Wood Mosaic Projects E-Book

Troy Murrah

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Seitenzahl: 141

Beschreibung

Discover a fresh, new woodcraft that consists of cutting and piecing together wooden quilt blocks to make elaborate yet accessible wall hangings, decor, and more! Wood Mosaic Projects covers the basics for reinventing traditional quilt designs from wood. Featuring tips on selecting patterns, cutting pieces to fit snuggly, adding color, and putting it all together, this exciting new hobby is intriguing, original, and sustainable! Author and artist Troy Murrah is a passionate carpenter that has created this unique artform to pay homage to his late mother, Judy Murrah, who was a renowned quilter as the VP of Education and Administration of Quilts Inc.

Leseprobe

© 2021 by Troy Murrah and Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552.

Wood Mosaic Projects is an original work, first published in 2021 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc. The patterns contained herein are copyrighted by the author. Readers may make copies of these patterns for personal use. The patterns themselves, however, are not to be duplicated for resale or distribution under any circumstances. Any such copying is a violation of copyright law.

Photo on page 8 courtesy of Quilts, Inc. Background on pages 7, 37, 59, and 79 courtesy of Shutterstock.com/h.yegho. Photo on page 142 courtesy Sean Rosenthal @withinadream.

For a printable PDF of the patterns used in this book, please contact Fox Chapel Publishing at [email protected], stating the ISBN and title of the book in the subject line.

Print ISBN 978-1-4971-0142-5

eISBN 978-1-6076-5849-8

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021933299

To learn more about the other great books from Fox Chapel Publishing, or to find a retailer near you, call toll-free 800-457-9112 or visit us at www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to [email protected].

For a printable PDF of the patterns used in this book, please contact Fox Chapel Publishing at [email protected], with 9781497101425 and Wood Mosaic Projects in the subject line.

Contents

Introduction

Gallery

PART 1: Getting Started

Materials

Tools

Techniques, Tips, and Tricks

PART 2: Projects

Lattice Square Wall Hanging

Prosperity Block Shadowbox

Goose Tracks Woodburned Wall Art

Star and Wreath Desk Décor

Radiant Lone Star Wood Tapestry

Log Cabin Wall Quilt

Festival of Stars Door

Pineapple Ice Queen Coffee Table

Patterns

About the Artist

Introduction

Quilting isn’t just for fabric anymore. Combining my inherited family skills of quilting and carpentry, I taught myself to use thousands of wood fragments, cut from leftover remnants, to construct elaborate wall hangings that replicate traditional quilt block designs. Now I’d like to share my technique with you.

This book teaches all the basics you need to know to design and construct your own unique wooden mosaic projects, including how to work with quilt block–inspired patterns, how to cut intricate wood pieces to fit snugly, and tips for adding color and texture to achieve desired effects. It’s a gorgeous, creative approach that is meant to inspire you—to motivate you to explore the combined worlds of woodworking and quiltmaking. My aim is to give you a springboard into putting your own unique spin on my original “built quilt” pieces, as I like to call them.

Wood quilts are nothing short of spectacular, and you can follow along with this book’s eight achievable projects before branching out to design your own. The projects include small wall art and gift items, medium-sized and more complex pieces, and a stunning coffee table and door that can be completed by even a beginner woodworker. Plus, flip through the gallery to see some of the more advanced pieces I’ve made that you can use as inspiration for your own designs once you’ve created a few of the projects.

Importantly, the wood mosaics in this book were not made from freshly-milled lumber sourced from a woodshop—they were made from upcycled scraps collected over time. That’s an important part of this book’s ethos. For centuries, people have resourcefully used scraps, remnants, and rags to make quilts. Similarly, with these projects, you’ll learn to build on your own resourcefulness—to keep an eye open for useful material wherever you go. Anything from leftover floorboards, to discarded shelving, to found material can be cut down and used for these projects. This book will teach you how to turn discarded wood into magic.

