terri planty

new jewelry

2012-02-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

the jewelry collection is growing! we've been hard at work seeking new bits and pieces to create one of a kind necklaces blending precious stones, vintage chains and medals, beads, lockets, clasps, bottles and glass lockets filled with butterfly wings, crystals, moss sand from far away lands and much much more. the bottle necklaces are available online, however the other pieces have not made their way on to the shop quite yet. if you see something you like let me know! i will be putting these up on the shop shortly, but until then... email me!

this curious treasure just landed on the shop! each pouch contains a rock that looks ordinary and plain until you crack it open and discover a sparkly sensation. a lesson in looking beyond the surface!(plus they are waaay fun to break open!)

upcoming events

2012-02-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

i have two very exciting events coming up for valentine's day! i will be in a trunk show at my very favorite pergolina on the thursday feb. 9th AND at unique la's local love event on feb. 11th & 12th. i will be showcasing a few romantically inclined terrariums, mini terrariums, natural treasures and LOTS of new jewelry designs (fellas - ladies love the jewels! just sayin'!)

the pay off

2012-01-18T16:32:00.000-08:00

having been a chicken mother since may has been a lovely experience. i enjoy feeding them not only leftovers, but treating them to fancy foods and watch them get happy. they are so silly and make the cutest sounds, fall asleep in your arms, sit on your head and in general are good company in the yard (when they are not eating your plants). but it wasn't till xmas morning that miss stevie laid her first egg. that was a major gift. and that was also the moment in which i realized this is one awesome pet. since then i get an egg every other day. the taste and color is amazing. i even did a taste / color test in the image above... yeah. there is no question fresh eggs are tops. this urban farmer is feelin' pretty lucky right about now.

custom terrarium

2012-01-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

a somewhat recent custom terrarium. a lady dj puts out the jams as her audience gets there groove on in the wild garden of terri landia. love fun ones like this! i made the whole desk, head phones, lady dj and much, much more! like is said - CUSTOM!

pickles

2012-01-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

a very talented and generous friend treated me to a jar of diy crafted pickles. i indulge myself with one or a few pickles here and there and savor the moment. they are DELICIOUS and remind me of how thoughtful it is to make beautiful things for the folks we dig.

friends

2012-01-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

my friend morgan of the brick house recently gave my other dear friend laure a stylin good time in her sweet house. loving all the shots of hazel the cat amongst the plant action (especially digging the major use of plants!).

fern

2012-01-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

organizing my computer and came across these images of a maiden hair fern i fell madly in love with at the arboretum during their fern and exotic plant sale / show. next time i might have to get myself one of these pretty things. and duh, another staghorn or two.

back

2012-01-04T01:25:00.000-08:00

it was a busy, productive, busy, happy, busy, crazy, busy holiday. phew! and i am grateful for every minute of it. i took a little vaca (hence the lack of blogging) and now i am back. refreshed and excited share more again.
my little family of 5 (oh you know, the cats, the pup, the chickens and myself) took some time to relax in our yard and charged up for the new year.

greenhouse lamp

2011-12-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

my dear friend nora sent me this via facebook and i just had to make sure i shared the hell out of it. this incredible greenhouse lamp is by far one of the most sophisticated and brilliant plant housing objects i have ever seen. madly in love. for more information visit here.

post unique

2011-12-04T23:50:00.000-08:00

finally home after the craziest weekend. between the wind storm and unique i am one sleepy lady. above are a couple shots from the unique la show taken with my phone. good shots to come!
i met so many amazing folks. many of which said "why don't you have more of your stuff online?!". and with that being said, i am so working on it! promise. :)
thanks to all my wonderful friends and family that came by. and another big thank you to all the new nice people i met. the love goes right back at ya :).

hello studio

2011-11-28T02:07:00.000-08:00

i am back in action. so much so that i haven't had time to blog. i've been in studio cooking up lots of new goodies for our terri planty booth at unique la show coming this weekend at the california market center. most exciting is the launch of many new necklace designs. after this weekend i will be sure to post new designs on the online store. until then you will just have to visit the show! and if you can't make this weekend, it is very likely i will be hosting a pop up shop at elephant art space....

for more information on unique check out their site here.

ever green

2011-11-28T01:27:00.000-08:00

last weekend i had the great pleasure of being in a group show with three other rad artists at monte vista projects. my addition to the space is the large disco ball planter that is suspended and in action, glittering up the portable forest below.

sorry for the time out!

2011-11-16T08:46:00.000-08:00

my computer has been undergoing some techy issues. it is finally getting fixed this week! sorry for the lack of posts! after i get her back in a few days its on. and while on the subject of time, check out this brilliant plant alarm clock designed by jason kline. its brilliant! and good looking! read more about it here.

flora fashion

2011-11-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

loving this mix of plant action and fashion i found on my friend kelly's tumblr, rise or set. i really should get more creative with my wears. perhaps next time i am on my way out the door to a night of dancing i should pluck some succulents and shove them in my shoes for some extra detail. i am serious. we could all use a little more play and spontaneity in our perspective. :)

cold day

2011-11-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

open studios was a success! hannah (my puppy) was my date and she behaved herself amongst the crowd of folks traveling around the halls and rooms of our studio. i met many new faces and reconnected with old friends. but it was COLD. rainy and cold. yesterday was the same. the kind of day that makes you want to stay in bed and ignore the rest of the world (including the pile of dishes)and just be with your loved ones reading a book...

open studios

2011-11-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

getting ready for open studios this sunday at elephant art space (aka, where my studio resides). all the artist in residence will have their doors open with projects for viewing. and in our gallery we will have a show by artist dave shulman.
i have lots of new art, new terri planty projects and have really begun to focus on making more terrarium jewelry pieces that involve all kinds of interesting materials. soon i will show that collection off but for the time being a shot of my jewelry make desk in full force.

if you are in the la area on sunday from 5 - 9, stop on by elephant. :)

arty

2011-11-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

spotted this good lookin' sculpture on landscape and urbanism. not sure what the story is but i had to share. its amazing what we can do with the materials that are all around us. re address them in new formations, add some thought provoking text, or not and viola - rad interruption in your daily viewing.

a bug's life

2011-11-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

i promised photo glory and have not come through - YET. my lifestyle change has really made for less blogging time. but the good news is i am in the studio all the time, making LOTS including a whole new line of jewelry terrariums! very cool stuff.
speaking of jewelry, another fellow artist jewelry making garden crazed girlfriend of mine recently shared her photos of her halloween wears and i gots to say, if i could award the best halloween costume of the year to someone, this would be it! its like her garden is part of the outfit! LOVE!!!

happy hallowwwwwwwweeeeeeen!

2011-10-31T15:15:00.000-07:00

i know i promised many more photos. i got super busy again. and i am not going to lie. having an adorable puppy to play with kinda sucks up your time in the best of ways. doesn't she look cute in her halloween costume?! hannah banana as what else... a banana!

recent terrariums & plantings

2011-10-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

i have lots of images to post. so much so i feel like i might overflow in one night so i am going to space this out. we begin with a couple recently made terrariums and plantings. each with a bug invasion or rather bug partnership! i have more images from this collection but haven't found the other batch of images quite yet. stay posted for more :).

terrarium contest at POTTED / reward $500 shopping spree!

2011-10-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

a very very favorite shop of mine here in la, potted, is having a very cool contest. why it is a terrarium contest! the most creative terrarium wins a $500 shopping spree at potted. and let me tell you i could easily spend that load of cash there! remember that rad circle pot i scored from dwell? well that was a gift from the lovely ladies of potted.

i encourage you all to get busy, like NOW! for more details visit their site HERE!

so it turns out my hen is a ROOSTER

2011-10-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

sometimes the obvious is just not obvious enough until it starts to crow in your face. yup... my dear little fart face aka. fifi is indeed mr. fart face. i thought it was a little odd that his feathers were skinny at the top of his neck, not to mention his long neck, his aggressive behavior towards the girls and his confidence. but for some reason i must have been in some serious chicken denial. and i was. because its certain that i got myself a boy chicken.
as much as i love the dude. he is really a gorgeous bird, i am concerned that the noise is going to not be so great with trying to get my new neighbors to like me and he picks on my little lucia and that is not nice. don't worry i am working on figuring out a lovely new home. potentially a ranch with lots of other barred rocks that hang out in tall trees.
i won't tell you which is which, but i am sure you will know right away. so silly what moving does to a person's brain. you can't even tell if you have a boy chicken all of a sudden! :)

custom terrariums

2011-10-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

i am super backed up in the custom terrariums showing off department. but trust me! i will do my best to catch up because there have been some good ones with magical lions, fire spinners and afros and much more! these two terrariums featured below are from awhile ago, but i had to show these to y'all because i made those crazy dirt bikes, gear and helmets and it was not easy! i was so proud when i was done with those two! they looked just like the guy's i was portraying in their own gear but in miniature.
sometimes when i am working in my studio on these teeny tiny things going crazy trying to make the most perfect mustache, i think, yup, this is good times, crazy, but good times.

yes please

2011-10-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

pardon my lack of original photo posts. i am still living amongst the cardboard box towers. i must set my self up with a proper desk and get organized! i went to the flea this weekend and was unsuccessful in finding a desk, BUT i did score two vintage bertoia chairs that were exactly what i wanted and a wacky fiber glass hippie weave "sofa alternative" that looks like stevie nick's wardrobe but in the form of furniture. still unsure about the second purchase, but i will share photos soon anyway.
in the meantime i thought i might as well share with you all the eye candy i have come across. this particular shoot on the selby is from quite awhile ago but this garden / home of dan martensen and shannan click pretty much sum up the lifestyle i love most. below are a couple of my fave shots, but by all means view the full post here and take in the boho chill-lax beauty...

got me some cottage inspiration

2011-10-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

the pinterest junkie in me is back in action. my internet was turned on and i immediately go seeking beautiful things to stare at to ooooh and aaaaaaah. but this time i was searching with a purpose! i never leave a a garden untouched. and although the process of fixing up my new garden will take lots of time and patience i have already begun to brainstorm my visual vibe for my new little cottage in the hills. below are some of the images that got me pumped. typically i am drawn to meadows full of native grasses, yarrow and sage with bold architectural succulent surprises, and there will be that, but considering my new home is very much a cottage why not throw in some hollyhocks, bulbs, wild crawling vines, nasturtiums and the classic... lavender! besides i just read recently that if you want to repel rodents plant fragrant shrubs like rosemary and lavender... so there you go. beauty with a purpose!
i am also trying to brainstorm ways of making the traditional cottage a bit more alive and contemporary. i am a color junky and found object seeker. i love the idea of reusing pallets, painting random objects in bright colors, creating outdoor rooms and destinations with twinkle lights and furnishings and of course hideouts - like tepees! hand painted signs, vertical gardens, a chicken viewing station and loads of edibles will all be musts! ooooh the possibilities!

less boxes and then some...

