Scarecrows: Making Harvest Figures and Other Yard Folks

The biggest thing I took away from Scarecrows is that they are not just for Autumn or Halloween. There are designs in this book that can be made for any season or even as permanent decor throughout the entire year. Felder Rushing starts off the book with a short, but enjoyable history of scarecrows covering it's uses throughout the world and in early America as well. Add to that some background on their nemesis the crows, who were used as messengers in both Greek and Norse mythology. From there we move to the meat of the book, scarecrow design. Rushing provides easy, step-by-step instructions, including lists of needed materials, to make all of the designs in the book. We start with a very basic and traditional scarecrow using the simple "cross" design with two wood poles intersecting like a crucifix for the frame. From there you choose your head whether it's an old pillow case, burlap sack, paper bag, or any number of other options. I wouldn't suggest a paper bag if it's going to be outside in the elements for any length of time. For Halloween time you can even use a pumpkin as the head, designing and cutting out a chilling face to scare trick-or-treaters. Next, deck him out in some old clothes, stuff with hay, or old newspaper, plastic bags or even more old clothes to fill him out. Use an old mop. Foam, pipe cleaners, yarn or felt for the hair. The great thing about these designs is the flexibility of materials. It's almost guaranteed that you will have everything you need right at home to make a scarecrow. After the basic scarecrow we move on to more complex designs with different materials. How about making a beautiful garden queen for the garden, just right for the coming spring? You can make pose them in different positions by stuff the arms and legs with rolled up chicken wire than can easily be bent to make your scarecrow come alive and also serves as secure stuffing. You can make your own tin man scare crow from various sizes of tin cans that can be taped, glued, even strung together. You can do the same with clay pots for a very unique design. Among the most complex, but striking designs are those created by Michael Melle, and artist from Massachusetts that begin with a thin wooden or metal frame. Next the various limbs are tightly wrapped with hay or straw, all the way down to their fingers to create some very eerie straw people which would be ideal for Halloween. These are certainly more time consuming but also still quite simple. All the designs are accompanied by brilliant color photography including many full-page photographs. Simple, fun, and inexpensive are perhaps the best three words I can used to describe this book. Whether you want to go strictly traditional or add some incredible flair, you're sure to find a design that you'll love in this book. Reviewed by Tim Janson

This book is full of information, recommendations, and tips. Plenty of how to's. This would make a great family project. I have picked out several that I want to make. There is even a little history lesson on scarecrows. The pictures are great to look at even if you decide not to makea scarecrow.

I was captivated by the scarecrows and other serendipitous lawn creatures/people in this book. Some of course look rather complicated, but instructions are fairly clear. I appreciated the use of recycled or already-around-the-yard materials. Even small children could make some of these - the paper plate scarecrow for example, is darling. Obviously, many of the examples are not durable enough for harsh weather conditions, but a little additional ingenuity might fix that... A book such as this gets one's own creative juices flowing as well.