I received an email the other day from Pat, one of the many The-Artistic-Garden friends who contact me to share their ideas and photos. Pat thought we’d all enjoy seeing these gnome photos, and I agreed. So here goes:

Hi Claudia,
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your web site and also to send you a photo of the gnome display my step-dad has in his yard. The round balls you see are something he got years and years ago from a place where he worked. I have no idea what they are made of but probably cement.

Additionally, I also have included a photo from a company that is selling these “gnome stealers” and they are getting about $40.00 a set for them. I’m sure some of your readers could make their own and they are just toooooo funny!

All the best,
Pat

Well thanks Pat for taking the time to send these to me. LOVE those gnome stealers – way too funny!!! I’ve never seen those before, either.

And Pat, you’re right, I’ll bet there are many people that know how to weld, or know someone who will help them, to make their own homemade gnome stealers. (If anyone out there reading this blog has ever made garden gnome stealers – please let me know. I am sure there are lots of other garden art enthusiasts who’d would want to give that project a try.)

Thanks to you, and your step-dad, for sharing the cute garden gnomes display photo with all of us.

If you’re familiar with my hugely popular website that has lots of DIY unique garden art projects The-Artistic-Garden.com, then you KNOW you’ll be just as pleased with all the great information and how-tos found on this new site.

So come on in, and take some time to look around. If you’ve got information to share after reading a specific post, then please leave a comment or helpful suggestion. Everybody can benefit from each other’s trials, tribulations and great tips in making handmade garden art items. Me included.

I received an email this week asking me:

A friend and I tried one of your basic hypertufa recipes without adding the fiber mesh. Our results are very crumbly. I think we goofed by not using it, right? Where does one find fiber mesh? NewLearner

—————
My reply:
Hi NewLearner:

I hate to say it, but I don’t believe the lack of fiber mesh in your basic recipe was the cause for a crumbly failure. Sounds like the amount of water you used and/or wrong proportions of ingredients was your problem.

You didn’t tell me the “basic” ingredients you used, nor the ratios. Too much or too little water is often the cause of failed hypertufa recipes. Sometimes too much of one of the dry ingredients can be the culprit. Since I wasn’t there to observe you mixing up the recipe, I can’t be more specific in figuring out the cause.

I suggest you (re)read this article: Hypertufa Recipe Mixing Guidelines.

About where to find the fiber mesh – you can check with commercial concrete companies if you cannot find it in retail stores that have a good assortment of concrete products. Fiber mesh can sometimes be hard to find in certain areas of the country. I also suggest you Google “fiber mesh for concrete” and many results will come up and you’ll find online sources.

Also read the blog post I wrote on just this subject: locating silica fume and poly fibers. I believe you’ll find it quite informative and helpful.

Remember … hypertufa “success” often takes a couple failed attempts. Really. Portland cement can be temperamental to work with. Most crafters really have to get the hang of the correct water ratio in relation to the portland cement, along with following proper curing methods. Keep trying your hand at small projects (less wasted materials) until you believe “you’ve GOT IT!”

I love it when I see women break away from fearing heavy-duty type industrial equipment like welding torches! Yeah, I don’t care what is said about “we’ve come a long way, baby!” in terms of women’s lib (is that terminology dating me, or what?? Yes … I did march up 5th Avenue in NYC many moons ago, screaming “What do we want”? Equality! When do we want it? NOW!!!” But I digress…) I find that many woman are still very hesitant to pick up anything more menacing than a paint brush.

Anyway, I came across an article by an Alaskan gardener, Christine who shared her experience in picking up a welding torch and making these cool rusty metal fish.

I thought you all just might get some inspiration to try your hand at a new way of creating garden art items – whether or not your tool of choice is a welding torch. It could be anything, even something like picking up a sponge to try your hand at daubing to very easily create a decorative paint technique on a pot to use outdoors. Let your creative juices flow! It’s fun to try new things. You might find a new hobby, too.

You never know … you might gain a passion for something that allows you to give really personalized gifts to friends and family to grace their gardens (and they’ll always remember you when they look at what you made), or maybe this new hobby you enjoy could turn into a side income for you. Hey – who knows?

Anyway, as I always say “Remember … Have Fun!”

Hey everyone. I’ve had this photo in my files for some time now (yup – I save up photos as I stumble upon them if I think they’ll be of interest to y’all ) and am trying to clean up my “to be filed” folder. I decided to post this today because for a lot of us, the temperatures are dropping and Fall weather is starting to kick into gear, which means the leaves are starting to drop off the trees.