2011-10-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

hello again, patient friends. the move is over. awful as it was, and it was (less the amazing support and help of my family and friends), now is that very special time when i get to put my little touches on my new home. i haven't totally unpacked. boxes linger here and there. waiting to be opened like presents that you have a hint about. most things arrived safely, but whatever broke, well that just makes for more space which i must say i can always use!
before i packed i purged so many of my things in an effort to only showcase and use the things i own that i love. this has made the process so much more enjoyable. starting over is amazing. it feels like i needed it.
i left some plants behind that i really loved. wished them a happy life and thanked them for the learning experience. i totally cried saying goodbye to my garden. i know. i am plant sappy.
although i left quite a few green beauties behind, many pots and some moments of plant tear outs made their way over. these were of course the first things to come out of the boxes and placed in suitable spots. looking out into my new garden, seeing all my plants sitting pretty, well that was really a proud moment. i felt as if i have arrived. i felt like it was now home.
planters still need to be filled, weird fence situations to be solved, chicken coop needs to be assembled, raised bed needs to be postioned and planted... its all a work in progress that i look forward to sharing.
my homes interior is also still unresolved, but getting there. the bohemian in me can't help but dangle and display things like ferns, macrame and folk art in every crevice. i am trying to take my time with it. enjoy the process. but sometimes your creative juices get the best of you and result in pressure.
forutnatly i have my pets to tend to and slow me down. hannah the pup is totally in love with her yard. the chickens have a nice run right outside my door way that they dig, the cats have had a slightly more difficult time adjusting, but a small herman miller table that my grandmother gave me has served nicely as a window bed look out.
all in all things are falling into place.

here are a couple images of my little family and such along the way... new home / garden photos and inspirations to come soon! i get internet tomorrow! yipee!

birthday love

2011-09-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

i am still knee deep in moving mania but i couldn't resist posting this rad photo of my sis and i (i'm the one giving the thumbs up) in our first car. we are california girls after all and every girl needs a car 'round here cuz nobody walks in la! feeling extra goofy today - because its my birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. :)

alright enough bragging about being born! just wanted to shout out an i love you and thanks to my family and friends for making today extra special. i super super love you all so much!

now back to packing. new posts soon!

we are moving!

2011-09-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

posts are going to be slow right now because we are deep in the moving process - cardboard boxes galore! plants to dig up! chicken coops to assemble! new space to design! heavy duty lifting, walking, truck driving! i super appreciate your patience at this time. terri planty will be back in action as soon as possible. and i promise, its gonna get real good. i have a new yard and home to address so expect plenty of diy / design / planty action.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
the furry / feathery bunch & bianca

name that chicken!

2011-09-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

awhile back i mentioned in an early chicken post that i didn't know what breed two of my chickens are. i searched far and wide but never really found a proper source online. so i bought a starter book, and it had great insight of feeding, what to expect, egg recipes and lots of chicken owner tips. it also had a photo of a gorgeous hen that looked just like my little (now big) stevie. although the book is full of tons of super valuable information, it didn't say what breed that chicken was on page 77. luckily the lovely author of this great piece of chicken knowledge is the wonderful ashley english of the blog small measure. i contacted and right away she wrote me a super friendly email informing me that stevie was a black australorp! i googled this breed and was thrilled to discover that they are "hardy, docile, and a good egg-layer as well as meat bird" (although she won't be dinner - ever).
knowing what kind of chick i got, well its beyond exciting for me. and best of all now i have discovered ashley's blog and her collection of inspiring books. she not only has her excellent book on keeping chickens, but she has also written a book on canning and preserving, home dairy and keeping bees! this woman is my hero. check out her blog here. again, thank you ashley - i love finding other folks that have a passion for learning how to be sustainable in this crazy world of robots and gadgets.

next chicken detective job - what kind of breed of bantam is lucia?

a feather from each of my chicks...

stevie (looking over her shoulder) in her early days with her sisters...

the book! the page that named my chicken!

big girls (and hannah the chicken tending dog)...

p.s. i know, i know, the chickens are still living in that dog crate till i move to the new place - i promised them a fancy new house. in the meantime they mostly free range or the dog pen works just fine. don't judge. i am a good mother!

p.p.s. hannah the puppy is terrific around the chicks! only negative - she loves to eat chicken poo. and she has bedding all over her fluff when she sits by them. :)

bad little blogger bee

2011-09-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

hi gang, i have to confess. i have been a very bad blogger. and i KNOW IT! see the issue is: i got myself a puppy, moving to a new place, fulfilling custom orders, prepping new projects, shooting / styling old home and that ol thing called life...

i super appreciate your patience. i promise as soon as i move, this blog, its gonna get good, i mean real good! lots of gardening projects ahead!

in the meantime, miss elsie did a gorgeous job documenting and posting a terrarium i made special for her and her husband. the best part of the job was getting to meet their cat when i dropped it off. she talks. please check out her blog. elsie rocks!

introducing... hannah

2011-09-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

i am feeling extra happy these days amongst all the madness of moving and busy business... because... i got my puppy! the beautiful girl pictured below is my dear dear hannah... or hannah banana. i have wanted a dog for so long now and finally the time has come! hannah is my dream come true. she is kind with the cats (nimbi the white cat, she is like a nanny cat. calm and collected. looey the black cat, still unsure since he is my main dude, but i have good feelings that soon we will all be best buds).
at 9 weeks hannah has already learned to sit, comes to her name, has spent two days at work with me (thanks pergolina) and is chicken friendly. my sister adopted her sister (named jolene) who as you can see in the photos is the bigger pup. hannah is the runt, her big sister is over 2 lbs heavier. both girls are so much fun. jolene is the energetic clown and hannah is the innocent doe eyed lady.
now my urban farm is complete! soon hannah will learn to herd the chickens (might be getting more hens for sure), the cats will keep the mice away, and i will garden happily in the presence of my furry / feathery family. now if i only the moving process could be made easier!

(warning... lots of puppy photos in this post - and to follow).

bringing baby hannah home...

with her sis...

my little lady...

custom terrariums

2011-09-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

in the midst of all the packing and puppy prepping i am still a terrarium making machine! terri planty must not stop! taking breaks to visit the studio to stick my hands in the dirt and paint a mustache on a mini man is always a good stress reliever, not to mention a good time.
below are a couple recent custom terrariums for a photoshoot. thats right art directors, you can rent my terrariums for your sets, interiors etc etc! hit me up!

saying goodbye

2011-09-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

i have been getting up so early lately, whether i have had enough sleep or not, my body just decides to start thinking about all the things coming up in my life, it wakes me with thoughts of the new ikea catalog (i'm moving to a new MUCH smaller home with a MUCH larger garden), of things to purge, of plants to grow, of things to water, of my chickens that need to get fed, of the moment of having to say good bye to this home i have lived in and shared with my partner for 4 years.
sometimes i sit and stew in my thoughts. but mostly i get up. i do things like water the garden, stare at the chickens inspect their new food, fold some laundry, visit pinterest, imagine not living here anymore.
the other day i grabbed my camera instantly when i saw the insane amount of blossoms on the cactus accross the street. i have clippings from this big girl, but man was she in full on floral mode at 6:30 am the the other day. i also took a couple snaps of the other bathing beauties in the garden, the view i will miss so much more than anything else, the neighbors friendly dog...
but it is so time. i am ready for change. bring it.

my furry feathery family

2011-08-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

today i drove far for a little lady. a fluffy girl with sweet eyes, who licks my nose and is smaller than my cats (for now).
today i met my future daughter, first dog of my own. she doesn't have a name yet, but i am beyond excited! she is an australian shepard (aka. aussie) - a herding dog! perfect for my little farm of cats, chickens, vegis and art making.
i also visited a potential new home with lots of land for free range chickens, vegi growing, puppy hula hoop jumping, outdoor dining and mountain views... things are shaping up. and i can't wait till i get to take my pup home. what will my cats think of their new baby sister? my chickens will probably be a bit alarmed. any tips on the introduction process? tell me everything!
i am glowing with happy feelings today. there is nothing quite like a new addition to your furry / feathery family.

z-ranch and the naked lady sculpture garden

2011-08-27T00:07:00.000-07:00

lastnight i visited my two favorite artist / farmer friends, wayne and emily. both of them are such remarkable human beings. we met while at calarts. wayne was in the grad program w/ me. he is quite honestly one of my all time favorite painters. equally talented is his wife emily, who recently has set out to create a naked lady sculpture garden right by their home on the zorthian ranch.
they recently moved back to la after having had a successful farm out in south carolina raising all kinds of livestock. nowadays the pair are working on an organic vegetable garden project along with raising chickens and much more. i will be checking back in with them often to show you the process of their project.
the best part of these two is their commitment to sustainable living. they have actually grown their own food for several years now, so feasting with them is always a treat. and having naked ladies watch over your shoulder in the garden, that just makes it 10 times better!

by the way, the horse in the image, yeah he just hangs out like that. he is like one of the dogs. and the chicks, well that is the same breed as my dear little fart face. fun to see what she will look like full grown, wonder if she will become a tree jumper too :).
(take a closer look at that tree shot, there is a chicken up in there!)

