Five years ago, my wife found a beautiful Female Statue (Danza Del Flori by Giorgio Ceragioli) and knowing how much she loves statues and seeing the wonderful job she’s done surrounding our Home and Garden with relaxing zen sculptures, I agreed to get it for her. We paid for it and as we were about to load it into the back of the car, it collapsed and broke to pieces. After picking up all the pieces, we returned home with the promise to reconstruct it in the next following months. So days turned to weeks which turned to months and years went by. About three years ago, I glue some of the major pieces, but that was all about it. Finally on Friday, I decided to resume the restoration process.
Female Statue Reconstruction (Danza Del Flori by Giorgio Ceragioli).
Materials/Tools Needed:
Brushes
DAP Cement filler
Clear Tape
Paper
Scissors
Hacksaw with metal-cutting blade
Putty knife
Wire brush
Loctite Epoxy Resin
Dremel
Diamond bits
How to proceed:
Clean the pieces you plan to glue.
I used Loctite Epoxy Resin which sets in 5 minutes to glue it together. It holds up to 3,000 Psi and worked for my statue.
I position the pieces and check that they fit together. I use clear packaging tape to hold the pieces together before gluing them.
Once I had a big section done it gets added to the overall pieces which is where I am currently.
The arms will be the last to be added and then I will fill in the cracks using DAP Cement filler.
Once the pieces have been glued and filled in I will spray paint the statue and place it at a location of our choice.
Today has been a busy day for us and quite rewarding too.
While visiting Linda Marie’s Enchanted Treasures yesterday, I spotted a gorgeous set of Terracotta Pots/Planters which I ended up purchasing (amongst other things). Beautiful hand made clay pots with a flat back to rest neatly against a wall or fence. Each wall pot has two holes in the back for hanging and one more at the base for draining. They are a wonderful choice for growing trailing plants, but I am sure they would look as lovely just the way they are without any greenery in them. The simple green bow accent add charm to the Planters.
Terracotta Wall Pot Planters.Terracotta Wall Pot Planters.
Before the sun set down yesterday, we installed and buried the last section of drip system needed for the new additions to the backyard. Plants do well on a timed watering schedule as opposed to manual watering (since it can vary on the individual’s personal schedule). Now that this project has been completed, we will move on to other partially started projects on the list. Cutting down the Sweet Almond Tree doesn’t sound bad, either.
Ground Squirrel standing on its hind legs.
I have come to love the Sweet Almond Tree growing in one corner of my front yard. I love the sight of its bareness in the Fall after all the leaves have fallen. I love watching those tiny bud formations turn into delicate white and pink flowers as early as late Winter. Thanks to a few reluctant ground Squirrels, we will cut down the tree. Fencing the backyard and securing openings around the wooden fence are not enough to keep them away from the tree. The depth and amount of holes they dig on a consistent basis is overwhelming to say the least. As much as it hurts me to part with the tree, I know I will gain peace of mind and more time to invest in the Family.
On a much happier note, I did some gardening today. Keeping the kids busy in the pool and getting my hands dirty (uninterrupted) put a smile on my face. To reduce the amount of Rose bushes I have in my front yard, I dug out a couple which I transplanted to an ideal location in the backyard. Last month I relocated a couple and they are thriving in their new location. As you know, Roses are one of the toughest plants around and with proper preparation, your chances for a successful transplant will be high regardless of the time of year (learn more).
I am so grateful for my huge yard with its endless possibilities and opportunities. Living and Gardening in the High Desert is quite challenging and so rewarding. My gardening success is mainly attributed to choosing the right plants for my garden and more important, the right plants for my zone. I lovingly tend to them as I would with any other living thing. One of my goals is to surround my garden with a lot more Native Plants.
By now some of you must have noticed our fondness for Primitive Decor. I love the simplicity and uniqueness of Primitive pieces. I love how charming a space looks and feels when all the right pieces come together. Our Backyard holds a lot of handmade Primitive pieces, all of which I build myself.
In April we made a Garden Sign after gathering all the necessary materials.
The Piece of plank I used was from an old wood platform on which a metal storage shed stood. It was already broken when we found it while dismantling the shed. I knew it would someday come handy and I set it aside.
Materials/Tools Needed
Step by step
Wood Chop Saw
Scrap/Reclaimed Wood
Nails/screws
Drill, Drill-bits
Letter Stencils
Spray Paint
Mini Garden Tool
Swing Hook Kit
Decide on the size of your Sign
Measure and cut your wood
Using your stencils, spray paint your message on the wood
Place your Fork on the wood and drill two holes on each side of the Fork
Loop a wire or cable/zip tie around it to secure the Fork
Pre-drill and insert the hooks into the woods top frame
Attach hooks to the hanging location and hang your sign
‘Primitive Charm’ Garden Sign.
For this project, I used Permatex® Copper Spray-A-Gasket® Hi Temp Adhesive Sealant for the letters. The main reason was that regular paint/spray paint was getting absorbed by the wood. It turned out that Copper Spray-A-Gasket fills minor surface irregularities, hot spots, surface imperfections, can withstand high temperatures and resist fluids which in this case was perfect for my outdoors sign.
After building the Sign, we found a Vintage Hand Fork while visiting Linda Marie’s Enchanted Treasures. The Vintage Garden Hand Fork is entirely made of metal. The Fork originally had a weathered yellow patina color as well as some wear and surface rust. To preserve its rustic feel, I sanded it a little, applied some clear coat on it for a shinning finish and to protect it from the elements. I think it complements the sign beautifully.
I didn’t think I would step outside today until I stood next to one of my bedroom windows (facing the backyard) and saw this gorgeous plant in bloom with magnificent orange flowers and its tall stalks. I love Gladiolas and ‘Peter Pears’ is one of my favorites.
Gladiolus ‘Peter Pears’.Gladiolus ‘Peter Pears’.
Interested in the Fairy and Deer Friend Shadow Garden Stake? Get yours from Collections Etc.
Last weekend, I walked into a Vintage store and was taken aback by the use of an old box spring. There were two actually; one was used as a wall accent and the other as a ceiling light.
That got me thinking about the endless possibilities of an old box spring mattress: holders, storage, wall accent and decor, gates and fences, trellises, garden swings, yard arts, centerpieces, ceiling light fixtures, room dividers, and so much more.
By EPEngineer
