Add Some Personality To Your Plants With DIY Face Pots. Here's The Instructions And Supplies To Make Your Own.

Face Pots (which ought to be called Face Plants - at least in the US for the double entendre) are a charming and funny idea that you can easily make yourself. They make great gifts and party centerpieces. Depending on your choice of plant, the foliage makes hilarious " hair."






How To Make Them:


Links to all you need to make your own:
•Various Houseplants
•Clear Plastic Plants Pots
•Classic Plant Pot
•Photo Printer Paper
•Potting soil


This great do-it-yourself idea was conceived of by Kazakhstan's independent creative marketing and pr agency GOOD! who is the source of the images.

Ad Campaign For Plant For The Planet by Legas Delany Hamburg Uses Cut Leaf Art.

This latest print campaign for the Germany based organization Plant For The Planet was created by Legas Delany of Hamburg (who was also responsible for their large "Stop Talking, Start Planting" campaign) and utilizes the talents of artist Lorenzo Duran. Duran takes the art of leaf-carving and gives it an environmental spin in these three ads by illustrating common causes of CO2 emissions.



Plant For The Planet is an awareness raising global campaign, realized without any budget. You can help them in their fight for climate justice in the following three ways:
1. Become a fan on Facebook
2. Invite your friends to spread the word.
3. Start your own group


For more information visit www.plant-for-the-planet.org

Lorenzo Duran does sell his one of a kind cut leaf silhouettes, some of which are shown below, on his blog. If the leaf is already sold, he'll be happy to recreate it for you.





Plant For The Planet


If you like leaf-related art , you should check out:

Those Crazy Leaf Carvings; What, How & Where To Buy Or Create Custom Ones.

Now You Can Picnic Indoors All Year Round. The picNYC Table with Real Grass.

Designed by Haiko Cornelissen Architects, the picNYC table has a 7' x 3' real grass sod table top bringing the outdoors in. The ants are optional.



Urban farming is a fast growing phenomenon where the typically rural practice of agriculture is brought into the city. The picNYC table goes one step further and brings the rural experience of picnicking not just into the city, but into the apartment.



The folded lightweight aluminum table top and legs form a stiff framework for the grass, soil and stones (needed for drainage). The picNYC table creates a surreal experience of nature in the city that literally transforms dining. Suddenly spilling water becomes a necessity instead of a problem, wine glasses need coasters not to prevent ring stains, but to avoid tumbling.



Included in the rural experience is the maintenance of the grass. A table grass mower hs yet to exist, therefore you'll have to cut the grass by hand (simple grass clippers would work just fine)

Based on the number of cuts, maintenance, usage, sunlight and season, the PicNYC table responds with a variety of colors to the conditions set by the owner and location. However, the color can always be easily replaced with fresh sod, if need be.



Based on the concept of transposing natural experiences to the apartment, endless alterations are possible with flowers, herbs - even vegetables. Depending on the needs and green thumbs of the owner, the PicNYC table brings various degrees and qualities of the rural experience into the urban residence. As a consequence, the PicNYC table transforms dining into a feast at a new intersection of nature and city.



Year: 2011
Table Material: Aluminum and grass
Design Team: Haiko Cornelissen
Photos: Iwan Baan & Alan Tansey

If you are interested in buying the picNYC table, please contact: picNYC@haikocornelissen.com

How To Turn Your Dog Into a Live Chia Pet This Halloween.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of dressing up dogs. However, The Flirty Guide (Stacie Tamaki) shares with us a way to make this terrific "Howl"ween costume, turning your dog into a live Chia Pet. All you need are some plastic aquarium plants, muslin, fabric, elastic straps, felt and a willing participant. (Note: a "green" version of this costume is possible by using organic materials and eco-friendly felt as shown in the photo at the beginning of this post, courtesy of Inhabitat).