desert healing

2011-08-24T23:15:00.000-07:00

i tried to stay away from the blog in an effort to give my emotions a rest. i drove to the desert to the brick house to see morgan and her puppies and my other favorite ladies, abby and laure. a little thrifting, pigging out and time spent out on a rock in the desert was really what i needed. who knew. those ladies make me smile. and the brick house makes for a lovely place to relax and get away (barking chihuahuas and all).
and now i am back to blog about it, because what i also realize is how much i love this blog and sharing with you all.
thank you to everyone who has reached out to give me words of love and comfort. it means so much to me. if i could hug each and everyone of you, i would.
while out in jtree, i took my time staring at all the little details we sometimes miss out when taken by the gorgeous vast landscape. seeing all the little flowers fighting their way through the heat and dry dirt, the funny bird fountain built out of found objects, the basketball court in the middle of nowhere, the multiple colors of quartz rocks, the seeds hatched, roots split, animal droppings and bottle caps... reminded me of all the happenings and moments that make up the experience of the desert so amazing. in focusing on all those details, i tried to apply the same thinking to my life. i am going to take it a day at a time and really try to focus on those little moments that make it so special.

taking a moment

2011-08-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

hi gang...
i have just experienced a really intense week (well month acutally). my uncle just passed a few days ago and i am going to need a little blogging break. i need some time to just breathe and think about him and all the memories i have of him. i hate to be a downer, but i wanted you to know why i might be missing in action for a bit. in the meantime, i am going listen to some rolling stones in honor of my uncle, who i loved very dearly and always reminded me the importance of some good rock and roll music and attitude. he was a major stones fan... and now every time i hear mick and the boys it takes me back.

more diy please

2011-08-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

spent some more time on pinterest and i did not come back empty handed. in fact, below is a collection of my favorite diy ideas for the garden - romantic lighting, planters galore, recycled options... and for the home, a little facelift to the old, bring the outdoors in...
there is no excuse not to diy up a storm these days. so many incredible ways to re use materials and make life grow all over the place. i am so inspired!

visit my pinterest boards here. i am always adding MORE.

custom terrarium

2011-08-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

custom terrariums are keeping me movin'. sadly i don't always remember to document them all. or if i do, sometimes the photos don't quite do the piece justice since i am rushing them out the door and not holding the camera steady, intoxicated with that feeling of "must get this done and on to the next project now...". but fortunatly i had a moment and the memory to document this lovely little treasure. it was made for a husband to be to gift to his bride to be. it depicts them at their upcoming wedding in yellowstone national park. and by the groom's side (as he lifts a proud fist to the air) is his loyal pooch.
i am always grateful for the custom work i get to make for my clients. they send me photos of their faces and furry children, details about their lives and we get to know each other all for this little moment in the vessel filled with greenery. this particular couple really touched my heart. yes, i am that corny. i love love. :)

this made my day

2011-08-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

sometimes a new perspective on an ordinary thing is all you need to make you smile and know that life is good times. i imagine that if i stare at this image for long enough a little creature will peek its head out and invite me over for a snack. perhaps we will sip some brocolli and cheese soup made from the tree top of her home and cheese from the mouse's house next door...

via metalocus.

excuse me i composted

2011-08-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

one of the things i am most proud to say i do is compost. there is nothing quite like knowing that even if you were totally lazy about getting to that piece of fruit in time to eat it before it went bad that you can instead allow it to rest in peace and make magic in your compost. that is brilliant! recently with the chickens i have shifted my system a bit. now whatever edible thing has gone almost bad (too mushy or stale for me to eat, but not rotten) the chickens will eat. they are funny about scraps though. not everything you read is true for every chicken. some chickens love what others hate and vis versa. mine are totally obsessed with shrimp, rice, blue berries, figs and corn on the cobb. however there are so many things i read they would love that they don't really care for.
my point being though, the satisfaction that i got from the compost being my back up plan when feeling guilty about wasting food, well now the chickens also heal that guilt ridden feeling. plus all the shavings from their cage goes right into the ol' compost too.
my mom now sends me home with all kinds of treats for the girls. soon i will return the favor with a lovely bag of compost.

p.s. chickens also rock because they eat all the weeds in your garden. but they also love ferns, well at least mine do.

some helpful sites for information on starting your own compost...

howtocompost.org/compostguide.com/root simple

more plant images please

2011-08-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

i am officially ADDICTED to pinterest. it is seriously good times. i began with a couple visits, got some great inspiration on ideas for my move (i was stocking up on images of tiny spaces). but then i realized, it is a place loaded with plant love and "what in the world..." moments. so of course my focus switched to all images plant related. i was going to do a post of my favorite diy findings that involved horticultural elements, but that list is not yet complete. i had to edit down... so in the meantime, here are some of my favorite plant related images from the lovely world of pinterest. enjoy! and keep me posted on your image findings too! seriously load up the comments with links! bring it on... i need to get inspired for the fall! (p.s. i am totally building that teepee in my yard. done and done.)

garden party

2011-08-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

allow me to introduce you to a very special lady in my life named paulanna. i have worked for paulanna for many years and in doing so have developed a wonderful relationship. she has a magical boutique in los angeles called pergolina. through my experience working for this fine italian woman i have learned many a trick, including the art of hosting and the power of details. she also has one of the most gorgeous homes i have ever had the pleasure to dine and play in. this last weekend she hosted a lovely soiree. i snuck over before the guests arrived and took a few shots of the lovely set up. i find her mix of textiles and styles to be very inspirational. and check out that lush collection of ferns. pretty stuff.

the secret garden, filled with edibles galore! yummy!

garden / home envy

2011-08-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

oh hell yes! is what i shouted out (internally) when i saw these gorgeous photographs of architect pedro useche's home. i am so obsessed with the way he has seamlessly incorporated his landscape into his home, it's as if one could not be as beautiful without the other. the choices and placement of everything is so gorgeous and collected. i could imagine my self spending hours staring at every detail, taking it all in. i love when a home has the ability to be clean and fresh yet it hosts so much history and organic elements... and art! and plants! and books! and that vertical garden! the hammock! the windows! the pool! the view! oh hell yes!

via yatzer.

ter-ra-ri-ums

2011-07-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

i have so many posts that are halfway there, i gots to get myself busy posting. these recently made terrariums being on that same to do list. wanted to share with you some of my recent plantings and scenes. i have also been very busy with custom work - i just wrapped up a wedding! yes thats right! a wedding! within each terrarium was a scene of the couple doing their favorite activities - such as club dancing (the title of that piece was "(fill in the name here) dropping it like its hot" - and by the way the dude was the one with the fancy low riding moves in that piece!

chicken chat

2011-07-25T16:48:00.000-07:00

lots going on in my life emotionally with looking for a new home and the rest of it and the truth is, all i really want to talk about is my chickens! they are still patiently living a large dog kennel (but of course i let them run free in the yard every chance i can - which is daily! saturday they spent the entire day roaming the yard!)
but the dog kennel is not a proper home, they are getting so big so quickly, so yesterday i met with my grandfather and grandmother at their ranch and we began our plan for the new chicken coop. my grandparents own 11 chickens now. they have had chickens since i can remember. their home is where my chicken love affair began. i used to sleep with a chicken in my bed when i was little.

while there we roamed the web and books looking for inspiration and then ventured out to their coop to get inspiration. their coop is large and lovely, has been standing for over 30 years now! mine will be smaller. roof top garden is a must and it has to be easy to disassemble considering i am not sure what my next living situation will be. (of course i also had to take a garden tour while there, love me some plant action, took home some lavender for the dining table vase).

so the plan for the coop is in place, next we buy materials and start the building! i will keep you posted on the process. in the meantime a really long photo shoot of my silly girls - they are getting so big! erick is a proud chicken father - he likes to hang out with them ALOT and as you can see we do not have a case of unfriendly chickens. they are the sweetest ever! (i figured since i haven't blogged in so long, i might as well bombard you with chicken photos!)

back in action

2011-07-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

we just wrapped up the la renegade craft fair. it was good times as expected. ran around barefoot and embraced the warm weather. new products were a hit! all my gfs, family, boyfriend, even my grandma were sporting my new terrarium necklaces. the super awesome natalie of fashion intel and artist / designer / urban farmer friends greg and angie brought me tomatoes from their garden!! delish! met so many amazing folks and vendors. i even scored some gifts to self! i will for sure share those later. in the meantime since i am still a zombie from the whole thing, i share with you just a few photos i took from the event. i am still waiting for a few more from family.

thinking our next gig might be a farmer's market... any suggestions? we did super well with seed bombs and little terrariums with mini gardeners in them. thinking of building on the whole gardening theme.

by the way HERE is a lovely post justina over at compai wrote on the whole event.

after all the fair madness, i came home to this. love my furry / feathery family...

take a peek...

2011-07-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

my hands keep moving, i am making things galore! the renegade craft fair is sooo close. lots of new treasures to reveal. so many new faces to meet, old friends to see. i don't have too much to write right now since i gotta get busy. but i share with you a couple photos of whats to come...

my garden

2011-07-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

as usual there is a never a dull moment round these parts. so many things going on, most notably i am getting ready for the renegade craft fair and cannot wait to share with you all the new things we've been making. i used to get really really nervous before these events, but now that its not my first rodeo i am feeling more and more focused on the pleasures of being in the moment of making. sneak peaks coming soon.
in other news we might be moving, well at least we are looking. a lot. its time, for many reasons. but with that i have to give up my garden here and find a new pile of dirt to play with and revamp. this one was just getting so wild, mature and beautiful, but its not mine and i am actually really looking forward to the process of starting anew. besides my neighbors are going to score with lots of plants as gifts from my garden, while many others will have to come with me. anyone else had to leave a garden they loved and had mixed emotions? tell me all about it. did you dig up plants and bring them with? did you worry about their future mother? did you say all is well, next garden please! share it up my friends... :)

a week from today! terri planty @ the renegade craft fair!

2011-07-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

save the date my friends! a week from today we will be at the renegade craft fair in booth 185 showcasing a new batch of lovely terrariums freshly planted and looking to for a happy home! terrariums are not the only treat on the menu, we will also be selling our desert hippie bottle creations, homemade seed bombs, and a new line of silk screened posters!

please stop by and say hello!

the scoop...
Renegade Craft Fair LA - Booth #185
Saturday July 16th - Sunday July 17th
11am - 7pm / Free to attend!