What’s that got to do with this wooden garden gate project? Well, seems to me having less leaves on tree branches will make it easier for you to spot some limbs you might be able to use for this DIY project.

I love everything about this wooden gate, which is found at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden in California. I have had a real interest for a long time in “functional art” – meaning artwork that also serves a “functional” purpose, such as would be the case *IF* this particular gate swung open and led somewhere.

Though this gate is certainly a piece of artwork on its own and it serves a definite purpose … it really can’t be considered “functional” because it doesn’t “function” (swing open and closed). But it is sculptural and serves as a beautiful and artistic focal point in this spot in the botanical garden.

Anyway, some garden art is functional, and some merely serves a visual decorative purpose. These painted ladybug bowling balls nestled amongst garden greenery are what we would consider simple garden art. But these gorgeous functional art examples created by my friend, artist-sculptor Alice M. Bateman, are not only visual “eye candy” but also serve a definite purpose. You’ll see a window; gates at an exhibit at the Ft. Worth Zoo; water spouts for a private pool; and a very fancy fireplace.

But let me get back to this wooden garden gate project idea … whether you make your gate to be functional – it swings open and closed and defines the entrance/exit to a specific area of your yard or garden – or merely to lend visual impact to a special spot is up to you, of course. But I’ll wager that whichever way you end up using a bentwood gate like this in your garden will certainly prove to be a lovely focal point in years to come.

To make a similar wooden gate for your garden as the one pictured here, you will obviously have to be somewhat skilled with wood working and have access to power saws and such, and know how to construct a sturdy frame on which to fasten the branches. Or … you’ll need to convince a spouse, relative or friend to help you make it. (Heck – bribe them with cookies or pizzas if necessary! ) The frame doesn’t appear to be too complicated, nor will I assume the task of attaching of the branches.

*TIP: use screws instead of nails if at all possible, as screws tend to “stay screwed in”, but nails tend to begin to start creeping up and out of where they were hammered in over time, especially with wooden items left outdoors. As example, have you ever seen wooden decks that were nailed versus screwed together? Well I have – my neighbor’s backyard deck – and it is starting to fall apart after just a few years. My deck was constructed using screws and it’s holding together quite fine, thank you!

I am sure that somehow, this photo of this really good-looking wooden gate might help to kick-in some creative juices for you, and you’ll come up with a way to make one for that special spot or entrance to your garden that you’ve been wanting to liven up.

I tried searching online for videos that show how to bend branches in case some of you might want to construct a wooden gate a little differently than the Botanical Garden’s gate which utilizes rather straight branches, but couldn’t find anything worthwhile to watch. But, I did uncover this book, that you might want to check out Making Bentwood Trellises, Arbors, Gates & Fences. It’s not too expensive and might have some good bits of information that will make your project go a little easier.

If anyone has any tips about working with bentwood or willow branches, let me know please. I’m sure many others reading this blog would like to read about more creative ways in which to make their own wooden garden gate. Thanks!

I often get asked by many hypertufa and concrete garden art enthusiasts where to find “silica fume” and “poly fibers”, also referred to as “fiber mesh”. Depending where you live, it may or may not be very easy to lay your hands on this stuff.

PLEASE NOTE! Silica fume is sometimes confused with fumed silica (also known as colloidal silica and pyrogenic silica). These materials have different derivations, technical characteristics, and applications. Silica fume is very fine like beach sand and completely black.

Silica fume and poly fibers are used as strengtheners, normally referred to as fortifying agents. They help make your cured hypertufa or concrete object stronger. Often, you’ll want to use one or the other for items such as stepping stones or very thin spheres. I do have some recipes sitting on my website that I’ll refer you to, in case you aren’t familiar with recipes and/or projects that utilize silica fume or poly fibers. Here are three of them:

Hypertufa Recipe Using Fiber Mesh (Poly fibers)  (refer to last recipe on the page)
Hypertufa Sculpture Recipe
Concrete Recipe For Very Thin-walled Spheres

How to Locate Silica Fume and/or Poly Fibers

My first suggestion is to call commercial concrete supply companies in your area. Many times they will have either fortifier, and will be willing to sell you a couple of pounds. (You don’t need much of either one in a recipe – unless I guess you’re making something collosal in size! ).

