Alright folks, let me tell you about my “totem turkey” adventure. It all started with a simple idea: I wanted a quirky, eye-catching decoration for my garden. Not just any decoration, mind you – something unique and hand-crafted.
Phase One: Brainstorming and Gathering
- First, I scribbled down some ideas. I knew I wanted a turkey, because, well, why not? And I wanted it to look a bit…tribal. Hence, “totem turkey.”
- Then came the scavenging. I rummaged through my garage and shed. Found some old wooden planks, bits of scrap metal, and a rusty bucket. Perfect!
- My wife almost killed me when I “borrowed” some of her colorful garden stones. But hey, gotta have that vibrant touch, right?
Phase Two: The Build Begins (and the Cursing)
Okay, this is where things got real. I’m no master carpenter, let me tell you.
- I started by building the turkey’s body out of the wooden planks. Lots of sawing, hammering, and a few near misses with my thumb.
- The bucket became the turkey’s head. I cut out some eye holes (slightly lopsided, but who’s judging?) and attached it to the body.
- The scrap metal? That was for the tail feathers! I bent and twisted them into shape, trying to get that majestic fan-like look. Let’s just say it ended up looking more…abstract.
- Paint! I slapped on some bright, earthy colors. Think browns, oranges, yellows, and a splash of turquoise. It looked like a kindergartener went wild, but I kind of liked it.
Phase Three: The Stone Age
Time for the bling! Those “borrowed” garden stones? They were going to be the turkey’s plumage.
- I glued them onto the metal tail feathers, creating a mosaic of color. It was tedious work, and my fingers were covered in glue, but it was worth it.
Phase Four: The Grand Finale (and More Cursing)
Almost there! Just a few finishing touches.
- I fashioned some legs out of old pipes and attached them to the body. The turkey wobbled a bit, but it stood!
- Added some googly eyes for extra personality. Because every totem turkey needs googly eyes.
The Result?
My totem turkey isn’t perfect. It’s a bit wonky, a bit rusty, and definitely a bit…out there. But it’s mine. And it makes me smile every time I see it in the garden. It’s a reminder that you don’t need to be a pro to create something cool. Just grab some junk, get your hands dirty, and have some fun!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go apologize to my wife about those garden stones…
