DIY pet supplies - how to weave bird nests

If you take time to stand and stare, you will be able to sharpen your observation of the wildlife in your own backyard. Tune in to the various sounds that punctuate the quietude, and look to see what is producing them. Perhaps it comes from a bird, a tree shrew or a macaque. I have had the pleasure of seeing a variety of birds, insects and animals in my neighbourhood. Once, a family of seven civet cats was spotted climbing the gate and roof of my neighbour’s house.

All the pots of bird nest ferns (which I found in the cracks of drains and fence) hanging in the patio have nests pet supplies made by the yellow-vented bulbuls. Over and over again, they have been weaving their nests in my pots. One even has a double-storey nest! Apart from twigs and dried leaves, strips of plastic also make up the material which the birds use in the construction of their homes. It is fascinating indeed.

Hence, I took inspiration from the bird nests in the designing of this small basket. Put your eggs in it!

Basket

From flyers, magazine pages and florist wires

You need:

• A4 flyers/magazine pages -20 to 25 sheets

• Thin florist wires

• Rubber band

• Pliers

• Scissors and cutter

• Pencil and ruler

• Hammer

• PVA glue

• Ferns

• Craft varnish (optional)

1). Divide the A4 flyers into quarters along the length. Cut out the strips and roll them up into paper straws, with one end tapering.

Bird nest weaving instructions - diagram-1

2). Tie the ends of three paper straws together with a rubber band. Plait the straws together up to 1cm to the end. Hammer the plaited paper straws lightly to flatten them a little. Join in more paper straws to the ends of the straws to lengthen the paper rope.

3). Continue to lengthen the rope with 40 or more paper straws, hammering as you go along. When you have completed the rope, coil it loosely around your hand. Then release your hold on it.

4). Remove the rubber band from the end. Glue the ends of the paper straws together. Do the same at the other end of the rope.

Bird nest weaving instructions - diagram-2

5). Follow the diagram to place and press the rounds of coils of the rope over each other to form a circle, about 15cm in diameter.

6). Use thin florist wires to bind the coils together, threading in and out of the coils. Join the wires by twisting the ends together.

Bird nest weaving instructions - diagram-3

7). Twist two paper straws together to make another paper rope. Add another pair into the ends to lengthen it.

8). Turn the circle of bound paper rope over. Join one end of the twisted paper rope to the circle and weave in and out of the coils. Lengthen the twisted rope by adding more pairs of paper straws as you continue to weave in and out of the added rope itself. In this way, you are making more coils towards the centre of the circle, to form the base of the coiled paper basket.

Bird nest weaving instructions - diagram-4

9). When the base is finished, glue the ends of the paper straws together and tuck in between the coils. Turn the basket over. Press around the sides with your fingers to adjust the shape. Cut off the leaflets from the fern and glue them around the rim and side of the basket, in between the coils. Break the stem into two or three pieces and insert them into the side,

What a Practiced Hand You Are! So why not try to do the business in wholesaling willow pet baskets on Wickerchina.com - they're so similar to bird nest in making.