Mini Garden Bunting – eliminating bothersome bunnies in the veggie patch

We’ve got rabbits. And I don’t mean the cute kind that run around in the garden confined to one particular spot. I mean the greedy kind that enjoy your first sweet strawberries and nibble on delicate lettuce leaves you have been painstakingly waiting for in the Kitchen Garden. That sort of rabbit. And since I do not wish for my garden to be full of ugly rabbit proof fencing, it was down to me to create a pretty deterrent. So, with my snippers in one hand, and a spool full of craft wire in the other – don’t worry, my barricade is quite humane – I set to creating a string of pretty whimsical mini garden bunting. That should do the trick…

I am becoming more than a little addicted to wire art crafting. I first introduced you to this book back here for my initial project and since then, I haven’t stopped. Flowers have become my new obsession and they take so little time and create perfect present and gift card toppers that I find myself fiddling with wire often. So too do they look quite delightful added to both fresh and dried flowers around the home.

I wanted my mini garden bunting to be something a little different to the traditional fabric flag and whilst enjoying a coffee and quick flick through my book, I discovered this laundry line idea which I thought might work with a slight Whitewood and Linen twist.

I set to following the simple flow diagrams in the book using a 0.35mm craft wire since that is what I had to hand. 0.35mm wire is extremely soft and pliable and perfect for greetings cards: If I were doing this particular craft again for the garden, I should perhaps choose wire which is a little more robust as the book suggests.

Without this fabulous book, there are plenty of ideas on Pinterest – here are some I have saved to try – or simply look at my shapes and bend and twist away. If you make a wrong turn, run the wire carefully between a rag cloth doubled over, until the kinks are gone and begin again.

“They’re great Mum” commented Master M as he came into the kitchen for his usual mid-morning sustenance “but you’ve got to put your own spin on it too.” I wasn’t quite sure what simple addition would complement my very full pile of clothing best, so I settled on a huge pair of socks – clearly not worn by the same person who wears the dress -and a couple of cute coat hangers.

I created this skirt without any guide. Just follow the four stages below to create your own…

I snapped an oversized bamboo skewer in half, scored the top of each pole and added a long length of the wire to one, to begin forming a washing line. Then I hung the clothes through each loop and secured the line to the second pole. Very sweet however not too noticeable when planted in dark wet soil so I simply tied scraps of pretty fabric to the line at occasional intervals until I was happy with my very own rabbit proof fencing.

It was extremely difficult to photograph this mini garden bunting in its entirety, in situ since it is so mini; I hope these snaps do the project justice. Yet another craft which could suit so many of us don’t you think? Little one’s might enjoy adding a washing line to their very own fairy or dolls house garden. You might enjoy topping your homemade greetings cards with appropriate wire garments or maybe even creating the washing line project from this book, for your own laundry room.

Simple and I hope for our kitchen garden effective. I don’t wish to cause the furry creatures any harm however I would prefer them to nibble the vast number of goodies in the adjoining woodlands and keep off my new raised beds.

I left the snippers and craft wire on the kitchen table for a few days before they were tidied away and they soon fell into another pair of creative hands. “I’ve made you something Mum” announced Master M rather pleased with himself when he was searching for yet more nourishment later that day: I shall miss him when he’s gone. Until next week…x