Making It New {Ultra-Sturdy Umbrella Stand}

One of the projects we completed this week was a stand for our patio umbrella. 

We had had too many "Da Vinci's Last Supper" kind of patio parties. You know, the ones where everyone lines up on the one side of the patio that is still in the shade. Like this...

And so we bought a cheery red patio umbrella to provide some refuge in the shade. 

But, lo and behold, on the first day that we tried to use it, the wind toppled it. (The young girls made the best of the situation, but still...) Heavy though it was, the stand was not sturdy enough to keep the umbrella upright. 

But this one is! 

We bought a large resin flower pot. Ron centered a length of PVC pipe in the pot, and I held it steady while he poured in some concrete that he had mixed. He left some space at the top, enough for some potting soil and a few flowers. 

The bottom of the umbrella post fits inside the PVC pipe.

He drilled a few holes in the bottom of the pipe for drainage, and put in a thumb screw to tighten the umbrella post.

Then we filled it with potting soil and planted some heat-resistant scaevola.

When we're not using the umbrella, it looks like another potted plant.

But when we need the shade, in goes the umbrella.

This baby is not going anywhere. We'd all blow away before that pot budges.

Edited to add:

Believe it or not (we didn't!), the first strong wind toppled our un-topple-able umbrella stand! We are tweaking the idea...maybe partially burying a rod in the patio, anchoring it with concrete. The PVC pipe in the pot will fit over the rod. I'll keep you posted!! We are determined to provide some shade on this patio!

Have you recently made something new? Adapted a recipe to meet your family's preferences? Remade old clothing into something snazzy? Reworked an idea to make it your own? Then maybe you'd like to pop over to Joanne's at My Not-So-Empty Nest to link up. (Or just go to see Joanne's lovely makeover this month!)