Los Angeles Historic Park
1245 N Spring St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
***Please note that the I-405 will be closed the weekend of July 16-17 (aka carmagedon). While the Fair is not directly affected by the closure, it is a good idea to have an alternate route planned out in case there’s increased congestion on other freeways in the area. Check out alternate driving routes here. We also encourage you to take public transportation to the Fair! The park is less than a block away from the China Town Station on the Metro Gold Line.

For more details visit http://www.renegadecraft.com/los-angeles

lucky lady

2011-07-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

one of the many perks of working with dwell on design is that there were very generous exhibitors. and best of all the gift givers were the folks that made some of my very very favorite things! i have to give them a shout out because these beautiful objects are living happy lives in my home and i am so grateful.
the first gift was from potted. they gifted me a gorgeous aqua glazed ceramic round hanging planter that features a lush cascading collection of succulents. potted is a store located near me in atwater village. this shop is a terri planty love. they feature a delicious array of pots, garden decor and planted treasures. their whole vibe is relaxed but bursting with color and inspiration. visit their site here and then stop by the shop as soon as you can!
the second treat was from gainey ceramics. their ceramics company has been around since 1949! all of their products are produced 100% at their factory in california and best of all they are a family run company that is still thriving in this crazy economy while putting out some of the most beautiful ceramics i have ever seen. gainey is known for their modern designs that feature clean simple forms that are sophisticated and made great quality materials.
the pot that i have is the perfect home for my fiddle fig that was not happy in its dark corner in a temporary terracotta pot that was too small for her roots. now she is by a window with space to fill and looking sexy (if a plant can be sexy, i think she is!)

the last treat (although it was the first gifted to me) was from tracey of kismet tiles. she gifted me two of her awesome tile designs that now function as various show pieces in my home, under a bowl for a graphic layering punch, as a coaster, leaning on the wall. they are intended for the ground, but i keep playing with them all over my home. they are so pretty!
tracey is a serious talent! i got to spend lots of time with her, which was a gift in and of itself. she is an amazing woman. a textile artist and beyond. i was especially inspired by hearing her speak about her reference and history and how they blend and enter her work.

oh and the last image... my cats. don't think that the chickens have replaced my love for my pointed ear furry children. my family is just getting bigger!
p.s. no one asked me to plug their products. its all me baby!
p.p.s. i am being stared down right now by chicks in the yard, they are like, ma! more shrimp please!

my babies

2011-07-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

i was going to do a post with a simple introduction to my new chicken children and then a long list of coop designs i have been contemplating but i found myself so obsseed with every photo of them that i could barely edit down. so although this may seem like a whole lot of photos of 3 (very special might i add) chicks, you have to understand i really wanted to capture their personalities for you! clearly i have become like those mothers who can't stop snap snap snapping their camera away on photos of their human babies (although i already do this with my cats).

with all this said, its out, its public, i am a chicken mother! and a crazy one indeed! the story goes, my grandmother lent us some chickens for the dwell exhibit of designer coops, we also needed some teenage chicks to get that cute factor (not that big chickens aren't adorable). so my grandmother hooked it up. i took the little one's home every night. they would chat and gossip about the day SO LOUDLY in my car, then they would purr with sleepy noises. i fell in love. so in love. and now, i have chickens in my backyard.

there are 3. all hens (i think). i can't wait for the eggs and already am using the poop for the compost! each one is unique. i only know the breed of one of the chickens, so if you know what my other two are - name away! if you have any advice or tips or comments - share them too! i have been loving the blogs green frieda, root simple and poultry book store for all their chicken story telling.

alright, it is time. i introduce to you my baby chicks....

the big sister of the group, lucia. my grandmother named this little lady. she is the first reason i considered keeping the bunch. i held her and she fell asleep, purred. She is so pretty with her fancy long tail and always stays near me. i don't know her breed, but i know she is meant to stay relatively small. lucia made her first loud sound the other day and scared herself!

sinister steve, aka. stevie has become one of the most trusting of our chicks. She eats out of my hand, also stays close and is super noisy! she has kind of a sleepy eye from time to time, but it seems to be doing well now. i have really grown to see a whole other side of this little one. she really is a sweet chicken. but also very goofy! stevie has a pretty gold neck and black body. anyone know what kind of chick she is?

this name like the above was another doing of erick, my partner. part of the deal in keeping the chickens was that he got to name the two nameless little ones. he had all these punk rock names in mind (he still refers to lucia as juicy lucy), but somehow this little girl got the name fart face. rock n roll, huh. i say that her lady like name is fifi, but i admit, calling her fart face has stuck. she is the smallest of the bunch. the only breed i know the name of (plymouth rock). although she is close buddies with stevie, she is also known to be the most curious and wanders the farthest away (although she comes back running flapping her wings when she sees how far away she got). she also chases the other hens every now and then. i think fart face is just making up for being so little... now.

here she is running around far from the rest...

they love to run around in my yard free (started with the a metal gate first). erick plays guitar for them. they attract all kinds of other birds into the yard. they flap their wings around and jump as high as they can. soon i have to build them a proper coop. they currently reside in a LARGE dog kennel that is not exactly super great looking. by the way one of the other cool benefits of chickens, their diet. they eat so many leftovers! its fun to see what they are into and reject. two days ago they had yogurt. tasty but messy. they LOVE corn on the cob! and shrimp shells!

birdies

2011-07-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

when i did my post on the arboretum i forgot to include this lovely image of a mama peacock and her little ones. its kind of how i feel these days with my baby chickens, like a big mother bird with her baby birds. post on my chickies coming very soon!

interview with a gardener - kristy & john

2011-06-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

finally! i am posting this! kristy and john are dear friends and they invited me a little while ago to visit their gorgeous garden. i love their space! at the heart of the garden is a vegi plot that features tomatoes, arugula, berries and more! i tasted a couple of the berries. delish! i am so inspired by their bold and abundant use of color and their collection of cactus and succulents. it is so great how in so cal you can have a desert scene growing next door to an edible garden.
their garden is a total reflection of their personalities, vibrant, inviting and loved. they have a tree loaded with housing and food for local birds and squirrels. i have the great pleasure of working with kristy from time to time. she is one of my favorite people. she always makes me laugh and we never get tiered of sharing our nerdy cat mother stories with each other. once she even gifted me underwear for squirrels! love.

kristy was kind enough to answer some of my question on her gardening experience...

what is your earliest memory of working with plants?
when i was little we lived on old farm property in sherman oaks. we had apricots, peaches, almonds and a plum that hung over from the next back yard. oh, and a guava bush in the front yard. i used to walk around the driveway pretending i was starving in the desert, then i would find those lovely guavas and be saved!

when did your interest in plants / gardening begin?
did anyone in particular or a specific moment inspire you?
the girls who lived next door to us in granada hills had a garden, so i did, too. it was pretty much a failure as the granite soil there was really bad. but i kept trying!

how do you work with plants in your life now?
as john has said, i care for them. and i share our bounty.

what is the best part about working with plants? and what is the biggest challenge?
i love working in the dirt. i love watching the plants grow. i love the bees!! some other bugs are a big challenge! o hate them, but i hate to kill them. except the earwigs. don't hate killing those nasty little buggers!

what is your process for designing your garden?
design? c'mon.

where do you seek references, research, inspiration or ideas?
i loved the nursery Hortus in pasadena. i think much of my inspiration and ideas came from them. i still work with one of the main guys from Hortus at TOMATOMANIA!

what are your gardening tool essentials from concept to finish (they can range from pencils to music to hoes)?
good amendment and a hose without a spray attachment.

what plant(s) is an essential in your garden and why?
they're all essential.

favorites...
what are your favorite indoor plants?
orchids

what are you favorite outdoor plants?
jasmine, roses, tomatoes

what are you favorite edible plants?
tomatoes, boysenberries, arugula

what are you favorite nurseries and / or public gardens?
i love the huntington garden, sego nursery and sheridan gardens.

favorite spot in your garden?
right smack dab in the middle.

favorite thing about YOUR garden?
it's small but mighty!

dwell on design 2011

2011-06-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

i write you as i sit here in bed with a broken or sprained toe / foot. ugh, it has been a seriously crazy two weeks. just as i delivered my grandmother's big girl chickens to her home, my litte toe just had to bump hard into concrete. oh well. perhaps it was a sign that i needed to rest.
with that being said, wow. these last two weeks were crazy. i was the project manager for the dwell on design outdoor area. i had the great pleasure of working with so many talented and creative folks like shades of green, form la and many many more. all of the exhibitors were friendly and had such interesting work. i even came home with a few gifts, but that is for another post to come.
to set up it required a lot of running around, phone calls, on the spot decisions and positive energy. but in the end i am so proud to have been a part of this project. and best of all terri planty was also a guest exhibitor so it was fun to get to show off my terrariums to more of the world.

the shades of green station (featuring a wall and planter by ogassian, fountain by water on mars, grass from sod.com, plants from monrovia, air plants from rainforest flora)

i am still so in love with mod fire! also love all the colorful gainey ceramic pots, cool concrete chairs by greenform, pebble seats by eis studio and kismet tiles terri planty sitting pretty on the bar and in a garden scene.

more sweet designs... rad bench with planter by jory brigham gorgeous planted treasures (hanging and sitting) from potted, super giant olive tree from swg trees the form la display, swings by loll designs and one of my favorite displays of all - plywood office, which had the coolest idea. take a closer look at that table top, he used the whole in the wood to collect his newsletter emails! love it.

two cuties in the mid century la display (no plants but cute floral dresses - good enough for me!)

and last but so not least... my chickies! my grandparents lent us their chickens for the chicken tractor by 100xbetter and chicken coop by RAAD display. and the baby chickies are now mine! my little ones were happily showcased in a gorgeous custom fence by harwell fencing and gates. they make me so happy! i had no idea how funny chickens can be.
it was so nice to have chickens to play with amongst all the madness that is a tradeshow. the hens were noisy and enjoying all the love (folks would even take their photos with them!). the babies would ride home with me every night in the car singing little tweets. i got so attached i am now hunting down for perfect chicken coop plans. i am thinking roof top garden!