I want to uphold tradition and the value of craft while also refreshing the processes and form. These wood mosaic designs link us to historical quilt block compositions while offering a fresh take on them. Your personal inspiration may come from anywhere—your background is likely very different from mine—but we’ll explore the practical knowledge needed to create these wood quilts together. I hope to teach you the importance of making things with your hands that can be functional, decorative, and meaningful all in one, and I hope this book can inspire you on all fronts!

—TroyMurrah

Torrance, California

Gallery

In the following pages, you’ll see photos of my past work. I’ll give you a sense of what inspired each piece, without going into too much detail (except for the first piece, which holds a special place in my heart). Final results relied on the materials I had on hand. I owe a lot to these materials for providing the momentum in the process and pushing my creativity along. Hopefully, these pieces will inspire you to grab what you can before it’s trashed and create something beautiful.

My mother, Judy Murrah, teaching a quilting class at the old Great Expectations Shop in Houston, Texas, circa the 1970s.

Go West, Mary, 2018 • 36″ × 36″ (91 × 91cm)

BROKEN STAR (OR DUTCH ROSE) QUILT BLOCK

Reclaimed wood, vintage kitchen countertops and cabinetry, wood from a 1930s garage, exterior siding, and brass (framing)

As this piece was my first, it is extra special to me. In my life, I’ve been an artist, welder/metal fabricator, and carpenter/craftsman, but I’ve never been a quilter—so you may wonder how I ended up here, making wooden quilt mosaics. It all began with hearing through the years from my mom, Judy Murrah, “You should do something quilt-related in your art.” She was an avid quilter, educator, and VP of Education at Quilts, Inc. She also authored her own how-to series of books, the “Jacket Jazz” books, which taught readers how to sew wearable art jackets based on quilt blocks and traditional sewing techniques.

At the time, I did not feel that her creative suggestion of involving a quilt would meld well with the figurative, multimedia fine art I was doing. It wasn’t until after her passing in late 2017 that I figured out a way to do something quilt-related that satisfied me as an artist. In her memory, I decided to build a “quilt” out of reclaimed material I had lying around the studio. My professional life centered on carpentry, metalwork, and designing/building recording studios, and I had a habit of saving interesting leftover material. With the necessary tools already handy, I decided to use this salvaged material to make a wall hanging piece. The result was Go West, Mary. It incorporated various laser-engraved elements, including Mary Poppins–inspired silhouettes in reference to memories of my mom always singing songs from the movie. It also utilized mostly discarded household/domestic lumber salvaged from a home renovation project—all reminders of home.

To make a long story short, one piece led to another, and I held my first quilt-inspired art show, “Built Quilt,” at a local art and wine bar in Long Beach, California, in late 2018. And I’m still doing it! What was initially a one-off memorial for my mom has now turned into my livelihood and enduring art style.

’70s Ski Party, 2020 18″ × 18″ (46 × 46cm)

MOTHER’S CHOICE QUILT BLOCK

Reclaimed wood from a 1980s office desk, black MDF, white particleboard, plywood, Luan wood, yellow pine, and plywood

Fairly straightforward, this engraved pattern is inspired by a midcentury wallpaper design with white squares representing snow-capped mountains—a place I always like to be. Overall, the color scheme reminded me of a room in my aunt’s house from the 1970s.

A Big Sting Comeback, 2019 • 84″ × 72″ (213 × 183cm)

DIAMOND LOG CABIN STAR QUILT BLOCK

Black masonite, cut-up portrait frames, discarded shelving, MDF from a commercial set, 2×4s, and kitchen cabinet doors

The laser engraving was inspired by a vintage tile design. The color scheme was literally a test to see if red and hot pink would go well with dark natural wood grains. I was satisfied with this experiment, so I just kept on going until it turned into a seven-footer.

