Next week is half term and I thought as a bit of fun for my two children we would build a scarecrow for the allotment. Anyone else want to do one? Perhaps we could have a gallery here of our creations. If you already have a scarecrow perhaps also post a photo here, it would be great for ideas and inspiration for those of us who will be building one. :)
Superb idea!! Will work on that over the spring, just the kind of thing to distract me from all the other things i have not done!!
;D
Would like to have a go, but my children are all grown up, so any silly attempts will be all my own work. I suggested this idea to some of our committee members a while ago, but they looked at me as though I had lost my mind, some people have no sense of humour. ;D
Have a bit of an advantage, as look what we got from my sister as one of our Christmas pressies! :) busy_lizzie
ahhhh coool!!!! ;D ;D
Sounds like fun, but I'll probably be too busy sowing.
The kids did two for the plot last summer, but I have gathered some new - old clothes to freshen them up for this year. They do need new heads though so maybe that is something we can do over half term.......bit sinister really....I have images of going to the allotment with a head under each arm!!
Great book BL!!
:'( My Grandchildren made one for my lottie last year out of an old pair of jeans a jumper, a football for a head and my late dads cap to finish off, it looked the biz only it didn't last a week as the local yobs got in and wrecked it amongst other things.
I heard wispers that it may have been our scarecrow that attracted the yobs, so I best not do that again. :'(
I think this is what our committee would say too Roy. They don't like anything to draw attention, even the colour of the sheds has to be very uniform. It is very sad Isn't it? :( busy_lizzie
Why are people like that, shame you can't be left to do your own thing without attracting unwanted attention.
i saw a gorgeous picture of a scarescrow - they used a floaty dress over the normal body which was ripped up at the bottom, so strips would blow in the wind. also, they used a plantable basket thingy for the head, complete with flowers as hair ;D
and they hung an old bag across the body, again used for flowers. it was a very pretty affair and wouldn't have looked out of place in posh chelsea
i dont have space for a scarecrow - i go for space saving rattling bottles :(
Jesse I was going to post something similar ;D. I asked my son a couple of weeks ago if he would make me a scarecrow after he was twisting about being bored. I saw a piece in a magazine a while back about a village that holds an annual scarecrow competiton. They were brilliant.
BL I love the look of that book. I want one!!
There is a village not far from Liverpool which runs a festival every year, Thornton Hough
http://www.scarecrowfestival.co.uk/home.html
Although I seem to remember reading that they got the idea from 'down south'!
That will be NORHAM Heldi. They have a scarecrow competition running for 2 weeks during August. They are absolutely fantastic and so so funny.
;D ;D ;D ;D The scarecrows are everywhere on the streets, houses, gardens and all the most unlikely places. It is worth seeing if you live in the North Northumberland area.
:D :D :D
Dan the scarecrows in that link are fantastic! I don't think ours will be nearly as grand but we'll do doubt have lots of fun creating one :D
If anyone can design one to keep pigeons off all year,
I'll give 'em first prize now!!
Carol, I can't believe there's a one in Northumberland! ;D ;D Thanks for telling me. I shall have to check it out this year.
Creative Scarecrows (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=allotments4al-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&path=external-search%3Fsearch-type=ss%26index=blended%26keyword=Creative%20Scarecrows) is available on Amazon £7.16.
Edit by Dan
Change to make an amazon product link
Heldi/Carol,
Where & when is the Northumberland scarecrow event?
My kids would love to go I'm sure!!
BL - what a fab book ;D
Debs
Debs. The 2 weeks Festival is held in Norham which is near Berwick on Tweed. It is held annually around the last 2 weeks in August. It is worth a visit because the Scarecrows are all over the village and even just driving through the village you get a laugh. You have them hanging out of chimneys, climbing up the outside of houses, outside the shops and inside folks gardens. If you are near the Berwick area try and go and have a look. I will remind you about it in here nearer the time.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
thanks carol - would be a nice day trip out from W'Bay ;D
Thanks Carol it'll be a nice trip out for the bairns...and me!
Ordered the book from Amazon,couldn't resist.
BL,I was thinking, couldn't you do an ickle scarecrow for a plant pot or something like that?
I am still going to do one Heldi. I have already drawn a pic of it (made OH titter because I am not a very good artist), I think it could look quite good. Have been rooting around the garage today for some wood. :D busy_lizzie
Brilliant BL. I'll be looking forward to seeing a pic. Half term next week so will do one then.
