Practical projects and tips for the backyard DIY fanatic
Scented Rose Beads: The French Alternative If your budget doesn’t stretch to diamonds and pearls or if you have children who would like some jewellery, scented rose beads may be the way to go. Beeswax and roses can be combined to make scented rose beads....
Funky Fish Tanks Qantas Amazing Australia While fish are attractive and engrossing pets, the tanks in which they live can be somewhat unattractive. There is now an alternative in the form of a fish tank with a very unconventional design. In Melbourne, Jean-Paul George...
Thingummies: The French Alternative ‘Thingummies’ is Jackie French’s name for candles with a difference. They are squat flower pots filled with a pool of wax and several wicks. They are a beautiful and safe alternative to a tall, single candle, as...
Recently Burke’s Backyard visited the town of Puebla in Mexico which has kept its Spanish heritage alive through its decorative ceramic industry. History Mexican ceramic ware or pottery has existed since ancient times, long before the arrival of the Spanish....
Wooden Model Builder Jim Pike visited the home of Kevin Sculthorpe a clever woodworker, who creates wooden model planes, trains and automobiles as well as boats, spinning wheels and merry-go-rounds. Kevin started woodworking as a hobby about 20 years ago. The models...
Although water features are wonderful things to have in a garden, they are very high maintenance. In fact, most ornamental ponds in most gardens leak. Don looked at a classic example. The water level had dropped and the water plants were dying back. The owners were...
On cold winter days or nights outdoor entertaining can be difficult. A good way to warm up outside, is sitting beside a Mexican fireplace. It is a round, ceramic fireplace, with a chimney which radiates heat in an area of about 20 square metres. Simply build...
An extra dimension can be added both to your garden and home by the introduction of interesting artefacts. However in the past the traditional garden gnomes, columns and Greek statues have not always suited the Australian garden. Now there is a range of newer...
Fridge magnets are a cheap, cheerful gift idea even children can make them with a little help. We showed two different types: a timber shape with photos glued on and sealed with gloss, and a stamped, embossed photo frame. Heart fridge magnet Materials Small wooden...
Our hands are our tools and often become ingrained with dirt and grime, sometimes impregnated with stubborn stains which are hard to remove. As an avid gardener, Jackie French knows all too well that dirty hands need a fresh and effective hand cleanser, so she...