The Whirligigs of Summer- Part 1

~The Whirligigs of Summer~

Part I

Tom, Sharon, & Al.

I've been accumulating a bunch of great photos over the past couple of months, due to the great work by the many participants in our whirligig workshops.  Tom, Sharon and Al created their gigs in May and it was a lot of fun as I recall.

This is a good example of how you can use both new and old items together on the same gig.  Eventually being outdoors, everything will look weathered and old.

Old flatware is pretty labor intensive to drill.  A tip is to try to bend the handle using a couple of fingers with gentle pressure.  If it doesn't flex it will probably take a while to drill through.  Also, some materials that are plastics or composites can be brittle when drilling.  I believe the purple plates on the gig above were bamboo and had the tendency to crack.

Sharon had a challenge with her Stainless Mugs.  We can't drill through stainless so it's on my "Don't Bring" list, but we made it work by creating metal straps that wrapped around the handles and attached to the lid of the red tin.  Everyone needs to have one challenge during the process.

New Video

Here is a new video

from one of our 

whirligig workshops

http://youtu.be/b2ZQLeadq80

A creative group of Whirligiggers!

~ A Fun & Creative Bunch of Whirligig Makers ~

Well, I have to say that I won'y forget this whirligig workshop.  I little while ago I received an email from one of these women, let's call her Jenny F., who had driven by our studio and was so excited to see that we held workshops in how to make our whimsical whirligigs by repurposing old stuff.  She is an artist who uses old tin objects in her art so her head is already in that "recycled" space.  It didn't take her long to get a few friends on board to fill a workshop.  This was a fun crew.  They all are artists that deal with recycling and repurposing in their work and I would suggest checking out what they do by visiting their sites and blogs.  Here is what they created that day.

                  Jenny Fillius                                Deborah Paul

           Ross Palmer Beecher                        Diane Kurzyna

Meeting new people and getting to know them a bit is something I really enjoy about the workshops at hutch.  Thanks to Jenny and the fact that she is so nice and has many friends future whirligig workshops are filling up fast.  So give me a call or email and maybe you can get in on one.

DIY Whirligig Plans

"DIY Whirligig"

For those of you that haven't yet had the opportunity to visit hutch studio in La Conner, you may not know that the fence lining our front yard is constructed out of found objects (washboards, croquet balls, rakes, rocking horses, etc...).  The posts of this extraordinary fence are topped by "whirligigs", which are whimsical handmade objects that spin and move in the wind. Hutch studio whirligigs are all made by repurposing old "stuff" that collects in our garages, basements, and sheds. These objects exemplify the creative spirit of hutch studio and I'm pretty sure the #1 most photographed thing in town. They are just so fun to watch spin on breezy day and it's almost like they charge the sidewalk with a creative electricity.  Most of these gigs are for sale (there's a catalog with prices inside the shop).  We also offer monthly workshops on how to build whirligigs.  I am so crazy excited to finally be offering the plans and instructions on how to make your very own whirligig just like the ones here at hutch studio.

Included in this package is a technical drawing (blueprint) of the whirligig pictured on the front label, extensive materials list of every tool, object, and lock washer, and finally step by step list of written instructions.  *If you or someone you know loves a fun construction project and can handle a power drill this is the gig for you.  This fun and special idea sells for $14.  It is available both in the studio or at our blog shop.  To order by phone call 360-466-2303.