We made our scarecrow lady today. We used an old thermal vest stuffed with straw and tied off at the top and bottom to make her head. Some old clothes, shirt stuffed with straw to give her shape, an old beach sarong as a skirt, gloves for hands and tied at the wrists with raffia to keep the gloves in place. The raffia blows nicely in the wind to add pigeon scare factor. The hat is one of my good ones which I've used for the photo as the cheap one (a large orange mexican straw hat) I found on ebay hasn't arrived yet, she'll be going to the allotment as soon as the hat arrives. Here's some photos:
(http://www.news2share.co.uk/photos/2006/scarecrow150206d.jpg)
(http://www.news2share.co.uk/photos/2006/scarecrow150206a.jpg)
Aw!! How cute Jesse, and very well put together too. I haven't even started my construction yet, only drawn a plan and started collecting wood. :) busy_lizzie
Thanks BL :)
You have a plan!? You're more organised than me then ;D
Aaaw she is fab Jesse!
My son said he wants his scarecrow to have a beak like a chicken lol! How on earth we'll do that I don't know! I am forming ideas as I type.
Thanks Heldi :)
You could sew two triangular pieces of fabric together to form a cone shape and stuff it with whatever you have on hand...newspaper, straw, wood shavings, then attach a string to it and tie around it's head.
Uh-oh Jesse you are just encouraging him with your good ideas,he'll be wanting a full blown scarecrow cockerel next ! ;D
One of our scarecrows has a beak - made the way Jesse suggested. It was supposed to be a parsnip (so it looked like Spud off Bob the Builder), but the whole thing ended up looking like we'd decapitated a large blackbird and put its head on a stick as a medieval-style warning to the others.
Not that the pigeons take any notice >:(
It may not keep the pigeons away but our one is keeping the cats away, they're terrified of the thing! ;D
Ceratonia, you did make me laugh! Aaah Spud.My favourite Bob character. I warmed to him when he bent over and patted his backside at the others!
Ooooh the creative juices have been flowing this morning. I need to write things down though because I'll have forgotten by next week.
I snapped this photo yesterday. Sad to say its not my creative work, but the winning entry in the allotment society competition last year (made by a 13 yr old!).
(http://static.flickr.com/32/103371251_7eec8a6c9c.jpg)
hehe, very good...and scary too :D
;D looks like Wacko Jacko dancing to "Thriller" ;D
I thought it was Alice Cooper myself
http://www.punk77.co.uk/punkhistory/alicecooper.htm
Thats a great scarecrow John. I'll go with Alice Cooper too...it's the black stuff on the eyes and mouth. It looks pretty scary.
Jesse our scarecrow has a body,some arms and some rubber gloves! Still on with the rest of it,trying to find a top/shirt big enough and we need to fix it's face up.
Bisterne, in Hampshire just outside Ringwood also has a Scarecrow Festival sometime in August. It was quite funny riding down their main street with all these scarecrows all over the place. There were even ones waiting at the bus stop and ones pushing baby prams. I will definitely take another ride through this year and maybe stop and take some pictures. They were very good indeed.
I might go and see that Jitterbug, we're not too far from Hampshire :)
Have you decided how to do the face now Heldi?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v406/vcrjones30133/HALLOWEENFLASH_WITHTEXT1.jpg)
JUST A THOUGHT
Vony.
...they are scarecrows aren't they??
;D ;D ;D
Vony, that pic made me laugh out loud ;D
mat
Quote from: mat on February 25, 2006, 23:11:08
Vony, that pic made me laugh out loud ;D
mat
PLEASED TO HAVE MADE YOU SMILE Matt
Vony
One I came across last summer.
DD
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/Dirkdigger/scarecrow.jpg)
Great scarecrows so far. After a bit of a set back I am back to my wood gathering for mine. It will also involve looking around the charity shops for some spoons and forks, got you intrigued, I hope! ;D busy_lizzie
Jesse it's face is in debate,son decided he doesn't want a carrot/parsnip/beak type of nose but has not told me what he would like. I might have to make a command decision.
Vony that picture gave me a good laugh.
Quote from: busy_lizzie on February 27, 2006, 13:08:08
Great scarecrows so far. After a bit of a set back I am back to my wood gathering for mine. It will also involve looking around the charity shops for some spoons and forks, got you intrigued, I hope! ;D busy_lizzie
You've got me intrigued! ;D
Geat pictures everyone, Heldi I look forward to seeing your one whatever he turns out to be :D
Well, come on then folks. The board has just told me this topic hasn't been posted in for over 30 days, which means you have all had plenty of time to build, create and grow your scarecrows! Here is mine. This is his second year on the plot - I have a lady one also. I have just given him a new sweater for spring, and am on the look out for a new face for him as to be honest, this one does rather give me the creeps! ;D
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/scarecrow.jpg)
The kids made him with a little help from dad, and the weather has taken it's toll, however, I am used to having him around now. :)
;D It is a good idea to have a photo gallery and will help in increasing the number of crowers across the lotties. Depending on how many entries we get down in Leicestershire on the 16 August I will post photos or provide a link to our Society web pages. We are also trying a proze for the best /most original plot number. I have combined the two by putting the number of the chest of potty my flower pot scarecrow.