One of the many things that seems to go fast when I list them on the website are the wire cloches I offer. Originally made to protect small seedlings and plants from critters and the elements, cloches or bell jars are now used for their decorative beauty. Several years ago way back in my primitive decorating days, I used to make my own garden cloches out of chicken wire. Here is a quick tutorial with my version of a wire cloche~
Gather chicken wire, wire cutters, thin wire and a glass cloche. Lay your chicken wire flat on a table being careful not to cut yourself~even with garden gloves on I still managed to cut myself. Then my secret to a perfect shaped cloche is to use a glass version for your pattern. Just start wrapping the chicken wire around the glass cloche and cut the width you need. Once you have the chicken wire cut it will look like a long tube. Then take the thin wire and cut 3-4 small pieces to secure the back. For the top, gather the chicken wire to make a smaller top cutting the excess. You can use whatever decorative element you want for the top. I used a small tin crown, but I have also used rusty door knobs for a cloche topper.
I also made a mini wire cloche and it was super simple~all you have to do for this one is head to your local hardware store and pick up one of these babies~ It is a leaf strainer for your gutter! Remember when I made the crowns out of the wire leaf guards? Well why not a little mini cloche! All you have to do is bend the wire a little to shape it. I added a porcelain drawer knob to the top. The very best part? It cost about $2.50 to make!
I used my little mini cloche for a string holder~
I really think I might get a part time job at my local hardware store, just imagine the possibilities:)
