SUMMER ART CREATIONS

It's that time of the year where everything is blooming and looking very good. So with the beautiful spate of good weather I decided to do lots of stuff with a floral theme.

Barrels

Inspired by some barrels that I saw in Durrow last summer, I began hunting for empty plastic barrels to paint. The owner of River Spices (Indian takeaway) gave me 2 small chutney barrels. I wanted a bigger one so I went to the milk market to source for one but I didn't like what I saw.

When I visited my friend Catherine, I saw some blue barrels and it was so nice of Ned to give me one. He loaded it into my car boot - a perfect fit! So I've transformed the barrels into 2 planters and one water butt to catch the rain that runs down the gutter..

I like the saddleback pig because of its distint black and white markings. So I modelled the water butt after the piggy.

Path

I couldn't leave a path in its original state.   I had to give it a makeover.

and the original path below

Wigwams

I planted more climbing plants so there was a need for bamboo/willow wigwams.

Pallets

I saw how pallets were painted at the Bloom and Clare garden festivals last year and so I decided to try it out.

Cable wheel

I turned this cable reel into a small table.

Food Cover

And to keep the pesky flies away, this is a bee hive with a difference!

I spend much time in the garden and it's all very worth it....The roses are all blooming and there is also a bumper crop of vegetables

I bought a chimney pot from a Recycle Centre in Scariff and did mosaic work on it.

and decoupaged a plastic chair

                         ..............made two floral hair clips to match my dress

                                   gave 3 bedroom windows a new stained glass look...........

       and finally did mosaic work on the window sills which won a lot of admiration from passers-by .               ............

GARDEN CRAFTS

After months of long cold nights, the first signs of Spring are always very welcome. As the Crafts Coordinator for the International Women's Organisation, I facilitated a bird feeder making class. The bird feeder is made of willow and can last for several years. Now, we only need to wait for the birds to call. This is the sample that I made.

All the ladies went home happy with what they had created.

In preparation for the climbing plants in the garden, I also made this 6 foot willow wigwam. I plan to use for my jasmine plant (if it takes off) or any other plant that needs support.

Still in the crafty mood, I decided to make some vegetable markers. All this while I've been using store bought ones made of plastic. I found some garden border wood which I no longer needed. So I painted them white and then printed designs on them with some of my favourite stamps. After that I used a set of alphabet printers that my daughter bought me last Christmas to print the names of  different types of vegetables. I was very satisfied with the outcome.

Year end crafts and Bye bye 2015

This will be the final post for 2015 before the ships blare their horns to usher in 2016. As the year draws to an end, I think I will put up all the pictures of the crafts that I've done for November and December. My favourites are mosaic-art and willowcraft and of course Christmassy stuff.

A. Mosaic and collage

1. Collage on Slate: mixed media - bits and bobs of old jewellery and paper napkins

2. Glass and tile on wood

3. Mandala Art: Tile, sculpture paste and paper napkin on MDF.

B. Willowcraft

Shopping basket:  Following instructions from a very good book .........

I completed this shopping basket on my own...........

C. Christmassy stuff

1. Fish bowl with candle : Sculpture paste for frost

 

2. Candle with trimmings

3. Hand painted snow men on wood and bottles

4. Table centrepiece

5. Cards

3D cards - the robin card won 3rd prize at the ICA Limerick federation meeting 

12 days of Christmas Cards

and a whole host of other cards....

So, I've come to the end of my last post for 2015. I already have lots of crafts planned out for next year which begins tomorrow. 

2016 HERE I COME!!