Cocktail of the Month - August: Dark and Stormy

The Dark and Stormy, in contrast to most of our featured drinks, has a fairly easily obtained and unquestioned history.  The trademarked recipe is the property of Gosling’s, which is still owned by direct descendants of its founder- and they have maintained a fairly detailed historical record. James Gosling left England in 1803, looking to expand his family’s spirits business to Virginia. On his way, he became stuck on the reefs around Bermuda for several months, and decided to stay. The climate of Bermuda was perfect and he began distilling a spiced Rum that was barrel aged, and served directly from the barrels. Around the same time, in another area of the island, the Royal British Navy began brewing a ginger based beer - perhaps as a way to combat seasickness or to reduce the alcohol content in the sailors’ daily rations. By the mid-1800’s Gosling’s Rum had been combined with ginger beer in what was to become the unofficial drink of Bermuda.

In 1914 Gosling’s began selling their rum in old British Champagne bottles reclaimed from the officers’s club. The bottles were sealed with black wax, leading to its iconic Black Seal label. Shortly thereafter, legend has it, a British soldier described the drink as “the color of a cloud that only a fool or a dead man would sail under”, which lead to the moniker “Dark and Stormy”.

In contrast to the ease of discovering the recipe and history, making the Dark and Stormy proved a bit more difficult. Per the trademark, a Dark and Stormy can only be made with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum (and they WILL enforce it). We tasted the Black Seal rum on it's own, and it did have a distinctive spice profile, and a very smooth finish. It’s fairly easy to locate at your local spirits establishment. Ginger beer, on the other hand, is a whole different story.  Neither of us were able to find it easily available in our regular grocery stores, despite having seen it in the past. Ultimately we were able to locate a decent selection at both World Market and Total Wine- depending on your area and time of year you may have better luck with local shopping options. Once we located ginger beer, we realized that there were a wide range of options. We first tried a variety that contained alcohol - it made for a VERY strong drink! For this blog, we decided to use Gosling’s “Stormy” Ginger Beer- since it was designed specifically for making a Dark and Stormy. It is a non-alcoholic variety, and tastes a lot like an old fashioned brewed ginger ale, with the distinctive ginger bite you’d find in raw or candied ginger. We really enjoyed this combination, as when mixed, the drink still contained both the flavor profile of the rum and a definite ginger bite. It wasn’t quite as refreshing as some of our other summer drinks, but it is a nice option if you want to try something new.

RECIPE 

2 oz Goslings Black Seal Rum 

Ginger Beer - as needed for glass (less than 10oz)

Optional lime wedge

Fill a highball glass with ice 

Add ginger beer- leaving enough room for the Rum

Add optional squeeze of lime and rim the glass if desired

Pour Rum on top and swirl to see the Stormy effect

(You can add Rum first, but we liked the visual effect better this way)

Obviously we had a bit of fun with our pics for this one - especially that header pic!  We truly did try to make this as a storm was coming in, but it's a bit hard to see the storm clouds in some of the pictures - so we just went all out creating our header!  But the thought is there, and a Dark and Stormy would be lovely to sit and sip on the porch watching one of those summer thunderstorms roll in!  Cheers!

Christine & Stacy

If you try one, share a picture with us in the comments! 

Cocktail of the Month - June: Classic Daquiri

With June upon us, it finally feels like summer.... hopefully the erratic temperatures and crazy rains are behind us, children are finishing up their school years, and the beach is calling us. That makes it the perfect time of year for sipping something cool and refreshing on the back porch at the end of the long day. There are plenty of sugary, frozen, trendy drinks you can serve, of course, but we find the simpler flavors of this classic much more refreshing!

According to legend, the development of the daquiri occurred as the British Navy was fighting in the Caribbean, during the 1740’s.  Historically the navy had been given a hearty beer ration, that had been reduced to a pint of rum by that time period (due to accessibility and ease of transport). Naval leaders realized the men would fight more effectively if they were a bit more sober, and so their rum ration was cut with water and lime juice- well on its way to being a daiquiri.

The drink spread to the Cuban Natives, and sugar was added, from their plentiful plantations. The drink became a combination of water, rum, sugar and lime juice- and was ultimately named for a local beach by American miners that occupied Cuba following the Spanish American War. Over time, the recipe was refined and the water was eliminated - as it was discovered that the cracked ice provided enough balance to the rum.

