2 Tiered Nest Display from a Tomato Cage

I have some wild grapes that grow in my yard.

I decided to re-make a project I did about 15 years ago.

Inspiration came from a magazine from the time called Country Business.

It was for shop owners and had lots of wholesale companies, display ideas, and business advice.

They had a display piece made from a tomato cage and grapevines.

The first one used grapevines from my neighbors. 

 They ripped out all their grapes and I hauled the vines to my yard.

By the time I did the project, the vines were stiff and I had to soften them by soaking them in buckets of water.

This time I was smarter.

I picked them fresh and stripped the leaves right away to use them the same day.

Next I dug an old tomato cage out of the greenhouse.

It is a bit wonky.

I don't mind. 

 I can just bend it and straighten it out.

I spray painted the tomato cage black.

Next I practice being a bird.

Let me tell you, they are amazing.

It is not as easy as you think.

I turned the cage upside down  so the top circle now rests on the table as the base.

I wove the grapevine in the  next circle.

Because the vines are fresh, this was SOOOO much easier than 15 years ago.

I love the little curly tendrils.

I basically used the whole pile I showed you at first to do this one nest.

You can see how the top wires are curled over.

Bottom nest...done.

Now for the top nest.

It is the same process.  

Just weaving and winding and wrapping.

I love this now that it is done.

You can use it to hold anything...

I love it.

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A Ballet Shoe Keepsake

Do you have a ballerina in your life?

I do not, but I always dreamed of dancing.

This is as close as I will get.

I found some ballet slippers at the thrift store and snatched them up. 

 I transformed this one with a little nest and some sweet touches.

It would look so sweet on a dancer's shelf or nestled among the branches of her tree at Christmas time.

To give it some shape, I stuffed it with polyfil stuffing.

I built a little nest in the heel with Spanish moss and some polymer eggs.

Beneath it, some tea stained strips of newspaper peek out.

I ran some newspaper through the shredder and then sprayed it with very strong tea.

  I turned it and resprayed it until it had the look I was going for.

The nest was constructed in a small grapevine wreath lined with delicate lace.

The Spanish moss sits atop the lace.

I love the textures...

In front of the nest, I added some natural sheep's wool.

You can see it resting on the polyfill here from the side.

I added a couple little blossoms to finish it off.

This would be such a great little memento for a dancer, her mother, grandmother or teacher.

I hope maybe you decide to create one of your own...

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