Steps: 1. Build the frame for the table by turning a tomato cage upside down and bending the spikes perpendicular to the base to form the table (figure A). Construct the frame for each stool from another tomato cage by cutting the top of the cage off and using the long spikes to form the seat. This completes the toadstool table and chair frames.
2. Cover the entire frame with 1/4-inch wire mesh. Cut pieces of wire mesh off the roll. The size and shape of the pieces doesn't matter as long as they fit snuggly when tied down with twisted pieces of 22-gauge wire. Clip pieces of mesh off to keep them from sticking up too far. Create ribs of wire mesh on the underside of the mushroom. These ribs should be hollow and should form large cavities under the mushroom cap. The table should have a minimum of four ribs and a stool should have two or three depending on the diameter. The ribs make the top stronger and help to make its attachment to the base cover a larger area (figure B). Tip: An extremely small diameter stool doesn't require ribs.3. Mix the cement wearing rubber gloves and following the manufacturer's directions. Add water to the cement powder and mix with the trowel until the powder is wet, but will not drip out of your hand while holding a blob. Break up any globs of dry cement with the hand aerator and further mix the cement until it is uniform in consistency. The mix should have a thick pudding consistency. Mix the cement in very small batches because it will dry quickly.
Tips:
- Water cannot be added to the cement once it has begun to harden.
- Wash off gloves and tools frequently.
- The trough should be washed out between mixes to keep hardened chunks of cement out of future cement mixes.
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2005/12/20/hclvr161_1a_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2005/12/20/hclvr161_1b_e.jpg",350,450))
