How about "glass stackers" or whatever you made it out of like ceramic stacker or candlestick stacker. You get the idea.
Another way would to look in a dictionary or thesaurus book to see what other meanings they have for the word totem.
I understand where youre coming from, hope this helps to get your own ideas coming :)

Cindy

How about crystal palaces? or Garden Towers, or Follys, or Stairways to Heaven (just kidding on the last, couldn't resist).
kathy

I call mine "glass lawn sculptures" or "lawn ornaments"

good luck! I hope you make lots of money for the school.

gail

Silly reasoning in my opinion. Though I would suppose not offending anyone and respecting the beliefs of others in their space is a valid excuse to change the name.

I suggest garden pillar, garden column, garden glass artifacts, garden sparklers, garden art stacks, garden jewel towers, recycled glass and pottry garden art or some variations there of.

If none of these will satisfy the pure (closed) minds of the Chritian Zealotry . I would suggest taking such lovely items to a place where they will be appreciated for the beuatiful art they are. There by letting those who can accept and respect the words and beliefs of others reap the rewards of your generous gifting.

Blessing Abound
CT

Or Spectaclulars. Garden inspirations. Pinnacles of piety(?) Hope you do well with the sale. Post pics!

Naming something to suit the market is not an unusual thing to do. But I can't think of a suitable positive biblical reference to a tower or art or even gardens. Maybe some of our more knowledgeable folks in that department will have suggetions.

kathy

Thanks so much for all the replies and great ideas! :)
I am as Christian as the rare ones I'm wary of offending (or rather, the ones I do not want to give ammo to)
I do like "stairways to heaven", though. LOL.
The word "totem" is known mostly from "totem pole", which is often related to mythical, mystical, magical ideas - not acceptable in the far right hand corner. ;)
"Glass stackers" has such a nice crisp, neat sound. Hmm...
Lawn Sculpture or Garden Sculpture might work, too.
Aw jeez, ya'll gave me too many good ideas.
Maybe I'll include all these names on a poster and let folks choose for themselves. :)
I'm working on a "The care and keeping of your glass sculpture" paper to hand out, including some basic info like this:

Glass garden totems, bird & squirrel feeders, bird baths are made by recycling, reusing, and repurposing old glass items.
These items were once upon a time (almost said "in a previous life" - LOL!) used as vases, planters, ashtrays, candy dishes, lamps, percolator tops, plates and bowls, candlesticks and more.
The mounting poles were once handles for rakes, mops, brooms, and other hard working items.
For a different look, you may choose to use a copper pipe or other item to support your narrow ended sculpture. The wide ended pieces are meant to rest on the ground, padded by garden soil, grass, mulch, or another soft surface.
These sculptures make unique conversation pieces and lovely additions to a garden or lawn.
Each creation really is unique - there are no two exactly alike.
The glass items are glued together using G.E. Silicone II interior/exterior caulk for windows and doors.
THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOUR GARDEN SCULPTURE
To keep your glass sparkling in the sunshine, clean as you would a window. Using glass cleaner (Windex, for example) and a paper towel or soft cloth.
It's a good idea to bring glass items indoors during the coldest weather. Freezing temperatures can cause glass to crack and break. Also, any falling tree limbs, black walnuts, hail, etc can cause damage.

Can you think of any other info I should add?
I will take lots of pictures.
It's going to be tough to let go of some of these totems. Especially the first ones I made.
I appreciate all your help. ~JoAnn

GArden Towers sounds nice! Don't use stairway to heaven! Remember Babel, God was not happy they were trying to build up to Heaven!! Stairway to heaven will really set someone off. I would just tell how to clean,take in during winter & keep from falling fruits,nuts or branches. Keep it short as if it's long folks won't buy them as look like too much work. Hope all goes well for you!! Jan

I think you just named them.....
"The care and keeping of your GLASS SCULPTURE"
I like that....glass sculpture. I just might start using that for mine.
Cindy

JoAnn, I think you were on target also with your Glass Garden Sculptures, and really like the info you are including. Who knows, some of the buyers might end up making totems themselves afterwards.

hugs, Karen

My vote would be for garden pillars or garden sculptures.

