Some people are just born clever and handy. These are the people who don’t fear the sound of power tools or those long, scary aisles of bits and pieces in the hardware store. They have DIY in their DNA.
Others of us need a little hand-holding, a kindly pep talk and a wee bit of a kick in the pants to convince us to put down the mail order catalogs and light a fire to get our creative juices flowing.
If you’re in the second category, there is no better garden DIY guru to get you started on a handmade life outdoors than Lorene Edwards Forkner, author of the newly released book Handmade Garden Projects.
Bold and beautiful author Lorene Edwards Forkner
Lorene is one of these people who just bubbles with enthusiasm. This is a woman who doesn’t fear the color orange, who hauls an old Airstream trailer into her back yard to use as a grown-up playhouse and calls it her “canned ham” and who has turned some old bedsprings into an amazingly artistic rusted outdoor statement—in the front of her home!
Several garden bloggers had the chance to visit Lorene’s garden last summer when she was putting the finishing touches on her book. We saw first-hand the results of her craftiness in her own garden. Now the book is released and everyone can see a bit of Lorene’s garden—and some clever and easy ideas for a handmade life outdoors.
Bamboo Edging - Photo by Allan Mandell
Handmade Garden Projects is as much an inspiration book as a DIY recipe book. Before launching into the how-to portion of the book, Lorene lights the creative fire with a quick jaunt through three gardens heavy on the handmade. My only complaint is that she only gives you a peek at her “canned ham.” (Since it’s so adorable, I’ll share you a couple of photos I took when I visited last year.)
Each project is carefully described with a list of materials, tools and other supplies needed. But the introductions don’t read like your usual how-to manual—many of which read like they were written by engineers. (Sorry, not all engineers. You know who you are.)
Featherweight Troughs - Photo by Allan Mandell
For example, when talking about her materials used to make her rugged steel trellis, she writes, “Incredibly strong, virtually indestructible, and beautiful besides, rock screen scrap is my favorite heavy metal.”
But she’s not just clever. She’s helpful too. She goes on to explain what rock screen is, sizes you can expect to find, where to look and the friendly reminder that “Unless your salvage yard can custom cut pieces to size, it’s best to keep an open mind, scouting for interesting pieces and suitable weights.”
Lorene's Airstream - Her "canned ham"
Projects in Handmade Garden Projects include pathways, stepping stone and edging ideas, trellises and supports, decorative accents, containers and finishing touches. None of them appear very difficult and most can be accomplished in an afternoon or a weekend, depending on how many times you stop for beer.
Interior detail of Lorene's grown-up playhouse "canned ham"
It’s a fun and useful book to set you on your path to a handmade life in the great outdoors. You can thank Lorene. She’ll be the one wearing orange, having fun and reveling in her own clever handmade garden.
Want to win this copy of the book? Leave me a comment by Wednesday, May 23, and I’ll select a winner through a random drawing!
Want to see other blog posts about Lorene’s book on the virtual book tour? You can visit them here where there are more giveaways.
http://www.amateurbot-ann-ist.
http://torontogardens.
http://wwwrockrose.blogspot.
http://www.
http://bonneylassie.blogspot.
http://bwisegardening.
http://www.houstongardengirl.
http://www.vintagegardengal.
Timber Press, publisher of Handmade Garden Projects, provided a free copy of this book for review.
UPDATE: The winner of Handmade Garden Projects is Mary Davis. Mary, I’m emailing you. Come on down! (Well, send me your mailing address anyway.)
May 15th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Looks like a great book packed full of ideas. I am just starting to work on the outside of my house and need alot of inspiration!
May 15th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
oh gosh I would love to win that book! I live in Australia – can you mail it here?
Africanaussie´s last [type] ..Shrieking colors for bloom day May 15th
May 15th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Now that is my kind of book! I’m a junk repurposer at heart so can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. And that little trailer is delightful, I want one for my garden too please. (oh that’s right…it’s a book giveaway.) Thanks for hosting this. Good luck to all!
Patty Hicks´s last [type] ..Seperating Seedlings safely
May 15th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
I am just starting my gardening journey and need all the help I can get! Your blog is one of my inspirations. Thank you.
May 16th, 2012 at 4:59 am
Love the element of recycling while having fun in the garden. And the sweet peas in the glass(es) in the “canned ham” are just gorgeous!
