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Post by andy on Apr 13, 2007 7:02:01 GMT
Love em or hate em ?
I set up a business a few years ago making concrete garden ornaments. I had some incredible moulds....not just a few garden gnomes, but some of the most amaizing ornaments you'll ever see.....lots of Japanese temples and pagodas, buddahs, gargoyles, ugly and happy stones, birdbaths, easter island heads, planters plus loads of fictional and true to life animals.
Unfortunately, a bad back and lack of space to work forced me to quit the project before it really got going.
I have a few left that i kept....the japanese stuff and the gargoyles but that's it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2007 7:22:31 GMT
Why don't you post some photo's of them Andy  |
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Post by andy on Apr 13, 2007 8:19:21 GMT
Okays. Some of the ornaments need repainting but here's the ones i have left that i made....i gave hundreds away to neighbours because i just didn't have the room. Easter Island heads around the front pond  Gargoyles over the front door canopy  Temple in red (japanese colour of good luck) and buddah  Another temple  Pagoda....needs painting again. 30" high and in 8 pieces.  Japanese "seasons" wall plaques.....there is a spring and summer too  Happy stone  Ugly stones  |
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 13, 2007 9:51:45 GMT
Cool Andy, I particularly like the Ugly Stones. That last one has frown line just like mine ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 13, 2007 12:39:47 GMT
OK here are a few of my more traditional garden ornaments and why they are special to me, may have a few quirky odd ones up my sleeve though as well so watch this space ;D The Loving Couple I just couldn't resist them they looked soooo cute ;D  More Frogs This frog is one of a pair and shares the birds water trough. The trough is and old Jam making pan and I used to use it to feed my horse with years ago, unfortunatly it got flatten by a tractor so got recycled for the birds to drink from.  It's partner sits at the other sde of the shed He's on an old fancy stone which was saved years ago when some old houses were demolished, way before my time. An elderly lady on the village gave them to me  Mummy Pig and her babies usually surrounded by pots so you don't see the bricks they sit on.  The Children and the Fairy that play in the Hosta and Fern border  The Blue Birds Bought on a GC shopping trip by a very special friend  The Holiday abroad buy Guess we all have something similar, I bought two but still haven't put lights behind them   Well thats my traditional garden ornanments ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2007 13:29:51 GMT
They are brilliant Andy  Pity you don't still make them, as I would have placed an order with you ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2007 17:59:07 GMT
Andy, these are lovely especially the temples - I'm normally not a fan of garden ornaments but would definitely buy one of these ... cheers ...
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Post by Plocket on Apr 13, 2007 18:42:16 GMT
I love garden ornaments. I'll be honest and say that some of yours aren't to my taste Andy, but you've got something to suit everyone there and although it must have been hard work, it's a shame that you don't make them any more.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Apr 13, 2007 19:04:35 GMT
Lovely Andy. I think that ornaments can enhance a garden...I have a concrete 'ammonite' that I love...this photo was taken when it was new, it's quite grubby now...'seasoned' ;D  I also have a couple of 'green man' ornaments...this one is in the back of me 'bus-shelter-gazebo'...not a brilliant photo....  |
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Post by isabella on Apr 13, 2007 20:32:01 GMT
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Post by Barbara on Apr 14, 2007 10:38:44 GMT
i've got a tortoise,
and some frogs that hang off the side of pots,
i love those fairies.
and i've got a sundial with a fishing boy in it, but his rod snapped off so i dont know what time it is .
barbara
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2007 22:26:46 GMT
I like to see ornaments but i'm not too good at choosing what should be in the garden. I have a feeling you've got to be pretty bold to get it right.
I love those Easter islands ornaments....may be once i have a mature garden i can have some peeking out from behind the greenery.
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 15, 2007 6:59:47 GMT
We all have different tastes Ziggywigs and what one person likes another may hate. It's all about what the object means to you, I have some bits that decorate my garden that maybe other people would chuck in the bin ;D To me Garden ornaments don't need to be bought items they can just be any old thing that you particulary like. Some rusty old garden tools for a start ;D I like them, found them in the garden and thats were they live. I know I'm mad    |
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Post by andy on Apr 15, 2007 7:07:50 GMT
I think the secret with ornaments is to either use them as focal points....eg a statue, birdbath or weather vane or to have them themes eg have all japanese stuff or various fairies or gargoyles dotted round the garden.
One thing i used to have was a considderable amount of moulds for Meercats. These ranges from very tall 15" models right down to loads of 4" babies. They were all in the typical meercat standing position and a metal spike was insterted in the base so they could be fixed in the garden.
A group of these in a wildlife area among some reasonably long grass looked absolutely awesome.
