Travis Kelce better knock on Wood in hopes that his future wifey doesn’t get mad about this!
During Wednesday’s episode of the New Heights podcast, KillaTrav totally fumbled when he didn’t recognize some Taylor Swift song lyrics — particularly ones from a song she wrote about HIM! Well, a part of him…
During the episode, Jason Kelce read out a comment a fan left about their latest merch drop:
“‘I can’t believe none of the hoodies are called ‘New Heights of Man-Hoodie,’ I don’t know what that means but she’s disappointed.”
Ugh, not you, too, Jason!! Swifties will know exactly what that’s referencing, but Travis didn’t! He replied to his brother:
“What’s that mean? What’s a ‘man-hoodie’? Is that a thing?”
Canopy, which collaborates with over 1,000 brands to facilitate supply chain shifts that protect forests and promote low-carbon practices, has presented new research on vulnerabilities in global wood supply chains. The nonprofit also announced a $2bn blended finance platform aimed at expanding sustainable textile production.
The new research brief, created in partnership with Finance Earth, outlines pressures affecting global wood supply chains due to climate impacts, regulatory changes, and increased competition for forest resources.
The report identifies key risks for businesses that rely on forest products, including rising demand for wood fibre in multiple sectors that now surpass what forests can sustainably provide.
Further challenges highlighted include limited wood availability resulting from land competition and ecosystem degradation, alongside stricter compliance requirements related to regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation and human rights due diligence obligations.
The research recommends three approaches for companies:
Lessen dependence on raw wood by expanding the use of circular and next-generation materials created from sources such as agricultural by-products, discarded textiles, and recycled materials, to separate growth from the use of primary forests and reduce vulnerability to fluctuations in price and regulatory requirements.
Strengthen the security of the remaining wood supply by making sure any ongoing use of new wood is properly certified, fully traceable, and evaluated for environmental and community impacts, including risks to ancient forests, endangered ecosystems, Indigenous Peoples, and local populations.
Prepare for potential disruptions by including wood-related risks in scenario planning and stress testing processes, as well as directing investment towards more robust sourcing methods and strategies.
Canopy founder and executive director Nicole Rycroft said: “Forests are one of our greatest climate allies and central to meeting global climate and nature targets, yet current sourcing models and supply chains are pushing them to breaking point. This brief makes it clear: if companies and investors stay locked into business-as-usual wood sourcing, they are signing up for higher costs, greater supply vulnerability, and growing regulatory and reputational risk. This exposes businesses unnecessarily, given there is a clear exit ramp with Next Gen and alternative sources.”
Through the newly launched finance platform, Canopy will involve government representatives, private sector participants, investors, and philanthropic organisations to support wider adoption of sustainable textile materials.
Canopy’s replicable blended finance model aims to fund the full value chain, from feedstock systems and pre-processing to mill upgrades and bankable offtake agreements. The programme will initially launch in India, where abundant residues and recycled textiles, strong fibre-processing capacity, and rising global demand support rapid scaling. By aligning catalytic capital, private investors, and supply-chain partners under one coordinated approach, it seeks to scale Next Gen production across paper, packaging, and MMCF textiles, creating a template for other markets.
“Canopy issues warning on tightening global wood fibre supply” was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Taylor Swift is sharing the origin story behind that popular song about Travis Kelce‘s “redwood!”
Since The Life of a Showgirl dropped on Friday, we’ve all listened to the pop star sing about the athlete’s package on the track Wood — even her momma, Andrea Swift! His size, skill, all of it! She didn’t hold back! But believe it or not, Tay Tay didn’t originally plan to expose so much about her man’s manhood! She explained on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday that the song started from an “innocent place”:
“I brought this into the studio and I was like, I wanna do sort of like, I wanna like do a throwback kind of timeless sounding song and I have this idea about, ‘I ain’t gotta knock on wood’ and we would knock on wood and it would be all these superstitions. It really started out in a very innocent place.”
However, it spiraled as they got into the process of making the song! And all of a sudden, we got all these sexual innuendos about Travis’ wood! She told Jimmy:
“It started out like — I don’t know what happened, man. I got in there, we started vibing and, I don’t know, I don’t know how we got here — but I love the song so much!”