I’ve even read of people walking away with some for free, after explaining to the sales people what they will be doing with the silica fume or poly fibers. Seems the sales people get a kick hearing that Portland cement is going to be mixed with peat moss and water to make an odd concoction called hypertufa!

My next suggestion is to do what else … that’s right, find suppliers who sell via their online store. In doing a Google search today, I found EpoxyUSA.com carries poly fibers for a very reasonable price on the Fillers-Thickeners webpage. Note – I have no affiliation nor experience ordering from them. Perhaps you should contact them first to check shipping charges, etc. before you order. But I’ll wager a guess they are legitimate and probably fine to deal with.

Finding silica fume online seems to be more of a daunting task. I did find this link to the SilicaFume.org webpage. If nothing else, call them and see where you can purchase a small quantity online.

So, there you have it. I hope I’ve helped you locate two ingredients that do help make a difference in strengthening concrete and hypertufa recipes.

I received a very nice email recently from “Twigs Way”, the author of a new book about garden gnomes, asking if I’d be kind enough to review it and make a mention about it on my blog. I am always happy to try and accommodate these type of requests when I can, but only if I think my readers would be interested in the review of the product. In this case, I do think many of you would be interested in adding this informative book to your reading library.

This 50-page book has GREAT photos and wonderfully interesting information about gnome history. You’ll find facts tracing gnome history and their public appeal throughout time. I give this little book two thumbs up. Garden Gnomes: A History

Product Description

This is the intriguing story of garden gnomes and how they have come to reside in the flowerbeds of gardens across Britain. Originating in Europe, gnomes made the leap across the channel in the nineteenth century, where they were welcomed warmly by wealthy Brits who saw them as the must-have garden accessory. But the fortunes of the humble gnome were not to last, and they soon found themselves sneered at by serious gardeners. Turned away from fashionable gardens, the little gnomes found a friend in many a working class gardener, who adopted them in increasing numbers, and in a variety of humorous poses. Today, gnomes are as popular with the masses as ever, and this entertaining illustrated history will appeal to those who love, and hate, these small bearded characters.

About the Author

Twigs Way (yes – this is the author’s pseudonym) is a garden historian and writer, and the author of a number of books on garden subjects, including Crocodiles in the Fernery and Allotments. The author lives in Cambridge, England.

A delightful little book, indeed. Click here to learn more or order a copy now: Garden Gnomes: A History

I’ve got an informative page on my website about garden gnomes that caught the attention of an artistic gardening friend, Bill. He was kind enough to share the following story and photos with all of you that read my blog (I told him of course we’d all be interested! ).

So here’s what Bill had to say:

Hi Claudia: We’ve had this garden gnome kicking around our family for a few generations. He sat in front of my Grandmother’s house on Long Island for decades and then my parents hosted him in their yard in Bucks County, PA for about 10 years before I took possession (responsibility?) in 1996.

A few weeks ago (end of August, 2009) we had a quick but very violent thunderstorm that brought down a 100+ year old hickory tree in my backyard. It fell laying on other trees hovering precariously just two feet or so over my neighbor’s garage.

The only portion of the rotted roots that didn’t pull from the earth are underneath where my lucky little guy stood.

Had it fallen any other direction it would have certainly hit my house or my neighbor’s house which could have been catastrophic. Nobody was hurt nor was there any damage.

Do I believe that gnomes are good luck? You bet I do!

Enjoy the pictures…

Best,

Bill

P.S. BTW – I have since moved my “good luck” gnome to a safer vantage point where he can keep watch as the experts remove the tree!

Thank you Bill, for this very intriguing garden gnome story.

I received this email from Trisha asking me:

I have encountered a problem on my patio. After much research your website was the only one that made it clear there was a difference between concrete and cement.

We have a slab in our back yard (like a river rock slab), we wanted to skim it over with a smooth layer. We did so with what the hardware store told us to do it with, which was Portland cement. But it came out with lots of cracks and you can scratch your fingernail in it.

Is it because we used cement and not concrete?

My reply:

Hi Trisha:
First, thank you for telling me how you found my website. Glad my concrete-vs-cement page helped you.

Next … the easiest way to explain cement vs. concrete: cement is the dry, powdery product; once it is mixed with water and aggregate, it is called “concrete”. So no, your problem wasn’t in the terminology … your problem was a very ill-informed salesperson.

