things is a hobby of mine—one of those things is making roses from wood shavings. The materials you’ll need to create these roses are some wood, felt fabric, rebar wire, carpenter’s glue and a lively imagination.

In addition, I use one special tool, a spade bit that my husband, George, uses to drill a hole in freshly cut pieces of wood. The wood must be “green” in texture, not colour, so the resulting shavings will be pliable and not brittle.

Rebar wire forms the stem, to which green felt fabric, cut in a shape to make the base of the rose, is attached. Then the felt petals are glued to that base, which is when some imagination is required—to shape a rose out of the wood shavings.

Colouring the roses themselves may be done before assembly by dipping them in paint, or you can spray paint the finished flower afterwards.

With some imagination, you can produce a dozen or more roses, each one different in shape, size and appearance, from almost flat to completely round.

I also made a vase from a plastic juice bottle, using nothing but a sharp knife and some glue. Simply score the bottle all around, approximately twothirds of the way down, until it separates. Then glue the top to the centre of the “bottom” and you have a homemade vase.

To add to your rose bouquet, use field grain—mature, but not yet ripened—and paint it silver to give it a distinct touch—your bouquet will last forever!