A document released by the Arkansas Department of Corrections reveals new information about how a former police chief serving time for murder and rape was able to escape from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, in May.Grant Hardin told law enforcement he had been planning his escape for about six months.He began by collecting black markers he would find lying around the kitchen or laundry. He used them to color a set of clothes so they would resemble those worn by jailers. He also made a fake badge out of the top of a food can. He hid his clothes and other items at the bottom of a trash can in the kitchen that no one would shake down.Staff regularly allowed Hardin to go out on the back dock unsupervised and into a room to the side of the dock where there were pallets and carts with metal food cans.He overheard a warden tell a kitchen supervisor to stop letting inmates go outside by themselves on the dock. He decided to take his chances on May 25, despite the rain.When he arrived at his workstation that day, he gathered up the clothes and found some food. He changed into his disguise.He then walked up to the gate, told the officer to open it, and walked through. He pretended to put something inside a vehicle and then went into the woods.Hardin said that the first night he stayed in one spot and managed to avoid the search dogs trying to find him. The second night, he moved around some and got separated from his bag of food.Hardin drank water from the creek along with some distilled water from the prison infirmary that was meant for his CPAP machine.He ate whatever he could find, including berries, bird eggs, and ants.Hardin said he lay low and avoided the sounds of the search teams. His plan was to stay in the woods for six months, taking advantage of the dense vegetation, landscape, and weather. He would then head to Northwest Arkansas.Hardin said he changed his mind when he began to get very hungry and was worried the search team was closing in. He tried to leave the area, and that was when he was caught.The prison said it has disciplined employees. It has also changed policies about supervising prisoners.
CALICO ROCK, Ark. —
A document released by the Arkansas Department of Corrections reveals new information about how a former police chief serving time for murder and rape was able to escape from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, in May.
Grant Hardin told law enforcement he had been planning his escape for about six months.
He began by collecting black markers he would find lying around the kitchen or laundry. He used them to color a set of clothes so they would resemble those worn by jailers. He also made a fake badge out of the top of a food can. He hid his clothes and other items at the bottom of a trash can in the kitchen that no one would shake down.
Staff regularly allowed Hardin to go out on the back dock unsupervised and into a room to the side of the dock where there were pallets and carts with metal food cans.
He overheard a warden tell a kitchen supervisor to stop letting inmates go outside by themselves on the dock. He decided to take his chances on May 25, despite the rain.
When he arrived at his workstation that day, he gathered up the clothes and found some food. He changed into his disguise.
He then walked up to the gate, told the officer to open it, and walked through. He pretended to put something inside a vehicle and then went into the woods.
Hardin said that the first night he stayed in one spot and managed to avoid the search dogs trying to find him.
The second night, he moved around some and got separated from his bag of food.
Hardin drank water from the creek along with some distilled water from the prison infirmary that was meant for his CPAP machine.
He ate whatever he could find, including berries, bird eggs, and ants.
Hardin said he lay low and avoided the sounds of the search teams. His plan was to stay in the woods for six months, taking advantage of the dense vegetation, landscape, and weather. He would then head to Northwest Arkansas.
Hardin said he changed his mind when he began to get very hungry and was worried the search team was closing in. He tried to leave the area, and that was when he was caught.
Van and Rachel react to Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally (6:28) before comedian Roy Wood Jr. joins to dig into controversial jokes by Tony Hinchcliffe and the art of political comedy (19:42). Then, a breakdown of Lil Durk’s arrest on a murder-for-hire charge (49:43), and Shaq gives advice to Angel Reese on making the WNBA sexier (1:11:16). Plus, Dwyane Wade’s statue has a face that’s not his (1:23:22).
Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith
Have a tree limb that needs removing? Don’t just toss that wood away! Instead, use wood slices to create a set of beautiful, one-of-a-kind DIY coasters! These wooden coasters will quickly become a conversation piece at any gathering…while also protecting your furniture from water rings and spills. Here’s how to make a set of your own.
Sometimes the most beautiful DIYs are the simplest ones. Case in point? Making a set of branch coasters from a fallen tree will allow the beauty of that wood to live on and tell the story in its rings.
When you are out pruning and cutting back the garden, take a look at what you are about to throw in the wood chipper or firewood pile. Wood slices can be turned into many things, but my all-time favourite is these branch coasters that I made a few years back.
I’ve had my cedar coasters now for almost 4 years and have had plenty of questions on the practicality of them. I’ve updated this original article, with some FAQs at the end of the DIY instructions. In short? I still love and use them daily!