What a shame! You were given horribly wrong information!!! Even I know that you can’t put pure Portland cement onto a concrete (or rock) slab! And I’m no concrete expert by any means.

**First … I seriously suggest that you go back and confront the store manager about what happened because you’re not going to like my answer, meaning this isn’t going to be an easy “fix”, nor cheap. (Unless you clean off the crumbling Portland and forget about doing anything further.)

Let me tell you that the husband of a very close friend of mine was a professional concrete finisher and I picked his brain for you … and in a nutshell, here are some guidelines I can offer you:

1. Portland cement CANNOT be used all by itself in this situation! it needs some kind of aggregate added to it … so this was mistake #1;
2. You cannot just put a “skim coat” onto the slab … you need at the minimum a 2″ thick “layer” of concrete … so here was mistake #2;
3. The slab must be prepped with a “bonding agent” … this allows the new concrete to adhere to the slab … mistake #3;
4. There very well might be the need for the bonding agent to also be mixed into the new concrete;
5. The slab might possibly need to be wet down, before the bonding agent is applied;
6. You should use a 5-sack mix (called 5000 lb concrete);
7. The new concrete needs to be kept moist for 28-days – it will reach about 90% of it’s full cure (hardness) in that time frame – spray it down with your hose every day & night to dampen – this will help it to not crack and cure properly;
8. And then seal with a good quality concrete sealer after the 28 days.

And before any new concrete can be laid, you are going to have to THOROUGHLY clean/scrape off all the flaking Portland cement.

PLEASE NOTE: There could be other things to take into consideration before attempting this concrete project. I DO NOT know the particulars. There are many variables when it comes to concrete and the specific project.

***Bottom line … I suggest you call a reputable professional concrete company to add the smooth “layer” for you. Forms have to be built along the outside edges to hold in the concrete; expansion joints may need to be added into the wet concrete; depending on the size of the slab, interior wire “mesh” might need to be laid to help it not crack; the top must be finished off correctly to make it smooth, etc.

Does this overview of things-to-do help you? I hate to hear of problems like this. If nothing else, you deserve all your money back for whatever supplies and such that you bought for this project!

~~~

Trisha wrote back:

Thank you very much Claudia. Your info is extremely helpful!

We must be on the right track because yesterday we bought that same 5000 concrete mix and blended it with the Portland cement. It made a smooth finish like we wanted. It does not have the best appearance but it bonded and it is concrete. HA!

It is just a small 16 x 20 fenced in back patio, so anything done to the slab is better than what it looked like before.

Again thank you for all your info.

I received an email from Sue, who wanted to share with me this rather interesting bit of info:

You are my hero! I’ve been after the instructions on duplicating Little & Lewis spheres for a year!

I did some on my own and they exploded on my driveway (cold ball from house, 90 degree day= mess.) I just had to tell you about this recent disaster – maybe others can learn from this.

Sue

My reply:

Hi Sue:
Well, gee  Thank you for the compliment. That was very kind of you to take the time to say thanks!

Ummm … the only thing I am confused about is that you say you’ve been “after instructions” for a year to make hollow concrete spheres?? Did you search on the internet?? Because my hollow sphere articles have been available much longer than that. Maybe you mean you were thinking about it, because you just sent me into a panic that my Google rankings had dropped. But no, they are still at the very top! My rankings are:

how to make hollow concrete spheres — #1 and #2
how to make hollow concrete spheres — #1 and #2
how to make hypertufa hollow spheres — #1 and #2
concrete hollow spheres — #1 and #2
concrete spheres — #1
hypertufa spheres — #1 and #2

So you see, my instructional hollow sphere how-to pages are sitting up there at #1, waiting to be easily found.

Anyway … please know my information and how-tos should point you in the proper direction. And I am glad you found my site.

Wow, exploding concrete spheres!!  Now that’s a new one on me! If you had the video of the actual explosion, I’d be begging you to let me put it on my website so we could all learn from it, and maybe get a laugh, too?? (I’m not laughing at your mishap … just the mental vision of the sphere blowing up! ha ha)

But this incident goes to prove that temperatures CAN have a huge influence on the outcome of projects that use inflatable forms and Portland cement – both in the curing and otherwise, as your explosion proved! And this also proves that when making a hollow sphere the temperature of the air INSIDE the inflatable ball needs to be the same as the temperature in the area where you’ll be curing it.

Thanks again for sharing your concrete hollow sphere escapade!