There was an adage in my first career as a doctor, that goes along the lines of ‘see one, do one, teach one’. Today, I saw a Youtube video where a copper tube magically became a copper rose. Me, being me, thought ‘I’ll have a go at that’…

Meanwhile, in the garden, I’d just been sorting through the solar lights that, well, still lighted up. Most didn’t and I’d kept the stainless steel posts that they were on, just in case they became useful. And because I had those, and didn’t have copper pipe, stainless steel roses were on the cards. Here’s what I made this afternoon. Each rose has a diameter of approx. 10cm and now takes me just 25 minutes to make.

the starting point

These were the solar post lights in question – after two years they had packed up, which was good going for just £2 each when I bought them from Wilkos. I initially thought they were aluminium, but the beginnings of rust put that idea to bed. They’re non-magnetic, which was a red herring, as apparently not all stainless steel is magnetic (just look up which pans are induction hob compatible).The steel was thin enough to cut with tough scissors, and with just a few minor scratches later, the tube was cut open and roughly flattened. More cutting out of the petal layers, a quick centre punch and drilling of holes and they were ready to join. I drew on my college course learning at this point to do some cold riveting with some brass tube. Shaping with round nosed pliers was the last step.

I have in mind to make several more, and to join them together onto a hanging basket to make a metal rose sphere. That’s if the scissors hold out…