Whirligigsinsect

Our Happy Gardens wind chimes are some of our most beloved products, in part because our selection is so unique. Our collection has something for everyone, including mobiles for folks who love the look of a wind chime but would rather not hear its round-the-clock harmonies.

Of course, whirligigs can still be folk art-inspired even if they take on more urban or historical themes. We saw one piece that depict tourists enjoying a ride on the Ferris Wheel at the Santa Monica Pier.... one that shows an angel on an exercise bike... and another that reenacts Marie Antoinette's beheading!

So the whirligig began as a hand toy, but by the mid 1850s, whirligigs were more and more an art form. The pieces were increasingly made, bought and sold as folk art and yard ornamentation. Whirligigs were no longer just toys or apparatuses that announced wind direction, but token garden decor that depicted little details of everyday country living.

All of our garden spinners, windchimes and mobiles come with a 100% risk-free, money-back guarantee and a breathe-easy, one-year limited replacement warranty.

Anders S. Lunde is a prolific writer of whirligig-related books, having also written "Action Whirligigs", "Whimsical Whirligigs and How to Make Them", "Whirligigs: Design and Construction", "Making Animated Whirligigs", "Whirligigs in Silhouette", and "Whirligigs for Children Young and Old", "Whirligigs and More Whirligigs" and "More Whirligigs: Large-Scale & Animated Figures."

In this article, we'll cover just about everything there is to know about whirligigs: their origins, how they work, how to make them, what their purpose is, where you'll find them for sale and how much it'll cost to buy them.

Whirligig Spinner

Also known as buzzers, these whirligig toys were once made with nothing but clay, bone and hide. In the 1920s, they were made with a button or coin and a piece of string.

Of course, to capture the energy, you need the right conduit: a pinwheel or other blade-like surface. The bigger the blade's surface area, the easier it is for the piece to achieve terminal speed, even with relatively low wind speed. A pinwheel with tiny and short blades would require more forceful, higher wind speed to achieve terminal speed.

Significance: Beyond its goal to unite the bisexual community, this flag was created in response to the prejudice, marginalization and erasure of bisexual individuals in both straight and LGBT communities.

In order to truly understand a whirligig, we'll have to give you a little lesson in physical science and kinetic energy. Think about how a windmill produces clean energy by harnessing the power of the wind, and this explanation will probably make a lot more sense!

Significance: In 2018, blogger Emily Gwen recreated the flag, removing the kiss print and adding shades of orange to represent the togetherness of feminine and masculine expressing lesbians, as well as those who are trans or gender non-conforming.

Usually, a whirligig is propelled when the wind blows, but this is not always the case. Some whirligigs are actually powered manually, or by a motor or even friction.

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In recognition of October being LGBT History Month, a national observance of the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer communities and their impacts on society, The Daily dove in to learn more. We spoke with Mailey Lorio and Harry Hawkins, the assistant director and director of Case Western Reserve University’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center, to share the origins and symbolism of a handful of the more common pride flags.

Significance: This modern-day homage to Baker’s original design draws attention to the marginalization of LGBTQ+ people of color and trans people, as well as those who passed away from or are living with HIV/AIDS. A 2021 design of the progress Pride Flag showcases a purple circle within a yellow triangle–indicative of the intersex pride flag designed by Australian human rights advocate Morgan Carpenter to acknowledge individuals whose reproductive or sexual anatomy doesn’t fit typical definitions of male or female.

I love it. I collect beautiful Wind Chimes. They make my patio magical, at least to me 😊 A beautiful addition to my growing collection

Happy Gardens is a purveyor of thoughtful, unique garden decor and merchandise that's been hand-picked for people who love the great outdoors. Whether you're searching for the perfect wind chime or the most enchanting garden spinner, Happy Gardens is here to help. Every product we sell has been carefully selected to bring color, cheer and charm to your home and the homes of the people you love most!

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String whirligigs started popping up in China around 400 BC. These "friction" devices, which are sometimes referred to as gee haws, require the user to power the whirligig by rubbing together a stick and a shaft.

So, a whirligig actually captures and transfers the wind's energy into kinetic energy or rotational energy, which is then used to power the moving art piece.

