You Did WHAT With My Bowling Ball?

My mom had given me the neatest gardening book with TONS of neat crafts for outside. There are so many things in the book that I want to make but I decided that the ladybug HAD to be the first thing on my list.

After begging some friends for their old bowling balls I went to work. Mom was visiting at the time so she went with me to get the rest of the supplies and we got the primer and base coat down before she had to leave (it was a busy weekend so we didn't get to do much...see "At Last, They Do" for more info on what we did that weekend). Later I painted on the black accents and to protect it just a little I thought I would spray some sealer on it. Well, I didn't look at which sealer I grabbed and ended up sparying my ladybug with a coat of matte finish sealer (FYI...IF you seal it, I recommend the gloss to match the silicon caulk - see upcoming comment) Then I added the antennae. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to remove the rubber inserts in the finger holes so the called-for black silicon caulk didn't hold. After pulling out the inserts and re-caulking the antennae to the bug I was stuck with a high-gloss spot where each of the antennae went into the "body" and then a matte finish on the rest of the bug. URG...

Okay, so my ladybug isn't perfect... that just means that it is a perfect reflection of its owner/crafter...me! I still love it though and am looking forward to making more for my friends and so this one won't be lonely. Additionally, there is a bumble bee that I'm going to do as well.

Watch out bowling balls of the world... Your destiny may be to become a bug!

The Addition of Tiki-Man

Just because I didn't post anything in April doesn't mean I was being lazy. In fact, quite the opposite was true.

We were very busy working in the pond garden and I must say that I'm extremely pleased at how well it is all coming together.

To watch over the fruits of our labors and to serve as a plant stand, I introduce to you - Tiki-Man! I was fortunate to receive Tiki-Man from someone who was tossing him out (code word: FREE) and every time I see him I smile. I especially like his "hair-do" which my DH notes makes him resemble the Chiquita Banana chick. HA! Of course, the time between when I took this photo of Tiki-Man and my entering this post, I've changed the pot on his "head". Same plants but a raffia rope type basket pot that looks much more "natural"?

I'm hoping to get some pix of the pond posted sometime this century. Keep watch!