After retirement from floristry a few years ago, I felt the urge to seek out a hobby that would give me as much pleasure and enjoyment as I had working with fresh flowers and plants.
My husband for a number of years has enjoyed much of his spare time building miniature stone houses. Our front garden is now furnished with a growing Yorkshire village.
The landscape around Wensleydale is sewn in every direction with green fields like a patchwork on the landscape, broken into sections by dry stone walls. A regular visitor to the Dales once told me that what makes their heart warm and mind calm during the drive here, was the sight of the constant green fields and little grey stone walls that divide up the landscape.
I stopped to think about the dry stone walls that have stood strong for so many years and how sadly the skill is becoming a dying trade. I have fond memories of helping my father fixing the walls on our farmland and how important it was to keep them properly maintained.
With help from my husband I had a go at making a miniature stone wall planter, which firstly entails sourcing the right type of local stone.
I then have to wash, dry and cut the stone by hand with heavy duty pinchers. I build the planters layer by layer using a rapid setting cement, then I finish by using smaller pieces of stone for the topping.
The end result is then planted with either indoor plants (cacti or succulents) or the outdoor planters using year long alpines or Sempervivum. I always stress that the planters do not like lots of water or attention, they much prefer to be neglected.
I now also make miniature wishing wells for indoor use and a larger size for outdoor use. Each is finished with a special water tight lining.
Every creation is one of a kind, taking a great number of hours to complete for the finished product.
I do take commissions but would need to discuss the requirements for each client. I can be contacted by phone on 07961057820 OR email at mread@hotmail.com.