5/15/2011

The making of my Garden Cupola!


My mind is always creating something. I think it's conditioning from growing up with our family money tight in the Air Force. If we wanted something, Mom would say, "If you want it bad enough then find a way to make it". Easier said than done, but we made almost everything it seemed.

Fast forward to adulthood. I have always admired the cupolas on top of barns. They just seem interesting to me and I wanted one in my garden. So this would mull around in my brain until one day a house builder friend stopped by, quite unexpected and gave me two old windows. They were rather large and I asked him if he happened to have two more. He said yes and that he knew I would make something out of them instead of just throwing them in the dumpster. Here is what I started with.
I also went to a garage sale and found a HUGE finial for only a dollar! If you can find these this big at the hardware store, they run about $15! So I called my young and cute handy, dandy handyman since the Hubby was busy and asked him to put together my vision.
I also purchased four sheets of the plastic look-a-like tin ceiling tiles and metal flashing at the hardware store for the top. The young and cute, handy dandy handyman and I made this cupola and set it in my garden. Some of the windows were busted out, but this works well for air to pass through and the wind to not be able to knock it over. This turned out very large and is taller than I am. But with the sky as my ceiling, I need larger items outside.

I placed a Bashful Betsy statute in the inside center and have a landscaping light shining on her at night. This looks very impressive in my back yard.


This is a dream that came to reality!
NOTE: You should be able to click on most of the pictures to enlarge to see further details.
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62 comments:

  1. That is so pretty...but of course, you always get a chuckle out of me over the cute and young handy dandy handyman. I still haven't found one of those. Insert sigh here!!

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  2. You're amazing! It turned out wonderfully. Love it!

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  3. It's amazingly beautiful - I'm in awe!

    Happy Metamorphosis Monday to you :O)

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  4. This is gorgeousness! I want one too!

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  5. I L-O-V-E this. What an incredible cool project that I *totally* need to replicate!! I would love it if you would link this up to my Marvelous Mess party....each week I pick one project to feature on my sidebar!! Here is the link: http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/05/marvelous-mess-13-and-features.html

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  6. This is great! If it had all the glass it would be a perfect mini greenhouse to start plants.

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  7. Oh Terry this is gorgeous!!!! I so want one of these!!

    Would love to share your cupola with a link back to your blog on my Discovering Beauty post if I could.

    bee blessed
    mary

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  8. This is so cute. I would love to have one of these beauties to admire. It is adorable. You did an amazing job!

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  9. You did an A+++ job. I'd love to have one of those in my garden, especially seeing how wonderful you decorated your cupola.

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  10. wow you have such a creative mind its gorgeous ;-)) dee x

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  11. This is just gorgeous! Your garden is really lovely & I totally want one of these for mine now. Would love if you linked this project to my Craftastic Monday party:)

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  12. I have seen a few of these over the past few years, what a great way to make use of old windows. I especially love what you did with the faux ceiling tile material. Very shabby chic. You did a great job and what a beautiful garden you have.

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  13. Oh, my - this is stunningly beautiful! i host a garden party on Thursday's & would love for you to share this post!xoox, tracie

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  14. OMG!!!...it's FABULOUS!!...how creative of you...may have to borrow this incredible idea....
    Mariaelena

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  15. WOW...LOVE this - better yet, i've got some windows, too! :)

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  16. It is beautiful! I am going to be a copy cat!

    Benita

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  17. Oh how CLEVER! And it really looks wonderful!

    Well done! And such a frugal way to have that dream come true! Congrats!

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  18. This is adorable Terry. I'll bet you had a lot of fun ;) making it too! Plenty of eye candy, eh?

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  19. OMG, you are amazing! This garden piece is so darned adorable! Just beautiful, wish I had one, but first, wish I had a garden to put it in. Darn it for apartment living LOL!

    Best,

    Kimberly

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  20. Hi Terry,
    This is so fun! I love the tin roof top, just darling :-)
    Happy White Wednesday:-)
    I am your newest follower:-)
    Bella

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  21. I love how that garden cupola came out. I made one out of old windows myself and have it posted on my sidebar. I love how you used the tin style things for the ceiling. Did you have to attach them to wood first. how hard was it to make the roof part?? I would love to know how they are all attached. Also I am going to scan your blog looking for your kitchen to see if I see any tole trays!!

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  22. what inspiration!!! I need one now!!!

