First Timer pics and questions

18 years ago

I have learnt so much from this fantastic Forum. I have always had a passion for garden art etc and finally was able to put my hands to the cement so to speak after much reading of this Forum. Thank you so much for all your tips and info sharing. Here in Fiji we can't get Peat Moss or Vermiculite, so I substituted for Sphagnum Moss (which is cheap and readily available) and it seems to be O.K. Any ideas on anything else I could use instead would be greatly appreciated. Because we can't get everything here in Fiji, improvisation is a must!

Here are a couple of pics of my work so far. 1st attempt was the planter with flower and leaf relief on it, 2nd attempt was the Fish Planter, 3rd 4th and 5th attempts are the Hanging Light Shade and Mayan-ish Faces respectively.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/anna_c_morris/album?.dir=/bb91

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Comments (13)

Buddyfly
18 years ago
Fijigal.... I am in absolute AWE at your skill at this! I absolutely, positively LOVE ALL OF THEM!!!

You have a wonderful sculpting technique. Just love the Mayan theme you have going... I've been doing miniatures! lol I think you should be able to get your hands on lots of powdered pumice stone for tufa way down/over there! I sure hope so because that can result in incredible and smooth textures and is light weight! Can you get vermiculite and perlite where you live?

I can't believe you did all that with spagnum!!!! Did you have to grind it all up? Do tell how you did it!

I am totally delighted you decided to try tufa and even MORE delighted that you joined us here!!! You ROCK!!

Marly
Dena6355
18 years ago
Anna,
Wonderful items. You are on your way to lots more.
At nurseries there, they should be able to offer you some ideas for lightweight planting mediums that may be able to be substituted for perlite or vermiculite (if you can not get those) Sphagnum moss, I have the same questions as Marly.
Thank yo for sharing your work.
Dena
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wannadanc
18 years ago
What a wonderful inspiration you are to all of us! Keep coming back and sharing your talents!

Vicki
fijigal
Original Author
18 years ago
Marly and Dena,

Thanks so much for your positive Feed back. I really haven't had anyone's here yet except my parents - and they love them, but parents tend to be biased!!:o)

I did use sphagnum - My parents are in the cut flower industry - specifically orchids and anthuriums so have a large quantity of sphagnum moss available to them. I basically sifted through the bags we have and separated the smaller pieces which is what I used for all the mixes. I did the same old recipe 1 cement : 1 sand and 1 sphagnum moss (pressed into the measuring device).

I found that when doing the sculpting part I had to wet the mix a little more (just used a spray bottle - easy to apply in small quantities) and then let it dry for a bit before continuing the sculpting.

The fish was the most difficult and ended up being very heavy. I would do it differently if I did it again.

Thanks so much for your help. I did consider trying to use pumice but so far have been unable to source it will keep looking though I'm sure someone , somewhere must have it. I did think about using Rice Husks - what do you think?
tango88
18 years ago
WOW!!!...Absolutely Wonderful! You have a real gift...keep it up. Welcome to the group and thank you for sharing.
artfart
18 years ago
Welcome Figigal,

Very nice projects. I would try the rice husks, nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. If the husks contain carbohydrates they would be a problem. I often use potting soil as a substitute and can't tell any difference in strength. I have quite a few things made with potting soil that have been around for several years and are still going strong. Thanks for sharing.

Amy
paws4pets
18 years ago
Very nice Art. Keep it going.
Paws
tango88
18 years ago
Fiji --- Just occurred to me that you may have access to an excellent filler material...coir...coconut "hair", for lack of a better term. It has been used successfully in "Tufa for years. How 'bout it? Any coconuts there in Fiji?
fijigal
Original Author
18 years ago
Hey Tango,

Thanks so much for that. I shall definitely investigate that. I can imagine it would be fantastic.

We call it Coconut Husk - the area around the actual nut of the coconut. The only problem I can see is trying to get it all chopped up. It's hair like quality means that it is quite long and stringy.

That's a great idea though. Coconuts are one thing we certainly have a hell of a lot here. Thanks so much!
scooterbug
18 years ago
Great stuff ! Love the Mayan theme.
tango88
18 years ago
Fiji --- Here's a link to a Coir/Coconut Husk Hypertufa recipe. Us drysiders can only find it in bags...not on the beach, which, by the way we'd all love to see pics of, as you may well win the prize for being the most remote member of this friendly mudhole.

Best of Luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Coir in Hypertufa...
EasterIslandGiant
18 years ago
awesome mask, keep doing nice art.

god I love this place.
Jilly_W
18 years ago
Fabulous work Anna, you are very talented. Welcome to our 'Tufa family. Looking forward to seeing more from you.

Jilly :)

First Timer pics and questions

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First Timer pics and questions

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