Flower pot people

I have come up with a new idea. Actually, to be more precise, it is a new variation on an old idea. Over the years I have been working on a way to incorporate my grandchildren into my garden. I currently have 5 (all girls) with another one on the way (due in January). The schemes I have come up with so far have proved problematic and have not allowed for expansion.

The other day I was working (again) on a spilled flower pot idea. I thought to myself that a plain upturned pot would probably look a bit dull. Maybe I could brighten it up by sitting a flower pot figure on top of it. I then thought of other places close by that might benefit similarly.

My plan now is to get each grandchild to make a figure and personalise it. Its something we can do together over the winter. In the meantime I will have to learn how to do it.

On the Internet I have also seen some very cute flower pot animals. You never know. That might be a project for a later date.

G.

 

Sounds lovely Gary......this is what makes a garden more personal and complete.

 

My first attempt and it's ok. It was far too fiddly. I will keep playing until I come up with a system that's children friendly. I'm trying to do the whole thing without glue. I must admit, I'm not very good with knots.

The other problem I hadn't considered before I started was their potential durability. I can't see them standing up to the winds we have here.

G.

 

Your flower pot character looks very worried about about falling off the table

 

Brilliant!
For stability, you can always cheat and fix the bums wit a L-shaped bit of iron to a plank. Or just a small piece of wood attached to the bum and screwed to a plank.

What do you plan to plant the heads with? Designing the "hairstyles" will be great fun for the kids.

 

I had a play around and I came up with a model that was easier to make. I took it outside for a test run. It didn't look right. I have played around some more and have come up with some more designs. My favourite so far is this.

(Sorry . The picture didn't upload).

This model is smaller, better proportioned and can stand up on it's own. All I've got to do now is work out how to attach all the bits.

G.

 

@Selleri thanks. Yes they will probably need staking wherever they end up. The hair is indeed an important factor. The head pot is only 5.5" so the options are very limited. I'm guessing we would be looking at herbs or maybe succulents. I could in theory use trailing flowers in the summer.

Once I've worked out how to make the model I like I'm going to have to work out how to paint it. That's likely to get a bit messy. I'm better at planning than doing.

G.

 

One of my favs terra cotta pot captain Jack Sparrow by Pekes Artistry | Garden

I've found my very own Jack Sparrow flower pot.



G.

 

Hi @Marley Farley. Thanks for the link. Yes. I have spent the last few days trailing through flower pot pictures. They are all very impressive. I would never be able to decorate them like that.

It looks as though most of them use really small pots for the arms and legs. I have used the smallest pots I can get. That would suggest maybe that the body pots being used are bigger than mine. I have already decided against the bigger body.

I can't go any further for now. Next weekend is my annual birthday barbeque so it might be a few weeks before I can get back to it. I'm in no rush anyway so I dont mind leaving it for a while.

G.

 

But that will be great fun for your grandkids. Make sure the pots are clean before painting (state the obvious!). Use acrylic paint, maybe two coats. Might also be easier to do detail with a cotton bud rather than brush. You could also use fabrics, buttons, string or rafia for eyes, bow ties, moustaches etc. There gonna look great Jack!

 

@Marley Farley the pots I am currently using for the head and body are 12.7 cm. The smaller pots being used for the arms and legs are 7.5 cm. They are all from Wilko's cheap plastic range.

G.