You can learn more about the history of the Daquiri- and it’s cousin the sugar free Hemingway Daiquiri (thanks to his diabetes)- here....

We used the Bartender’s Bible for our classic recipe- and just pictured ourselves on Daquiri Beach while drinking it.

RECIPE 

2oz Rum

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/2 tsp simple syrup (or to taste) 

Mix all ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice, and strain into a chilled glass. 

Cheers!
Stacy & Christine

Cocktail of the Month - May: Bourbon Smash

Last May we featured a somewhat complicated, delicate to make, spring classic- the Mint Julep. While we had a great time figuring out the science behind the perfect julep, and it’s a great occasion drink, it was something that we wouldn’t make as a daily cocktail - too much careful attention and planning. (You can read about our julep exploits here ... )

While we were looking for classic cocktails to feature this year, we found the perfect answer - the Bourbon Smash. Much easier to make, with the same fresh flavor profile as a julep. Dating back to at least 1862, the Smash is listed as a more casual variant of the Mint Julep. Historically it’s unclear which came first- whether the Smash is a dressed down Julep or whether the Julep was a more fancy follower of the Smash. Either way, both are fabulous in their own right, and in their own situation.  A Smash is literally "smashing" the ingredients/fruits and adding spirits and ice.  So, fun to note, all Julep's are Smashes, however, all Smashes are not Juleps.

Although there have been countless variations on the Smash, with some recipes being as vague as "a spirit base, seasonal fruit, sweetener and ice", we used the most original recipe that we could locate, and ended up with the perfect sipping drink for summer nights on the porch.

RECIPE

Half a lemon, cut into 4 wedges

6-8 mint leaves

1 oz simple syrup or 1T. sugar

2 oz of your favorite bourbon

In a shaker, muddle and smash the lemon, mint, and sugar

Add bourbon

shake

Strain into a rocks glass with crushed ice or one to two large cubes

Garnish with fruit and/or mint 

Enjoy!

We hope that you enjoy this classic as much as we have - it's sure to become a summer staple for both of us! 

Cheers!

Christine and Stacy 

Cocktail of the Month-November: Hot Toddy

Continuing our Fall trend, we are featuring another heated cocktail- perfect for an evening drink when the night air turns cold! When the Hot Toddy first came to our attention on a vintage cocktail list we nearly discounted it all together.  Our first thoughts, even our second and third thoughts, tended to be something like "how good can this be, people used it as medicine?!" Even as we prepared it we were cautious- not expecting too much, hoping it was "OK".

We could not have been more wrong! The Hot Toddy will definitely become a part of our cold weather repertoire.  It was crazy easy to make, only needed ingredients we already had on hand, AND was both tasty and warming.  In fact, we have continued making these at home since trying them out for this blog!  Yummy Cozy!

The drink's origins can be traced back to the late 1700's India (although other variations attribute it to an Irish doctor, prescribing it medicinally), where it was made with liquor, hot water, sugar and spice. It is no surprise that it quickly spread to colder and wetter climates in the UK and American colonies, as British influence spanned more of the globe. As the drink spread, local spices and regional liquor preferences created a number of variations. By the 1830's it had become a common cold remedy used by everyone from grandma down to young children.

RECIPE 

1 Tbsp honey 

1 Tbsp lemon
2 shots Bourbon

boiling water (about 1/2 cup) 

Add first 3 ingredients to Irish coffee glass (or other mug). Pour in boiling water and stir! 

** NOTE the original recipe had 2 Tbsp honey, but we felt it was sweet enough with one!

Cheers and Stay Warm!
Christine and Stacy

Cocktail of the Month-September: Old Fashioned

Labor Day- summer is coming to an end, but it's not quite fall. As we thought about a drink that captured this feeling, we decided to feature the classic Old Fashioned with a few variations.

The Old Fashioned is among the most classic of cocktails.  References to this classic bourbon (or whiskey) drink date back to 1806; it may in fact have been THE original cocktail. What we do know: in the 1800's a cocktail was comprised of bitters, a sugar cube, a dash of water and your spirit of choice- you could order one with most any alcohol as the base. Sometime in the late 1800's the bourbon variety picked up the Old Fashioned moniker- leading to the idea that it may have been the original, or just the one that best stood the test of time.

