Sculptures in the Garden

Posted on July 3, 2018 by craftycreeky

Today it’s the first Tuesday in July so it’s time for the monthly photo meet-up organised by Wild Daffodil. This months theme is sculpture.

At first I thought I didn’t have any photos of sculptures, thinking of the big things you see in parks and museums. Then I remembered, what a ninny! I’ve made several chicken wire sculptures myself…

The first one I made was several years ago now, the WI ran a workshop to make a chicken wire chicken. I had chickens at the time so I signed up immediately. The tutor was Susan Nichols and she was great, we learnt all about making yum yums and yoyo’s from chicken wire! My chicken turned out pretty chunky, just like our chickens at home. She’s got long spikes coming out of her feet so she can be positioned anywhere. She’s called Florence after my favourite chuck.

Chicken Wire Sculpture Duck

The following year WI ran a course with Susan to make a duck. These are pretty solid sculptures, they actually weigh quite a lot as the chicken wire is so dense, you can spray paint them or leave them to rust naturally, which is what I’ve done.

I’d seen in Susan’s album photos of a heron, I really wanted to make one but she explained that in the confines of the WI room there just wasn’t the space, from a health and safety view point – herons have very long legs. I’d have to go to her home for a workshop.

The following year I persuaded a friend to come with me and I went over to Fridaythorpe in East Yorkshire and made a heron. If I say so myself, he’s gorgeous! I call him Hubert as he does look quite haughty as herons do! He presides over the pond in the summer. I sometimes move him down to the lower garden in the winter as he’s quite exposed there in the winter and it worries me that someone might decide to take him for a walk! This photo is taken in late winter, he’s almost disappearing amongst the foliage at the moment.hellebores & chicken wire heron

Another year went by and another friend decided she would rather like a heron too! So we both went and this time I made a goose. Goosey Lucy is seriously big, like large Canada Geese size, so she’s pretty heavy as well. I love the way her neck curves round. She’s down in the patio at the moment.DSC_0032

When I looked round the garden I’ve lots of little sculptures too. There’s my stone owl up on the fence, three little guinea fowl chicks (looking a bit cold in this photo!) and a moon gazing hare which props the summer house door open!

…together with a stone duck which is now hidden under geranium but looked amazing in the winter with the frost on it.Frosty morning

I like moving my scuptures around, the wire ones especially look good in a group.

This photo challenge is organised by Wild Daffodil, why not follow the link and check out everyone else’s photos.

If anyone lives within striking distance of East Yorkshire, I can highly recommend Susan’s courses, it’s hard work on your hands as there’s lots of twisting and pushing, but it’s worth it, I fancy making a curlew next, or maybe a pheasant…or a hare!

About craftycreeky

I live in a busy market town in Yorkshire with my husband, kids, dogs and chickens. I love trying new crafts, rediscovering old ones, gardening, walking...anything creative really I started this blog after my New Year resolution worked so well. My resolution (the first one I've ever kept!) was to post a photograph of my garden on Facebook every day. My hope was that I would then see what was good in the garden and not just weeds and work, which was my tendency. The unexpected side-effect was that I have enjoyed many more hours in the garden. I am hoping that 'The Crafty Creek' will have the same effect. Happy creating!
This entry was posted in Garden, Photo Challenge, Serendipity and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

18 Responses to Sculptures in the Garden

  1. Margaret Avril Baxter says:
    July 3, 2018 at 7:55 am

    love yourmodels

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. nanacathy2 says:
    July 3, 2018 at 7:57 am

    I LOVE THEM ALL.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Wild Daffodil says:
    July 3, 2018 at 9:16 am

    What a wonderful collection – that heron is particularly fine – my favourite: the duck with moss.
    Thanks so much for joining us. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • craftycreeky says:
      July 5, 2018 at 7:40 am

      Thanks, the duck has aged particularly well 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Wild Daffodil says:
        July 5, 2018 at 8:24 am

        I have only just found the time to read your post properly! WOW!!! I didin’t realise when I skimmed past last time that you made the wire sculptures – amazing!!!! They are so life like and each with its own character – very impressive. I did a willow basket-making workshop once – that was hard on the hands too. So satisfying though.

        Like

        Reply
  4. claire93 says:
    July 3, 2018 at 11:54 am

    oh wow! what a talented lady you are!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Shasta says:
    July 3, 2018 at 3:43 pm

    Wow these are all amazing! What wonderful treasures to add to your garden.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. kathyreeves says:
    July 3, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    Those are fabulous additions to your garden, the heron is quite spectacular!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. CurlsnSkirls says:
    July 3, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    Had no idea chicken wire could look so good!–your talents never cease to amaze me!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. KerryCan says:
    July 4, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    These are great!! I especially love the heron!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.