I rekon that in the end, i had 750 different moulds from all the farmyard and jungle animals you can think of to wall blocks and paving slabs. I had a superb outdoor chess set plus loads of wall plaques, bird feeders and yes....even some gnomes ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 15, 2007 8:23:34 GMT
Oh no Andy you didn't have Gnomes  ;D different tastes ay, I think they can looks nice but never in my garden, well I suppose you should never say never I'm quite warming to the Gargoyle on the right over your front door canopy and can imagine one lurking in my garden and maybe the first Ugly Face. And Meercats I just love Nice we all have such different tastes |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 15, 2007 13:26:38 GMT
Can't remember if I've posted this before... but it has followed me around 4 houses over 20 years now (and it's a bugger to shift), just in case it comes in handy. Well, that and the fact that to scrap it would be a crime...  OM. |
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Post by isabella on Apr 15, 2007 15:17:23 GMT
Chuckles - I love your old garden tools OM - What is it? Looks interesting!  |
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Post by Plocket on Apr 15, 2007 18:04:51 GMT
Oh I love that bit of machinery OM - some sort of press, but what for?
I've got two lovely old shackles that Margi gave me - I must take a photo of them for you, but I think they are big enough to be nautical.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 15, 2007 18:16:35 GMT
Isabella, Plocket - its a cheese press, an example of EU cooperation from the late 1800's... Ransomes made ploughs over here, but not cheese presses, so they got an agent in Germany who did - they sold Ransomes ploughs over there, Ransomes had the UK distribution on Ahlborn cheesepresses. There was one in a background shot of one of Rick Stein's "Food Heros" last week... Inspired by this thread I finally got this installed today in a little box enclosure: Shaun the Sheep Escaping  The box was 'scrumped' from a boxwood in Sussex as tiny seedlings a few years ago. May be the only true native box I'm likely to grow as it mainly comes in from Holland these days... OM. |
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Post by lottielady on Apr 15, 2007 18:19:40 GMT
OM that's brilliant! and I love the cheese press too!  LLx |
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Post by Plocket on Apr 16, 2007 10:15:21 GMT
I just love the sheep, and the cheese press. I'm going to go and take a photo of my shackles now..... ;D
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Post by Plocket on Apr 16, 2007 10:40:25 GMT
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 16, 2007 11:50:07 GMT
I just love the variety of stuff that people have in there garden. We are all so different here's a couple more from my odd selection  The butchers chopper now why have a kept that  More old tools  My Ashtray hung on an old metal gutter bracket that I found in the garden  I know I'm mad and OM will give me stick for all my odd items, go on OM do your worst ;D ;D |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 16, 2007 12:51:17 GMT
Nooooo - I'm pleased appreciation of the true value of 'stock' and 'curios' is alive, well, and to be found elsewhere... quite reminds me of home...
Haven't got any surplus galvanised watering cans, have you?
OM.
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 16, 2007 13:41:18 GMT
Nooooo - I'm pleased appreciation of the true value of 'stock' and 'curios' is alive, well, and to be found elsewhere... quite reminds me of home... Haven't got any surplus galvanised watering cans, have you? OM. Your so right OM but I'm sure I'm going to end up being one of those old ladies of the village that they say is an old witch and has a garden full odd things. I prefer to call them curios and I wouldn't be without them for the world Now galvanised you say, sorry no spares I'm afraid. However between you and me I've seen a collection of lovely galvanised items on a certain ladies photo's who lives in the same part of the world as you The bucket and watering can Have a lovely big bucket somewhere but can I find it the Sunflower face is years old and I can't dump him, he keeps an eye out for unwanted visitors ;D you'll also notice and old door latch, the draft door from one of the old fire ranges and I'm not sure what the thing above the sunflower face is any ideas ?   The Coal Shuttle and Bath Both Chuckles salvage, they had been sentenced to the local tip   |
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Post by jean on Apr 27, 2007 11:18:46 GMT
I've been feeling a bit fed up this week after hurting my back and not being able to do much. My youngest daughter posted me a pressie and cheered me up no end.  I suppose he/she will need a name, any suggestions  |
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 27, 2007 12:54:10 GMT
Ooooh that's lovely JL, call it Porky or is that too obviuos how about Pinky or Perky If it had a mate then you would have Pinky and Perky ;D Which reminds me I have Hare somewhere Forgot to mention I have an old Milk churn in the garden too, still in it's original condition as in not painted up. |
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Post by isabella on Apr 27, 2007 14:05:03 GMT
I love this thread It all adds character to a garden,doesn't it |
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Post by MamIDdau on Apr 27, 2007 19:28:09 GMT
and i've got a sundial with a fishing boy in it, but his rod snapped off so i dont know what time it is . barbara Oh dear... LOL <tries to stop sniggering> My sister kept buying my mum fairy ornaments for the garden and my mum hates them. Some of them look like something you'd put on a grave... I've got no ornaments in my garden because I'm concentrating on the plants although I have a bird bath (the one we got for our birthdays) My mum has a cat, rabbit and a Man City fella who whenever city lost got relegated further down the garden. At one point he was nearly behind the shed... |
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Post by Chuckles on May 19, 2007 7:56:28 GMT
I wanted to bring this home from Portugal for the gdn. Alas too big to get in my case. I know of at least two people on here that would probably love it in thier gdn as well and have the room too ;D OM and DB  |
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