Nostalgic publisher Dover Publications, which is headquartered in Mineola, New York, also has a variety of books about whirligigs. Each book is jam-packed with patterns, the directions are very clear, and many of the plans are perfect for beginners.

Best-sellers include our sunburst dragonfly staked spinner and our 15" feather wind spinner, both of which are made with flamed metal and enjoy five-star reviews.

Whirligigs are great family DIY projects because they require parents and children alike to think creatively and artistically while applying knowledge of physical science outside of the classroom or workplace.

While "whirligig" might look a little strange if it's your first time seeing it, the word is actually quite easy to pronounce: just sound it out. The funny-looking word is actually derived from two Middle English words, whirlen and gigg, which mean "to whirl" and "top", respectively. The first known use of the word the way we use it today was in the 14th century, according to Merriam-Webster.

It's also impossible to talk about whirligigs without talking about the weather vane, which is technically a wind-powered whirligig. Weather vanes are decorative and functional instruments that reveal which way the wind blows. These instruments were invented to announce wind direction around the same time in two different places: China and Greece, around 200 BC.

Also worth nothing: some whirligigs have specially indicated uses, although they still utilize kinetic or rotational energy. For example, some of these pieces are designed to scare off rodents and garden pests like moles. The kinetic garden decor emits sounds and vibrations meant to discourage burrowing that might disrupt gardening efforts.

Whirligigsplans

Our collections include a wide variety of five-star, special products like rain chains, bird houses, wall hangings, statuettes and rain gauges. We've also recently added merchandise like tote bags, wine glasses, coffee mugs and mini planters for bird-lovers and garden aficionados. Whether you're looking for an item to spruce up your own outdoor space or a marvelous gift for a loved one, you're bound to find it on our online shop.

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One of the most beloved books about whirligigs, "Easy-to-Make Whirligigs", is published by Dover. The book is by expert builder Anders S. Lunde.

History: In 2018, non-binary designer Daniel Quasar combined the rainbow flag with the Philadelphia pride and transgender flags to celebrate the diversity of the modern-day LGBTQ+ community while calling for a more inclusive society.

Interestingly, button spinners also made a comeback during the Great Depression, when there was no money to be spent on much of anything, let alone toys. These original and replica toys—both the button and friction versions—can often be found in craft, souvenir and secondhand stores near the Appalachian Mountains.

History: On Dec. 5, 1998, activist Michael Page showcased the bisexual pride flag as part of an effort to create an annual bisexuality visibility day. Page also created the flag to give the bisexual community a symbol comparable to the rainbow flag.

When people talk about whirligigs today, they are almost certainly referring to the folkish version. There's even a very popular Whirligig Festival in Wilson, North Carolina held every fall.

History: Designer Kye Rowan created the non-binary pride flag in 2014 to represent non-binary people whose gender identities does not fit within traditional ideals. Rowan also made the flag for individuals who don’t feel represented by the genderqueer flag—created by writer and video artist Marilyn Roxie in 2010.

While colonial whirligigs can be very simple, the more folk art-inspired whirligigs can be quite ornate. There is tons of inspiration online, including many DIY whirligig plans on Pinterest.

Have a question or need help picking out that perfect something for your home or garden? We're here to help via chat... or give us a ring!

If you want to check out any of the books before you buy, you can preview many of them right on the Dover website for free, thanks to Google Preview.

If you're looking for a classic whirligig, try an online bidding site for the best variety. After all, one of the things that makes whirligigs so special is that they are very, very rarely mass-produced. You could find something quite special, but you'll have to look. (Or, of course, you could make one yourself! There are tons of "whirly gig plans"—a common misspelling—online, and many of them are totally free!)

Whirligigsfor sale

At Happy Gardens, when we think of whirligigs, we think of our unique garden spinners. Our entire collection of wind spinners are modern-day whirligigs you won't find in big-box stores. They bring charm and energy to any and every outdoor space, and are available in a range of colors, styles, shapes and sizes. Each one relies on kinetic energy for power and will instantly become a focal point of your yard or garden.

Significance: Altogether, the colors of this flag aim to include and depict the unique experiences of non-binary people. Not all people whose gender falls outside the gender binary are considered nonbinary, such as genderfluid, agender, or multigender people.

