Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Draped Hypertufa Planters, Draping Fabric With a Cement Mixture


how to planters cement draped hypertufa, concrete masonry, container gardening, diy, gardening

My recipe that I had used for this project is heavy on the cement. And by that I mean that I use a lot more cement than I would in a regular hypertufa trough recipe.
I would use
1 part Portland cement (I was using a 2 qt pitcher)
1/4 part of peat ( about 1 pint)
a handful of vermiculite and mortar mix depending on how much you want it to be textured
water, about a 2 qt pitcher as above added slowly as you get it into a slurry or gravy
Cut the fabric into a circle, an oval, or even use it as a rectangle or square. Dampen it and hang it from your "tower." This will be the support that you hang it on to dry. If you want the pointed edges, be sure your support is tall enough to allow them to drape/hang.
Your tower is your support for the project as it dries. I used a bar stool for my first one. You can use a column of paint cans. or even a lamp shade. (NO, the lamp shade didn't work for me.)
It must be something sturdy to allow your fabric to "drape" and not let the ends of the wet fabric touch to floor. It will change the look of your project if the ends of the fabric touch the floor/table.
Cover your tower in plastic! The piece is a little pliable when you attempt to get it off, but it was a struggle with that bar stool. You don't want your piece to cement itself to the tower.
Check out how it hangs or "drapes" and pull it to one side or the other until you have a vision of what you like. The large one pictured at the top of the post was made from an oval cut about 26" by 39". ( I had earlier made it bigger, but decided I just couldn't handle fabric cut that big. It was a good decision, because that sucker is HEAVY after soaking it in cement gravy.
Once it is all mixed, and you have a consistency like meat gravy, not breakfast gravy ( I'm a country girl), put the whole piece of cloth into your mix and roll it around until it is all soaked with cement on both sides.
Wear gloves of course. I had to pick the mix up and smoosh it into the fabric on both sides, being sure to get it into folds. Did I lie when I said it was MESSY?
**Be sure to mix up enough slurry to get it all wet. Depending on the size of your fabric piece, you may need to double the recipe. If you have leftovers, have a few small cloths ready to drape over a butter dish or bowl, or just pour it into those dishes to make feet for a trough.
When you are draping it over your tower, it is easy to pull and adjust until you get the look that pleases you.
(BTW, I made the biggest mess in the garage floor. Oh my! But when it dries, you can scrape it off and the ShopVac takes care of it. Whew!)
I left my creation for 2 nights in a cold garage covered with a plastic garbage bag, then pulled it off the bar stool tower support with difficulty. It is slightly pliable at this point, but did harden after the next step. I put it back into the garbage bag and left it for 24 hours.
**Important Note: Some sources on the internet speak of setting it to dry in the sun. My advice here is NOT to put it in the sun, but in a shady area and be SURE IT IS COVERED BY A PLASTIC BAG. This is what effects the cure!
After yours is fully cured and hard, you may drill a hole in it with your drill that you use to put a hole in the regular trough. Since it is very thin, it drills easily. No problem.
If you want to use it as a container in which to set a plastic pot of annuals or other flowers or plants, that is fine too.

http://www.hometalk.com/4154962/how-to-planters-cement-draped-hypertufa

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Class, Style

Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Photo by Philippe Pottier 1955 for Dior
Dress Dior
dress

Fine Looook

Perfect.
Brown smokey eye + red lips!    Eyes:  Liner: Teddy - MAC    Lips:  Red Russian - MAC
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe Pencil Drawing
Marilyn

Fashion fades, Style remains

Coco Chanel
Coco is always right.
Brazilian Millionariess love coffee!
Black and pearls :  classic

Someting to think about, WISDOM

Life
!

Excellence is not being the best, it is doing your best... http://picturesgardens.blogspot.com/
#levo #Inspired
You live but once; you might as well be amusing.

Wildlife Photography Of The Year shortlist

This is so true! They always ask at the doctor's reception why you are there, and you have to answer in front of others what's wrong and sometimes it is embarrassing. There's nothing worse than a Doctor's Receptionist who insists you tell her what is wrong with you, in a room full of other patients. I know most of us have experienced this, and I love the way this old guy handled it:


A 75-year-old man walked into a crowded waiting room and approached the desk. The Receptionist said, 'Yes sir, what are you seeing the Doctor for today?'

'There's something wrong with my dick', he replied.

The receptionist became irritated and said, 'You shouldn't come into a crowded waiting room and say things like that.'
 'Why not, you asked me what was wrong and I told you,' he said.

The Receptionist replied; 'Now you've caused some embarrassment in this room full of people.
You should have said there is something wrong with your ear or something, and discussed the problem further with the Doctor in private.'

The man replied, 'You shouldn't ask people questions in a roomful of strangers if the answer could embarrass anyone.
 The man then decided to walk out, waited several minutes, and then re-entered.

The Receptionist smiled smugly and asked, 'Yes??'

'There's something wrong with my ear,' he stated.

The Receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken her advice. 
'And what is wrong with your ear, Sir?'

'I can't piss out of it,' he replied.

The waiting room erupted in laughter. 

Mess with seniors and you're going to lose!!!!!!!!!!!!!






THE SERENITY PRAYER

GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY
TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE;
COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN;
AND WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME;
ENJOYING ONE MOMENT AT A TIME;
ACCEPTING HARDSHIPS AS THE PATHWAY TO PEACE;
TAKING, AS HE DID, THIS SINFUL WORLD
AS IT IS, NOT AS I WOULD HAVE IT;
TRUSTING THAT HE WILL MAKE ALL THINGS RIGHT
IF I SURRENDER TO HIS WILL;
THAT I MAY BE REASONABLY HAPPY IN THIS LIFE
AND SUPREMELY HAPPY WITH HIM
FOREVER IN THE NEXT.
AMEN.

--REINHOLD NIEBUHR