I spent Saturday over in Fridaythorpe in East Yorkshire making another chicken wire sculpture. The courses are run by Susan Nichols, she’s great, very patient and everyone leaves with a chicken wire bird that looks like it’s supposed to look!
I’ve been on several of Susan’s course, round the garden I have a chicken, a duck, a goose, a heron and an owl, they last for years, the hen was the first one I made and that’s at least ten years ago, I move them round the garden depending where there happens to be a space ;
There was eight of us doing the course, others were making mainly pheasants and owls. This time my friend and I both wanted to make a curlew. We’ve seen them many times on our walks but they are sadly on the decline. They have quite a recognisable shape and a long beak curving down at the end. I did a little embroidery of one a few years ago…
It’s physically hard work making a chicken wire sculpture, especially on the wrists and shoulders. We started off with a basic wire frame which Susan had made, then we had to cover it with chicken wire and make ‘yum yums and sausage rolls’ out of chicken wire to pad it out, securing each layer down with more layers of chicken wire. Each layer has to be shaped and the ends twisted in to secure it to the bird. I do like a chunky solid bird, so mine is quite heavy.
I didn’t take any halfway photos but in this close up you can see the mass of chicken wire inside and the ‘magic knickers on the outside!
Susan makes the legs from heavy thick wire, we then had to wrap them in thin wire. The whole bird is finished off with some ‘magic knickers!!’ otherwise known as heavy duty chicken wire, this neatens the finish of the whole bird.
After a whole day’s workshop, here’s my curlew…
I’m well chuffed with him, he looks quite at home on our lawn. He hasn’t got a name yet but I’m sure something will come to me! Colin, Charlie, Cuthbert!!!
I still want to make a pheasant, and the guinea fowl looks good too…and the hares!
thecraftycreek 
That’s gorgeous. Worth the hard work
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That is amazing! What a brilliant way to spend a day!
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Thank you, they’re hard work but great fun
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So cool!!!
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Thank you, I’m pleased with it.
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Love this! Wish I had a teacher in my neck of the woods! 🙂
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Thanks Laura, I love making them and she is such a good tutor.
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What a fabulous make, something I’d love to do – makes me with I’d never left Yorkshire – still, I do have family there – they may be in for a long visit soon………..Elaine
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Thanks Elaine, you could always do a workshop when you visit 🙂
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You really are remarkable in the way you move from fine embroidery to wrestling with wire?
Your curlew is magnificent
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Thanks Mariss, it’s hard work on the wrists, so I can’t do it often!
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I think the owl is my favourite, but the curlew is impressive. How about Callum?
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The owl is rather spectacular, probably not Callum as we had a big family fall out with someone called Callum 😀
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Fantastic! I love curlews! I grew up to the sound of them on the River Clyde, near Glasgow, and was very happy they come to Northumberland, where I now live, to breed! Such a haunting call. You have made a lovely job of these sculptures.xx
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Thank you, we see them occasionally when we’re up walking in the Dales.
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That looks brilliant. Cuthbert is a great name. I think a hare next would be great
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Your Curlew is great. I live very close to Curlew Rd., here in Dunedin, FL, USA. I was told there used to be many of the birds around here when it was just orange groves and scrub pines. I’m told they’re still around. I’d love to have a wire one for the lawn. I’d label it, so everyone knows what a Curlew is.
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