What we love most about this drink is it's simplicity. Free from the over sweetness of many modern cocktails, you can really enjoy the bourbon you are paying for - which incidentally means you should start with a bourbon you enjoy straight.

Traditional Old Fashioned recipes call for a sugar cube muddled with a few dashes of bitters and a splash of water. Although this is ideal, most agree that a rich simple sugar (2:1 ration sugar to water) is a reasonable replacement. (Use about 1\3 oz of rich simple syrup/drink).

We also tried a few variations on the Old Fashioned- although they are not traditional. We found that using a fruit bourbon- cherry and peach specifically- brought us a flavor profile that reminded us of the summer to fall transition. We omitted the sugar cube, using just a few dashes of bitters and the bourbon - plus ice. as the fruit bourbons are sweeter on their own, Purists would gasp, I am sure, but if you are just experimenting give it a try!


Cheers and Happy Fall!
Christine and Stacy

Vintage Style, Modern Twist

What to do with family heirlooms, particularly jewelry, always seems to be a tricky topic. So often grandma's jewelry gets passed down to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that truly want to have a memento to remember their loved one, but they just don't know what to do with it. Sometimes grandma had a very different build or style and the pieces just don't look right on the recipient, sometimes they are so dated they don't fit with anyone in the family, and sometimes there's a beautiful piece that has some damage that makes it unwearable.

I was in this situation a few summers back, when I received a collection of jewelry from my grandmother's estate. There are some pieces I love, and wear as is. Many others I wanted but didn't know what to do with. They have been in a cedar chest through two years and a move- lately I've been really thinking through what to do with them... I want to create something that I will use regularly, and that will really showcase the pieces.  We (Christine and I) came up with some fun ideas that we're sharing with you! 

Some pieces are an easy DIY project, you can alter them yourself in a non-permanent way. I received a set of blue ceramic beads, to which I added a vintage enamel brooch - it made the perfect July 4th accessory.

Christine has a collection of vintage milk glass and metal necklaces that she has knotted off and wears for a modern, casual look.  Rather than buying "new" accessories, check out some local thrift and antique shops, or search around on e-bay, etsy, and poshmark for fun vintage finds. You never know what's out there just waiting to be found!

Vintage Jewelry - Out2LunchDesigns

Some pieces, on the other hand, require more work to make it into your wardrobe. For this you need professional assistance- which we have just added to our repertoire! We'd like to introduce the Out 2 Lunch custom line! (Not sure why it took so long to come up with this - probably because it's a little scary to work with other people's heirlooms, and we want to make sure we get it right). Our clients can be as involved, or not, in the design process as they choose to be. Some people just know that they want to use certain pieces- maybe to create a set of gifts for all the children and grandchildren, or maybe to enhance a special day with a sentimental or special heirloom piece.

Fabric Swatches - Out2LunchDesigns

Once we receive the jewelry we sort through our fabrics and come up with fabulous combinations that suit the pieces. Other folks have in mind a color scheme or a certain style they want to capture- in that case, we will work (in person and or via email) to find the perfect fabric to meet their vision. Once we have the design elements in place, we create one of our high quality, handmade clutches - seamlessly incorporating their family pieces. When we are done, everyone has a memory that they can incorporate into their life! 

This can also be a popular wedding option. For a few years, the "brooch bouquets" we're popular. Though beautiful, they were often very heavy and not useful for anything but decor afterwards. We are now offering the chance to create a wedding keepsake you will use for years!

Incorporate family jewelry as the "something old" on a clutch for the bride, create a set for the bride and her mother, or create a bridesmaids set - using your jewelry or ours. Our design style and attention to detail will help you to create a keepsake that will be treasured for years.

Check out our website www.out2lunchdesigns.com/home/custom-orders for more details, we'd love to help plan something special for you!  Plus, show us your pics of vintage jewelry used along with today's styles! (tag us on Instagram!)

Happy Creating and Styling!
Stacy and Christine

Thanks - To Moms and Teachers!

It's that time of year when we recognize  people that are so important in the lives of children... As I sat down to write this blog, I was struck by the fact that Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day are both in early May.  In fact, this year Mother's Day falls just after National Teacher Appreciation Week concludes.  So.... we are sharing with you an easy project that you can share with a teacher, your mom, or anyone else that needs a little brightening in their day! 

