Making Concrete Garden Ornaments (Paperback)

by Sherri Warner Hunter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Decorated concrete figures have recently moved out of the realm of eccentric folk art and roadside religious "grottoes" into mainstream yards and gardens. Here are projects by several designers for making mosaic stepping stones, birdbaths, carved planters, and art figures. The projects are grouped by skill level and offer step-by-step instructions on how to mix concrete, make molds, and embed mosaics. The finished products are heavy, year-round installations intended to stay where they are placed. This is a good, practical book for public library craft and garden collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
A celebrated teacher has gathered the tried-and-true techniques used by sculptors and folk artists, and tailored them for low-tech surroundings. Work with molds; form over armatures; model or carve with concrete; and treat concrete surfaces with mosaics, embedded objects, incising, and coloring. For dazzling outdoor embellishments, craft a Birdbath, Little Lady Fountain, and more. Twenty-five projects in all.


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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (May 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579903185
• ISBN-13: 978-1579903183
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,842 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Garden Furnishings
  #13 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Masonry
  #36 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Sculpture

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for girly girls!, October 5, 2001

By	edfan "edfan" (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating with Concrete: Yard Art, Sculpture and Garden Projects (Hardcover)

I've purchased a lot of concrete books lately. The techie types especially, from ponderously named Institutes of Concrete Poobahs and Frou Frou Architecture publishers. THIS is the book that puts them all to shame.

It isn't just for making artsy crafty things. If you want to pour a concrete sidewalk or make dog proof furniture or dress up the patio in a truly boring condo - buy this book and study it. Read it with an eye toward using it as a permanent reference work and lab manual as well as inspiration resource. (If you've gone to university lately, you'll know this is an amazingly low cost textbook - filled with color pictures, line drawings and detailed instructions that go way beyond even the best lecture.) From forming and construction to finishing techniques, this book has everything needed to master concrete work in a residential setting.

The raw material is dirt cheap. DIRT CHEAP. You can afford to give yourself an intensive course in concrete handling for less than $$$, including the book itself and a bunch of projects. By the time you've made the acquaintance of just a few styles of Quikrete at Home Depot, you WILL be able to cast your own concrete countertops in the new house. No kidding.

86 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Won't Be Disappointed!, February 12, 2002

By	Jodie Davis (Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating with Concrete: Yard Art, Sculpture and Garden Projects (Hardcover)

As the author of over a dozen crafts books I am often disappointed with how-to books that lack depth and breadth of ideas. Not this one! Not just a project book, the author provides lots of fodder for working out your own ideas. Many methods, mixes, and options for going about working with concrete are explained clearly. And the projects themselves range from beignner to much more advanced. I have worked with hypertufa and was looking for more inspiration and guidance in how I could take working with concrete further. This is it!
This book will excite you and challange you as much as you wish to be challanged. What amazing stuff one can do with concrete! I'm off to Home Depot.

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent ideas, July 24, 2001

By	Melissa "pawshere2" (Hamilton, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating with Concrete: Yard Art, Sculpture and Garden Projects (Hardcover)

Last year I made a birdbath, several troughs and some plaques with carved New Grange spirals on them with a hypertufa mixture I played around with. When I saw this book I took a chance and ordered it despite cringing at the Canadian currency exchange rate. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! The instructions for the projects, the techniques and the huge array of special recipes for concrete mixes (depending on your project) are great. I am interested in making some small sculptures this year and I was amazed that you could create a mix that can be molded like plasticene. I can also hardly wait to try sandcasting another birdbath basin and imbedding some cut glass into it. If you love your garden and are at all creative (or even if you're not!) get this book and start to play. Have a concrete party! Garden sculpture you create with your own hands and then display (much to the awe of any visitors) is incredibly rewarding. Thank you Sherri for a wonderful addition to my library.