This post will cover…
You want slices that are about 1/2″ thick.
How to Make DIY Branch Coasters
It was a sad day when the largest, oldest tree on my street was hacked down and unceremoniously chucked into construction waste bins. The 50’ Western Red Cedar still had a lot of good years left but got in the way of developers’ dollar signs, and no amount of reasoning could sway them.
Neighbours came to say goodbye, walking through the wreckage and collecting a memento or two; tears were shed. It’s amazing the impact a tree can have and the immensity of the sense of loss for one treated with so little respect.
I collected a few thick branches to turn into sets of coasters that I also passed on to neighbours who remember their kids climbing those same limbs many, many years ago.
Even if you don’t have as personal of a tree story, you can still make these wood-slice coasters. Next time you see a tree trimming crew at work, ask the home’s owner if you can have a branch for a project—chances are, they will have no problem gifting you with a branch or two.
The project is simple but it will take some time to cut and sand each piece. The more time you spend getting them right, the nicer the final product will be.
The size of the branch will determine how big your coasters are.
Materials
Make it
1. Using the saw, cut sections of branches that are ½” thick.
2. Sand each section with heavy grit sandpaper, and then use a finer grit to smooth out the surface. Do not sand the bark on the edges.
3. Coat the front, back, and sides with clear varnish and let dry. Untreated wood can also look beautiful as it absorbs the drips and condensation from the glasses that sit on it.
4. They’re as simple as that on the surface, but I’ve gotten many questions about how to make these. I’ve answered many of them in the FAQ section below.
Optional: Add Designs With Wood Burning
While the wood grain is beautiful on its own, you may feel like adding an extra special touch. An inexpensive wood burner, a bit of time, and creativity are all you need to create designs such as these.
Make your designs before sealing your wood with varnish.
Another great option is to turn them into Christmas tree ornaments. I made these ones and hung them up both inside and outside.
I used my same wood burning pen to make these designs on the ornaments.
FAQ About These DIY Coasters
As I mentioned above, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about these wooden coasters since creating this project years ago. I did my best to answer the most frequently asked ones here, but if you have one that’s not addressed, please leave it in the comments below!
My coasters have held up for over four years!
How do you dry the wood? How do you keep them from cracking?
I dried the wood slowly in a cool, dry room before cutting the coasters. Drying in a room that has limited moisture and heat allows the wood to dry slowly and helps to prevent cracking. It took many months as I put them in the basement in the fall and pulled them out the following year. I tested to see if the wood was dry but cutting an end section. Even with this process, a few cracked. I discarded those as I had plenty more to work with.
I can’t give an exact number of months to dry the wood for because it could take you more or less time depending on how wet the wood is, how fresh it is, and the area that you dry it in. The best method is to dry it until it is dry when you cut into it. Test and if it needs more time, then leave it for longer.
What varnish/stain did you use?
I used Varathane clear satin varnish. The varnish was labeled as clear, but it does have a honey color in the can. It made the final coasters look a little darker than the dry wood (like wet wood), which I expected and like.
Don’t they leak sap?
No. Perhaps a different kind of wood could leak sap. But I dried the wood thoroughly and have never seen one drop of sap in 4 years of using them.
How did you keep the bark on the outer edges?
The bark stayed on due to the type of wood, Western Red Cedar. I was careful to not pull it off but it is pretty sturdy. I did varnish the sides around the bark as well.
Did you glue felt or anything to keep the coaster from marking the furniture?
When sanded, they are smooth, so they won’t scratch anything, and they are varnished and dry, so they don’t stain. You certainly could put felt or little feet on them if you choose, though.
What can I do with these wooden coasters?
Of course, you can keep and enjoy them for years at home, as I have. However, if you have extras, these make a lovely gift! Consider gifting a set of these coasters along with a mug and a set of tea or artisan coffee.
There are plenty more ideas and tips in the comments section. Have a read over it and please chime in if you have any advice to share!
More Garden Crafts to Try
DIY Coasters from Wood Slices
Learn how to make your own stunning DIY coasters from wood slices. If you have a fallen tree, this is the best way to preserve and enjoy the grain for years to come!
branchesshould be straight and at least 3.5″ in diameter
Design classics aren’t just for interiors. In fact, a crop of notable 20th-century designers made dining and lounge chairs for the outdoors (and/or their designs were later reworked for outdoor use). From the Eameses to Jens Risom to brands including Tolix and Fermob, here are our 12 favorite classic outdoor chair designs. Looking for more […]
Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani just put down roots in the L.A. area, dropping $7.85 million on a modern mansion in La Cañada Flintridge.