One of the best things about having a partner in a creative business is having twice the brainstorming power! Last winter we were talking about how many teachers our children have (as they switch classes even in elementary school) and what would be good end of year gifts that the teachers would (hopefully) enjoy, would be unique and in keeping with our goals of being vintage inspired, earth friendly and supporting local economies, and would be cost effective since we had so many to make! 

As we often do, we turned to Ebay for inspiration.  We discovered a vintage tea set being sold at a great price as it was missing a few pieces, and took off from there. Once we realized that there were enough
remaining pieces for all of our teachers, we put in the bid and began to flesh out the rest of the project.  

The tea cups, creamer and sugar bowl became the perfect planters!  Our children had some input on which plants they wanted to use, so their personalities are reflected as well, and they had a ball helping us assemble the mini planters.  Feel free to borrow from our ideas, and make changes to make it your own! 

We'd love to hear how you have used vintage pieces in your gardening or about fun gifts that you have created - please share your ideas in the comments below! 

Happy Spring! 

Stacy and Christine

Mint Julep: A Year of Cocktails - May

This month's cocktail is inspired by a little horse race coming up at the end of this week... 

When we began brainstorming our Year of Cocktails, May was one of the months that we instantly had a plan for - and the same plan no less (which is saying something for the two of us).  When you live in the south, there are few things as iconic as the Kentucky Derby and the connected pageantry.  Everyone pictures the fabulously dressed women, Derby hats perched atop their heads, and of course they have mint juleps in their hands.  If you ever wondered why juleps are served in little silver cups, if you are hosting a Derby Party and are unsure of intricacies of this classic drink, or if you are a history and science nerd like me - this is the blog post for you! 

Although written references to juleps exist prior to the 1875 advent of the Derby, due to excellent marketing and branding the two are forever linked in the minds of most Americans.  The first references to juleps at the Derby appear in 1938, which makes sense as Prohibition ended in 1933 and America was emerging from the throes of the Great Depression in the late 1930's.  Americans were ready to get out and have a good time, forget about their problems for a while, and enjoy an drink that symbolized wealth and stature.  The julep's history made it a perfect fit - in the days before home refrigerators, even having the available ice to make the drink was a sign of wealth. Combining that with the requisite silver cup, and the staff to make such a labor intensive drink was surely a sign of a very affluent family; and the additional bonus of being made with local Kentucky bourbon made it the perfect signature drink for an event that was fast becoming a symbol of wealth, history and class in the American South. 

We had our silver cup, we had ice, bourbon, sugar and mint - we thought we were ready to whip up the perfect mint julep.  I am here to tell you - the recipe for a julep looks deceptively simple! We even had an official mint muddling stick! We muddled our mint (basically smashing the mint leaves to release the flavors), we put in the ice and the other ingredients and we stirred... then waited for that classic super-frosted cup. Nothing! A little bit of condensation perhaps, but no super cool frosted julep glass. We went back to the trusty internet, pulled up all the recipes we could find and looked for something we had missed. Some recipes called for a splash of water, in addition to the standard ingredients - surely this little splash of water couldn't make the difference we thought? 

But we had nothing to lose, so we gave it a try.  Amazingly, we added the water, stirred vigorously, and behold - the glass iced, instantly and dramatically! If you are just interested in having the perfect julep, you can stop reading here, skip to the recipe at the bottom, and enjoy your fabulously iced silver cup (you're welcome....).  However, if you are like Christine and I and need to know WHY this works, read the next paragraph.  We were fascinated.... 

Full disclosure, as I write this, I am a science/ math nerd, but I tend much more towards the life sciences - thermodynamics was never my strong suit, so this is totally my lay person's understanding of the information... We figured that there must have been some sort of chemical reaction going on, so we started by hitting up the research chemists and engineers in our immediate social circle. Despite the fact that they all thought that we were crazy - because who really calls someone out of the blue to ask about drink glasses that "magically" frost - we hit on the phrase "heat of enthalpy".  Then we were off to the races, so to speak.  A google search and some reading later, we had it figured out (sort of)! The simple syrup (sugar supersaturated in hot water), the bourbon and the ice are a closed system with a defined amount of energy. When you add a splash of water and stir, as I understand it, several things happen simultaneously. The freezing point of the ice/water combination is lowered, due to the alcohol in the bourbon, this results in a melting of some quantity of the ice in order to reach a state of equilibrium,  In addition, the dropping temperature changes the solubility of the sugar in the simple syrup - just as you had to heat the water in order to dissolve that much sugar, the cooling of the solution causes some of the sugar to recrystallize.  Both of these things - the melting and the recrystallizing - use energy that removes heat from the closed system.  As the system loses heat, it chills the glass so severely that any moisture in the air (that would normally form condensation on the glass) actually freezes.  To create the ideal situation for a perfectly frosted julep cup, you need the following....

