How nice! Clematis texensis or one of its hybrids would love it.

I forgot the photo my husband took of me working barefoot in my shop. I am either doing a statue of liberty pose or thinking. It grew another half foot or so from this shot . but , it does give you some scale. I still need to figure a way to secure it for strong wind.

I loooove it. You’re so creative. And it’s nice seeing a pic of you, too.

Agree with Roselee, no vine. Too striking to cover up. Man, I’d love to come tour your shop and property. I love custom furniture (used to sell it) and plants — it’d be a fun time.

Are you sealing it with anything? I’m unfamiliar with this type of wood.

I have not sealed it yet. I should take a look around and see what I have. I am looking to let it go grey. I don't fight the elements. I always loose. I don't know my outdoor finishes. I had rules while working. Everything had to be done QUICK, roughly, no real finessing of forms and surfaces. It had to be slapped together showing saw marks but no glue dribbles. I even left paint marks that the wood came with.

Wow!!

Stunning, and lovely to see how well it suits the space. I think I would be tempted to just let it warp or flop in the rain as it wishes. I will ask DH about outdoor finishes as I also only know indoor finishes or marine varnish which is good if you don’t want outdoor wood to grey.

Marine varnish ultimately peels and needs to be stripped and reapplied. Not going to do that. I might just do thomsan's water seal. Exterior oils usually go to mildew quickly in our hot humid weather.

I am ok with some flopping but one flop has already been cut off and re done. It became really unsettling.

Love it!!!

What if you screwed 3-4 pieces of metal legs and sunk the legs up to the first piece of wood? that should make it stable enough. I vote for Thompson’s WS and I vote to give you a title of Texas creative cutie.

It's great!

WOW!!!! So much to say....thank you!

A bossyV, I was thinking of sinking some rebar that I have down on three sides and screwing them onto the wood with hardware for conduit. Hopefully it won't be too unsightly.

I need art in my yard. Yours is beautiful! The scrap Firewoodii might look better than the stools.

If it’s a good outdoor wood maybe it doesn’t need sealing, like teak? Or cedar?

If you can do that with just scraps, you could sell garden art for sure!

I love it!!! I'd leave it just as it is with no vines. It's ART -

I am in awe wantonamara...incredible.

You are so creative! I just love it as it is with no vine.

Fantastic Mara...and take a look at Tung oil - guaranteed waterproof - I use it for my cedar horsebox. 3coats every 3rd year... Doesn't resist algae and lichens either.

Have to agree - art is the next best escape...although I am stuck in the world of prosaic household woodwork, finishing the horsebox windows and new (ahem) 'kitchen'. Also rebuilt the doorsteps since it was the dodgy log steps which caused the broken arm and summer of spousal slacking - now come to an end. Still recouping the enormous debt of owed chores - in fact, I intend to long the passive-aggressive torment out till Xmas. Just oiled the worktops (with Tung, naturally). I love my Metabo cordless battery tools.

Every elder tree in the wood has shrivelled to a total crisp...and the humongous nettle colonies have vanished...so, silver linings.

Really amazing!!! I love it!

Firewoodii abortiana ssp. piscisfolia Such a creative Latin name to go with your creative artwork.

Mara, your idea should work splendidly

Another "no vine" vote. Beautiful!

Beautiful. Also vote for no vine.

OR.................a lacy, little vine that the beauty of the artwork would still be totally able to shine through.

That's beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Weathered or sealed that is marvelous piece of art. Those bar stools never looked so good in their former life. I hope you will keep us updated over the years.

I love this.