STRAIGHT FROM THE GARDEN

My vision came to life this past Saturday. A year ago my aunt from Michigan was visiting

and told me about a scarecrow scene that she and her gardening buddies do every year in a community garden.

They pick a theme and make it happen. This past Summer I decided I was

going to do something in my yard this year.

My theme, "straight from the garden", everything I used, except for the crazy cat toy

eyeballs came from the garden, the garden shed or the basement.

I'm going to link with Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

This is my spot I selected in the front yard.


I knew I wanted to use my little weathered park bench I had purchased
for five dollars at a
yard sale two summers back.



Before our yard sale in August, I had raided my niece's stash and confiscated
some clothing for my couple to wear.




I decided to build the bodies out of used garden pots that were just taking up
space in the gardening shed. I just pulled out anything that looked interesting
and went to town. In the back of my mind I kept hearing Tim Gunn saying
"make it work".



I used Liquid Nails to secure the pots together for the body and legs.

I chose an old bird feeder for my guy's head. It's a little small for the body

but I think that gives him character.

The beard is Spanish moss, lips and ears are made from the pods of a Hyacinth Bean plant,

and those great eyes came from Big Lots in the pet department.

For my gal, I used a watering can for the head.

This bee broach on her bonnet is another cat toy

...detail...detail...detail!

The bonnet is an upside down twig basket.

And here they are, straight from the garden, taking a little rest and watching the

neighbors as they pass on their daily walk.

Happy Gardening!

A Treasured Gift

My Uncle Merl from Michigan has been hand crafting one of a kind bird houses for years. My sister received one many years ago as did her daughter Kate. I was happy to be the recipient of one last Summer when he and my Aunt Dot came for a visit.





Susan's as well as Kate's was already painted by the artist, mine, on the other hand, was left unfinished for me to put my signature on. My plan had been to finish it as a Winter project. Winter came and went and I had not a smidgen of inspiration. Then, this Summer we took a trip to the Greek Isles and I had to look no further.




Throughout the islands we saw countless churches and chapels, the thing they all had in common was a sparkling coat of white paint.



Many that I saw were blue domed and that was my inspiration, because you see, the bird house that my Uncle made for me was a wonderful little steeple church.

Blue domed church in Oia on Santorini









First step: spray painted white

Now please don't think I'm trying to be sacrilegious by using the BLUE EYE, absolutely not, I'm just exercising a litter creative artistic liberty.



So thank you so much Aunt Dot and Uncle Merl for my wonderful gift. I will treasure it forever!



Happy gardening everyone.

Orig. Posr 7/6/2010 Wordpress