 1. A good recipe

 2. A full cup of ice so that the temperature balance works correctly 

 3. A vigorous stir

 4. A real silver cup - as silver is the best substance for conducting heat and cold

5, A good dose of Southern humidity in the air to provide enough water vapor to freeze

Because we are a bit artsy and creative (and have young daughters), in addition to being nerds, we took our new-found knowledge one step further.... If the freezing effect of the julep cup is caused by agitation in the system drawing the heat, it's the only natural explanation for the mysterious powers of everyone's current favorite Disney princess! If you have "Frozen" fans in your house, and have seen the movie as many times as we have, you will remember that Princess Elsa's ice "powers" grow and spin out of control whenever she is becomes overly upset/angry/scared etc. As her emotions swirl and her feelings build in intensity they seem to draw the energy from the environment - setting off an eternal winter in Arendelle. So as an added bonus to our cool drink experiment, we solved a Disney mystery as well! 

We hope that you have enjoyed learning from our experiences and that you will drink a fabulous julep as you cheer your favorite horse to victory in the Derby this weekend!

RECIPE

1. Place the leaves from 4-5 springs of  mint and 1/2 oz  simple syrup into a julep cup
2. Muddle well to release the oil and aroma of the mint.
3. Add 2.5 oz of your favorite bourbon.
4. Fill with crushed ice, add a splash of water,  and stir well until the glass becomes frosty.
5. Garnish with the mint sprig.

Cheers!

Stacy and Christine 

The Grasshopper: A Year of Cocktails - March

Today's classic cocktail had its start, interestingly enough, during a prohibition-era cocktail contest in New York City.  While I'm not so sure how you hold a cocktail contest whilst the selling of alcohol is illegal, I guess it's the fine line between creating and selling... Nonetheless, this iconic drink was created during the romanticized era of speakeasies and jazz musicians.  Philibert Guichet, Jr., the owner and proprietor of Tujague's in the French Quarter of New Orleans, created the Grasshopper for the above mentioned competition sometime during the 1920's (dates vary in the sources I found...). After his creation received second prize in the contest, Guichet brought it home, began to serve it, and it grew in popularity over the next half century. The history of the the Grasshopper, combined with it's electric green color, make it a perfect drink for a Mardi Gras celebration! 

Although Mardi Gras was yesterday, we chose this as our March cocktail because its green, frothy color also works well for upcoming St. Patrick's Day celebrations (think an adult version of the Shamrock Shake!) and as a general welcome to Spring. It's also a great replacement when you run out of Thin Mint cookies. 

Due to the strong mint flavor of the drink, we chose to play up the creme de cacao flavor by rimming the glass with semi-sweet melted chocolate (chilling while the drink was mixed) and topping with some chocolate shavings. In my book this created to the perfect blend of chocolate and mint flavors, and a very refreshing drink. We used the classic recipe (below); there are many variations created by modern mixologists, but Christine and I feel that the original has stood the test of time and does not need improvement. 

Recipe: 

1 oz. green creme de menthe    

1 oz. white creme de cacao 

1 oz. light cream

Mix all ingredients with cracked ice in a shaker and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. 

Share with us in the comments how you will use the Grasshopper to celebrate spring, or which variations you like best! 

Cheers

Stacy 

Lights in the Darkness...

Advent Wreath with Candles

As my 7 year old is fond of pointing out, we now get up for school in the "pitch black darkness".   Hearing her say this amidst the candles and Christmas tree lights in our house, got me thinking - where do all the traditions involving lights during this dark time of year come from? There seem to be so many different celebrations that include candles, coming from diverse backgrounds- from the Menorah (commemorating the miraculous burning of the oil for 8 days following the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks - read here for more information) to the Advent candles used by our family (used as a reminder to focus on preparing for the birth of Jesus - read here for more details) to the relatively recent Kwanzaa celebrations (focusing on the struggles and hopes of Africans in diaspora - read here for more information). While these celebrations all have a clear religious and/or cultural basis, there seem to be so many other seasonal uses for candles that have less clear or less publicized origins.

