Crocheted Rocks? Yes, You Can.

Whenever we're on vacation either at the Oregon coast or alongside a beautiful Oregon river, I try to do an art project with natural stones. 

And here is one of those projects...crochet wrapped river rocks. LOVE how they turned out! The contrast between the lacy threadwork and the natural stones is just gorgeous.

I made these three as a gift for our vacation hosts. But first I had a great time photographing them in all kinds of natural settings!

As for directions.
 I just used a size 6 hook since it worked with regular crochet cotton thread
and made them just like the center of a normal crocheted doily with a flower motif.
Then I started filling in with simple chains to make the spiderweb looking areas.
Once the piece was big enough to cover the whole rock I pulled the end tight
around the back side  and knotted it off. 

I just love how they look nestled like Easter eggs in  wild places.

The subtle colors and vivid textures of these lace covered stones and lovely driftwood is one of my favorite photos.

Here they are in the river where the stones originally were found.

Oooh aaaah! 

And these aren't the only rock project I did while on vacation. Here's my post about paint pens and river rocks. I love how they came out, too!

DIY a Fake Stone Planter from Styrofoam Box

          

This is a repost of a popular project which has been requested over on 

Facebook's Garden Art Junk group.

 

Here's what I do with those holiday ham styrofoam boxes 

I don't want to pitch into the landfill.

RECYCLE!

I make "stone" planters for my succulent pots!

Here's how....

and please note, this is best done OUTSIDE.

This part is messy!

Using a serrated steak knife, I cut the top edge down to make the box the size I wanted.

Then I scored all the sides with a wire brush.

I made stone shape grooves with a butter knife. You can cut as deep 

or as shallow as you wish to get the look you like.

Next, I brushed a some grey, white and black acrylic craft

 paint over the whole box.

Very sparingly, spray black spray paint at some of your stone joints. 

The paint will melt the foam and give it some very rocky texture. 

Don't over do it, you can always add more texture.

 Go slow and look at the results from all angles.

Now with a brush or a paint rag or a sponge of what have you,

 start layering on acrylic craft paint in rock and moss colors.

 I used black, charcoal grey, brown, several greens and even a bit of dark blue.

I do not plant my succulents directly in the styrofoam box. 

I keep them in their own pots so I can change them out as I wish.

 But I have to say, the sedum in this fake stone box look wonderful!

Zen Stone Stacks

What do you do when you go on a family vacation? Besides have loads of fun we like to leave a bit of whimsy behind with water smoothed stones put together in zen stacks.

The acts of collecting and carefully balancing the stones are contemplative and patient endeavors. Also, fun!

Here is the private swimming hole we enjoyed all week. This is a photo downriver. Man, I wish I was still there!

And here is a photo upriver. Can you see the trio of stone towers in this picture?

Here's a single stack up on the beach.

A set of three on some bedrock.

Another trio down by the water.

Can you see the stacks in this picture yet?

Here's a closeup in the morning sun. They are in the lower right of the previous picture. We left over a dozen stone towers for the next guests to find down by the river....

...plus this sweet driftwood heart with a tiny stack right in the middle.

When I got home I wanted a nice reminder of those warm sunny days down by the river. With some E-6000 jewelry adhesive and a bunch of collected river rocks, I now have these beautiful and soothing zen stacks for my master bath. Along with loads of houseplants and a sweet terrarium, they remind me to slow down and just enjoy my days.