Farida’s Enchanted Wallpaper, 2018 • 36 ¼″ × 36 ½″ (92.1 × 92.7cm)

BURGOYNE SURROUNDED QUILT BLOCK

Reclaimed wood, wooden dowels, discarded shelving, antique pickled floorboard samples, wall framing, 1930s kitchen cabinetry, aged pine, engineered floorboards, brass, and faux wood window molding

Inspired by castles from fairytale books and vintage wallpaper from my wife Michelle’s childhood home, I also selected the Burgoyne Surrounded pattern for this piece, referencing the many romanticized battle stories from my childhood. This piece is named after my mother-in-law, Farida.

The Strength of a Scorpion Mother, 2018 42 ½″ × 42 ½″ (108 × 108cm)

LOG CABIN QUILT BLOCK

Antique wooden tabletop, reclaimed wood from a 19th-century Texas barn, engineered floorboards, and dry-erase board

Many years ago, I worked as a ranch hand in Texas, where I saw a scorpion with her babies on her back. “How tough that mom has to be,” I thought to myself. Most of the symbols in this piece represent toughness and sturdiness (e.g., anvils, sledgehammers)—another homage to the strength of our mothers.

Doe, A Deer, 2018 28″ × 28″ (71 × 71cm)

RADIANT (LONE) STAR QUILT BLOCK

Discarded shelving, reclaimed countertop, and reclaimed wood

I was asked to create another piece in memory of my mother for a special exhibit honoring her at the International Quilt Festival, Houston, in 2018. Like Maria from The Sound of Music, she had the ability to brighten the day—she also got that haircut at one point, and I’ve never forgotten!

Heads Are Important Helmet Hanger, 2019 38 ½″ × 38 ½″ × 10″ (98 × 98 × 25.4cm)

LONE STAR QUILT BLOCK

Acrylic glass, anodized gold aluminum, engineered wood floorboards, vintage school desktop, and steel

A friend suggested I make a helmet hanger after realizing there weren’t many aesthetically pleasing ones out there when he needed one. Helmets should be put on a pedestal.

You Make Me Feel, 2018 33″ × 33″ (84 × 84cm)

DOUBLE IRISH CHAIN QUILT BLOCK

Salvaged primed particleboard, engineered wood floorboards, reclaimed wood from a 1930s garage, and copper (framing)

Young lovers, jasmine flowers, and Evel Knievel—love and courage seem to go hand in hand, especially in the Western movies that I was watching at the time of this piece’s creation.

Celebrating the Beauty of Reclaimed Materials

In this photo series, I wanted to highlight the reclaimed materials that play such an important role in the process, look, and feel of the pieces in this book. Eventually, all of these materials were incorporated into finished wood mosaics.

Laying Track, 2020

Hardwood floorboards, wood from a 1980s dresser, gold spray-painted plywood, anodized gold laminated acrylic glass, blue spray-painted beadboard, plywood, and wood countertop

Pocket Full of Change, 2020

Fluorescent particleboard, anodized gold laminated acrylic glass, and faux wood from a 1970s drawer

Mining Town, 2020

Anodized gold laminated acrylic glass and gold spray-painted pine wood

’80s Haircut, 2020

Laser-engraved masonite and neon yellow particleboard

In the Clouds, 2020

White acrylic glass and white particleboard

PART 1

Getting Started

Before you dive into the projects, it’s important to make sure that you have all the tools you need, understand the terminology used throughout the book, and have a grasp on the basic techniques that pop up many times. You can skim this section before working on your first project and then refer back to it later whenever you need a refresher on a particular topic. There are also some bonus ideas for finishing techniques, aging screws, and other touches you can add to make your pieces personal and unique.

