Last week I went to a local garden centre with my nan. It was nice to get out in the fresh air and we had a lovely cup of tea with some lunch in the cafe. The weather was gorgeous on that day, shame its turned miserable and wet again this week.
I couldn’t resist taking a few snaps with my camera, I was in an inspired mood and came across some vibrant imagery for my work. I fell in love with this draping pussy willow tree, one of my favourite plants. The ‘catkins’ appear long before the leaves on a pussy willow tree, and are one of the earliest signs of spring.
Since I’ve recently been working on a plant pot commission, I had a closer look at the detail on some of the pots at the garden centre. These pots would have all been thrown on a wheel, whereas my pots are all hand built using a slab construction method. I was inspired by these shiny colourful glazes, they remind me of a gushing waterfall with colours running into one another.
I found these ceramic garden ball ornaments interesting, they would look great with a few scattered around plant pots or to decorate a gravelled area.
<-- Check out these feathery little friends - or should I say large friends! Their feet were HUGE! I would love to keep a few chickens in the garden some day. At the moment there are too many cats around the area.
Aside from other ceramics, I also love glass work. These organic glass sculptures really caught my eye, but I felt a bit sorry for them in a way because I thought they weren’t displayed to their full potential.
The sculptures were just plonked in the middle of a table amongst loads of other items. And although all of the items were lovely in their own way, I couldn’t help feeling that they weren’t shown off well enough.
It turned out to be the same throughout the rest of the gift/ornament shop. Each item for sale was either bunched up with others where some became hidden, displayed on furniture which was also for sale and was difficult to get a proper look at because there were so many items covering it, and some items were even on the floor. It made me realise that I am more used to viewing such items in a gallery where they are more spaced out and made to look more aesthetically appealing. Most people working in a shop like this garden centre don’t have the skill to display items like these to their full potential and its a real shame because they are all lovely items.
I really felt like getting my hands in there and sorting everything out! Is this similar to other garden centres?
I always used to have probs in garden centre gift shops with the pushchair. Worried about crushing things. I think it's about getting out as much as you can rather than tasteful display. :o(
This garden center looks fun! There is too much clutter in the shop. I see 4 of the same cat on the floor. There's no need to have that many on display at one time. Their sales would probably improve if the shop took the time to organize! We have many cluttered garden centers in the States as well!
It si very cluttered. Its a shame when they do that as it is a real turn off – like a bit of a jumble sale, when in fact the pieces are really lovely.
oh dear, those photos aren't good are they! I can't believe they have things arranged/piled up on the floor for starters – I mean that's not a great selling position for starters, and it just looks cluttered and un-loved. If they just put out one of everything, it would also make it look more unique, as well as improving the visual side. just makes me want to jump in there and sort stuff too!
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