Posts tagged: trees
Whole Tree Architecture
By DIY Maven
Whole Tree Architecture is in the business of using what lumber companies consider scrap and incorporated it into beautiful architecture.
1How planting trees can save you big bucks!
By DIY Maven
According to the U.S. Forest Service, planting just THREE trees around your house could cut your energy use by a whopping 30%. It probably goes without saying, but they provide cooling shade in warmer climes and block cold wind in the wintertime. The only trick is to know where exactly to plant said trees.
Here's an abbreviated version of the why-fors:
Deciduous trees should be planted on the east, west and northwest sides of your house. Such » READ MORE
Trees Pillowcases
By DIY Maven
These dreamy pillow cases are a new online-only item from Urban Outfitters. The black and white standard-sized cases (32"w x 20"h) are a cotton and nylon blend and will set you back 24 bucks for a set of two.
How To Make Tree Limb Coasters
By ModHomeEcTeacher
We find high glossed coffee tables made out of tree slices to be organic, modern and very appealing. DIY-ing a coffee table would be a hefty task. However, slicing up a tree limb, » READ MORE
ASCII Curtains
By DIY Maven
ASCII is a language which I do not speak, but I do love these curtains. Probably because the code looks like a tree, which is how Dutch designer Nienke Sybrandy visualizes a home's network of cables. Via.
Own a 200-million-year-old tree.
By DIY Maven
The Wollemi Pine belongs to a 200-million-year-old plant family. Thought to be extinct until, when in 1994, a single specimen was discovered in the Wollemi National Park, Australia. Upon further investigation, 100 more adult trees were found. 
Wollemi Pine can be grown as indoor potted plants or as landscape trees in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 7. When shipped, the trees are approximately 8" high. Not inexpensive at $100 each, but they are » READ MORE
Jewelry for your tree?
By beccajo
Is this for real? You know I love trees as art and branches for jewelry, now this?
From the Tree Jewelry website:
"When was the last time your favorite tree demanded anything from you? Attention? Conversation? Compliments?
Surprise that oak, that maple, that honey locust. Drape a gleaming stainless
steel necklace around your precious. Fitted on indestructible marine line,
finished with marine hardware. Lasts forever."
I suppose i » READ MORE
Bring the outdoors in-Easy Project!
By beccajo
Hey folks, hope the Easter Bunny found you this morning!
I had promised to bring the centerpiece to my family's dinner today, but I forgot to get the flowers last night. All the grocery stores were closed this AM, so I came up with another solution.
My dad cut a few branches off an apple tree my folks have growing in their yard, and I gathered scissors, a wire cutter, a pin, some different pink construction paper, and some thin wire (I think ab » READ MORE
Backyard Orchards.
By ChrisjobIn the age of locally grown groceries, folks are expanding their vegetable gardens to small-scale fruit orchards. Steven Kurutz of the New York Times details, "In the last few years, an increasing number of Americans have turned their yards over to such mini orchards, planting them with dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees, even in dense urban areas. Suppliers around the country have seen significant increases in fruit tree sales, like the 12 to » READ MORE
What to do with a natural tree?
By beccajoFor those of us who do not go the fake route, what do you do with a Christmas Tree come January?
Recyclers: Earth 911 offers tips on recycling your tree and more.
Anglers: dump your tree in a lake, where it will provide habitat for future fishies.
Handymen and women:use your chipper and make mulch.
What do you plan on doing with your natural tree?
Anybody up for living in a tree house??
By DIY Maven
Check out these images from Tree House Company’’s gallery. The UK company’’s creations are categorized from £15,000 to £25,000, £25,000 to £40,000 and £40,000 plus.
Pottery Barn: Gettin' Twiggy Wid It
By beccajo
Got my new holiday Pottery Barn catalog last week. And I'm lurvin' this 'natural tree' collection of ornaments. Especially this silver reindeer ornament, only $8!
Also, love this bronze twig wall decoration. Though at $169, I'll probably just go out to my parents' farm and get a home-grown branch instead.
Most Haunted Forest Faces
By DIY Maven
Scare the candy corn out of trick-or-treaters this Halloween with Plow & Hearth’s bewitching tree faces. They’re made of durable, cast resin that hang in minutes with nails or screws, AND they’re only 10 bucks each!
Best way to remove a tree?
By Torgo
I have an American elm tree that broke in a storm. It's not sick, yet. Here are options I can think of.
- Pay an insured arborist to take down the tree so I can haul it away.
- Find someone who will harvest the tree for a portion of the wood (maybe even 100%). American elm isn't exactly a premier woodworker's choice, though.
- Wait for it to fall on my house.
Pooktre: The Art of Tree Shaping
By DIY Maven
Peter Cook and his partner Becky Northey make furniture and sculpture from trees. What’s unique about their method is that they shape the trees into predetermined objects while the trees are still growing. The name they have given this technique is Pooktre. According to their website, some designs ‘are intended for harvest to be high quality indoor furniture and others will remain living art.’
“It’ll be you and me up in the trees and the forest will give us the answer.”
By DIY Maven
Tree bed by Shawn Lovell Metal Works.
Song lyrics from "Trees" by Marty Casey of Marty Casey & the Love Hammers.
Potted Fruit Anyone?
By DIY Maven
A quick question to coincide with alexrussell's avacado post: Has anyone ever tried to grow a fruit tree by seed indoors? If so, were you successful? Will you share your how-to experience with your fellow Curblians? We who suffer a white winter could use a breath of warmer climes!
Sort of a Long Term Project I'd Say...
By roadvermin
Saw this on Boing Boing a few minutes ago, basically these are examples of furniture created by training the trunks of living fruit trees. The history section of this site suggests that this is a practice that goes back a long way and would probably be a cool project for anybody with a combined interest in gardening and furniture design.
Trees for X-Mas
By beccajoI hope you're ready for X-mas everyone, which is how I refer to the corporate holiday surrounding Christmas.
What would the holidays be without a healthy dose of irony? I grew up with gorgeous, hand-trimmed trees that our family lovingly chose from snowy lots, then sawed down ourselves. While nice and smelly, it depresses me to think that this huge living thing was chopped down just for a few weeks of drying out in my house, laden with hallma » READ MORE
Baby's Got Bough
By DIY Maven
I knew it was going to be too big when I ordered it, but the Boy Scout who came to the door selling pine wreaths, boughs and garland and such was so cute. Plus, can anybody really say “no” to a man in uniform?So, I reluctantly bought the 32" long bough behemoth. 
After it arrived, I hung it up at its traditional spot next to the front door. Yeah, too big. Way.
The Beautician’s Way
I searched my gardening tools for my favorite nipper and gave » READ MORE