Functional Art by Heff’s Hardwood 5/11/24

The origins of the Apple Burl cribbage boards

While hanging out in a backyard wood garden in North Seattle Heff was staring at a few chunks of firewood and wondering – what would these look like if polished.

So Heff asked his friend (an Arborist) – “What are these?  Would you mind if I took these chunks of firewood and tried to make something out of them?” 

His friend responded that these chunks were part of an apple tree and that YES they could have them.   

Yard Art – Summer of 23

Like many pieces of wood Heff touches, one way or another they end up in the yard.  Whether its as firewood, a bench, a random wood carving, or a big log used as a planter to fight monoculture and build habitat for native trees and critters…lots of wood ends up in the yard.

At first Heff just polished the surface, a quick belt sand and some oil brought out the features.  And there, below the benches, lit by the constant fires of the Renton wood garden sat the ol apple burl chunks.

Rainy Season

Like many parades, Heff’s parade of yard art was rained on.  Its always great to watch the leaves turn, and the fungus sprout…its just that when it comes to wood these are usually bad things 😊

So into the garage the chunks of apple burl went.  What was next?

A love for Cribbage

According to wiki, cribbage began in the 17th century.  For Heff it began when he was less than 10 years old and was with his sister learning the game of cribbage (and other card games) on the old program known as Sierra’s Hoyle on the old DOS platform*.  Heff and his fiancé, and their friends play cribbage everywhere.  At bars, at home on the porch, in the yard, in Canada, while camping.  Just about everywhere.  All you really need is a deck of cards, but a board and some pegs help.

*Sidenote: Heff is not a computer guy. He cannot participate in conversations about AI, or modern computer gaming.   His computer skills peaked in 2003. 😊He much prefers the hands on world unless its Mario Kart – obviously that’s an exception….obviously 😊

But back to the love of cribbage.  It is a great game for adults and kids.  It teaches one about math, and strategy.  It never gets old.   It can be played by couples, trios, or doubles.  How great is that?

Functional Art

Each cribbage board you see today was once a part of the majestic apple burl in the family photo.  Heff chain sawed each of these himself (he doesn’t have a proper bandsaw or mill yet).  Each board was painstakingly flattened, sanded, stained, polished and in some cases had to be stabilized with epoxy resin. One side of each board just shows the character of the wood grain.   The other side has three sets of one hundred and 120 pegs generally in groups of five to aide in the game play.   But there is only one winner’s peg. 

https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/cribbage

Hey – what’s that blue and yellow shiny thing the boards are on?

This is an epoxy resin River Table.  The wood specie is Elm.  It came from Heff’s house in Mountlake Terrace, WA.   Millers would call this “Slipper Elm” on account of the fact that once the cambium layer gets re-wetted the bark turns into a slippery, snotty material.  It’s a great wood working wood.  This table is 55” x 30” and is also for sale. 

Other Fun Engineering properties of wood Heff Can talk ones ear off about

Janka Hardness

The Energy Density of Wood

Heff’s asking prices for the May 11th and May 12th Art Show at the South Park Hall - Please send me a note.

Cribbage Boards Available as of 5/11/2024

A.  Homer’s Bust and Board

B.  The O.G. 29 Board

C. Cinnamon (Apple) Wheel

D. Tortured Wheel

E. Cinnamon Wheel #2 

F. A Crib-Bridge  to nowhere 

G. Lake Apple