The massive purchase comes about five months after Ohtani inked a blockbuster 10-year contract with the Dodgers worth $700 million.
The Times confirmed the deal through real estate records. A real estate source familiar with the neighborhood, who declined to be named, confirmed that Ohtani is the buyer.
The seller is comedian Adam Carolla, who bought it for $7.327 million in 2018. He told the Wall Street Journal that he was selling the place after divorcing his wife, Lynette Paradise.
Ohtani will have about a 20-minute commute to Dodger Stadium, which is about 13 miles from his new home.
At $7.85 million, it’s one of the priciest sales ever in the foothill community. Carolla listed the house last summer for $8.99 million before an October price cut brought the tag down to $8.35 million.
Shohei Ohtani does some pitching practice in Los Angeles on March 25.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Built in 2013, the three-story home spans 7,327 square feet and sits on nearly an acre. The modern exterior gives way to Midcentury-inspired living spaces, which combine stone, glass and wood under skylights and clerestory windows.
Highlights include a kitchen with custom cabinetry, an indoor-outdoor living room and amenities such as a movie theater, a sauna, a gym and a basketball court. Spread throughout are five bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, including a primary suite with a balcony and spa tub.
Pocketing doors lead outside, where a lounge overlooks a swimming pool, spa and lawn.
Peter Owens of Douglas Elliman held the listing. Jeanne Valvo of Coldwell Banker Realty represented Ohtani. Neither could be immediately reached for comment.
After six years with the Angels, Ohtani became the face of the Dodgers in October, when he signed his historic contract, believed to be the largest in sports history. In March, the Japanese superstar made headlines when his representatives accused his translator, Ippei Mizuhara, of massive theft tied to placing bets with an illegal bookmaker.
Would you like to add an extra 250 square feet of living space without spending tens of thousands of dollars? Read on to learn everything you need to know:
What is the difference between a deck and a patio?
A patio is built at ground level, on a level surface, and typically is constructed of a “permanent” material such as stone pavers, brick, or poured concrete. A deck floats above the ground, supported by footings, at a height of anywhere from a few inches to many feet and can be built on an existing slope.
Typically, a patio is considered more of a permanent feature–and is more expensive to build. For instance, a 250-square-foot bluestone patio costs $3,797 to build (including materials) on average, more than twice as much as the $1,882 price tag to build a wood deck of the same size, according to Homewyse.
Pros know: Start the design process by consulting a landscape architect or designer, who will help you come up with a design based on how you want to use a deck and the physical properties of your land (Does your yard slope? Is the ground marshy? Do you want to build around existing trees without causing them damage?). A professional also will know if you need a permit for a deck and whether local building codes require a railing.
Attached vs. freestanding: You can build a freestanding deck on your property, but if you plan to use a deck as an extension to everyday living space, consider attaching it to the house for indoor-outdoor flow. Use string and stakes to lay out the design to make sure you like the size and shape.
After you have a plan in hand, if you are extremely handy you may want to build your own deck. But keep in mind there is more to building a deck than sawing and nailing lumber planks. In a cold climate, you will need to dig piers below the frost line to support the deck and make sure it doesn’t heave in winter as the ground freezes and thaws. If you are not Bob Vila, you probably will be better off (and save money in the long run) by hiring a contractor or master carpenter.
Above: In Carmel Valley, California architects Sagan Piechota and contractors Stocker Allaire designed a multi-tiered batu wood deck. Photograph by Joe Fletcher courtesy of Sagan Piechota Architecture, from Design Trend: 15 Wooden Decks That Disappear Into the Landscape.
Is wood the best material for a deck?
Wood is our favorite choice for a deck because it’s a natural material that complements the surrounding landscape; left untreated, wood decks will fade to a soft silver color that plays a supporting role to the garden that surrounds it. Other than wood, the best choice for a deck is a composite material–made of a combination of wood and recycled plastic–which has its own pros and cons.
Venmo, dishwashers, those Instagram filters that give tired faces a glow-up—we can all agree our world has benefited from progress. But some things don’t need to be improved upon. Case in point: pine tar.
