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Florida Gardening

It's all Karalynn's fault: glass whimsies

14 years ago

I had seen posts of Kara's glass garden totems, then had the opportunity to see them in person at her swap. They are beautiful and add so much sparkle to the garden. I just had to give it a try and since it's too hot to spend much time in the garden, this seemed like the right time. Most of the objects used came from my cupboards but I've supplemented that with some great items from Goodwill too. I got a whole box of glass on Friday for just $6.42! You've got to love a cheap hobby!

I'm now gluing together stacks of old glassware and either setting them in the garden or hanging them from the trees. DH Jim doesn't dare set down his wine glass for fear it will disappear! I even saw one of the dogs pushing her food bowl under the table to hide it. It is made of a pretty green glass... mmm.

This is just a sampling. There are more around the garden and a few more works-in-process on the kitchen counter.

Kate

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Comments (21)

goldenpond
14 years ago
I love pretties in the garden. That bunny is GREAT!
imagardener2
14 years ago
Very pretty. That last one looks like a pagan fertility symbol. :-)
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Comments (27)
No it isn't all your fault. This is a new and not so nice world we are living in. Used to be kids just snooped through your cupboards and dressers and stuff and it didn't matter where you put what you didn't want them to find, they found it. Now they snoop around on the internet, which is an imminently more fertile hunt for "the dirt". The kids were totally WRONG for hacking the email account. Did they really hack it or did they just guess what the password was? Most people have no clue how to hack. In the meantime their motivation was clearly to character assassinate you and embarass their father in the hopes that he may return to mother, which of course won't happen, but they are too immature to know the full impact of what they have really done. If it is any consolation, just wait until their children grow up and spy on them in even deeper ways. And, they will be calling foul like you never saw. Talk to your husband. If he forgave you BEFORE you were married, certainly he can forgive you now. In reality his children humiliated him, and he knows that I am sure. Would be tough to take that. And it is likely the children have no clue of how permanently they have altered their relationship with him.
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thonotorose
14 years ago
Way cool! Now I'm remembering that lovely little crystal bowl I saw on my last treasure trip and I am thinking about it in a whole new way.
katkin_gw
14 years ago
Those are great, Kate. Someday I'll give them a try myself. I think they are very inspirational. :o)
ginibee
14 years ago
Kate, they are all great, but that first one you made is still my favorite. For some reason, I just love that red spikey thing with the blue. I've been mentally putting it around in my garden. Hope your sheltie hid his/her bowl out of sight. lol.

Ginny
lellie
14 years ago
Wow!
How ingenious. :)
I especially LOVE the first one...what is the orange 'piece'?
KaraLynn
14 years ago
All of your totems and hanging whimsies are very nice! And I agree that making totems is very fun and addictive. I've started making them for my gardening friends for their birthdays and other special occassions just so I have an excuss to make even more. lol
ninecrow
14 years ago
VERY Nice!
Please can you post some more of the Haning one/s, Would like to see how they are put Together as I'm trying to find out how to attach the hanger bit
Thanks
FlowerLady6
14 years ago
Those are wonderful. I love the blue hanging one and the one after that really goes wonderful with the crotons.

What did you glue your glass pieces together with?

FlowerLady
solstice98
Original Author
14 years ago
The orange thing on the first one is just a piece of art glass from around 1960. It's been on a shelf in a closet for years, but I still love the color and shape.

The glue I use is GE (Clear) Silicone II for Windows and Doors. That's on the advice of Kara and the totem builders at the Garden Junk forum.

Here's a couple more, with bunnies:
gardencpa
14 years ago
Very cool! I knew you said you were going to try them. I'm very impressed with the results.
beth7happy
14 years ago
ohhhh WOWZERS, Kate!!! these are just fantastic!!! ...a very, very bad thing for me to see, however...have always been a nutcase when it comes to glassware of any kind...cannot bear to throw any away....you are The Inspiration of the Day!!!!! ....already have pieces in mind!! Just a lil clear silicone II, huh???? oh boy!! You have THE PRETTIEST Garden, too, Kate.......
countrynest
14 years ago
Kate,
very creative,truly masterpieces.
Felix
solstice98
Original Author
14 years ago
Ninecrow asked for more pictures of the whimsies hanging from trees and also asked how they attach. I've been using craft wire and just twisting it around with needle-nose pliers. It's not terribly pretty but it's functional. I was afraid the silicone alone wouldn't be enough, especially in a big Florida windstorm.
I have some in trees and some hanging from an arbor that I can see from my patio.

The hummingbirds and the bees can't believe this isn't a feeder! They've been all over it.

Too bad I didn't catch the sun hitting this one. In sunlight the purple candlestick is beautiful. The bell was the bottom of a lamp I took apart.

Please ignore the weeds growing through my pavers.

Old chandelier bits are very sparkly too!

This is one of my favorites.

More purple glass and curled wire.
solstice98
Original Author
14 years ago
BTW Denise - I'm still laughing about your comment! That one will be going to a friend as a hostess gift for her 4th of July party and I think she'll be laughing too!

Kate
ninecrow
14 years ago
Thanks for The Info They Look Great!
garyfla_gw
14 years ago
Hi
certainly are pretty but where are the pink flamingoes and garden gnomes?? What lawn is complete without those??? gary
solstice98
Original Author
14 years ago
OK Gary, I'm taking that as a challenge! I'll be on the look out for flamingoes and gnomes I can use.
wanda662
14 years ago
I love your glass totems, so colorful Kate. You sure didn't waste time making them.
MsMarion and I went to a garage sale and they had flamingos made out of coconuts painted pink. They were cute.
SaintPFLA
14 years ago
ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!!!

What a great idea too! I'm a big fan of reusing items to create something new. I feel a new project coming on....!

Very fancy! :)
garyfla_gw
14 years ago
Hi
think I'll try to make one into a birdbath. Right now I'm using a plastic drip tray sitting on top of a broken pot lol. Wife says it looks "tacky" but I like " "whimsical" A glass one correctly made could be downright gaudy!! Thanks for the ideas!!! gary

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