At a certain point of our lives, all of us have needed the use of a walking stick, either as an aid or just plain lifeless but comforting companion. Look around you and you’ll realize how many young and old folks, alike need to use a cane as a walking aid for any number of reasons and different lengths of time. There may be a time when you experienced an accident that resulted to an injury from the waist, down, or a time in boy or girl scouts on hiking activities, when you had difficulty walking on mountainous slopes. There may also be times when you need it simply as something to hold on to when walking into a dark alley and the list goes on. Your parents, grandparents and even friends may also be one of the many who have depended on canes, traditionally called walking sticks.

As you come to get interested, you’ll find out more about this sturdy and dependable object. There are people who collect them and there are also countries that produce the finest handcrafted ones that are gift and collector items. These walking sticks come a long way back, too. Even before the time they were used as working tool and walking aids by hill men and shepherds.

Indeed, there are apparent technological advances of walking aids for old and disabled folks already. Still, walking sticks are good handy crafts that are offerings of nature for those who do not like bulky and awkward aids that sometimes hinders movement more rather than help. You could make one to serve your own particular purpose. You could even make a bunch and design them each according to what use you’ll be getting out of them. There are certain tree branches that are straight and sturdy enough to become one of your personal walking sticks. You just need to wait a little time to dry them so that its bark comes loose and all you have to do is sand it a bit and decorate it.

Meanwhile, hard ware shops may just have the walking stick, like a 1-inch dowel of 1 – inch solid Lucite stick. You might also find some materials for decorating your stick, like PVC and copper fittings. Other materials may found in your attic or garage, like old tennis balls for a rough handle. You could make star shaped cuts in the ball and push it, snugly, onto the dowel. A brass doorknob and copper fittmay also serve as handle for your walking stick. Rubber tips will also come handy for homemade walking sticks you’ll be designing that’s not only for walking in the woods.

Once you’ve got your decorating materials accumulated, start decorating your walking stick! Paint it or wrap it up in different folds of colorful wrapping paper. Other materials such as leather strips, twisted cord or shoelaces might just become a hanging cord for the stick. Take pleasure in decorating your walking stick and be proud in using them! -30-

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