greensgrow update

As always, Greensgrow is an amazing place to hang out. I'm lucky to get to photograph this place.

diy succulent mobile

Note: This post was previously published as a part of my freelance work here

Obsession confession: house plants. You can never have enough. They are the silent companions, the life teachers, and the friends who will always put a smile on your face.

Double obsession confession: succulents. They will never get mad at you for forgetting to water them, and they look like Mother Nature’s coolest alien.

Now here’s a fun new DIY to celebrate the obsession and fill your house with hanging succulents.

You’ll Need:

-          Sculpt It (air hardening sculpting material)

-          5 Old Jars (I used a mixture of jars from spices and preserves that varied in size)

-          5 Inches of stiff wire

-          String

-          Pointed clay tool or safety pin to poke holes

-          Paint color of your choice

-          Paint Brush

-          Cup & Water for painting

-          Painter’s tape

-          5 Small succulents & soil

Directions:

1.       Taking a small piece of sculpt it and roll it into a ball.

2.       Being flattening the ball into a round sheet with your fingers

3.       Mold the flattened piece around the bottom of a jar.

4.       Polk two holes on opposites sides of the clay where you will feed your strings through.

5.       Poke another hole in the center bottom for string as well.

6.       Let your sculpt it dry completely. Part way through, pull it off the jars and let it sit to continue drying. The whole drying process takes about one day or two. Be patient.

7.       Once your clay is dry, tape off the top half with painters tape.

8.       Thoroughly paint the bottom half and let dry.

9.       String two strings through the holes on either side of each planter, and knot them the inside to secure. Leave the strings on the smallest and second to biggest planters fairly long so that you can choose how low they will hang.

10.       To begin putting everything together, figure out which succulent you want to put in which container, and line them up smallest to biggest.

11.       Plant the biggest container first. Then, pick up the strings so you can find where it hangs centered. Once you’ve found the spot, tie a knot and feed the strandsthrough the bottom hole of the next planter, tying another knot to secure.

12.       Plant your second to largest pot next and set the two to the side.

13.       Plant the next three planters on their own using the same method. So you will have one strand of two planters, and another of three.

14.       Hang both strands from the ceiling so that the hole of one hangs next to the knot above the other. Stick a piece of wire in the hole and wrap it around the knot of the other to keep them separated like a mobile.

15.       And you’re done!

oh hello, brooklyn. it's been a while.

I finally escaped to Brooklyn for a long weekend. It's been awhile since my last visit, and there were some friends that it was time to go see. Sometimes you just need to get away and find a new adventure, and sometimes you just need the comfort of old friends. I let all the worries of work leave my head, and just played. I was also able to work on some fun projects which I'm excited to share when the time comes!

One of my favorite stops on the visit was the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. My friend Dani took me there in the morning. We all know how I love my conservatories, but I had never to been to see the one in Brooklyn. On the plus side, theirs is free every Saturday. All that fun without spending a dime. Also, their cafe has some mighty great food. I opted for a fresh pressed juice that kicked me right into gear. I know you're thinking that my favorite part must have been the desert. It came close, but actually - the must see room? The bonsai room. Be sure to check it out. Each tree is truly a work of art.

terrarium workshop with terrain

We have these awesome things at work called "Brown Bag Lunches." There is a different topic every week, and the idea is that, over lunch, you learn something new. When we got the newsletter that last week's would be terrarium workshop I b-lined for the signup. 

So, on Friday, Chelsi, Melissa, and I headed to the workshop with Terrain. They supplied us with drainage (gravel), air & water purification (charcoal), nutrient rich soil, plants, and fun decorating supplies. We each bought a vessel and got to work. 

My terrarium ended up as a succulent arrangement with purple flowers (not sure of the name), rocks, and moss. What I love about terrariums is that you can really just throw everything in, and there is little chance that it will look bad. There are only a few essential things you need to make the project a success.

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How to make a successful terrarium:

1. Your vessel should always start with drainage (gravel, pieces of glass), purification (activated charcoal), and good potting soil. You only need a thin layer of charcoal, do not over-do it!

2. Do not combine succulents & ferns. Succulents like drier climates while ferns enjoy a moister atmosphere. They will not be happy living in the same environment.

3. Do not over water! Your plants only need a misting about twice a week. 

4. Stick to the rule of odd numbers, build a terrarium with 1, 3, 5...plants according to your vessel size. 

5. Do not place your terrarium in a place with direct light. They prefer a location with indirect sunshine.

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Good luck with your terrarium building! I can't wait to put more together myself. 

weekly scenes

Oh summer...sweet, sweet, summer. I've been working on projects like crazy. Can't wait to put some of them on the blog, and make a big reveal of the new place. For now, some shots of the other fun I've been having. Trips to new hope with my dad for father's day weekend, volunteering and running into cute pups, sipping on some ginger beer in the backyard while potting plants. It's been busy but good. New home, new beginnings. Summer, and lots of energy. God I love this time of year.