Hi, I don't post here very often, but do check-in off & on
and I really do like the sound 'Glass Lawn Sculpture' as suggested by another poster it has a nice 'polished ring' to it which suggests nothing more than which it is. Sounds like you have been very busy making these glass creations, and so very generous of you to donate to your daughters school, I bet she is very proud of her mom! Wendy

I love the idea of a little tag or card decription of what the totems are. It is an extra touch that makes them all that more special. In your description very first sentence has the dreded totem word in it. LOL
In these sentences Each creation really is unique - there are no two exactly alike. redundent (both sentences mean the same thing) and the word "really" doesn't need to be in there at all it is grammatically un-neccessary.
I'd drop this complete sentence "For a different look, you may choose to use a copper pipe or other item to support your narrow ended sculpture. The wide ended pieces are meant to rest on the ground, padded by garden soil, grass, mulch, or another soft surface."
since it really is irrelevent to the sale and most folk buying them wont care as to design instruct for making their own. Next, while on display for the dale they will be placed as should stand on the ground. If there is confusion as to how to place you can alway pop a little this end UP tag on it LOL
FYI Original totem poles were not used for any kind of mystisism, magik or occultist purposes. I can't find reference in any magikal reference where they are used as such even now. In the Alutian and Inuet tribes they are simply a way of identifing a family by name, business and heritage.
In the Polonysian tribes and area the carved totems were used to point directions and warn of dangerous areas.
So awful there is such a fearful group of people who believe whatever they are told without actually doing any reasearch at all. They are called sheeple and will be led because they choose not to think for themselves.

CT

Hubby calls mine "garden jewelry".

Kath

We use just "Garden Art" because totems can be made of any kind of material.

I like concreteprimroses name of Garden Towers, maybe add "Glass" Garden Towers, that sounds cute!
How about "Visions in Glass",and then under that on your tag, put:
A reflective tower for your garden delight!

Or: "Glass Reflections"

Good luck with everything!
blessings-sherri

They say everything sounds better in French:
Décoration de jardin déchets

or, all garden stuff should be in latin:
Hortus purgamentum ornamentum

dcarch :-)

Bonnie in the magazine BACKYARD COUNTRY GARDENS calls them eclectic glass towers.

Sue

Just had to butt in, as I had also wondered about an alternate name. The discussion was facinating. I took the "glass tower" title to the internet.....have you seen the glass eifel towers on ebay? Oh wow....looks like they would make geat toppers!! Wonder if my husband would let me order a few..LOL!! I love the pink, and the blue glass!!I still need a couple more pieces of amber, blue, or clear glass before I can make my first totems. Okay, butting back out...LOL!!

Oui, Oui, Robert!

Spanish the Language of romance

Garden sculpture = Escultura de jardín

CT

I kind of like Garden Bling. Although, who knows, that might have gang connotations! lol!

I like your idea of the tag to put on them. It does make them seem special and gives it a personal touch.

Good luck and make plenty of money for the school!

I refer to mine as glass topiary.
Kind of in the same line of thinking as topiary dogs and poodle trees.

nmgirl - I was thinking the same...

Glass Topiary!

I like glass garden sculpture best. It is an accurate description and sounds pretty to me.

Totem poles by definition are collections of carved representations of creature spirits or gods, so this name has never really seemed to fit. Topiaries are living trees or bushes sculpted by shears to look like animals, so this seems off the mark to me as well. I guess a glass garden sculpture in the shape of a woman comes closest to these two...

Oh BTW, hope the autumn festival sale goes well.

These are really pretty, and one can tell you put a lot of work into making these. Hope you decide to keep your favorite for yourself-you deserve it! Wendy

A bunch of messages really are missing. The one with the pics of the garden sculptures and the one with the explanation that totem poles are not necessarily gods or spirits but identify the tribe and family (or location?). I actually came back to look at pics and read about totem poles and they are both gone :(.
kp

pics are on a different thread.
kathy

I love "glass sculpture" and "garden jewelry." Hmmm...
Glass Sculptures ::~~:: Jewelry for Your Garden