Coastline Treasures

Metal yard art comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  So, how do you know which to pick?  Brightly colored metals will add life to your garden while softer colored metals will seem more like silhouettes.  Copper-metal yard art is also very common.  Made to look more natural and rusted, copper art will provide a more natural and look to your garden.  The copper will also catch the sunlight and give your garden a beautiful and vibrant glow.

When choosing metal yard art you must choose between formal and informal styles.  Formal art would be that which you purchase from a manufacturer and has a proper finish.  Informal art is for those who want to add a more personal touch to their garden.  While it can be purchased, informal art is more often hand made from recycled materials.  Whichever you chose, metal yard art is a great addition to any garden.

There have been some pretty fantastic ships in world history.  Some of them are old, giant sail boats, like the Mayflower.  Others are fully furnished leisure vessels, like the Titanic.  But no matter the type or era of the ship, each is equally as magnificent.

Because of their magnificence, hobby shop keepers and toy makers have created replicas of many of these ships.  These wooden model ships have brought joy and bonding time to children and families everywhere.  There are even ships that are sea worthy.  If you enjoy sailing, find a model ship you can take to a pool or lake and sail around.  Wooden model ships are a great way to make play time learning time.

Everyone knows the lovable name Shamu.  Black and white has never been two more popular colors then when associated with that killer whale.  But, did you know that Shamu isn’t a whale at all?  He is rather the largest form of dolphin.  Also known as Orcas, this species of dolphin can measure in at thirty feet in length and weigh up to ten tons!  There are actually close to forty different species of dolphins and are found all over the world.

Dolphins are also protectors of the ocean.  They are the only animal that will stand up to the largest predator in the ocean, the shark.  And because of it, the dolphin is the shark’s only enemy.  Dolphin figurines are a classic way of bringing these magnificent creatures into your home.

Loving lighthouses from a distance is great but what about up close?  You can have your very own lighthouse in a day.  Seem impossible?  Not with the right materials, tools, and some patience.  Gather the items that you will need; sheet metal, either aluminum or steel, wood, screws, nails, hardwire cloth, and an outdoor fixture. Cut two wood round pieces; one 6 inches in diameter for the top, and one 12 inches in diameter for the bottom, both with a ¾ inch hole in the middle.  Take the sheet metal and carefully bend the metal curving it to fit the two wooden rounds.  Trim the excess metal and screw into place.  Make a 16 inch base with a 20 inch top securing the lighthouse on top.  Now make a 10 inch wood round with a ¾ inch hole in the center.  Fasten the 10 inch wood round to the top of the lighthouse screwing in place.  You are ready to paint.  Do a little research and paint it to match your favorite lighthouse.

Once painted, it is ready for the final touches.  Cut a 2 inch by 24 inch piece from ¼ inch hardware cloth and attach it around the edges of the 10 inch wood round top.  This represents the railing around the balcony of the lighthouse.  Using a standard plastic or ceramic utility light socket, prepare the electrical cords and run the wire through the ¾ inch holes drilled in the wood rounds.  Attach an outdoor fixture that has a top, to act as the roof of the lighthouse.  Once completed, set in place and build around the base with brick, stones, dirt or the like to cover the base and add stability.  For more detailed instructions, go to Ubuilder.com.  Now sit back and enjoy your very own lighthouse décor.

If you want to add style to your backyard and encourage birds to nest. Then fully functioning decorative birdhouses are the right choice for you. These birdhouses attract cavity dwellers. The following features are essential when choosing your birdhouse: 

• Good ventilation and drainage
• NO perch by the entrance because it encourages predators
• Roof that is slanted to shed rain and extends well over the entrance hole for protection from rain and sun.
• Has a door, roof, or side wall that can easily be opened to clean out the nest box.
• Keep in mind that some birds avoid bright colors because it makes them a target to predators

To ensure birds use your birdhouse the entrance hole size and the height of the birdhouse needs to be considered.

My mom and I share a favorite holiday, Christmas.  We both love the festivities, the cheer, the decorations, and the holiday’s spirit.  That is why my mom developed a special tradition for just us two.  Each year since I was five, I received a special plate at Christmas that has a holiday depiction on it, as well as the year.  But these plates are not to be eaten off of; they are solely for decoration.

Decorative wall plates are one way to spice up a living room, dining room, or kitchen.  There are ones specifically designed for different holidays and others are year-round.  Too pretty to eat off of; these plates look gorgeous at any time.  I will proudly display my holiday plates each Christmas season to commemorate all those years, and share that special tradition between my mom and me with others.

Welcome signs are one of the first things that people notice when arriving to a new place, whether it be a new state, city, or home.  Even our country has a unique welcome sign; the Statue of Liberty welcomes all immigrants to our shores.  The Las Vegas welcome sign is notorious for its bright lights.  These big signs are a great way to welcome many people.

But welcome signs can be simple as well.  They are designed to be inviting and give a warm feeling to a new place.  In homes, they are found hanging from doors and walls, stuck in the ground along walk ways, or put out as mats.  Everyone feels more comfortable when they are welcomed even before the host greets them.

Each room in a house has a name.  There is the bedroom, the kitchen, the family room, etc.  And each of these rooms is decorated to individual taste, making them unique and homey.  A garden is no exception.  The flowers that are planted there, the birds that come to visit, and what one does in their garden is completely unique, making no two gardens the same. 

And just as each room in a home is decorated differently, a garden is decorated too.  When picking out furniture for the home, taste, quality, and personal preference are taken into account.  Garden furniture is no exception.  Finding the right furniture for your garden’s style is essential.  And once you have great furniture, the garden is a perfect place to relax and spend a lazy afternoon.

Birdhouses are more than just fun decorative garden structures.  They provide nesting places for many different kinds of song birds.  And in some cases, multiple families of birds will live in one bird house when the house is big enough.  Because there is enough room, the birds do not get territorial, and peacefully coexist in the home.  Never heard of a bird apartment had you?  But actually the design of these larger birdhouses is the same as the smaller ones; they still have, usually, only one entrance.  The difference is that there are multiple chambers within the house.

But what is the difference between a traditional birdhouse with four walls and a roof and a cutely designed one, like a beach birdhouse?  Well, to a bird, nothing.  They cannot tell the difference between one that has been intricately designed and a plain one.  But for you, the difference is great.  A designed birdhouse provides a fun and interesting addition to your garden and makes a great decoration.  Then, everyone wins.  You get a cute new garden feature, and the birds get a warm place to live.

Ever wonder how one gets a model ship into a bottle?  It seems impossible, like one of those things meant to trick you.  Or, maybe the glass is blown around the ship?  Amazingly, though, its not as impossible as it seems, just difficult and meticulous.  With care and precision you could make intricate nautical décor a weekend project.

The idea is to find a bottle that is big enough to get the pieces in individually.  Before putting any of the pieces of the ship into the bottle, build the hull, the masts, and the sails.  Then, using tools, as well as putty and hinges for support, the ship is carefully constructed inside of the bottle.  Ship-in-a-bottle kits are available in stores and hobby shops for your enjoyment.