My final artifact is a fountain birdbath, designed based on the cottagecore aesthetic as a gift for my grandparent’s mountain cabin home. The following images are the final product.

This is the timeline that I followed in order to successfully complete the project. 

The first design week was when I drew from existing inspirations and finalized my initial design sketches. On March 30th and 31st, I went to Home Depot to gather all materials that I would need in order to fabricate the project. April 13th was my first fabrication day. Here, I assembled all of the castings that formed the birdbath shape with various plant pots and saucers. I also worked with concrete for the first time on this day. I mixed the concrete solution with water and poured it into the birdbath base cast, waiting at least five hours before cutting away the external casting.

On Fabrication Day 2, I made the other birdbath pieces (including the two bowls and the components that help conceal the water pump mechanism), and assembled the pieces together. The entire project was treated with concrete water sealant to ensure future longevity. 

Throughout the project completion, I am very pleased with my ability to embody a cottage core aesthetic. Originally, I was going to make the birdbath a single-tier design, with a solar-powered water fountain secured to the center. The following image is my original design.

However, after finding a water pump to serve the fountain function, I modified the design to be double-tiered. 

I feel as though this design shift added a layer of elegance to the project, as well as water movement that is graceful. The way the water falls from the top tier into the main birdbath bowl is very peaceful, and the sound of the project itself even futhers a calming cottagecore environement. I am also glad that I was able to find a nice arrangement of plastic pots to form a base that takes on a curved shape.

In the future, if I work with concrete material again, I will purchase concrete that actually dries slower, ensuring that the solution can fully settle along the perimeters of its casting without leaving indents or air bubbles. My design did not have perfectly smooth edges as intended. However, I think this is actually a “favorable flaw,” because the rougher edges in certain areas create a rustic, dilapidated feel for the birdbath, as if it had been sitting in a garden for years and years. I am excited to give this project as a gift, where it will hopefully sit in a peaceful garden for a long time!