Pine tar has been in existence since the days of the plundering-and-pilfering Vikings, who distilled the stuff in large quantities and used it to preserve their wooden ships. If it’s potent enough to waterproof these vessels that sailed the rough waters of the North Sea, it’s surely good enough to protect your wood fence, deck, garden shed, barn, or home.
To learn more about pine tar, we reached out to the folks at Earth & Flax and Sage Restoration, two North American companies that specialize in natural Scandinavian paints and wood finishes, as well as Emil Jespersen, cofounder of Danish-Norwegian architecture firm Jespersen Nødtvedt, who recently worked with pine tar on a project for a client.
Pine tar is a natural marine-grade wood preservative. Traditional pine tar was made by essentially cooking down pine stumps in fire pits to yield a syrup-y, dark-colored, and resin- and turpentine-rich liquid. Today, most pine tar products are produced in kilns (using heat only).
Post-Viking Age, pine tar is primarily used as a finish for decks, fences, facades, and roofs in Scandinavian countries, but interest in the wood preservative is growing in the U.S. “What’s old is new again. People are looking for alternatives to modern chemical finishes, and architects are looking for something new to offer clients,” says Michael Sinclair of Sage Restoration, which is based in Tamworth, Ontario. “Our sales have been increasing every year.”
Natalie Yon Eriksson, founder of Philadelphia’s Earth & Flax, agrees. “This trend is going strong. Pine tar has been used with or in place of the traditional Japanese shou sugi ban burned or charred siding treatment,” she says. “The best aspects of pine tar are that it is sourced from nature, using a waste product from the timber industry, and is an exceptional natural wood preservative.”
If you have a fireplace in Southern California, experts are asking you not to use it. A no-burn alert has been extended at least through Wednesday as much of the region sits beneath an atmospheric soup of haze and pollutants.
The alert was issued Monday by the South Coast Air Quality Management District for the non-desert parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The alert bans any burning of wood or manufactured fire logs made of wax or paper due to poor air quality in the region.
Current weather conditions are contributing to air quality woes, said one expert.
“Basically, the weather conditions that we’re seeing are light winds and not a lot of vertical mixing in the upper atmosphere, which can lead to high levels of fine particle pollution,” said Scott Epstein, a supervisor with the South Coast AQMD.
Stefanie Sullivan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, attributed the poor air quality first and foremost to the “shallow” marine layer causing what is known as temperature inversion: Instead of temperatures decreasing with height, they increase.
“That acts as a lid,” Sullivan said, “so air really doesn’t move up beyond that level, trapping all the haze and pollutants.”
Epstein said the AQMD tracks several pollutants, including ozone and fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5. The latter type of pollution is highly hazardous to respiratory health, as particles can enter deep into the lungs, causing asthma attacks and other health problems.
Ozone tends to be a bigger issue during the warmer months of March through October due to atmospheric concentrations of the pollutant increasing with heat. Fine particulate matter is a bigger issue during the colder months of November through February; there have been eight no-burn days so far this winter in Southern California.
Epstein said the alerts are issued after certain pollutant concentrations are reached anywhere within the AQMD’s jurisdiction.
If any part of the region crosses the pollutant threshold, a no-burn alert is issued for the entire area. Epstein said this is because emissions, including those created by burning wood, can shift and affect areas with averages below the threshold.
“Poor air quality moves around,” he said.
For Wednesday’s alert, Epstein said two areas were forecast to surpass the threshold: Perris Valley and the Riverside metro area. Other parts of the region are forecast to have conditions near the threshold, including the eastern San Bernardino valley and the Norco-Corona area.
Esptein said the inland parts of the region, especially Riverside and San Bernardino counties, tend to have higher concentrations of PM2.5.
“That’s not necessarily because they have way more emissions,” Epstein said. “They occur west of there and then blow east.”
Fortunately, rain is in the forecast and could help clear out some of the trapped pollution. Back-to-back rainstorms were expected this week, according to the National Weather Service.
“When you get rainstorms, you also get some wind that can clean things out that way,” Epstein said.
For those who wish to view the Air Quality Index forecast, or for real-time air quality updates, visit AQMD.gov.
A crackling fire on Christmas Day might feel cozy, but for air quality officials in Southern California, the pollution ain’t worth it.
