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Driftwood Horses

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Earlier this week I posted about email images I had received, pictures of the amazing pencil lead sculptures of Dalton Ghetti. Today I’m sharing with you some more mouth dropping art, this time from sculptor Heather Jansch. Heather makes life size horses from bits and pieces of driftwood.

I first heard about Heather from one of my favorite blogs, Funky Junk Interiors, where you can read an interview with the talented sculptor. Since then I’ve seen her work on Stumble Upon and it has been passed to me via email. So if you see any emails containing her amazing work, be sure to reply to your friends and make sure they give credit and refer to her website. She’s written a book too, in which you will see some of her drawings and read about her early work.

When I was in school, I drew… horses. All the time. It was fun to read that this talented driftwood sculptor did the same. In fact in her profile she explains that she had trouble in school and wanted only to draw and be artistic. If you like the images you see here, be sure to visit her website and browse all the gallery images.

Visit the website of Heather Jansch and read the interview at Funky Junk Interiors.

 

 

Comments

  2. cool, we have a set of these built on the dry lake bed not far from us. They are gorgeous. A farmer also built some cows from metal rod sculpture, with one nursing and placed them out in the fields, very fun to see.

  3. I saw one of these yesterday on campus at Pasadena City College. I wanted to plant myself and just take it in… but I had a deadline.

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Have you read?

Building with Nature: My Experience with Natural Birdhouses

If you’re someone who enjoys DIY woodworking projects and has a soft spot for garden wildlife, Natural Birdhouses by Maria and Amen Fisher is a must-read. I picked this book up recently and have been completely inspired by the earthy, sustainable approach it offers to building homes for birds, bats, and even beneficial bugs.

What really drew me in was the focus on using found wood and natural materials—think branches, logs, reclaimed boards, and other bits of nature you can often source from your own backyard or a nearby forest. Not only does this make the projects eco-friendly, but it also gives everything a beautiful, rustic feel that blends effortlessly into any garden or backyard setting.

The book includes 25 step-by-step projects, all clearly explained and illustrated, which makes it accessible for both beginner and seasoned crafters. Even if you don’t have a fully-equipped workshop, most of these can be tackled with just a few basic tools and a bit of patience.

I started with a simple birdhouse design, using some weathered fence boards I had stashed in the shed. The instructions were easy to follow, and I was surprised how quickly it came together. Within a couple of days of putting it out in the garden, a curious little sparrow showed up—talk about instant reward! I’ve since bookmarked the bat box project and one of the insect hotel builds for next weekend.

What I really love about this book is that it’s not just about crafting; it’s about encouraging wildlife and creating a more natural, welcoming habitat right in your own yard. It’s a great way to involve kids, too—mine were fascinated by the idea of building a bug hotel and couldn’t wait to help collect materials.

If you’re looking for nature-inspired DIY garden projects that not only look good but also serve a purpose, Natural Birdhouses is full of ideas that check all the boxes. It’s creative, environmentally conscious, and a great way to spend time outdoors while giving something back to the ecosystem.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone into sustainable gardening, backyard birdwatching, or rustic outdoor décor. Let me know if you give it a try—I’d love to hear what you build!