DIY Network

Folk Art Buoys and Fish Make your own nautical décor pieces. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-115

Reel in rustic charm with these projects from Michele Beschen.

Boating and fish folk art can be loaded with rustic charm, but it also can be expensive at art fairs and flea markets. B. Original host Michele Beschen’s solution: Make your own, using weathered fence posts and boards to create nautical décor.

Like many folk art projects, this one works best with materials that show their age: Michele Beschen used fence posts and boards with plenty of character to get the rustic feel she was looking for. Scroll down for the details.

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	Build this beautiful buoy.
	Figure A

Wooden Buoys

fence posts
miter box or chop saw
jigsaw (optional)
sander or sandpaper
paint

• Cut fence posts to various lengths.

• Shape buoy by making diagonal cuts along the sides, tapering to a wide, blunt point at one end (figure A). Michele Beschen created a simple jig to help her cut the angles and used a jigsaw and sander to finish the shape.

• Dry-brush some color on your buoy. Don’t do a slick, solid paint job—it's supposed to look old and weathered.

• Finish the pointed end so you can attach a rope: You can screw a large eye bolt to the top, drill horizontally through the point, or use a long spade bit to drill straight down from the point through the entire buoy.

Folk Art Fish

rustic wood
scroll saw or band saw
hammer
nails
glass gems, tacks, roofing tins, aluminum flashing
paint (optional)

	Figure B
	Figure C

• Michele Beschen likes to use old barn boards or other rustic wood for these fish.

• Draw your fish outline directly on the board—either freehand or with a stencil (figure B). Try to use knots and other natural markings in the wood as part of your fish. Michele Beschen suggests looking through a book with line drawings of fish for design ideas.

• Cut out the fish with a scroll saw or band saw (figure C).

• Use found objects for your fish's detailing. Try using glass gems for eyes, or tacks and metal roofing tins for scales. Aluminum flashing works great for fins. Nail everything directly to the board to hold in place.

• Dry-brush your fish with a little color, if needed.

Use glass gems, roofing tins...

Even knotholes as part of your design.