Flowery art can either be kinda cheesy, or really cool. It’s really a fine line.
I think Anne Ten Donkelaar won this bet! Her pieces are 3D collages made from pressed flowers and cut out flower pictures. They float, which gives them an ethereal feel, making you wish you were really tiny and could walk around the flowery scenes.
Just awesome.
Via } Design*Sponge
Filed under Art, Gardening - Nature, Handmade, Paper
This weekend, I was looking at the Cargoh (a BC Canadian company) newsletter when I noticed the big banner on Patch (also a BC Canadian company).
How wonderful is this product, seriously! Patch is basically a year-round indoor herb gardening system. Obviously, other eatables can be grown in them (such as lettuce, for example), and obviously, you can also put them outside (everything is washable) on your small city balcony in the summer.
The system ” “self waters” by using a technique called sub irrigation, which allows the water to enter the soil through capillary action”, how practical!
Also eco-friendly, the “Patch herb planter body is made with Tyvek (a HDPE), which has all the properties of paper film and fabric. It’s fully recyclable, washable, and stain resistant. The interior components are made of PP #5. All of these components are fully recyclable.” They ship flat (simple assembly instructions are added to your package), so that is also cost and space efficient as far as shipping goes.
3 styles are offered, as well as a price for a 3-pack to make you save a little compared to a single planter purchase!
Also, customer service is totally top notch. I emailed a question, and within 4 hours, Kent Houston himself (the founder and CEO) replied to me with the info. How wonderfully great is that, right!?
Lightly said, I am in love with Patch already, hence, I will go order 3 right this second. ;)
(And I’ll make sure to update you guys on how it all unfolds in my actual home!)
Filed under Canadian, Eco-Friendly, Gardening - Nature
My plants taking basically a third of my dining table…
My avocado tree, I started it from the pit (pretty proud!).
It’s down right mid-winter and I miss gardening outside already. Sheesh!
To compensate, I’ve been tending to my indoor plants. This is a somewhat new skill I’m trying to acquire, since I’ve always been much better tending for outdoor greenery (veggies and herbs mostly). I have no idea why, but that always seemed much easier to me.
“Haworthia Attenuata” and “Haworthia Cooperi”.
My “Moon Valley” plant, when I first got it 2 years ago. Look at it now, in the 1st picture!
Some I have quite mastered, as far as caring for them goes. My avocado tree (started it from the pit) is looking quite good (altho it’s having falling leaves issues right now, but I’m guessing it’s only because of the winter season). My two “Haworthias” are growing slowly but surely. All my succulents are going crazy… And my “Moon Valley” plant is actually growing way too much, making it sparse… I will have to do cuttings soon and start another one to replace it.
Out of control “Baby Tears” plant (porcelain planter I made in a class).
Others seem to just not want to cooperate… My friend Paule gave me (not once, but twice) cuttings from her “Elephant’s Food” plant, and both times they died on me… Now, I did a bit a of research on how to deal with those cuttings, hopefully next time I’ll get the hang of it! Also, my “Baby Tears” plant is a bit out of control, I will need to learn to trim it properly…
“Spider” plant & terrarium by Crown Flora.
Air plant and moss, a terrarium by Crown Flora.
Also, I recently purchased a terrarium, in a beautiful drop shaped glass globe, from Crown Flora. Paired with a “Spider” plant (made that ceramic pot in a pottery class!), and with added chains and metal links, it makes for a beautiful floating duo I think!
As you can see in the picture below (don’t mind the mess to the right, I have a work-supplies-storage-issue…), I kinda need to hide the cat litter box in some kind of way in that corner… Not quite the most beautiful thing to look at, to say the least! I was thinking of a plant ladder, but it’s going to be hard to find one larger in the bottom that the box, without a step on the bottom, and also, one that won’t crowd my hanging planters on top either… Any ideas for me perhaps?
That’s that for my home’s small indoor gardening tour! :)
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature, Handmade, My Life
This is for those of you who like the idea of having plants, but for who the green thumb doesn’t seem to stick around long enough for them to survive your presence. lol!
Waterstone Succulents basically offers succulent plants as sculptures, container included. From white to gold to silver, even offered in a couple of neon colors, you wont have to worry about watering, promise! :)
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature, Handmade
I love terrariums. Once, a few years back, I did a couple with moss, but then I over watered. Yeah, learning curve was too steep! lol! Now, I think I’m ready to try again!
These geometric glass containers by ABJ Glasswork are just the thing! (They could also be stylish pocket emptiers?) They are simple to let plants inside shine, yet have a definite presence in a room. Affordable, too! And we like that.
I might treat myself eventually. In the meantime, my aunt recently gave me my grandmother’s vintage faceted glass candy jar, with lid (see below). I think it could be just perfect to try my hand at terrariums once again! To be followed… ;)
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature, Handmade
In the world of planters, you will find all kinds of pots and colors and shapes and sizes. No problem there.
If you’re a not-so-green thumb, and are one to forget to water your plants in a not-too-often-but-often-enough manner, you’re in trouble. Your plants might be pretty in their fabulous planters, but they just wont water themselves.
Sure, you can add a watering bulb, but it kills the overall aesthetics of your plants… (I’m sorry, but all the ones I’ve seen are just not cute. If anyone found some stylish ones, I’ll gladly discover them! Comment with a link!) ;)
So, Joey Roth created a planter that feeds itself (for a while, anyway). The unglazed earthenware used is porous, which means that the water you put in the middle will automatically transfer to the soil when needed. And since the planter is all the same material and color, it doesn’t destroy the look! WANT! ($45USD pre-order)
Check out his website for more pictures, and more products (like this fab teapot, seen under!).
