Ken, you must have read Diane Keaton's book. I have it on audio version, she reads the book herself. That's the second time you've mentioned "it ain't pretty" which is why I think you may be familiar with it. (thong was the first).....hehehehehhe Well, I'm glad you said it, because my eyes were bugging out. I thought maybe the hosta chosen were all miniature or smalls. TNC, you have been saved from a terrible heart attack when your hosta explode in the spring two years from now. Ask me how I know. :) So welcome to the forum. Ken is serious about taking a 10 foot string and drawing an arc in that corner. The hosta you have will end up making your dogwood disappear except for the limbs up top. Or almost. Google the names of each hosta and you can identify the posts related to them, read the ones you wish, and learn what happens to each plant in or near your zone. We have a few folks growing hosta in TX, so you should find something helpful about the eventual size of each hosta. Don't read the promo card, but read how big it becomes in your growing zone. What to watch for in your zone. I'm in zone 9a. It is interesting to me that more high zone folks are becoming interested in hosta. That is great! Hosta are on the move, and the direction is south! I always knew the hosta had a game plan for climate change. :)

Oh my goodness, that is beautiful! And I agree, I didn't find the dolls scary in the least. I was too busy being enamored by the beautiful trees in the background, and the girl in her hat. This is really a gorgeous piece!! I do hope you stay and keep visiting. Though I confess, I do the same thing. Life starts getting in the way of my art and I forget that even though I'm not creating things, all the wonderful artists here still are! LOL

I am not that self taught..I love this and Slow is drooling and chomping at the bit to take classes. I really want to also but the schedule looks like it is thru at Eds Emporium for the year, so next year project. In the meantime I will try to do as you have shown us and put together some glass and see what I get. I have been gathering glass since I saw the site Silva posted. Ear of the wind studio...love it. I have to finish a few things first. Thanks for the inspiration...your lamp is beautiful.

You did a nice job. Regarding the wire brushing, you have to wire brush 24 to 48 hours after it sets up in the mold. It's too hard to do if you let it set up longer. For most planters/troughs I unmold and wire brush in 24 hours, wrap back up in plastic for a couple of days and then put it in a water bath for a few days. You do not have to dry slowly over the Summer. Unless the alpine plants are sensitive to lime you should be able to plant right now. The soil usually buffers the plant from the lime in the trough. You didn't use any sand? What did you use for an outer mold? Did you use an inner mold?