right now

2011-06-25T00:09:00.000-07:00

here are a couple iphone snapshots from my insanely busy life right now. by the way although i am without sleep and busy as can be, i am also as happy as a clam because two days ago i saw giant tillandsia clusters suspended from waterfall filled greenhouses and i get to go back soon, i am working and hanging out with brilliant and creative folks that love plants as much as me at dwell on design, i have baby chickens sleeping in my bathroom right now (and am considering keeping them - chicken mama for reals!), and terri planty is getting her show on at DOD on for two more days!

p.s. the super duper talented laure did a post on the air plant heaven i visited, still looking for it so that i may link it up. stay posted.

echo park time travel mart

2011-06-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

buzz buzz buzz. this little lady bee had been buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-e! thanks to one of my fave ladies - laure, i am currently working with the amazing ive & jen of shades of green and john of form la at the dwell on design event over at the ol' la convention center. oh my is there a whole lotta work involved. fork lifts, giant trees, recycled plastic swings, chicken tractors and chickens oh my! but so much fun! amazing things to come, so i hope to see your faces at the event.
in the midst of all this terri planty does not sleep. nope. we just did a terrarium install at one of the most brilliant places in la - the echo park time travel mart. haven't been? run. where else can you find caveman stationary and parts for your time machine? and better yet, not only is the mart incredible, but this spot is actually just the front of an amazing non profit organization called 826LA that is dedicated to teaching students 6 - 12 with their creative and expository writing skills. they are such an inspiration! i recommend volunteering!

the installation that team terri planty made was portraying los angeles of the past and los angeles of the future. inside a cabinet, you open two doors, both windows feature the native so cal chaparral landscape, however in the future there is a scene of a miniature version of the caveman and robot you will find in the shops rad store window display, propping up a a new billboard poster for the time travel mart. look closely and you will see the legs of la icon angelyne underneath and on a rock i insisted on introducing a new character into this joint, a lady cavewoman of course.

the process of making this piece reminded me of being a kid again, working so hard on that science project for the science fair. my parents and sister came out and i realizing now the more and more they help that i have to change my about page and give them waaay more credit. they worked their butts off. as did mr. erick. he helped me conceptualize a series of custom terrariums for the shop that will be sold there (with part of the proceeds being donated to the organization). this particular collection is based of famous books such as old man and the sea, james and the giant peach, sleepy hollow and more. we also threw in a few made up sci-fi scenes for fun.

i also want to to give a shout out of love to the talented and wonderful shannon who invited me to do this project and worked closely with me on the concept. she is one clever lady! (thanks for letting me sneak those angelyne legs on that billboard)

photos of the shop via laughing squid, close up by shannon, the rest by yours truly and her baby sister.

garden wedding

2011-06-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

this last weekend we went to a garden wedding. erick was one of the best men. he looked super handsome. we rocked it and caught the bouquet and garter belt for the 3rd time in a row! i am a pro at catching flying plants!! that is essentially what a bouquet is to me!

we danced our butts off, laughed, high fived, played with adorable kids, met families, hashed about old times. it was all lovely. but the best part was that it took place in a garden. so while i was trying to be all friendly and make conversation, i couldn't help but notice how large the foxtail agaves were or that jade plants and sword ferns were growing so harmoniously side by side in the shade. i wondered when things were planted and why. delighted in the classic los angeles palm tree lined skies sprinkled with little lights. gardens are happy places. the wedding took place at the hidden chateau in woodland hills, cali. if you are feeling wedding ready, check them out here.

and here is my dancing fool of a partner in crime looking extra mad men-ish but with moves!

i'm going stag!

2011-06-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

so there is this magical garden by me in rancho santa anita called the arboretum. if you are plant hungry like me, these gardens are a MUST SEE. i love all of the gardens - but the cacti / succulent area and the greenhouse are my all time faves. the other lovely thing about this wonderful place is that they host plant sales and shows. this last weekend was the fern and exotic plant sale and show. i have been waiting for this show for so many months now and i'll tell you why. see there is this very special plant near to my heart called a stag horn. i have wanted one for a LONG time, always admiring my folk's collection. but it wasn't till i started my 70s plants book collection in september where they showcase these lovelies in rad altar like arrangements that i was growing seriously impatient and decided i needed at least one. my mother insisted i wait till this sale and she was right. the selection was mind blowing. not to mention when i went to the geranium show at the arboretum i scored some of the most unusual and cool looking plants that are incredibly healthy and in full force.

the show was incredible. so many cool textures, colors, varieties, information, inspiration, mind blowing, life. oh yeah, and terrariums! the kind with the simple motivation of creating a perfect micro climate. pure science.

i scored!! i bought one and my father who is adorably generous with me snuck off to buy me the other that i loved. my cats of course had to inspect the stags. they approved. naturally, they have great taste!

i also bought some interesting succulent / cacti treasures for terrariums along with CARNIVOROUS PLANTS! more photos to come. we end it with an image of my sneakers waiting patiently by the doorway for a proper cleaning. shhhh... i had been gardening last weekend. don't tell anyone. :)

plants on blogs

2011-06-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

the renegade craft fair is just around the corner, and before that a terrarium installation at a very special place (still a secret!). as usual cruising for some inspiration. this particular little grouping is kinda on the arty side. guess the artist is me is seeking out some more risk taking and unexpected combinations for my future displays...

as always check out the links below. great places to visit.

via all the mountains, a drawing diary, taska, reference library, and one of my forever favorites miss mary quite contrary.

little dude

2011-06-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

the other day when we had our lovely road trip not only did we collect treasure, but i am a weirdo and carry miniatures in my coin purse from time to time and this little dude, a photographer - happened to be in my wallet. my father suggested he go for a hike in photos. so we played and i documented the dude as he documented too (heee hee).

i know there are quite a few photographers / artists out there working with miniatures in staged and public landscapes so i have kind of kept to my terrariums, but i must say taking my mini folk out on a field trip was super good times.

ink

2011-06-11T15:42:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago, shortly after unique la i was excited to annouce that terri planty was featured on the la times website... and today i am even more pumped because we were featured in the la times NEWSPAPER! in INK! TODAY! i called my grandmothers right away - they are still learning how to use the internet so to be able to show them my name in the paper - that was a big deal!

thanks to the lovely lisa boone (a wonderful writer and a terri planty favorite) you can find us in the home section of the times. :)

(jumping up and down smiling like a crazy person allll daaaaay long)

garden envy

2011-06-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

i have fallen in love. madly in love. with someone elses garden! more specifically this garden designed by jeffery bales. i strongly urge that you check out his blog. it is jam packed with photos of his travels where he gathers all of his inspiration for these gorgeous intricate designs.
i am such a hippie at heart, the garden below would be like my hippie heaven where in my fantasies i could lounge in my long flowy dresses surrounded by rescued cats and dogs and entertain friends that love to talk about plants and good food. view on and dream with me!

via moon to moon.

custom terrariums and more...

2011-06-07T01:21:00.000-07:00

it is custom terrarium city up in my studio right now. busy busy busy making mini portraits of folks, building tiny landscapes and scouting out for new and old vessels. tomorrow morning a much needed a trip to the flower mart.
with that said, i have some photos to share with you of a few of the recent customs and newbie terrariums i have made. i am working on updating my shop, but be patient please, i have other jobs pulling me here and there too! i promise to come through! in the meantime some visual peeks..

i am especially excited about this batch of vintage brass and glass collection. i feel there is a certain magic and whimsy that is really starting to take presence. its funny how you make something over and over again, but with each experience you learn how to make physically possible a real version of what you imagined - make sense?

(the one above with the naked dude bringing the feather to the lady sitting pretty on the crystal quartz rock, well that one is titled "the grand gesture". it was a result of a big fight with the lover. i explained to him ladies need grand gestures, thus this terrarium. watch and learn boys! its now his favorite scene.)

these little treats will soon be available on the shop. no mini people, but gorgeous materials. vintage bottles from the mojave desert and elsewhere filled with treasure like quartz, agate, drift wood, feathers, vintage marbles and more - you have to shake the bottle to find the goods inside. and a buddha nut housing a gorgeous large, pink tipped tillandsia (air plant).

recent custom orders... a lady in her landscape, just taking it all in...

this was for a rocker and an artist who just got married. i added all kinds of cool surprises in this one, like crystals and mushrooms...

a new interview with a gardener coming soon! its a good one! we got edibles to see!

bringing the outdoors in

2011-06-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

not only do i fill the inside of my home with green leafy plant material but i am also a lover of stumps, roots and all things organic wood forms. sometimes as an alternative to cut flowers i dress my dining room table with a long wood root from the mojave. i have been known to stop the car and load it up with branches, even waaay to heavy stumps from the side of the road. i use stumps in my garden, for my booth displays but also as side tables in my home. so naturally when i came upon these images from elle decor españa i was thrilled. the use of wood is so sophisticated and clean. nature is on my top 3 list of favorite artists.

via bliss.