Via } Design*Sponge
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature, Handmade
French architect Patrick Nadeau likes to work with greenery when designing. His pieces are a blend between useful object and artistic design. What he suggests enhances plants and living beings, while keeping the object very present in the mix. Loving it!
Via } Design For Mankind
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature
Over at Ingleside, they create pottery pieces, while clearly thinking about nature. Suspended planters for moss and air plants, I like.
Contact the seller for out of the US shipping quotes! :)
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature, Handmade, Pottery & Clay
With this unusual weather (30 degrees celcius (86F) in Montreal today?) for March, it’s giving me the green itch. I feel like gardening and all, which is obviously too quick of a move.
However, I can always indulge in a little green lust with Tiny Terrains. Lovely glass globes contain cute little worlds of moss, rocks, branches, sand, seashells!
Now, if you are outside of the US, because of some laws, living plants are not shippable… But perhaps you could always order the rest of the piece and add your own moss. Just sayin’. ;)
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature, Handmade
A friend had shared this on Facebook, and I fell in love instantly!
Handmade glass terrariums, check!
Geometric shapes, check!
Fabulously dreamy example photos, CHECK!
Score+Solder definitely knows how to entice me.
Even just with their logo (which is perfect).
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature, Handmade
LBRANDterraria offers these wonderful glass globes featuring air plants, moss, rocks, sand, figurines!
Beautiful little modern worlds you can get your thoughts lost into as you gaze for hours! Just perfect since winter is lurking around the corner and green will become white… Here in Montreal anyway! :)
Filed under Decor - Object, Gardening - Nature, Handmade
Mushroom Ceramic Bird House, by MudPuppy.
Spring is here and little birdies are singing along all day while you work… And we love that, right? ;)
Why not take care of them to make sure we keep them around? Little bird houses and feeders will do the trick!
Birdfeeder 111, by Joepapendick.
Whimisical Bird House, by Clocksandwoodart.
Ceramic Acorn Bird House, by Birdartist.
Reclaimed Cedar Wren Bird House, by Andrew’s Reclaimed.
Bees and bats and butterfly houses and feeders also available, anyone? :)
In the Forest Stoneware Bird House, by Kylieparry.
Reclaimed street lights bird feeder, by Redyellowandblueink.
Hanging Bird Feeder, by LeaningOaksCeramics.
Whimsical Bird House, by Rose4aname.
Filed under Gardening - Nature, Handmade
Un vélo tout vieux-neuf d’un mois agé dont je ne peux plus me passer…
Et puis j’ai pédalé dans les p’tits sentiers déserts du parc d’automne montréalais. C’était pas trop chaud et pas trop froid. Ça sentait le feu de foyer et les feuilles qui sèchent, ces p’tites feuilles qui fesaient de la musique dans mes oreilles en tombant.
Ça sentait quasiment l’automne comme chez nous.
Et pendant un moment j’ai eu un serrement de coeur torturant, des larmes aux yeux et des flashbacks plein la tête qui me criaient après pour me confirmer à quel point je m’ennuie…
Après 10 ans de vie montréalaise, je me croyais bien assimilée. Et tout d’un coup cette année, pour la enième fois depuis l’été, l’assimilée ne l’est plus tout à fait et pleure le bon vieux temps du bois, couchée dans les feuilles oranges et brunes et rouges, avec un vent frais qui sent trop bon et se grave dans sa mémoire pour la torturer ensuite.
Automne montréalais, reste. Reste. Tu es ce qui ressemble le plus à chez moi…
———-
Ça fait 3 fois en 2 semaines qu’on me rapelle que je n’écris presque plus de billets en français sur mon blogue. Et vous avez raison! Je ne garanti rien, et ce sera probablement des billets plus personnels que de découverte, mais ça me tente de nouveau! Ma vie est tellement et totalement anglo depuis juin, ça me manque un peu! ;)
Filed under Gardening - Nature, Québécois
2 weeks ago I decided to try out making some terrariums after a weekend in the woods! I collected a few moss types and the next day I tryed it out in old jelly jars with the help of a few tutorials I found on the Web.
Now 2 weeks later, they are still in good shape! I’m not sure if they’ll hold on tight forever or what, but it’s a good sign as of now.
With that said, I kinda got obsessed, and I’m thinking I’m going to try to make more to offer some in upcoming shows in October and on holidays in Montreal — hopefully, if I get accepted –.
I browsed around Etsy a bit to find items I could add to them — for the big ones — to make them like little unique worlds, and I found these items that I just adore!!
Some handmade picket fencing. How much cuter can it get?
It can with some cute little farm animals, of course!
What you think? :)
Filed under Gardening - Nature, Handmade
I found myself not able to stop putting pictures in here for this post! I just love terrariums, they seem so pretty and peaceful and from simply another world.
I’m planning on doing some terrariums for myself soon (try to, at the very least), with moss, in tiny glass candle jars (I’m addicted to ajscountrycottage‘s candles!! They actually smell a lot (love that!) and she has many fruity scents (I prefer fruity!)). The little jars are perfect for tiny worlds! Plus, I don’t want to reuse them only for bead storage, they are too cute (lol!).
With that said, if you don’t wanna try it yourself, but want a precious greenery, have a look at TheOakLeaves‘ shop! She offers plenty of already stable terrariums (a few months old), all tiny and all mossy. She has sold 12 of them in 2 months, so go choose yours now!
(The shop indicates shipping to the US only, but perhaps by asking it could be done in Canada? Try it, we never know!)
Filed under Gardening - Nature, Handmade
Creativadoration 