All wood burning, both indoor and outdoor, is banned on Monday for everyone living in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes Orange County and nondesert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Manufactured fire logs, such as those made from wax or paper, also are banned while the 24-hour No-Burn Day Alert is in effect.
Officials from the South Coast Air Quality Management District emphasized that these alerts are mandatory — and that they are issued when public health is at higher risk.
The particles in wood smoke — also known as fine particulate matter or PM2.5 — can bury deep into your lungs, trigger asthma attacks and cause a surge in emergency hospitalizations.
Mountain communities above 3,000 feet in elevation are exempt from the ban, as well as homes that rely on wood as a sole source of heat.
After the holidays, don’t just toss your Christmas tree! Instead, try these crafty and fun Christmas tree recycling ideas. Here’s what to do with a Christmas tree to help you immortalize the spirit of the season all year long.
There really is nothing like a fresh tree for Christmas. It smells wonderful and brings some of the outdoors inside for a short while. When Christmas is over, it’s usually time to hack it up, but it seems to me that there is a more fitting end for something so special.
Not one to waste nature’s bounty, I’ve used my tree to make many creative projects over the years and found even more Christmas tree crafts from other creatives to share with you. Here is a list of my favourite crafty Christmas tree recycling projects to give an old tree new life.
This post will cover…
Christmas Tree Crafts and Recycling Projects
Sometimes, it’s hard to get rid of the Christmas tree. There are times when I struggle to pack up the holidays and get rid of the year’s tree.
If the Christmas tree holds lots of sentimental value for you as well, there are plenty of creative ways to recycle the tree when her job is complete indoors. Here are 20 ideas on what to do with a Christmas tree after the holidays.
If you’re looking for things to make with branches from your Christmas tree, this coat rack keeps the branches’ original natural look.
Take some of your more uniquely shaped and strong branches and build your own coat rack. This fun DIY project looks store-bought and is a handy accessory for the front or back door. Read the instructions on creating this branch coat rack with only a few tools!
From one Christmas tree to the next, this reindeer can allow the evergreen to live its next life and continue the holiday spirit. Miniature and adorable, this reindeer uses all sizes of twigs and branches to create a wooden ornament or planter decoration.
I love how versatile these wood-slice flowers are. They could work outside in the garden or on a porch. The flowers would also look great inside as a wall hanging or Christmas decoration. Wood slices are easy to make, and they can be used for a ton of projects.
For those looking for things to make with branches, you can use the thicker branches along with the trunk itself to get all the different sizes for these flowers.
When people ask me what to do with a Christmas tree, I always suggest these ornaments first. Ornaments made from an old Christmas tree could commemorate a special Christmas, such as a baby’s first Christmas or a first Christmas together. They are also a frugal way to get a bunch of ornaments to fill up next year’s tree.
I made these wooden ornaments from a very special tree for Kiddo and me. That Christmas, we went to a Christmas tree farm and cut down our tree ourselves. So we wanted to hold onto it long after the tree was gone!
Many of you probably know I am a huge wreath fan. I have one for pretty much every occasion! I love this simple twig wreath because you could use it any time of the year, and its simplicity makes it an easy addition to most home styles.
These twig flower pots give me major cottage vibes! Oftentimes, pots are more expensive than the flowers inside them. These are a great way to enhance plastic pots without breaking the budget on fancy clay ones from the garden centre.
Once you’ve tried pyrography, you won’t want to stop! This is the next step to doodling: decorating wood with a heated pen that burns designs into it. The result is gorgeous and makes for beautiful coasters, ornaments, or décor.
For these wood slices, I made coasters with botanical-inspired designs. One of the best Christmas tree crafts, they became wonderful personalized gifts for friends and family the following holiday season.
Who knew push pins could look so good? The little ones would work great on a corkboard, and the larger ones would work for hanging up décor and artwork around the house. They are a super quick project and require very few tools.
Why not make your wood stand out all on its own? If you have a section of the wall you are unsure what to do with, wood slices can fit in just about any space. Cut them as big or small as you want and arrange them in any pattern.
This artwork would look great in a cabin or for those who love a rustic style inside the home.
If you are wondering what to do with a Christmas tree and are willing to go big, this one is for you! A branch chandelier is a great way to combine nature with sophistication. Plus, the creator of this chandelier made the whole thing for just $35!
Windchimes have always been one of my favourite additions to the garden. Their soft jingle in the breeze is calming and fun to listen to outdoors. Making one yourself is easy, simply use a branch as the top of the windchime.