THE urban homestead

2011-06-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

i am so so proud, gushing with smiles proud of my fellow plant loving / super talented / gorgeous / calartian / gf / photo goddess laure. she just did a shoot of THE urban homesteaders themselves for the NY TIMES! these folks wrote the book URBAN HOMESTEAD, the blog formally known as homegrown evolution - now root simple AND are local los angelenos.
her photos are simply lovely - its great to get a peek and a portrait of two of the most garden happy folks i know of. i especially love to see how gardeners dress. my own personal visual collection i guess.
the article is worth a good read through. this couple has been a long time inspiration to work the land and enjoy it too.

read the full article here and check out all of laure's rad photos here.

macrame - my other lover

2011-06-02T01:16:00.000-07:00

i am so so so so so obsessed with macrame. you have no clue. currently i am in the process of learning how to work it into my practice, but have not come up with anything worth showing quite yet. so i decided to share with you some of my inspirations and ideas. call me a flash back 60s / 70s hippie chick all you want, but man was there some cool stuff made back in the day! as with my collection of books on terrariums and indoor plants, my collection of macrame books are from the same time.

here are my two favorite guide books of the moment... and my jute bundle and ring ready to get started (one of the books featured below is actually a loaner from my dear friend paulanna).

some of the cool creations i have been digging....

this is the amazing macrame hanging sculpture that morgan gifted me at the sale that has been a major source of inspiration. it serves no functional purpose but of making me really happy and i touch it often, or just look fondly over at it. (please excuse the pile of pines in the back. it has been windy and i have had little time to deal with the madness!).

this is what i really want to make (but with plants coming out and around - naturally!) ...

heee heee.... this macrame love is not over... it is just the beginning!

last images viaan ambitious project collapsing and ?.

road trip

2011-05-31T15:40:00.000-07:00

sunday rocked. literally. the family (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, sister dogs and i) all caravan-ed over to some of our favorite haunts in the mojave desert to search for rocks and wood twigs, roots, the works. it was so much fun to dig around in the dirt for cool findings. everyone found amazing shapes and textures. sharing our loot with such passion "WOW that rock is green!" or "it looks like a mask!". no detail is missed amongst my family. we also made a stop at an antique shop we now frequent for terri planty treasures and beyond. portraits of all the treats on their way.

on our way out of the mojave we cruised the angeles forest. stopping often to take it all in. california is amazing. one minute we are in the desert amongst joshua trees and cacti, and suddenly we are surrounded by pine trees and creeks.

while running out and about in the wild, i also got to play with my camera and shot a lot of wildflowers. all the rain we have had this year has really boosted the color story in the desert and the forest. i spotted quite a few native flora that i will have to come back to this post to identify what their correct names are - i tend to make up my own.

the forest had been in a terrible fire not long ago so there are vast areas where the trees were like black silhouettes, however new growth was sprouting out of them in fuzzy bunches. i wish i would have got a shot of this, but mostly this was happening in steep and narrow parts of the road where parking is limited.
most everything was really green and lush. there were so many natural vertical gardens happening along the rock walls of the road. it never fails to amaze me where plants will choose to grow. and the best part is seeking out new growth and blooms. the wildflowers are like surprises amongst all the expected shrubbery. suddenly there is this color and shape that you don't expect. they are so precious.

have i mentioned how much i dig my adventure loving family? well i do! they are so much fun to be around. i am a lucky girl. we had a really good time (crazy wind and all - check out everyone's hair below). even the dogs had a really good time (i swear they are smiling in the earlier photos).

p.s. we didn't take anything from the protected wildlife areas. we did however clean up! people can be such pigs!

interview with a gardener - Chris VanDeusen

2011-05-27T00:00:00.001-07:00

hello hello! this is my first interview with a gardener post! i have been waiting patiently to get started on my process of interviewing and showcasing all the lovely gardeners and gardens that i know and have inspired me. i have been planning to begin this series of posts when i made the terri planty blog in the first place but i got so busy with my business. so today we begin this journey of posts with a very special person in my life.
the first interview with a gardener is Chris VanDeusen. she is a talented landscape consultant and works at an adorable nursery, sheridan gardens. chris gave birth to my childhood bff, miss megan. i grew up in their garden playing in their tree house, creating fashion shows on their lawn and camping in their secret garden in the back. it holds so many memories. the house is packed with character, a bungalow in a happy shade of yellow, surrounded by gorgeous flora that is always changing, blooming and booming with color and texture. chris and her garden were one of my earliest horticultural influences.

i sat down with chris and asked her some questions about herstory with plants...
what is your earliest memory of working with plants?
1978 when i went to work as a cashier at mel-o-dee nursery in north hollywood.

when did your interest in plants / gardening begin? did anyone in particular or a specific moment inspire you?
at that time it may have been 1976, inspiration came from working at the nursery. at one time i had over 50 plants in my apartment living room.

where was your first garden?
in this house which we bought in 1987.

what is your process for designing your personal garden and / or others landscapes?
i like to putter in my garden. it is eclectic and evolves over time. i bring plants home from the nursery and see how they do in my garden. when i do other people's gardens i ask them questions like what colors they like, what types of plants and overall look do they want.

where do you seek references, research, inspiration or ideas?
i get most of my ideas from the nursery or driving around looking at landscapes. i also like the magazines "better homes & gardens" and "sunset". when i go on vacation i love checking out the nurseries in the area. sunset western garden book is my bible.

favorite garden tools...
gloves!! pruners and hand trowel.

favorite indoor plants..
chinese evergreen and philodendron cordatum

favorite outdoor plants...
coneflower, sweetpeas, brunfelsia, ficus benjamina, silver sheen pittosporum, varigated erisimum, succulents, old fashion violets, campanula, roses, sweet pea bush, salvia and sages etc. (there are so many!)

what are your favorite nurseries and public gardens?
sheridan gardens, sperling's in calabasas, rogers gardens in newport beach and descanso gardens.

favorite spot in your garden...
my tiny backyard is like a secret garden

favorite thing about YOUR garden...
that i have figured out over the years what works and what doesn't get bugs, diseases and what looks good together and how it all evolves into something that nature planned not me!

do you have any final gardening tips to leave us with?
a garden is a work in progress, always changing and evolving with the seasons. don't be afraid to jump in and try different things. the plant world is always changing. try new things and relax and enjoy. remember the number one killer in the home garden is too much water!

p.s. like the title "interview with a gardener"? it is kinda my spin on interview with a vampire... hee hee. gardners like vampires like to play with mortality, life, death, nature, romance...
i know. i am dork. so what! :)

pure green living

2011-05-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

i am always seeking out other blogs or print that write about gardening and i have to say, there are few and far between that cover the gardening lifestyle to its fullest potential or their focus is very specific. in this blog i have aspired to bring you gardening inspiration for the outdoors and indoors. i began making terrariums for friends who didn't have big yards like myself, and that was part of what began my obsession of filling my interiors with just as much planted love as my home's exterior.

my point being, that i make it my mission to find the full scoop on whats going down in the gardening world inside and out! so when i came across the magazine pure green living, for the first time today i was so excited to see another venue (other than my beloved sunset and garden design) that had a fresh and informative perspective on the gardening lifestyle. perhaps you were already in the loop. but just in case, i wanted to share it here with you!

check out their page here.

if you have any recommendations or favorite blogs, sites or print on gardening that you would like to share - please please do!

plants on blogs

2011-05-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

i have been away from computerlandia for sometime. the two events kept me super busy. my boyfriend reminded me to have a life. my closet needed tending. busy with many cool custom orders. then my computer was in the shop for a couple days. and although my time away was difficult, i gotta admit returning to the internets with fresh eyes felt pretty damn good. so i cruised the blog and tumblr lands and came up with this lovely collection of plants on blogs. i noticed that i kept being attracted to large masses of plantage. i think its my inner desire to go see some wild flowers tickling my thoughts...

as always, check out the links below. these are some cool spots to visit.

time of the aquarius, the acid sweat lodge, field guided, jeana sohn, hanging roof carpet, tomboy style and the brick house

plant art

2011-05-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

i visited the moca this weekend with erick and i gotta say, it was mighty nice to see art again. oh art you are like an old friend i haven't spent enough time with recently. there she was, saying things, looking good, making me think, making me wish i had more time to make her.
anyhow we went to the grand location and saw the permanent collection and the WILLIAM LEAVITT: THEATER OBJECTS exhibition - which i loved. as an la native this show was especially humorous and relatable for me - leavitt depicts staged moments of la lifestyles through set walls and fake tropical plantscapes and best of all his attention to details like tacky garden lights put me over the edge. it is so so good.
my camera was not permitted in this show so i don't have any images of my own so you will have to be satisfied with these images i grabbed from the moca site.

on another note, in other parts of the museum i encountered this rad installation by mexican born artist sofía táboas. i don't think i was familiar with her work before encountering this piece, but i am a huge fan of arte provera artist piero gilardi's “tappeti-natura”(nature-carpets) and this particular installation reminded me of those works. i love the whole concept of opening a door, maybe to get outside, and instead being bombarded with a stuffed entrance / exit of fake flowers. rad. i would love do this with real plants.

custom terrarium

2011-05-22T23:13:00.000-07:00

i met up with my dear friends greg and angie the other night and made them this custom terrarium. i was especially excited to present this planted treat to them because aside from being a designer and an artist, they have become quite the urban farmers! soon i will be revisiting their space with my camera in tow and will do a feature on their hard work. i was most impressed by the quantity of cilantro they were growing. i always struggle to grow that good stuff successfully. they had and abundance, we enjoyed it in the fish tacos they made for dinner (YUMMY!) so this terrarium features the outdoorsy couple on a desert hike with their dogs. i am working on quite a few custom terrariums at this time, hopefully i will get around to documenting them all. the scenes are getting to be more and more challenging and fun. keep 'em coming gang! i am so grateful for all the biz...

p.s. that crazy looking tall succulent plant is called a maternity plant or mother of thousands (kalanchoe daigremontiana). it drops babies like crazy and spreads. i have these in my garden and they will drop from one pot down to another. very cool when a plant is so eager to grow! grow! grow!

put a plant it it - vintage!

2011-05-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

i haven't done a put a plant in it post in waaay too long. well, i am back in action. i did a little online window shopping on etsy and found a huge collection vintage planters, flower pots and vessels that i just had to share. therefore this is officially a vintage edition of put a plant in it! i included all the links to these treasures just in case your heart fell for one these featured finds. i personally would love to buy them all up, but i am currently saving up for a saw! yup! i need some more power tools in my life so that i can create bigger and better diys to share with y'all.

via ...here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here!!! happy shopping :) if you happen to buy one these treats email me a photo of your planted pot!

the sale...

2011-05-16T22:58:00.000-07:00

phew! it has been a back to back crazy weekend marathon! this past sunday was the big sale at my studio with morgan and summer. laure also snuck in some sweet treasures and was our super star organizer, cheerleader, designer, photographer extraordinaire.

the sale was a success. as people waited in line they stared us down like hungry animals (we were running 10 minutes late due to the rain scare) and when the gates opened folks literally RAN inside. it was nutty.

i met lots of cool new peeps, some of which i only new from bloglandia but finally got to meet in person. family and friends showed face too. :) lots of vintage and plants were bought up. even i scored some sweet treasures. morgan gifted me a super rad macrame hanging sculpture and that sweet velvet and brass folding chair pictured in her previews (i can't wait to seat my "extra" at the dining table in it!). summer even spoiled me with the most beautiful hippie essential indonesian carved wood lamp. photos of all these treasures coming soon!