Santa Lucia Figurine

My eldest daughter has long had a fascination with "Santa Lucia" or St. Lucy - owing no doubt to our set of Holiday Celebrations around the World figurines.  Since toddlerhood she has enjoyed hearing, and then reading the story of young girls dressing as Lucia and bringing breakfast to their families in celebration of St. Lucy's feast day on Dec.13th. We never went beyond that though, to find out why St. Lucy was wearing candles and bringing food, or why an Italian, Catholic saint was so popular in predominantly Lutheran Scandinavia. Being me, this meant it was time to research, and share! The first question was easier to answer - St. Lucy was a young girl martyred in Rome, around 304 AD. She was killed because she was bringing food to the Roman Christians hiding in the catacombs and wore candles on her head to provide light to her path, as her hands were full of food - practical girl!  The answer to the second question is a bit dicier, but after reading multiple sources I would summarize it like this.... December 13th was the Winter Solstice in the old Julian calendar, and as such the darkest day of the year.  Scandinavian countries in particular have an extreme shift in their number of hours of darkness due to their closeness

St. Lucia Day at our house

to the polar region, and as such naturally had pre-Christian rituals and celebrations surrounding this transition from darkness to increasing light. When Christian missionaries from Italy arrived and brought with them stories of St. Lucia it was natural for the locals to connect that story to their traditions and she became something of a icon in that area, even following the Protestant Reformation. Also, as my daughter can attest - its fun to dress up in candles and deliver treats!



Vintage inspired candles on a tree

The tradition of tabletop candles dates to medieval times, and continues today in various formats worldwide.  In Ireland families gather around a large lit candle on Christmas Eve and pray for loved ones, In England and France, families often use a large candle with 3 wicks to honor the Holy Trinity, and in South America a candle is often placed in a paper lantern depicting scenes of the nativity. Among Eastern European nations, the candle is often blessed by the local priest before being lit at the family table. But the German tradition is perhaps most interesting of all.  Traditionally the German Christmas candle was placed atop a wooden pole decorated with evergreens or as a part of a triangular structure with other smaller candles. These traditions were replaced in the 1600's with earliest examples of our modern Christmas trees! These trees used candles as their primary source of light and decoration until the late 1800's when the earliest electric Christmas lights were used.

Window Candles

The custom of lighted candles in windows was brought to America during colonial times.  It has its roots in an old Irish custom, although it's unclear if it was brought to the colonies by the Irish or by English settlers that had adapted the tradition (which seems more likely to me for a number of reasons...)  During a time of English persecution that outlawed their religious observances, the Irish began burning candles in their windows to let the local priests know that their home was a safe haven to come in from the cold night, receive a warm welcome and celebrate the Christmas Mass. In order to justify the candles to English soldiers in the area, the candles were explained as a symbol that their home was open to the weary travelers of Christmas - Mary and Joseph. This generalized in colonial America to a tradition of lighting candles in the window to let traveling family members or other weary travelers know that they could find a place of friendship and welcome.  It also let neighbors know - during a time when houses were more widely spaced - that families were home and welcoming visitors.

Over time, the history of many of the these customs has been lost from general knowledge, but we have retained the feeling of warmth and welcome associated with candles.  I hope that you have learned something interesting, and will share it with others.  Please share in the comments if you have other holiday traditions that involve candles - I always love learning about other cultures and traditions!!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a joyous celebration of all your traditions!

Stacy

Up-cycled Garden Orbs, DIY - using Whiskey Barrel Bands!

Nowhere is creative up-cycling more prevalent than in gardens.  One need only spend a short time searching Pinterest to discover a vast array of ideas for re-using almost anything in a garden.  Of course, personal style always plays a large part in one's garden.  Today, I'm going to begin a series of up-cycled garden posts.  Lately, I've been trying to improve the landscaping around our house; now that we've finally moved past the large, plastic toy lawn ornaments, that seemed destined to forever out-compete any and all flowers for "pops of color"!

The first thing I wanted to add to my garden beds was structure.  I like natural elements, (rocks, logs), and also intriguing, artistic objects, (wrought iron trellises, obelisks, orbs, etc.)  It doesn't take long, however, searching garden centers and online retailers, to learn that those lovely, park-like gardens I dream about cost nothing short of a small fortune!  So, how to begin creating my dream-park on virtually no budget.....