A whirligig is an object that moves or spins, like a pinwheel, a weathervane or a spinning toy. Oftentimes, they are colorful pieces of yard ornamentation and usually boast rural motifs, even though you'll find them everywhere from New York City to a sleepy village in New Mexico. Folksy whirligigs tend to depict iconic, small-town tasks like herding sheep, churning butter or harvesting corn.

I have this on a garden scaffold for my clematis and wisteria. They sound great in my desert winds, and share the supports with several painted wooden cats I already have there.

Color meanings: Pink represents attraction to people of the same gender; blue represents an attraction to those of an opposite or different gender; and purple represents having an attraction to two or more genders.

Artists keep these whirligigs looking and feeling authentic by choosing folksy materials and colors, even if their finished pieces tell stories that are a little, well, different. The woodworking remains markedly vintage and handcrafted, the color palette features naturally-occurring, simple hues like red, forest green, cadet blue and mustard yellow. No piece appears factory-made or perfect; each whirligig has a funky, thriftiness to it that you'd expect to find in true folk art.

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Significance: Helms purposefully chose the pattern so that the flag would look the same regardless of direction, noting that this was symbolic of transgender individuals trying to find correctness in their own lives.

History: Monica Helms, a Navy veteran and transwoman, created the transgender pride flag in 1999. She later brought the flag to the 2000 Phoenix Pride parade, where many people showcased an interest in the design and its meaning. Today, the prototype is located at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Today, when you think of a weathervane, you probably think of a rooster-inspired weathervane whirling atop the rooftop of a barn. While the cockerel design is almost certainly the most popular, there are plenty of other styles, too.

To make your own folkish whirligig, you wont need much at all. Some scraps of wood, a handful of nails, and basic tools almost everyone would have in their toolbox already should do the trick. Of course, you'll probably want to add some bright and bold finishing touches to your piece using paint, but it's not technically required.

A whirligig works by using force (usually wind, but sometimes friction, a motor or a hand) to propel itself into a whirling motion. Folksy whirligigs are a moving art form in and of themselves; they use their own blades to tell a story. That's one of the things that make whirligigs so cool: their function is a part of their beauty.

Our Happy Gardens team, of course, has been searching for some weathervanes to add to our collection very soon! You can rest assured that if we set our eyes on a gorgeous, hand-crafted one we know our customers will love, we will add it our shop right away.

Our best-selling chimes and mobiles include the stunning shimmering bells with dragonflies piece, the sun, moon and stars mobile and this flamed metal hanging birds with bells wind chime.

Color meanings: Light blue represents the traditional color for baby boys, pink represents the traditional color for baby girls, and white represents individuals transitioning, those who feel they have a neutral or no gender, and those who are intersex.

History: In 2010, designer Natalie McCray created the first modern-day lesbian pride flag—often referred to as the “Lipstick Lesbian Flag”—which consisted of various shades of pink and red, a white stripe and a red kiss print. While some embraced McCray’s initial design, many argued it excluded more masculine-expressing lesbians and perpetuated stereotypes of “lipstick lesbians”—those who display greater amounts of traditionally feminine attributes such as wearing makeup and dresses.

Significance: Milk was assassinated in November of 1978, which led the rainbow flag to become a symbol of LGBT solidarity. The flag saw increased production and the pink and turquoise stripes were removed. Today, the six-striped version of the rainbow flag is recognized worldwide and serves as the base for other LGBTQ+ flags, such as the Progress Pride Flag.

Color meanings: In its current iteration, the shades of red and orange represent gender nonconformity, independence, and community; the white stripe represents a unique relationship to womanhood; and the shades of pink represent serenity and peace, love and sex, and femininity.

Color meanings: Yellow represents people whose gender doesn’t exist within the cisgender (traditional male and female gender identities assigned at birth) binary; white represents people with all or many genders; purple represents people with mixed genders; and black represents people who identify as not having any gender.

Nobody knows for sure the origins of the whirligig. There is a lot of conflicting information about the first whirligig. We believe the first whirligig was a button whirligig, a very simple spinning toy that can be traced back to 500 BC, when Native American children played with them.