(the hanging macrame chair that i SO regret not buying)

but the best part was chillin' in the parking lot with my ladies and gents. we had a really good time in that parking lot. a picnic, a dance off, a melt down or two and many many laughs. i am officially in love with my new bffs summer and her husband ruben - seriously one of the coolest couples ever.

morgan of course was blowing my mind with all her crazy findings. that woman is treasure hunter! and laure, i cannot thank you enough!!! she was such a trooper, an inspiration and at some point i am going to have to show off her series of sun burn photos (sexy). we all got as red as tomatoes. i had the brilliant idea of wearing all black. oh well. the tan is now in the bag!

(the boys - ruben and erick (my terri planty partner in crime) hard at work - jeremy was equally a hard working man of honor at the sale, but escaped all photo ops!)

(my many mood swings through out the day)

erick and i are now hoping to have a little chill time post weekend mania - but of course i have got projects up my sleeves! some planter diys on their way...

(gorgeous)photos by laure.

this sunday!

2011-05-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

that's right! THIS sunday is our big pop up shop sale at elephant art space (aka. my studio's home)!

BRICKHOUSE + MODERNHAUS + TERRI PLANTY
vintage modern sale
sunday, may 15th
12 – 5pm
hosted by elephant art space
3325 Division Street, Los Angeles, CA 90065
(promise it’s not at a dentists office, even though the map says so)

morgan of the brick house and summer of modernhaus will be busting out the sweet vintage finds... we are talking furniture! art! lamps! macrame! i am hoping that i can control myself during set up.

terri planty will be of course selling terrariums galore, seed bombs, vintage bottle scapes and more!

plus there will be booze, fresh lemonade, jams, fun, high five-ing! bring your friends, your family, your lover, your kids, your dog, your camera!

i hope to get to finally meet many of you in person! please introduce yourself. i will be the goofy girl with the pig tails and purple fanny pack. it is so funny how bloggers in some ways are like masked super heroes. you never know when a blogger may be right next to you! yikes! so please say hello!

below is a sneak peek of what terri planty will be selling (p.s. if you can't come to the sale, i am now stocking up my online shop, so be sure to check it out often!)....

a sneek peek of what morgan is bringing....

we will just have to wait and see what summer has up her sleeves. from what i know, and trust me i know. she will not disappoint!

remembering unique la

2011-05-10T23:32:00.000-07:00

owthat title is kinda over the top, but i kind of feel romantic right now...
wow. its over. i can't believe it. we worked SO HARD. and poof. done. but i have so many great memories. like when we were told our uhaul cargo van would fit in the underground parking lot and i nearly got stuck and was so freaked out my legs were shaking! or my million trips up the elevator. the moment my ma and i got to setting up and the ideas were just rolling out so organically. the first day - so many sales! we barely had a moment to pee! the second day - less sales, but many new friends made! at one point a whole group of folks came pouring into the booth with cameras and giggling and it was like a bus full of tourists were dropped off into my booth!

but the best part of the whole thing was all the support and love i got from my family and friends. they all came out to support terri planty.

paul! your muscles are my bffs. my baby sister - always there to entertain, ready for the big move out and with a sense of humor! my boyfriend erick, forever by my side with all my wacky projects - he is a creative force and ultimate schleper! i treasure him.

my dad was a terrific sales man with his witty jokes and smart ideas (thanks for the magnifier lens and the canvas!). he took such good care of me, making sure i had a bite to eat, something to drink. my dad was the one who would keep me calm and cheer me on. it was really special. plus he was my eyes and told me about all the cool stuff around us that i dare not leave the booth to see (i know - control freak!)

and my mother. oh man. she is the reason i am able to do this. i really should put her photo up on the about page. she helped me in every aspect of this entire event and beyond. she is truly the most wonderful mother. she has an incredible perspective and energy. when it was slow in the beginning on sunday (mother's day - yeah she was there ALL DAY!) - she kept my spirits up and made me laugh while brainstorming future projects. she is amazing.

all in all the experience was excellent. i was proud of our booth. we designed it with a lot of love and passion. we wanted to transform that white cube into OUR club house. a place where magical little worlds under glass were over flowing.

it was such a pleasure to meet so many incredible folks of all walks of life (some of which follow the blog!)

craft shows are about so much more than just selling things. it is about the community, the risk, the pressure, the fun, the excitement. it really teaches you to be in the moment and see things in a whole new way. suddenly you are on the spot, and its really a great high.

hot off the press!

2011-05-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

i am so thrilled to announce that terri planty was featured in both the LA WEEKLY and the LA TIMES! i am very honored. yipee! all of our hard work paid off!

view the full LA TIMES post HERE.

view the full LA WEEKLY post HERE.

starts tomorrow!!!

2011-05-07T00:43:00.000-07:00

i have been working so hard getting ready for this show...
our booth is set up and looking lovely (photos soon)!
so many terrariums are ready for new cool homes!
hope to meet some of you in person!! :)
it is show time baby!

unique LA spring show

may 7th - 8th 2011

11 am - 6 pm - both days

BOOTH #163 - next to the photo booth!

california market center’s penthouse 110 E 9th St – map it

$10 at the door or in advance (kids 12 and under are free)

geek out! interview / studio reveal

2011-05-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

i woke up, pet my cats, stretched a little (long night at the studio), checked my iphone and suddenly was smiling BIG. i got an email from miss lizzie - probably one of my online bffs. i have never met her in person, we found each other via web surfing and now we are cyber buds. i am totally in love with this girls passion, energy, honesty, smarts, commitment to herself - she rocks. lizze was emailing me because she posted an "interview" about terri planty, my art, my studio and the process of it all. it is a total honor to be featured on her site... love your way. i encourage you to not only ready the terri planty post, but really spend some time on her site. she is a wonderful writer, paired with a talented graphic designer lover, the site rules and is one my faves.

thanks again lizzie. you are so special to me!

view the post here.

check out my wally!

2011-05-02T23:40:00.000-07:00

i am so excited to reveal to you my wally, she is a woolly pocket! i have been in love with this company's rad creations for some time now. so when "wally the pocket" was gifted to me by the lovely justina of compai design and the brand/pr/marketing director at woolly pocket, i was thrilled! it was perfect timing too because i was getting ready to re do the art wall in my living room and the wally was truly just what i needed. i kind of can't believe i didn't already own one once i put it up. i am a HUGE fan of vertical gardens. and now i have my very own! if any of you are considering getting one of these lovely designs i suggest you do. the process was so much fun and it makes such a gorgeous statement.

in exchange for my wally i wrote a guest blog post on the woolly pocket blog. check out the full post here.

put a plant in it (like the italians do)

2011-05-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

my dear friend elise, a talented photogrpaher, married to an italian rocker, living in italy (i know! lucky girl), sent me this link to the most amazing work i have seen in awhile involving my favorite things... plants (duh), art & design, found objects, and some serious risk taking creativity. this put a plant in it post is completely dedicated to these two designers peter bottazzi and denish monapace. earlier this month in milan they presented this exhibition of recycled furniture used as planters. "they called the work da morto a orto meaning ‘from redundant to abundant’ the furniture has been turned into hybrids by connecting them with other pieces. the pieces are intended to be for indoor kitchen gardens and for classroom horticultural lessons". the artist give life to abandoned furniture by combining and reconstructing it in inventive ways and then re purposing it as a planter.
“da morto a orto isn’t just a collection of one-off pieces; it is a critical, ironic reinterpretation of everyday objects that we no longer recognise or that are on their last legs: objects and furniture around the house that are destined to disappear, to be 'destroyed', are here resuscitated with a new look. the project is intended to be the first step in a series of initiatives designed for milan, in which culture and horticulture are blended together to create “cultivation seasons” during which people can develop and explore issues related to the education and conservation of the individual, the home, the city and the planet. they’re reprocessed, patched up, hybridized and transformed before being grafted with plants, thus becoming 'indoor kitchen gardens', domestic classrooms for a '(horti)cultural education)' offering lessons on how to cultivate the land and one’s feelings too".
"the project is promoted by AMSA, the municipal environmental sustainability agency, in partnership with the historic company fratellii ngegnoli, and with the not-for-profit organisation banco building".

maybe now before you throw out that old chair or pile of clothes, re think how you could use it as planter. i grew up with a toilet bowl loaded with succulents. although not the most conventionally beautiful statement, it shifted my perspective and opened me to a world of possibilities. just sayin...

view the original post here.

around the studio (and then some)...

2011-04-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

lots is happening over here. my site is under going some renovations. still a work in progress. but my super awesome talented photographer father took my portrait for my "about" page, and although i am convinced i look (in general) a little bit like a rabbit, i am very pleased. its always fun to get creative with my pops...

i have been busy busy making mini scenes of elephant top dancers, rock climbers, hula hooping ladies (always and forever) and a totally custom zombie scene. that's right boys, terri planty is not just about the girlie stuff. we can do guts and horror, only in our narrative - the lady wins the race! but don't worry, she can rescue you from the vicious arm eating blood sucking monsters. :)

in other news, i scored some really fabulous plants! chain of hearts - a gorgeous cascading plant that is undeniably one of my all time faves, a whole family of neon cross breed cacti that are out of this world and as usual - plenty of pretty succulents and MORE!

i am so excited for the unique la show. this is going be a good one. i have some surprises in store - i am not giving too much away but i will say that it is the biggest blah blah blah blah ever. decode THAT wheel of fortune fans!

p.s. the image of the ivy wall and what appears to be quilt growing an arm in the blonde wood frame is a collaboration i did with a dear friend, and recent past studio mate jennifer bruce. she makes the most amazing quilts. we took her quilts into the town, had blue eyed bearded boys and herself wear them and photographed the quilted happenings in public spaces. this shot is one of my favorites. the girl laid down on the ground of a gas station all in the spirit of making a beautiful photo. and the lovely image of the masked face with the dog - that is another rad artist - roger tilton. lastly above roger's photo is the tip of a great print by ginny cook. i love artists.

planning the booth (part one)

2011-04-26T01:51:00.000-07:00

lots on the mind. LOTS. i have less than two weeks to get ready for unique la spring show. exciting stuff. the shopping, designing, creating, planning and then some have begun. all in all it has been a pleasant experience thus far. mostly because i am not doing this alone. my dear mother, a passionate gardener and designer by trade is on team terri planty. this woman rocks, she is smart, very creative, a business owner herself and a bit of a wild (flower) child...

for example, above is her wedding photo. the lady wore color on the day when most wear white. totally rad. this image makes me happy. it reminds me to do things your way!

that being said, the brainstorming is ON. both of us have been sharing ideas for the booth constantly (forgot to mention - there is a contest - yikes!) i am on the hunt to be inspired and have been collecting images like a mad woman. decided to share them with you here. they evoke texture, combinations, vibes, moods and so on that i would love for my booth to evoke. i am especially digging a combination of 60s/70s dreamy whimsey, organic clusters and piles and graphic moments with humor...

via an apple a day, via wary meyers, found while walking, ii-ne-kore and squirrel hobbies. there are a few images that i don't remember where i picked them up. if you know - let me know! thanks ahead of time. :)

by the way, here is my ma & i in the beginning of our friendship, dreaming up big ideas even then...

