Have a Alien-infested Halloween with Thyrza Segal Plantscape dioramas

For a true mix of fantasy, polymer clay and airplants check out Thyrza Segal's plantscape dioramas at http://thyrza.ca. There are many photos to pour through and it's fun trying to guess which delicate alien-looking plants are real and which are clay. And most arrangements seem to be home to little clay monsters as well. Aliens are peeking through ferns, octopi are reposed on moss and some zombie hands are reaching up from the depths. Pretty dang fun.

Happy Halloween ya'll.

http://thyrza.ca

Mac Attack your Craft

If you happen to have an Apple Power Mac G4 cube package laying around why not beautify that clutter and make a terrarium? Check out the tutorial on Apartment Therapy unplggd.com. It's a fun idea but I wonder how many people still have these things lying around?

Apartment Therapy unplggd.com

A Picture Perfect Paludarium

Keri T. shares an awesome tutorial on paludariums on the DFS pet blog - which are apparently terrariums with land and water features. Look pretty awesome to me! I'm sure those frogs love it.

The word paludarium stems from the Latin words “paludal” (relating to marshes) and “arium” (a place of, or connected to). That is, an environment that combines both water and land. The real fun of a paludarium terrarium is showcasing a tiny, growing garden with living inhabitants, like fish or amphibians.

Tutorial on paludariums on dfs-pet-blog.com

Spooky Halloween Terrariums at countryliving.com

Here's another round of creep-tacular faux terrariums for Halloween decorating at countryliving.com. I like the bugs inside and the crow one is downright frightening.

Most years I love decorating for Halloween but this year- the inspiration has not hit. Maybe I haven't seen the right fake creature to make a frightful terrarium.

countryliving.com

Gardening Under Glass with the SF Gate

An article entitled "Gardening Under Glass" in the SF Gate covers all aspects of terrariums- with a great nod to Kat Geiger and a nice how-to portion at the end of the story. My favorite is the Terrardome (pictured above) designed by Ric Lopez. Would make a great coffee table centerpiece.

There may be no better example than Lopez's circular Terradome, which clearly nods to midcentury Modern design. The 19-inch-wide acrylic dome resembles the iconic 1950s-era depiction of a flying saucer. And though the Terradome ($85) could easily serve as the centerpiece of any high-design household, Lopez hopes it will also serve as an antidote for city dwellers "living in these tight, compacted tall buildings where people are piled on top of each other."

"Gardening Under Glass" in the SF Gate

Moss Monday: One ring to rule the [moss] and in the darkness bind...

Today we foray again into the world of wearable-terrarium elements. I'll admit that not many of the terrarium jewelry pieces impress me but the simplicity of this ring by Etsy seller Ildved coupled with the admittedly cool magnifying effect of the bauble on the moss is hard to resist. Medieval rock couture jewelry indeed.

Etsy shop of Ildved

Kat Geiger Repurposed Light Fixture Terrariums

Thanks to apartmenttherapy.com for sharing the latest and greatest new installment in Kat Geiger's terrarium repotroire. Light fixtures repurposed as terrariums with a great wardian case/ steam punk vibe. We had a porch light just like the one above at the house in which I grew up.

Kat Geiger Light Fixture Terrariums at apartmenttherapy.com

Museum of Outdoor Art in CO: Cabinet o' Curios

A.) The Museum of Outdoor Art sounds bomb any day of the week. Mental note: time to visit Colorado. B.) This may be the best time for the "curious" to go check out the ongoing show of curiosity cabinets. Terrariums are rumored to be on site!

Cabinet of Curiosities
Fri Oct 09, 2009 through Fri Mar 05, 2010

Cabinet of Curiosities is a whimsical exhibition showcasing the talents of 12 artists working in a new vintage style to create artistic worlds in furniture, cabinets, rooms, antique luggage, hand blow glass and fashion armoires. The juxtapositions of disparate objects is sure to delight the historian, tinkerer and armchair scientist. Among the many oddities, you will see Lewis Carroll's "Imaginary Cabinet Room" by Lonnie Hanzon, Nick Bantock's "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man" and Elaine Pellham's "Fisher King's Tackle Box".

Original cabinets dated from the 16th century and were entire rooms of specimens. The most famous, best documented cabinets of rulers and aristocrats, members of the merchant class and early practitioners of science formed collections that were the precursors to the museum. In Cabinet of Curiosities, MOA seeks to recreate the wonder and contemplation once aroused in the 19th century cabinets.

The Museum of Outdoor Art

Now this is a small terrarium by Tortoise Loves Donkey

So you think these wine bottle and glass bowl terrariums are tiny? Hop on over to the Etsy shop of Tortoise Loves Donkey to peep some truly small terrariums. I have seen some "pendant" terrariums with some suspiciously-dead looking green moss mashed in 'em but these terrariums are ALIVE and oh-so- miniscule. Hats off to you tortoise and/or donkey.

Etsy shop of Tortoise Loves Donkey

Wee Little Lamb

Spotted this lil' jar terrarium from Etsy seller weegreenspot over at tkdesigns-natureinspired.blogspot.com. I must say that little sheep is pretty adorable and it does add a nice scaling element to the moss.

weegreenspot on Etsy

Pincushion plant?

Anyone have any experience with the so-called pincushion plant? I friend of mine had one and it died. But the leaves remind me of Baby Tears and through comparison and deduction I am wondering if it would be suited for terrarium life? Those little orange fruits would certainly look cute under glass.

And in other news-- I apologize for the lack of content of late. Let's just say the GRE is a little annoying. However I'm still hurtling full speed ahead for grad school and hopefully I can make more time for the ol' blog.

Wordless Wednesday

LA Times

Spooky faux terrarium at poopscape

Just in time for Halloween- why not put together a little creepy jar of horrors for Halloween! One is a faux terrarium and the other is a "conjoined twin" specimen in a bottle. Check out this fun how-to at poopscape(lol). I have never heard the term of "wunderkammer" in regards to a cabinet o' curiosities but I'm loving the vibe of these bottled horrors.

When I was little I took a painting class at a community college biology room CHOCK FULL of animals in jars. I will never forget the 22" or LARGER horse FETUS in a jar. It looked like a sleeping colt and it had long eyelashes. The fact that it looked so peaceful was unnerving. Maybe if it had been a conjoined-twin horse fetus I wouldn't have been so creeped out by it.

http://poopscape.com

Moss Monday!

Moss on a tree- courtesy of Seattle Discovery Park.

I apologize I have yet to post some very cool photos of Discovery Park and the greenhouse at Volunteer Park in Seattle--- I have been swamped with grad school application stuff.

Soon!

Make your own terrarium kit at Beadstyle on Etsy

I have seen a few of these "make your own terrarium" kits which sell moss, soil, gravel etc. for you to arrange your own terrarium in a jar of your choosing. For a while I thought they were a silly idea but- it's true that sometimes you don't want to buy a whole flat of moss or a whole bag of the dried stuff to try out your first terrarium. Maybe this is a great start for a beginner.

Make your own terrarium kit by beadstyle on Etsy

Orchid Board 2010 Calendar Photos

My favorite from the bunch, see more here.

http://www.orchidboard.com/