Needed elements for the Terracotta legs:
•An inner liner made of muslin
• An outer layer using terra cotta colored fabric
• Two straps and a cross strap connecting the first two together. The first straps are attached at the top of each leg, suspender style, to hold them up once you slip all four legs onto your dog.



The Steps:
1. Sew an inner leg liner using muslin or another fabric that is thin enough to bend if your dog wants to sit or lie down.
2. Sew and outer terra cotta leg with appropriately colored fabric that is also thin enough to fold and bend for your dog's comfort.
3. Make sure they are both the same width at the bottom. Drop the liner inside the terra cotta layer and fold the terra cotta layer under allowing you to sew them together with a single pass of your sewing machine.
4. Now stitch the two layers together at the top in only two places where the strap will fasten along the outer side of your dog's leg and directly across from it on the other side. This holds the two layers together without binding them completely and eliminates the need to make the pant legs fit your dog's leg perfectly. This way the pant legs can loosely fit, be comfortable and look great!
5. Once you've stitched the top of the legs together sew the felt strap along the outer side of the pant leg.
6. Do one leg first, then slip the other pant leg on your dog's other leg and pin it into place along the strap you're attaching them to. Make sure you can slip it off, bending your dog's leg to do so, and you've got the perfect length to trim the strap to.
7. Attach the other pant leg same as the first.

Elements for the covering and foliage:
• Felt to make a blanket or body cover and fabric for lining so the plastic plants do not irritate your dog.
• Plastic aquarium plants that come attached to grids (available at Petco) or organic plants for the green version:


To attach the plastic foliage, pull all of the foliage off the mats. Then make a horse blanket out of green felt and strategically cut holes in the felt using an x-acto knife. Push the prongs of the grid through the holes and reattach the foliage alternating the two different types of leaves. Then line the entire costume on the underside so that none of the plastic will poke through and make your pet uncomfortable.

And Voila! Ch Ch Ch Chia.... Chia Dog!


Images and instructions courtesy of the Flirty Guide Blog.

Jewelry That Grows On You. The Incredible Landscape Jewelry of Sarah Hood.

Artist and silversmith Sarah Hood combines miniature scale railroad materials like plastic trees, grasses, bushes and pebbles with sterling silver to culminate is one of a kind pieces that are nothing short of wearable art.



Her expert metal work and unique whimsical style is why several of the pieces from her Landscape Series reside in the Tacoma Art Museum's permanent collection.

Below are examples of one-of-a-kind sterling silver rings, necklaces and bracelets made with miniature plastic trees - some spray painted black-, tiny phony bushes, greenery and in some cases, gemstones. Beautiful detailing in the cast silver twigs and touches like bird toggles accentuate the craftsmanship in these unique pieces.

Many of the following fabulous pieces are available for purchase.





detail of above bracelet:



detail of above necklace:



detail of above necklace:




detail of above necklace:





Her 2001 Living Rings actually used live plants and succulents in tiny terracotta pots upon silver ring shanks:


She also crafts beautiful cherry wood bases to display her rings:



Silversmith and artist Sarah Hood at work:

Sarah's studio and furry friend:

all images ©Sarah Hood Jewelry

In the artist's own words:

"For years I’ve been working within the intersection of archetypal form and the natural world, creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces from organic materials. In Landscape, I’ve taken a break from the real natural materials--leaves, pods, seeds--which have compelled my work for many years to create miniature, artificial worlds within the context of jewelry. Working with model railroad landscape materials lets me create tiny snapshots of the natural world, scenes that can trick the eyes into believing they are seeing something much larger. In several pieces, this deceit is challenged by the combination of these small constructed natural forms with full scale, cast sterling branches, buds and leaves which, in material, are equally unreal and illusionary." -- Sarah Hood, Jewelry Artist

In addition to her inventive landscape jewelry/art, she creates what one might consider 'more wearable' pieces in gold, silver and enamel. Earrings, bracelets and necklaces are available in her etsy store.