Todays adventure started off with a simple walk through an orchard to an old brush pile. I was disappointed in walking around the pile, for at first it looked like their would be nothing for me to see, but I was wrong. There upon the ground was a sad old musty dried gourd. I don’t know how long it had lain there, and it had been very badly damaged, with one end smashed completely off, too boot. However, I was immediately drawn to it and thought I would glean it and see what I could do with it?! Upon closer inspection I found it still very sound. It only wanted a good cleaning, which I was glad to do. A toothbrush and wet baking soda worked wonders. I decided I didn’t want it looking too pristine.
My first thought upon my arrival home was that it would make a very fun and funky doll. I pondered on ways and styles for hours, and even dreamt about it. A few days later I took myself off to the woods with my son, for the spring flowers were out, and many of the trails were free of snow, and the forest was beckoning. We had a grand time, and I once again was reminded of my Oakeyoon and the magic of that moment, when he and his house all came together.
With that in mind, upon my arrival back home I proceeded to build another tree house from one of my prior gleaned pear pruning’s, and the gourd. I do apologize here, for I am the worst at getting involved with a project and forgetting everything else around me, including the need to take pictures, so other than a few snaps of the gourd, everything else is after completion.
Here is the old dried out gourd, after I cleaned it up. You can see by the last picture that I had begun to cut the bottom off of it. I did that and cleaned out the insides too. It isn't much to look at, at this stage is it?! But just you wait and see what's next!
It's truly amazing what a bit of bark, water tumbled sticks, and some fungi can do. Even the old mold spots look like a little door and a window. Woodland gleanings make up all of it and I couldn't be happier. Here is the front, the fungi make a perfect set of steps to approach the door.
The addition of an oak gall and a bit of bark to the bare branch on the left gives it an interesting touch.
As we move around the house more fungi, moss, and bark come into view, with the oak gall clearly seen front and center. A dried hazelnut still in its sheath dangles form the very end of the branch. Lots of woodland creatures love nuts of this kind, so I was lucky to get it.
Don't you think this has turned into the loveliest funkiest forest dwelling?! I love it! The bit of bark and moss and lichen make the perfect roof.
On we go around the house, seeing new vista's and new details. What creature will come to live here, we ask ourselves? Will it be another Oakeyoon, or something even stranger? Time will tell!
I was so happy with the twigs, which were already on the pear tree pruning. All I added was a bit of tiny bark and some hazelnuts, and even this dried old pear leaf which I found at the bottom of my gleanings box.
Here's a closer shot of the fungi at the front door and gourd itself. I just love that if this was actually in the woods it would blend right in. The alder cones on the roof just balanced everything very nicely and as I added each new piece it just filled me with delight.
Here it is in all of its finished glory. Another fun project that just took me out of this world into the realms of magic and mystery somewhere in a forest glade.
I had barely sat it down tho, when the Totoro next door began plaguing me as to who his new neighbors might be?! As of this moment I haven't the foggiest idea.
He began grumbling about empty houses being a nuisance, and soon Squirble the Oakeyoon, was out putting his two bits worth in. The chatter those two made was near bedlam. Seriously, you'd thought I was bringing down the whole neighborhood or something.
To calm them both down, I invited the Spooly sisters to come over and house sit. Here is Maude, she is a little bats about bats, so she ought to fit right in.
Here is a closer view of Maude, you can just see Buzz the bumblebee sitting in the fungi to her left, because of course he had to get in on the action. Nothing, but nothing happens in the neighborhood that he doesn't know about.
And here is Maude's sister, Mathilde. Both of these two can keep up their own level of lively chatter, so they should do just fine.
Here they all are, for better or for worse. Of course the sisters may not be permanent residents, but they do add a bit of color and pizazz to the occasion, so they have been accepted into the neighborhood. Which is a good thing because I was nearly at my wits end! Pleasing whimsical creatures can be very tiring.
I hope you have enjoyed this bit of fun and fantasy in woodland creation. I only make things as the mood comes upon me and this old gourd just brought out all kinds of creative idea's. It makes me want to grow gourds just to see what other fun and funky things I might make?!
I hope all of you are enjoying peace and rest and the blessings of God, who loves us all. Have a lovely day!
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