Corks and wire and wings and things

I'm a huge fan of Terry Border's work. So much so, that I've supplied copies of his Bent Objects book to a lot of bookshelves, including my sister's classroom. (It won't surprise you to learn that she teaches fine arts.)

Yesterday, my 8- and 7-year-old nephews surprised me with these fun mini-sculptures that were inspired by Terry's cork-person how-to guide. They asked me to "post our Guardians of the Vegetable Garden on the Internet so Mr. Border can see that we love his super-cool book." So, here goes!


Kristofer's chicken minds the broccoli seeds.


Alexander's dragonfly chases the inchworms away.


The boys' butterflies flutter about in the breeze.

My sister also added a few of her huge wire-work insects to the menagerie. She's been making these for years, and decided to add them to her sculpture curriculum this year. (Fact: give teens a lump of boring clay and they'll moan. Give them a spool of shiny wire and their minds will come alive.)


I covet this electric-blue snail. (Hey, Natascha, my birthday's coming up......)


Here comes the trippy grasshopper.


Spot the stick-bug?

Happy summer to y'all! Now grab a strangely orange snack, go enjoy the sun, tend your gardens, get inspired and be inspired!