I’ve made a few windchimes over the years, including this beaded version.
Using branches from your Christmas tree and a few items foraged from the garden, it is super simple to replicate some popular planter ornaments. After loving some planter decorations in a garden centre but not loving the price tag, I set my sights on making my own!
Take a look at some of the rustic decorations and see if it is something you can do yourself. Wood slices, pinecones, and snowflakes are all easy to make out of wood, using both the trunk and smaller branches of the Christmas tree.
Bringing nature indoors gives you the perfect blend of rustic and chic. I used branches and some good-quality rope to make these swing shelves. It’s a very simple Christmas tree craft, but it looks like a million bucks.
I used these branches topped with stuffed animals to decorate my son’s nursery, but let your imagination go wild!
I hope you have the perfect trunk or branch for this unique idea of what to do with a Christmas tree. Lamps are a wonderful way to light up the garden at night, providing softened light to enjoy the outdoors in the evening. I made this outdoor lamp using a branch as the stand for my lamp.
You don’t even need a frame to create this project. Gather twigs from your tree, then place them together to make your own DIY photo frame. Why not frame a photo from this year’s Christmas?
Simple and effective, branch coasters are a must-have for the coffee table and have remained one of my favourite upcycled Christmas tree crafts over the years. Leave them plain or decorate them…it is totally up to you! Varnish and stain are essential in making these coasters pop out.
Once again, never underestimate the power of wood slices! By circling a mirror with wood slices, it went from a plain hanging to a feature piece in the home. The careful placement of the slices really makes this project stand out.
Don’t be scared to play with wood slices and branches. By careful whittling and cutting, you can create a myriad of shapes and designs to display as art on your wall or elsewhere throughout the home. Creativity is everything!
I go crazy for anything miniature. These twiggy gnomes look adorable in garden pots, indoors or out. They can be used for Christmas, but I think they look great year-round as a pseudo mini garden gnome.
The supplies are small on this one, with just a little bit of paint and twigs from your Christmas tree, making it one of the best things to make with small branches.
A successful garden is one that is full of helpful critters. To encourage bees, ladybugs, and other beneficial bugs to your garden, a bug hotel is a great idea. This bug hotel doubles as artwork for your garden, perfect for hanging on a fence. It’s long been one of my most useful pieces of garden art, made entirely with recycled tree branches.
By now, you should have plenty of ideas on what to do with a Christmas tree. With some creative recycling and crating, your Christmas tree can turn into something new.
Whether you’re carrying it on for next Christmas or turning it into something you can use all year, your tree will still hold some sentimental value of the time spent with family during the holidays. If you created one of my Christmas tree crafts, I would love to see it!
FAQ About Using Christmas Trees
Can you replant a cut Christmas tree without roots?
There is no way to replant a cut Christmas tree. It’s only meant to be enjoyed indoors and then gets composted or repurposed after the holiday season. But they’re still much more sustainable than buying a fake Christmas tree!
If you want to keep and replant a Christmas tree, you’ll need to use a living tree with the root ball still intact. In this case, it would be potted inside and then brought outside after the holiday,
In northern Europe there are varying ideas of what a summer house might be: a place by the water in Scandinavia, a dwelling among vegetables in Germany, or, in the UK, a leaky outdoor room, maybe furnished with a couple of old chairs. In Russia there is the dacha, a more elusive term that is as central to its culture as samovars and vodka. They were bestowed as a favor by a tsar or a Communist official, and at one point, numbered in the millions across Russia, in every shape and size, handed down between generations. Many still remain, but as Fyodor Savintsev’s wonderfully textured photographs in the new book Dacha reveal, they are too often on their last legs.
Accompanied by romantic autochromes dug up by Anna Benn (author of the engaging essay that accompanies Savintsev’s pictures), Dacha: The Soviet Country Cottage is a volume to inspire builders and dreamers. There’s no denying the charm of rushing to one’s dacha every weekend in summer on a crowded, antique train. With its “relaxed sociability” and an incentive to grow things, the concept of a dacha has never been more interesting.
Photography by Fyodor Savintsev, courtesy of Fuel.
Above: Most of the dachas documented in this book are the sort that photographer Savintsev remembers from his childhood summers spent at the dachas of his grandparents and cousins near Moscow. Pre-revolutionary, wooden, with multi-paned windows, they have the romance of a Nordic folk tale.
