Creative Output - Gabriel Rabbit Topiary

A trip to the National Cathedral recently led me to a crafters motto:  "I can do that!"

Once a year or so, my family and I visit the National Cathedral.The Bishops Garden is beautiful and the views from the Observation Tower are unparalleled!  

There is a sweet gift shop called "The Herb Cottage"  and another inside underneath the church.  It was there I saw a beautiful topiary in the shape of a rabbit.

 The problem was it cost close to $200!  Whoa!  But that's when you say - "I can make that for myself"!  So home I go with ideas brewing and a search of pen and paper.

I decided to add a horn and name him Gabriel - the National Cathedral was the inspiration after all!

I bought wire and a pot from the hardware store and started crafting - and I nearly cut my fingers to ribbons!  I have made wire sculpture before but I used the lightweight floral wire instead of hardware store wire.

This is a fish mobile I made for my sister when she launched her jewelry making business Fishtown Creations.   And this is my Gabriel Rabbit - 

I filled the pot with potting soil and some ivy 'volunteers' from the backyard.  Well, they didn't take.  Spending $5.00 on two small pots of ivy wasn't a hardship - and the ivy's name is "Needlepoint"!  I like needlepoint and you thread the yarn in small spaces, perfect!  

I had one more problem with Gabriel Rabbit, he kept tipping over!  Everyday I'd come home to find the sculpture lying on the ground next to the pot.  I made his horn too heavy and long.  So I've cut it off, the ivy is starting to take - with a little coaxing from me on where I want the ivy to crawl, it's coming a long

Not quite the ivy covered creation I had imagined by the first week of August - but I was away for the month of July (please check out "Buttoning Up a Fashion School with Mimi" to find out why!)

 I will add a refashioned horn once the topiary has really taken hold.  When I do - I think I'll use this lighter cooper wire, easier on the hands and the rabbit!

Pam