The Bear and the Wolf

I may be rather quiet on here at the moment but I am still creating and making! Here is a recent bespoke commission - A little seat made for a beautiful garden in the stunning Cotswolds. Do contact me if I can make anything for you. Cheers, Carl

Many apologies for being so quiet on here for so long - there has been a lot going on that has meant I have not been able to post or update for quite some time - but, the Reindeer are back! If you would like to place an order in time for the festivities, please do drop me a line - they range from Large to middle to small to small place card size! Cheers, Carl

Just a reminder too, that I make Bat Boxes if you wish to help the Bat Population!

I know I have been quiet for awhile on here, this has been due to moving and re-settling and having to get my workshop up and running again.

I am still not 100% there so cannot take large orders, but, I am able to fulfill one off orders, and, I am back to making reindeer ready for Christmas!

With many thanks for your patience, Carl

Well, these two photos put a smile on my face! Happy customers, but most importantly, happy critters! One is a photo of a Chinchilla enjoying their new box, and one is a happy hedgehog enjoying a munch..! Great to see, so thank you for sending them over! Cheers, Carl.

It's so important for us to make sure our gardens are bee friendly as bee numbers have been declining at an alarming rate in recent years.......Along with bees, there are so many reasons why insects, bugs and other minibeasts should be welcomed to our outdoor spaces. They are an important source of food for other animals like birds and bats, they are vital to pollinate our flowering plants and crops, they can be predators to other insects like aphids, and are useful workers when it comes to decomposition and giving us nutrient rich soil.

You are probably very familiar with seeing the honey bee and the bumble bee - these are social bees and live in large groups, usually hives. The honey bee can live in colonies made up of tens of thousands of individuals whilst the bumble bee tends to live in smaller groups of around 100. There are also solitary bees. These bees have a queen will lay and look after her own eggs, as opposed to relying on worker bees like her more social relatives. You may also see wasps, solitary wasps and a range of flies that are closely related to the bee and wasp family. Hoverflies and bee flies for example - these can often cause concern, as they mimic wasps and bees, but are actually perfectly harmless insects without a painful sting!

All of these bees, wasps and flies are fantastic pollinators, and to help, one of the best thing you can do is ensure your garden or outdoor space is stocked with pollen covered nectar rich flowers and, it also goes without saying that avoiding the use of pesticides is very important!

The next best thing you can do is to invest in a bug home, hotel or mansion! I have different sizes to accommodate all types of outside space.

These provide a great place for these insects to live, lay their eggs and hibernate. By sourcing an insect hotel (or any animal/bird/insect home) from The Bear and The Wolf you have peace of mind that your purchase is made of natural, untreated wood and without any chemicals such as varnish, paint or wood protectant that will repel or harm insects. Everything I use is ecologically sound, recycled or from natural materials found in my garden or the surrounding woods.

The best place to position these bee and bug hotels is in full sun, facing south east or south and at least a metre off the ground, preferably with no vegetation in front to obscure the entrances to the tunnels, and also fixed securely to prevent any shaking or swaying from any wind.

These hotels and homes will naturally start to weather after two or more years because the material I use is untreated and will become a silvery grey colour over time. The timber should last for many years, as, although it is not treated it is naturally resistant to decay.

Below are some examples of past commissions - Please contact me for any further information and if you buy one you will make some insects very happy! I ship worldwide! Cheers, Carl

I was thinking to myself how weird it is that sometimes I suddenly get a "run" on things – for example, one month I can be swamped with orders for Hedgehog homes, or Insect hotels, and the next, it's mirrors! Yup, I have recently had a spell of people requesting and purchasing mirrors of all shapes and sizes!

I guess I shouldn't be surprised as there is no doubt that mirrors are an important design feature of a house – adding interest as well as maximising light and creating or boosting a sense of space.

I have found, whilst making mirrors over the last few years, the smaller the space, the bigger the mirror! Hanging a simple long mirror in a short hallway for example will immediately add depth. An oversized mirror will make rooms appear larger than they are, and smaller mirrors can add that sense of surprise to any room. Mirrors tend to change the look and overall mood of a room.

There is also a trend now for Garden mirrors - it is becoming increasingly popular to add an archway mirror which can add a sense of space and light into a more shady spot - or a large outdoor mirror to reflect garden paths, or a particular flower bed - which can hint at a secret garden beyond!

All my mirrors are bespoke and hand made, by me in my workshop in Dorset. Prices are on request, as it is dependent on size, type of wood and how long it takes me to make. All are treated with waterproof varnish, and, if any mirror is requested for outdoors, I do use Acrylic "glass" so that there are no accidents or shattering of glass.

Below are just a few of my recent commissions, and on my website and this page you will see other types and sizes that I have made before.

If you like rustic, wooden mirrors to make your home or garden more beautiful, then give me a shout!
Cheers Carl

My latest commission, and,if I do say so myself, it's looking great in their garden! Apparently no doves yet, but there is a Robin nesting!! Please contact me if there is anything you would like me to make for you. Cheers, Carl

Valentines is approaching! If you wish for something a little bit different to flowers and chocolates, take a look at the heart candles that I make! Which can be made with any number of candles that you wish. Or, I can offer a heart shaped rustic photo frame? Or even a heart shaped flower vase! If you want to get away from hearts then look at the insect hotels or hedgehog homes that always make stunning gifts and show your love not just for each other but for our wildlife!! I am also, more than happy to make anything bespoke that your valentine would love...! Cheers, Carl.