Above: With parents working during the week in the city, dacha life with the grandparents taught old-fashioned values and rituals such as growing, picking, and preserving.
Above: The Russian writer Alexander Pushkin described the privileged aspects of pre-Revolution dacha living: Easy enough to get to after a night at the theater, they invited subversive behavior “beyond the norms and hierarchies of the city,” says Anna Benn, who reminds us of Pushkin’s influence on the Tolstoy novel Anna Karenina.
Above: At Arkhangelsk, in northern Russia, post-war dachas were small plots of land given out for the purpose of vegetable growing. “Restrictions on the footprint of a building meant that they were often expanded vertically, with overhanging second floors and attics, rather than take up valuable space for attics.” Bourgeois leisure was not the point here.
Above: “The elaborate glazing of many dachas is as much the result of expediency as it is creativity, designed to accommodate small off-cuts of glass, as opposed to large sheets.”
A former Major League Baseball pitcher has been arrested in connection with the killing of his wife’s father and the shooting of her mother two years ago in Lake Tahoe, according to authorities.
Danny Serafini, 49, who last played for the Colorado Rockies in 2007, was arrested Friday in Nevada along with Samantha Scott, 33, on suspicion of killing 70-year-old Robert Spohr and attempting to murder 68-year-old Wendy Wood, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
Spohr and Wood were the parents of Serafini’s wife, Erin, according to his sister-in-law, Adrienne Spohr.
“I am beyond grateful for the hard work and dedication of the Placer County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s office,” Spohr wrote in a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle. “They worked tirelessly for over two years to ensure that this case was solved. They never gave up, and that has meant the world to me and my family.”
Wood was hospitalized and survived the shooting, but died by suicide a year later, Spohr told the Chronicle.
Serafini was arrested in Winnemucca, Nev., while Scott was arrested in Las Vegas. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is awaiting the duo’s extradition.
The killing occurred June 5, 2021, when deputies responded to a 911 call from a residence in Homewood, a neighborhood in North Lake Tahoe. They found Robert Spohr dead from a single gunshot wound and Wood, who had also been shot, but was still alive.
Video surveillance from nearby showed a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a face covering and a backpack while he was walking to the house hours before the killing, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office and the Placer County district attorney’s office investigated the case for the next two years.
“The information and evidence detectives gathered led them to identify Serafini and Scott as the suspects; both suspects are known to each other and to the victims,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Serafini’s major league career spanned more than a decade — 1996 to 2007 — but he bounced frequently between the majors and minors. He also pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds.
He had a 15-16 record with a 6.04 earned-run average.
Serafini also ran a bar called the Bullpen Bar in Sparks, Nev., which was featured in the reality TV show “Bar Rescue” in 2015. In the episode, host Jon Taffer says that Serafini was in debt and had lost his “$14 million fortune through a series of bad investments and a bitter divorce settlement.”
Friends and family who love spending time in the kitchen also love the latest in kitchen gadgets. Whether it’s cooking, baking, or entertaining, there are slews of fun, handy products that can make their holidays a little more magical. Here are a few of the best gifts for foodies.
The Cuisinart Custom 14 14-cup food processor is made from brushed stainless steel and is a breeze to use. Whether making a weeknight meal or a weekend celebration, the large capacity work bowl will hold everything as the 720-watt motor makes quick work chopping fruits and vegetables, shredding cheese, or kneading dough.
Kilne steak knives are the best you can get! These small but powerful knives have serrated blades that transition comfortably from meal prep to the dinner table. And they come in a beautiful acacia wood knife block.
The KitchenAid 2022 Design Series Blossom Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is every baker’s dream come true. First off, it’s stunning: the soft green looks gorgeous matched with the hammered copper bowl. The soft thyme green colour and botanical accents are inspired by the aromatic herbs and edible flowers used in cooking and baking. The bowl even develops a unique patina over time.
The gingerbread wood serving board, available at Indigo, is festive and adorable. It is made from acacia wood with a rich walnut stain and cute brass buttons to highlight the wood’s natural grain and add warmth to any holiday table.
The rectangular roasting dish from Creuset will be the only pan you’ll ever have to buy your favourite cook. It always has even heat distribution and is extremely versatile. It can be used in a variety of ways by home cooks and chefs alike for roasting poultry, or even to prepare weekend comfort meals.
