A stake to the heart

How's this for an anniversary gift? A simple LOVE garden stake ready to plant in the yard. This was made for a client to give to her parents on their big day. This hand-cut metal garden stake stands over 5-feet tall. It will look great year-round, especially in late summer, surrounded by flowers. At the bottom, two sturdy prongs will hold the piece in place. The two small hearts record the year they were married. Enjoy!

Metal birdhouse off to a new nest

I think this is Birdhouse No. 6. These funky birdhouse sculptures are made from a variety of bits and pieces found around the shop. This one stands tall on skinny legs and chunky feet. The roof is sprinkled with old wrenches, plumbing parts and nuts and bolts. Blue and green marbles shine as eyes. On the back is a door to access the inside. Now, all you have to do is wait for a feathered friend to make it a home.

Casting a shadow on a sunny afternoon.

The birdhouse hiding in the tallgrass prairie.

Last night, I used the birdhouse in the center of a table display at the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce gala. It was a good chance to promote the upcoming GardenWalk Lee's Summit garden tour this summer.

Deck railing ready to shine

Finally, took some photos of a recent deck railing project. For starters, the deck was a beautiful place to build something. Freshly built onto the rear of a great little Tudor-style home. The homeowners requested a simple design accented by a centerpiece panel. The panel displays a stylized tree silhouette. The entire railing is made from steel and welded together. All of this makes for a sturdy and long-lasting barrier. A coat of black enamel paint covers the railing. Here is to many great years outside enjoying the view!

There are two openings along the deck.

The twin tree silhouettes were hand-cut from steel and welded into the railing frame.

Window security cages are installed

Spent the last couple of days finishing the Window Cage project. This was an interesting problem to solve. The client wanted something to address the issue of covering the window wells at a 1940s-era house. Security, good design and practicality were crucial. Also, access for the family cat and a place to climb out in an emergency were key. Each cage is approximately 3 feet deep by 6 feet wide. Plus, the angle of each is different because of the grade around the house. Plexiglass panels will cover each side. This will prevent leaves and other yard debris to gather in the wells.

This cage has a hinged hatch that can be opened. But most of the time it will be locked.

The top of each cage has a steel silhouette of a cardinal. Each window structure is made from 1/2 inch steel bar and 1 inch steel tube. It is all covered in black enamel paint.

A table full of memories

A couple of weeks ago, I finished working on a special project. A customer had a great idea to blend some family farm relics into a modern table. The result was a really cool solution. This narrow table incorporates steel, glass and wood. I built the steel frame using a simple design to show off the artifacts. The perforated, wrinkled and rusty metal piece hangs under the glass top. It brings back memories of a growing up on a farm. The metal was remembered as a place where a father sat to change his boots during a daily round of chores. The lower shelf uses wood rescued from a decaying barn on the property. All of these pieces were integrated into a useful table. A great way to display family history in a practical setting!

Over the years, a tree grew up into the metal piece. Left behind is a wonderful burl, which adds even more character to the table.

A glass top was used to reveal the floating metal piece. The stout metal table frame is coated in a glossy black enamel paint.

The bottom shelf will make a useful spot for other items. Or left alone to show off the barn wood.