Life In A Fishbowl- DIY Terrarium!

from Teeny Tiny Things on Etsy: can be found HERE

Two lovely ladies influenced this post, and really got me off of my derriere to make it happen! I've been wanting to make a terrarium for awhile now but had NO idea how to do it or where to even start!! So, first Coral at SLOmygosh posted this little lovely on her blog, which got me to thinking that I might be able to actually pull this off! Then weeks later I spy this post by my friend Leslie on her blog: Splendid Things... One look at those miniature gnomes and toadstools and I was HOOKED! I mean, I knew that  making a terrarium was now top priority for my Sunday craft project!! It was ON!!!



So here we go. I highly suggest you head over to SLOmygosh for the tutorial, cuz she explains exactly what you need in list form that makes it really EASY!!!!! (plus she links you to websites and information on plants best suited for terrarium life!)

hey there! i'm just chillin' in my terrarium, no biggie!

Here's what I did:

Terrarium no. 1:

All of my supplies. Scottish Moss, Irish Moss, mini Thyme,  mini terra cotta pot, some small indoor house plants, rocks, activated charcoal and of course the containers!! 

with rocks already placed in the bottom, I added a layer of activated charcoal

activated charcoal in place, and now adding a layer of soil

the finished product of the first terrarium 

a close up of the mini terra cotta pot with the miniature thyme. 

 Terrarium no. 2:

I'm lucky enough to have purchased this fancy candle holder that looks like a mini conservatory from Pottery Barn about 8 years ago. It now has a new life!!

detail of my miniature toadstools in terrarium no. 2

Terrarium no. 3:

this one was done in another candle holder (although this is quite large)- this is what I love about terrariums: Any glass container will do!!

detail of terrarium no. 3 with miniature toadstools and close up of the gorgeous colored wee pebbles used in this one.

terrarium no. 3 in it's place. sigh, it makes me feel peaceful just looking at it!!!

 Are you ready to make your own??? Skies the limit with these mini worlds! I'm already planning my next one, I just have to figure out where to put it!!!!  I am REALLY coveting THIS TERRARIUM and am currently on the lookout for a lidded container like the one in the tutorial to make my dreams come true!! I mean, I want it exactly, well... with the exception of an aqua geode instead of the pink one cuz that's how I roll!

Head on over to SLOmygosh and give her a shout out! Let us know if you are inspired and get into the fantastic world of terrarium gardens too!!! I know we'd both love to hear from you!!

next up for me: a lovely lidded garden a la "Making it Lovely".

What goes with toadstool and gnome filled terrariums, you ask? Swedish CLOGS!

Chillin' with my Gnomies

I'd love to take credit for the title but the good people at LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics came up with that Holiday 2010. They had me at Gnomie- but more on that in the captions later....

First I have to say that this blog was inspired by Coral, the lovely author of  SLOmygosh one of my favorite blogs this side of the Atlantic! The post that inspired this can be found here. 

So, why gnomes you ask? My obsession/love affair with gnomes (and all things whimsical) began as a small child when I found this book on my parents bookshelf. I have my parents to thank for a lot of the things I love, but my first foray into the whimsical was found in their collection of books, including Gnomes (the aforementioned book), as well as Faeries by Brian Froud & Alan Lee, and another absolute favorite, The Faeries Pop Up book, featuring the artwork of both Brian Froud and Alan Lee- which I paid an arm and a leg for, so no, you can't borrow it! :)

Anyway, after reading that book I was convinced they were real. When I was old enough to know that they sadly weren't real and living in my garden, tending to my plants- I decided it was okay to indulge my little fantasy with tastefully placed lawn art without being the "crazy gnome lady" down the street. So began the controlled obsession. (You've really got to know where to look for these little guys- they hide in plain sight)

The cover of Gnomes- the book that started it all!!

L-R top: My gnome juicer- which is untouched and will probably stay that way- I can't bear to squash an orange on his head!,  Woodland Garden gnomes: Arnold and Sarah get married (in my geraniums and getting sun bleached ),
L-R bottom: Woodland Garden: Adam with butterfly, and a Christmas gnome I found a few years ago.

Left top: My gnome slippers!! I had to finally toss these out. Left bottom: The wrapping paper from my LUSH Chillin' with my Gnomies holiday 2010 gift set- which, yes I admit, I bought just because it has gnomes on the paper and was called Chillin' with my Gnomies- I did happen to like what was inside too! (and yes, I DO still have the wrapping paper!!)
Middle: my Woodland Gardens Gus, the original gnome.
Right: my wee house plant gnome- a housewarming gift from a dear friend who totally feeds my addiction!

My new gnome watering can! This little gem would have escaped my notice without Coral- for better or worse! Haha!

and lastly this cheeky little guy! (who isn't a Woodland Gardens gnome)

I can hear it now, you're dying to ask if I watched Gnomeo and Juliet, loved it and bought it to watch all the time: Yes, not really and no. It was cute- we'll just leave it at that. But I will admit I was secretly excited when I heard about it, I so wanted to love it- but I'm more of Tim Burton kind of gal when it comes to animation, give me The Corpse Bride any day.