Materials

Tools

Techniques, Tips, and Tricks

Using the Patterns

Cutting Specific Shapes

Gluing and Assembling

Mitering

Filling

Painting, Distressing, and Staining

Woodburning and Stenciling

Aging Screws

Hanging Techniques

Materials

Reclaimed and Recycled Materials

Most of the material I used for the projects in this book—for all my built quilts—was found, salvaged, or donated to me. The only material I go to the hardware store or lumberyard for is underlayment, plywood, or OSB to be used as the backing boards for the art pieces. (If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, see below). Luckily, these are not expensive materials. Everything else is reclaimed off curbsides or from alleyways or left over from construction and carpentry jobs. Anything is fair game—be imaginative and get creative. I have cut up a lot of discarded shelving, wood from a non-functioning piano, remnant floorboards, and thrown-out desks, to name just a few items. This adds to the character, history, and story of each art piece—doing my part to reuse and recycle. Plus, there’s the added bonus of cost savings—buying new material can get expensive.

One of the other bonuses of creating this way is finding a wide range of material with interesting and varying finishes, textures, and colors that reduce or eliminate the need to do a lot of staining or surface altering. When you’re gathering materials for a new project and deciding on the aesthetic, let yourself be inspired by the materials you have, maybe altering the color of just one or two items to create a cohesive collection for your project.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

If you’re unfamiliar with some of the wood product jargon out there, here are definitions of some of the types of materials you may want to use in your work and that I use throughout the book.

•Plywood: This material is basically a sheet form of wood made from gluing multiple thin layers together to make a final thickness. Thicknesses usually range from a thin ⅛″ (0.3cm) material up to ¾″ (1.9cm), and pieces are generally available in 4′ × 8′ (122 × 244cm) boards. Plywood is popular in the construction and DIY worlds because of its affordability. In these projects, I often use it as a backing option and sometimes as part of the artistic composition.

•Luan: Also spelled Lauan, this is a type of plywood, mainly referring to the thin sheet versions. It’s frequently used in the hobby world and sometimes in fine cabinetry making, such as for the bottom panel of a drawer. It comes in a couple of different finishes, and it can take a stain and be painted. I use it often for the small backing boards that I glue my quilt block shapes to before mounting them onto the final backing board, which is usually thicker plywood or OSB.

•Underlayment: When I use this term in this book, I’m referring to the plywood form—other underlayments used in the construction world are synthetic and come in rolls. Underlayment is another way to say a thin sheet of plywood, but unlike the Luan mentioned above, it usually doesn’t have a nice enough finish to be stained. This is because it’s usually installed underneath hardwood flooring and is never seen. It is usually never seen in my work either—I just use it as another backing board option that gets covered up by the built quilt shapes.

•Particleboard: Similar to plywood in that it is made by gluing layers, particleboard is manufactured by binding wood chips with an adhesive and pressing flat. It is commonly found in mass-produced, affordable furniture and shelving. I use it a lot because it’s a common material I find thrown out by my neighbors. It takes spray paint very well and is great for getting a glossy finish to juxtapose natural wood grains.

•OSB: Short for “oriented strand board,” OSB is a product like particleboard, manufactured by binding wood strands with an adhesive and pressing flat. OSB is often used on job sites to sheath walls and floors. It has a semi-rough surface and is a great material to use adhesives on. I use it a lot when making wall hangings or furniture involving my built quilts.

•MDF: Short for “medium-density fiberboard,” the top and bottom surfaces of MDF are very smooth, and its inside is made up of wood fibers, almost like powder, compressed and bound with resin. It can get nasty when cutting, so be sure to wear a mask and eyewear. But it can be fabricated into a large variety of things using wood glue and a nail gun, and it takes paint very nicely after a single coat of primer.

•Plexiglas®: This is not wood but rather a popular brand name that has become synonymous with any acrylic glass.

The final collection of materials for the Prosperity Block Shadowbox project included a range of reclaimed items such as hot pink composite wood, anodized gold laminated acrylic glass, and a deteriorating pink and white door.

Assuming you have the space for it, collect materials whenever you get the chance. Call friends to see if they have any bits and pieces you can use, or look through your house for a broken shelf that can’t be fixed or a dresser that has run its course.