May 16th, 2012 at 8:47 am
just found your blog through a picture on pinterest and have been reading your back posts – love it! now you’ve got me wondering whose nest the pair of cowbirds in the yard are going to “use” – book looks like fun – i’ll have to check it out
May 16th, 2012 at 9:19 am
I live in a townhouse and have a very small patio/deck area. I’m constantly looking for ways to jazz it up. The book sounds like it would have lots of amazing ideas. Thanks.
May 16th, 2012 at 9:31 am
This book looks great. Such inspiration and very cool ideas! Thanks for the chance to win it.
May 16th, 2012 at 11:25 am
This looks like a great book of good ideas and how to for garden projects.
Shirley´s last [type] ..Emerald Lace for May 2012 Foliage Follow-Up
May 16th, 2012 at 11:48 am
I love the little trailer! I have one in my yard not be used for anything but storage. I need a playhouse! Thank-you for hosting this great giveaway.
May 16th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Looks like a great book and what a fun, grown-up playhouse! :)
Leah Kessel´s last [type] ..A Few Sweet Finds…
May 16th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
This book would be the perfect gift for my grandma. She’s just that kind of person that crafty and likes to make things herself.
May 16th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
This book looks just delightful.
May 17th, 2012 at 12:38 am
What a cool looking book and blog. I’m always looking for new ideas to do neat things in the yard. You know I like DIY projects, but I also like a little pep talk.
ryan@what is my purpose´s last [type] ..An Inspiration and DIY Recipe Book: Handmade Garden Projects – And a Giveaway!
May 17th, 2012 at 12:49 am
As one who can handle tools and hardware but lacks creativity, this book looks the goods.
May 17th, 2012 at 12:52 am
Hi Lorene,
You seem like a fun lady. Come check out my blog. I might have to buy this book for my wife. She and I love working in the yard together
May 17th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Would love this book- just the inspiration I need!
May 17th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
So many ideas, inspiration, and garden bliss. Who wouldn’t want a copy of this book? Hope I win.
May 17th, 2012 at 7:36 pm
I would love this book! I love to repurpose garage sale and flea market finds into items for the garden and potting shed.
May 17th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
These look like fun projects. Thanks for a chance to win the book – I know I would enjoy it.
May 17th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
The book would be something wonderful for m
My short people (my two boys 10 & 8) to spend
Time making things outside together.
May 17th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Im not sure how the smiley face made it on there
But my other son is 8!
May 18th, 2012 at 7:07 am
This looks like an amazing book. It would be a fun thing to have this summer as my girls(14 and 9yrs)and I spend our first summer in Germany. We could make neat things for our own backyard garden. Thank you for the chance to win this book.
May 18th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Yeah! Thanks for all the kind words from the lady in orange~
May 18th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
This book looks amazing!!
May 19th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Love those stone containers, it’s something worth looking into. Lovely succulents too!
Graziella´s last [type] ..The Jade Plant, A Spring Surprise
May 20th, 2012 at 6:19 am
Cute book. I could use a little more flair in my garden.
May 20th, 2012 at 6:20 am
Cute book. I could use a little garden flair.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Spiral Ridge got Pigs!
May 20th, 2012 at 6:29 am
Oops sorry for double, ahem now triple, post. My green thumb is better then my texting thumb!
May 20th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
I could use this inspiration! Fun book, and great blog!
May 21st, 2012 at 9:21 am
Firstly I’m happy to see you posting more often! It’s been awhile since I’ve dropped in, but it makes me happy that you are! I miss reading about your pooches and your chickens! ♥
And that book! I remember seeing her garden from the last gardener’s get-to-gether! I was immensely inspired by her decorations! To now know she has a book about it?! I have even more excitement… whee!
May 21st, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Love this book!! And loved have a chance to hang out with you in all those wonderful gardens in Asheville. Great blog, BB!
May 21st, 2012 at 9:56 pm
This looks like a great book – I could see myself trying some of these projects.
May 22nd, 2012 at 12:47 am
Looks like a book I will love:) can’t wait to win it ;))
May 22nd, 2012 at 8:11 am
It would be great to win! I am fairly new to gardening and have been inspired by the beauty and ingenuity of gardeners.
May 23rd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
i love the ideas you’ve shown here! please enter my name for the drawing!
May 23rd, 2012 at 11:10 pm
This book looks amazing. Hope I win.