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  23. Adorable! And inspirational! Can I borrow that cute young and handsome handy dandy handyman? *winks* Vanna

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  24. This is stinkin' awesome! Really gorgeous :) Thanks for linking up with us at the CBPH.

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  25. Love this, looks wonderful and great pics of your garden too. Thanks so much for joining Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays linky party :)

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  26. Oh, Terry, how I adore ADORE A.D.O.R.E. this!!! Beautiful and I can just imagine it lit up at night ~ try to take a nighttime pic for us sometime!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  27. LUV LUV LUV this, Terry!!!!! What a creative idea! I'm saving this one for my inspiration file - so thanks for sharing!!! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  28. Oh....can I ask how your cute handy dandy man put them together? Did he nail them or what? :)

    xoxo laurie

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  29. Wow Terry. That is a cool project and so well done. Glad I stopped in. Thanks for visiting my site and like you, I was in graphic design before my current profession. I was a fashion illustrator for an upscale department store. You can't take the artist out of this gardener. I love doing crazy graphic posts. Check out the tabs for gnomes and the Magazine. All different layouts with computer art.

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  30. Love this! Thinking I need to create one for my yard too! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  31. Hi Terry, Wow--you sound like a girl after my own heart. I make stuff all the time for that very reason. We never had any money..but that never stopped me.

    That is a gorgeous cupola! I'm totally impressed!

    Thanks for dropping by my homemaking blog and for the comment on my wildflower photos. :o)
    Donna @ Comin' Home

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  32. So glad you shared your post at Cottage Flora Garden Party! This is such a fabulous garden feature and i so want one! Wishing you lived by me to help me make it! xoox, tracie

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  33. This is adorable! I love it - I am putting a link on my blog to this post if you are ok with it - thanks for sharing! Paula from Idaho
    http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/

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  34. Great project, I bookmarked this page. I have old windows in the basement...but no cute handy dandy man. I'll have to do it myself!

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  35. Great job, so creative! It looks great! I'd love for you to come link up at DIY Thrifty Thursday at http://thrifty101.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-thrifty-thursday-16.html
    Michelle

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  36. Oh Terry, your cuppola is just adorable! It really makes a statement in your garden. You had a great vision which came into a completion....Christine

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  37. Terry, This turned out beautiful! How very creative of you. Thanks for joining my party.
    xo,
    Sherry

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  38. Gorgeous idea! Thanks for sharing.

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  39. Charming. I need to show my husband. He doesn't know it yet, but he wants to build one like it for me!

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  40. This is absolutely beautiful! Old windows are just wonderful! Found you at SNS...we both have entries.

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  41. Amazing job. Visiting from Tatertots and jello

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  42. Gorgeous!!!! I want one now. I just need to find some windows.

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  43. What a great idea and it looks absolutely stunning!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  44. This turned out so very nice! So nice when dreams become reality, you are truly blessed!

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  45. Hi Terry! What an absolutely charming cupola for your garden! So inspired and such a creative and wonderful project! Love it! Thanks for sharing this at FNF ~ have a wonderful weekend!

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  46. Hi. Found you via Cottage Flora Thursday. What a clever idea, just lovely!

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  47. I just wanted to let you know that I featured your Garden Cupola on my blog and I will be keeping it prominently on my sidebar for a week!! I would love it if you could link back to my party ( I just noticed you hand't) *sheepish grin* Thanks so much for linking up to my Marvelous Mess party....another one starts tonight! Please stop by and grab a featured button!! Here's the link: http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/05/marvelous-mess-14-and-features.html

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  48. I need a dandy handyman like that. You did a great job designing and putting this together. Turned out so wonderful. thanks so much for linking up with VIF!
    xo Debra

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  49. You've been featured at today's Craftastic Monday party. Stop by & grab a Featured On Sew Can Do button:)

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  50. OMG.....I LOVE IT!!!! You have such a beautiful garden...the cupola looks so charming. I have a bunch of old windows I have been saving for a project so I might have to build one of my own. Thank you for the inspiration :o)
    ~Des

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  51. I have wanted to make one of these for a long time. I have a collection of old windows, but not 4 the same size. Hopefully someday. lol! Love, love it!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  52. I love it. What a super charming (and creative) addition to your garden! :)

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  53. Love your vision, Terry. Thanks for sharing your charming cupola at Every Room In The House. You'll see it featured tomorrow. Nancy @ A Joyful Cottage.

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