Whiskey Barrel Bands

Well, the first piece quite literally fell in my lap, or perhaps I should say, disintegrated onto my foot this past spring!  A number of years ago, my husband and I had put in a raised herb garden using half-whiskey barrel planters.  Now, many years later, those barrels were disintegrating and falling apart.  It was time to replace/re-create the herb garden.  As we were dragging and shoveling the old pieces of barrel away,  and I was stacking their steel metal bands off to the side, it occurred to me that these could make cool garden orbs.  "I wonder how hard it would be to attach these together?", I thought.  Insert handy husband here, and the answer turned out to be, "not too difficult!" 

Here's how we did it:
Materials:

• Old whiskey barrel bands (2-6, depending on orb, and whether making a base or not)
• Pop rivets, and pop-rivet tool (very technical, I know)
• Electric drill
• Drill bit slightly larger than the width of your pop rivets
• Clamps, c-clamps or vice grips (3 or 4 are helpful)
• Bolts (if attaching to a base)
• Saw (if making a base)
• Protective eye-wear and work gloves
• Splitting wedge and heavy mallet (if putting a base in the ground)
• Quick-crete concrete (optional) 

Drilling through the metal bands

Step One:
The Ball.  Match up similar size bands.  For this one, I used 4-same size med-lg bands, plus two smaller bands for the base, (6 total).  Place 3 circle bands together so that they all cross at the top and bottom, forming a ball shape, (you can measure, but I just eye-balled it).  Mark cross spots with a pencil or sharpie if desired, or just clamp together with tight clamps at the top and bottom.  Make sure your bands are evenly spaced to form a nice ball (2 bands will make a more open ball).

Inserting pop-rivets through drilled holes

Once tightly clamped, drill (slowly and carefully, wearing protective eye-wear and gloves) down through all 3 band layers.  Handy husband used a piece of 2"x4" wood, or section of pvc pipe at times to help brace the bands from the inside while drilling.

Once drilled through, insert pop rivet through hole and pop into place with pop-rivet tool!  Repeat the process for the bottom cross.  You now have a nice banded ball!

4th band pop-riveted on

Step Two:
For this orb, I wanted a 4th band running around crossing the circles middles.  So, I took the 4th matching size band and placed it around the other circles, clamping it into place.  Handy husband drilled 3 more holes (one on each band of the ball-we only needed to attach it in 3 places rather than all 6 bands it crossed), and pop riveted it on.  At this point I had a lovely criss-crossed sphere, and in fact, am now in the process of making another which will stay exactly like this, as a ball, nestled on the ground among some plants.  But for this one..

Crossed base pieces

Step Three:
The Base.  I wanted to raise this orb up, like some of those lovely "park-like" garden structures.  So...I took two of the smaller circle bands and handy husband cut them each open with a saw.  We then crossed them in the middle, clamped them together, and like before, drilled, and pop-riveted them together.  This gave me a crossed base piece.

Step Four:
Installation.  We're getting close now!  I placed the 4 base piece points/ends where I wanted them in the garden.  If you live in an area with soft ground, you may be able to push them down into the ground.  However, here in the south with our lovely clay, handy husband used a wood-splitting wedge and large mallet to hammer 4 holes into the ground.  We then pressed the 4 ends of the base into the holes and filled around them with dirt.  Just for good measure, we also poured some quick-crete concrete into the holes with a bit of water to set it.

Step Five:
Final Assembly.  Once the base was in place, I set my orb on top and lined up where I wanted it to sit.  We marked the spots and clamped it on tight.  Once again, handy husband drilled out two holes each through an orb band and base band.  This time we attached the pieces together with bolts, for extra strength as the orb would be subjected to pressure from winds and we didn't want it to snap off the base.  And Voila!!  Up-cycled Garden Orb!!

Garden orb bolted to base pieces

I have now planted ivy at the base of my garden orb and am hoping to get it to twine through the structure as it grows!

This project is easily adaptable for more or less bands, no base, or other bases, wherever your artistic whimsy takes you!  I am already planning other orb incarnations with my left-over pieces, and would love to see pictures of yours!   Enjoy and Have Fun!

Cheers,
Christine

www.out2lunchdesigns.com