The North End Loft: bird house

Jun 25, 2012

Pedestal Birdhouse Bath

Hi there, and thanks for coming over!

Today I'm sharing my somewhat rambling, roundabout, ~~saga~~ how-to for making my Pedestal Birdhouse Bath.

Back in one of my April Friday Finds I shared this beautiful turquoise birdbath made from a large candlestick and a pot lid by the talented and creative Gail at My Repurposed Life.

My Repurposed Life

I just loved it. Though I didn't have much hope of finding a gigantic candlestick like Gail's, I started keeping my eye out for one at yard sales and thrift stores. One day at a yard sale just around the corner from my house I found what I thought was a large brass candlestick but what turned out to be a hookah pipe. (That's The North End for you!) For those of you who may not have heard of a hookah pipe, it's a tobacco water pipe of Middle Eastern origin like this one.

The Hookah Connoisseur

And it was perfect for my birdbath base! Yay! I decided to try and let my shiny brass hookah pipe weather outside naturally (hopefully to a soft aged green patina) instead of painting it. But in my thrifty searches I couldn't find anything made of brass to match it that was suitable for the top part. I even tried painting a pie plate to look like brass.

But the paint turned white when I filled it with water, and it looked terrible; like a painted pie plate turning white with water in it. So I kept looking at yard sales and thrift stores for some kind of brass tray or lid.

No luck.

Meanwhile, earlier this month I made this little wood pedestal birdhouse for my front porch.

Pedestal Birdhouse

While looking for inspiration on Pinterest for that little birdhouse, I came across this big pedestal birdhouse and, of course, coveted one for myself. (Are you seeing where this is headed, because it took me awhile longer!)

Eddie Rider Designs

One day, as my brass hookah pipe sat outside alone in a corner of the yard waiting for its top, I was out fabric shopping and fell in love with a little rustic birdhouse that was 70% off on-sale.

And finally, my ~~not-too~~ quick and agile brain put two and two together.

plus

equals

MY Hookah Pedestal Birdhouse Bath!

It's funky and a little strange.

Just my style!

It took me awhile,

but I'm happy with the outcome!

Thanks so much for coming by to see my

pedestal birdhouse bath today.

I hope you'll stop by again!

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Jun 4, 2012

Pedestal Birdhouse and Tag

I've always loved tiny birdhouses on pedestals.

Awhile back, I found an unfinished birdhouse at the craft store for a dollar, and it's just been sitting on my desk waiting for me to find a wood candlestick for the pedestal. Last week I finally scored one at the thrift store and made my own pedestal birdhouse.

Cost: less than $3.00!

(Sometimes I think my pleasure in things increases
in direct proportion to the cost decreasing!)

Craft Store Birdhouse

+ Thrift Store Candlestick


+ Free Printable Tag from Lilac & Lavender

= Pedestal Birdhouse

I painted the birdhouse and candlestick with homemade linen white chalk paint, distressed them a little, and then waxed them with dark paste wax. I printed and mounted the tag on some sturdy mat board, dark waxed it too, for good measure, and tied it onto the pedestal with some twine.

And here they sit on my front porch with some flowers.