How much does a whirligig cost? That depends. Most of the ones we found listed for sale on auction sites ranged from $20 to $50, although oversized ones or vintage ones could cost much more. If you don't want to spend a dime, you don't have to. Making a whirligig often costs crafters nothing, since most DIYers have everything they need lying around the house already—no American Express card required!)

History: Activist Gilbert Baker created the rainbow flag as a symbol of pride, diversity and unity for the LGBTQ+ community after he was commissioned by Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. The rainbow flag first appeared at the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Parade.

Color meanings: This flag uses the same colors (and meanings) as the six-striped rainbow flag with the addition of black and brown stripes, which represent LGBTQ+ people of color; and pink, white and baby blue stripes which represent transgender individuals.

History: It is currently unknown who officially created the pansexual pride flag, yet it’s believed to have come from an online pansexual community in 2010. The flag focuses on attraction and highlights distinctions between pansexual and bisexual identities since there is often confusion between the two.

WhirligigsBee Swarm

Significance: While bisexual individuals are attracted to two or more genders (generally male or female), those who identify as pansexual may have an attraction to all genders. In fact, some pansexual individuals consider themselves gender-blind and feel attraction to those who identify as women, men, both genders or neither.

WhirligigsBook

As mentioned before, you can find old-fashioned, vintage whirligigs at many craft, souvenir and thrift shops in Appalachia.

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Lunde, who goes by Andy, studied sociology in college and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Shockingly, it wasn't until he retired that he began woodworking, after his wife gifted him a book about weathervanes. He attempted his first whirligig straight away, but it was completely one-dimensional and did not work. Once he got the hang of the craft, he was off to the races. He continues to fill his home with whirligigs, and happily shares his plans for both jaw-droppingly complex and beginner-friendly whirligigs with the world.

Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community deciding on a flag for your next pride parade or a history buff wanting to add to your intellectual repertoire, read on to discover more.

Color meanings: Hot pink represents individuals who identify as female, bright blue represents individuals who identify as male, and canary yellow represents individuals who identify anywhere in the gender spectrum.

Since the late 1970s, the rainbow flag has been an international symbol of LGBTQ+ pride—but did you know that there are more than 50 different flags recognized by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer individuals, each with their own meaning? These flags can be found everywhere from pride parades to on display in Tinkham Veale University Center, but we may not always consider their historical context or cultural significance.

Our "Happy Tribe" of customers includes garden lovers from all over the United States. Some of them have turned their New York City fire escapes into outdoor oases. Others have sprawling lawns they've slowly transformed into a charming, colorful sanctuary. No matter who you are or where you live, you're going to fit right in.

Wind chimes, too, are also wind-powered, although not in the same straight-forward, technical way that whirligigs are. They transform a standard-issue front yard into a playful, inviting space enhanced by both movement and melody. And while they don't tell stories in the same way that folkish whirligigs do, they are still remarkable additions to any outdoor space.

I was so excited to open the box to see in person what these pine cone ornaments look like. They are sweet and adorable, just what I had hoped for. I ordered several to give to my guests as a token of my appreciation and remembrance for attending my 70th birthday party. I wanted something special for my dear family and life-long friends and these are perfect. I know they will love them because I love the one I bought for myself. I can’t wait until they receive them at my party in October.

If you're looking to make your own whirligig toys, you definitely can! As we mentioned before, the simplest hand toy can be made using quite rudimentary ingredients. To make a traditional, colonial whirligig, all you need is some string and one button! These whirligigs plans will help you tremendously if you wish to make a simple something with your children.

There's also a saying you may have heard of that includes the word: "a whirligig of time". This is actually a famous line delivered by Feste in Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night. The phrase refers to the maddening, come-back-to-bite-you, karmic nature of time.

The purpose of a whirligig, nowadays, is almost always for fun or diversion, in one way or another. An artsy whirligig tells a story and pays homage to country living. A whirligig hand toy is for amusement, too. Perhaps the only decidedly un-fun whirligig is the humble weathervane, which reveals wind direction. But hey, those can be pretty cool, too, if the designer is willing to think outside the box!

Color meanings: The initial rainbow flag had eight colors, including pink to represent sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit. Today, all of the original colors remain except for pink and turquoise.