(more on the master plan coming soon. so stay posted)

egg planter diy

2011-04-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

even if you don't celebrate easter, this is a super fun diy project. who doesn't love seeing a little plant sprout out of an egg! and best of all this diy is nearly free! most of the materials are inexpensive and some can be found in nature. it makes a sweet little house warming gift, a great way to host plants in your skinny windowsill and a lovely presentation for gifting clippings or seedlings!

in this diy example i used succulent clippings from my garden. when giving the little egglings i like to include a little note that tells the story of the mother plant... but of course your note is up to you... perhaps your plant speaks the language of love and will woe the recipient with a poem (i like to make almost all occasions or gifts romantic - plants always win my heart!).

the materials...
- soil (if working with succulents use a cactus / palms mix and for vegi or other - use an organic potting soil)

- pea gravel (tiny rocks - make sure they are clean and dry!)

- egg(s) - cage free or homegrown is best

- scissors

- pine needles or long blades of grass

- twine or kite string

- plants: succulent clippings, sprout, seedlings...

- a bowl or cup (for yoke and to keep those eggs safe and not rolling about)

- paper towels

delicatly and very carefully using a sharp object, such as the tip of scissors puncture the top of the egg (the pointed part). start with a small hole, opening it up slowly till it has enough room to fit your finger plus a little extra room. be very gentle during this process and be prepared with a bowl underneath your hands.

pour all the insides of the egg into your bowl. you may need to poke at the yoke to get it sliding out faster.

once the egg is empty, clean it out with water in the sink. again be very careful - they are fragile!

when your egg is in the clear begin to place (one by one) the small rocks into the base of the egg. about 5 or 7 tiny ones should do. this will act as your water drainage system. after your rocks are in, add the soil, when your soil is more than half way in, add your clipping (if you have a sprout you may need to place it in sooner). add more soil, place a few more small rocks to position and support your plant. at this point you may need to place your egg(s) into a bowl or cup so that they don't roll all over and get all humpty dumpty on you!

next step - nests! every egg needs a nest, naturally! these nests will not only be the finishing touch to your display, but all serve a purpose - they keep your egg sitting up! take a bundle of pines (from your garden or local park) or long grass blades and with your twine tie they together at one end, then curve them into a circular form that is small enough to hold your egg in place (the tighter the better). you can then twist your twine all around the curve, keeping the form of the "nest". how many knots or how tight your nest turns out is really up to you. it can be organic and wild or more like a stiff wreath. you are the bird building YOUR nest! up to you!

and voila! egggy-planty art! enjoy!

pssst... birdies, if you decide to make some of these and take photos, i'd love to see your projects!

put a plant in it

2011-04-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

i can't take full credit for this collection of "put a plant in it". so many dear friends and new friends have been emailing me with rad new creations for housing my favorite little green things - plants! this particular grouping is full of those moments where you say - hey why didn't think of that! but i didn't! so i am sharing it with you all so that we support our local plant style curators! plus there are some great wearables in this bunch! not only will your house get spoiled with plants - but your body could use some vegetation too!

from the folks who brought you these lovely designs...

i am so loving these new designs..."new air plant cradles // developed to showcase each air plant's individual beauty, my new air plant cradles are the ideal balance between sculpture and functionality. each cradle is completely hand crafted out of gorgeous unglazed natural terra cotta clay that is slow dryed for maximum strength and fired to 1945°. they measure approx. 9" across the widest point and will arrive with the hemp cord and a professionaly printed hangtag containing information about the cradle in addition to air plant care instructions. I'll be retailing them for $36 each. They make a stunning display!" via michaelmcdowell.com.

like is said, wear it up! how cool are these wearable planters by designer colleen jordan. "why should your plants stay at home? they help clean the air you breathe, are beautiful, and create a wonderful conversation starter. carry a sprout, a succulent, or a flower you found on your morning walk. a wearable planter... (is) setting out to prove that something beautiful can be created in plastic."

and lastly, for all you wall planting folks... check out the new urbio (pretty snazzy name)- it is the magically magnetic vertical urban garden! It is "a magnetic system that will help us transform any wall or ferrous surface into a beautiful veritcal garden. each pot is made of eco-plastic and is equipped with large neodymium magnets that are strong enough to hold almost anything to the wall. the wall plates are modular, and can easily be mounted to nay wall. mount just one urbio pot, or fill your wall with them." for more info visit myurbio.com.

planty literature

2011-04-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

i have a book problem. i do. i collect books like i do plants, jewelry, textiles, macrame, cat art, pottery and squirrels (and trust me i seriously collect all of these things). so to add to my festering habit i treated myself to this rad book about plants. because in truth, i can never learn enough about this subject!
this book is part of the time-life encyclopedia of gardening. its title is flowering house plants, written by james underwood crockett "a horticulturist and writer on gardening subjects". it also includes lovely illustrations by allianora rosse.

i am especially digging books about horticulture from the 70's. this book was published in 1972 and it totally rocks like most of the books i own from that period. obviously house plants and terrariums were popular then so that had an impact on the wave of books that came out on the subject, but man are they good! detailed with diagrams and interesting information. for example this book not only gives you all the classic details about care and origins, but it also inspires you with some personal anecdotes, fun pages like: notables who shared their names with plants and an incredible array of tips and ideas, such as sending a leaf in the mail to start a new plant! on page 69 it states "african violet fanciers often mail a leaf from a prized variety to a faraway friend so that he can raise a new plant from it..." i am totally doing a diy on this packaging method pronto! anyone want to become planty pen pals????!!!

looking for cool books from the 70s on plants? look no further than your local used book store or thrift shop. amazon is great too, but the best part about the shops is you never know what you are going to find!

for sale!

2011-04-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

so if you can't shop terri planty at unique la...

i am so excited to announce that i am going to be doing a pop up shop / sale at my studio / gallery space (aka. elephant) with my dear friend morgan of the brick house and her rad friend summer of modernhaus. the girls have some seriously awesome vintage goods for your shopping pleasure. i am afraid for myself - i may try and buy it all first! i of course will be selling terrariums galore!

mark your calendars - sunday, may 15 | 12 – 5pm!

dirt-y food

2011-04-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

my grandmother is a rockstar in the kitchen. she is a baking queen! always treating us to the yummiest sweets. and this last friday she made one of my favorites. i had to share this little number because it is totally within the planty theme of this blog.

has anyone ever had dirt cake? there are many varieties of this delicacy, but my grandmother takes it to next level with her presentation! she put the good stuff in little plastic pots with fresh flowers "growing" out of the "dirt" and of course what healthy garden doesn't have worms! (so proud)

theodore payne garden tour

2011-04-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

last weekend was the theodore payne foundation garden tour here in so cal. the theodore payne foundation is a garden and nursery that has a very special mission statement. "to promote and restore california landscapes, and habitats / propagate and make available California native plants and wildflowers / to educate and acquire knowledge about California flora and natural history". in short i love this place. when i plant natives it goes beyond just being a pleasurable gardening experience, i feel like a garden activist in my very own backyard. and seeing all the wildlife that comes with the flora is even better!

unfortunately i wasn't able to go to this year garden tour, so i decided to post my photos from last years tour as its one of my all time favorite events! you get to explore the outdoor spaces of peoples homes who's landscapes all use the same flora in different situations and they turn their gardens into such amazing environments. southern california is mostly made up of a chaparral landscape, which lends it self nicely to meadowy designs - my personal favorite! i love when gardens look lush and wild, with surprising moments under a tree - like a sweet groupoing of coral bells (huechera) or bright purple irises (my all time favorite flowers - i always imagined if i got married that i would hold a bunch of native california irises picked from my garden in a casual bouquet). a lot of the gardens also use boulders and rocks in clusters, adding contrast and perfect homes for dudleyas (native succulents). and the sheds, collections of things and sculptures at these spaces is equally cool to see.

alright, now get ready for a CRAZY amount of photos that i took. i have a problem with editing. and i didn't just document the plants. pets watching the passing groups of viewers were too cute not to capture.

DIY Wall Terrariums

2011-04-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

my dear friend sara is always looking out for me, sending me cute terrarium ideas and lovely arrangements with succulents. mostly i hoard the images for myself but this time i had to share this cute diy project she found on ruffled. the break down of the project is really nicely done, and made me think of other ways of pursuing this concept. i think i might have to come up with my own version at some point! in the meantime i hope all you diy-ing planty lovers enjoy!

DIY Wall Garden Favors
posted by ruffled on april 12, 2011 (3:38 pm) in DIY projects

we’re approaching the end of our DIY wedding favor series, but i guarantee you will love our last picks as much as the first ones. these vertical terrarium wedding favors make great gifts because they don’t take any room, and are extremely easy to maintain. who wouldn’t want to bring a little bit of the outdoors to their home or office?

- gravel (can be found at any pet store in the aquarium section)
- air plants, cactus or succulents (you will need a small amount of potting soil if not using air plants)
- moss
- spray paint
- magnetic metal tins (from here)
- dremel tool
- painter’s tape
- E6000 glue

cover your tins with painter’s tape before you begin spray painting the inside of them. spray tins with 3-4 light coats until they have are opaque in solid white. while your tins are drying, remove the acrylic top from all lids by putting a small amount of pressure with your hands to pop them off. measure the diameter and mark a line with a permanent marker. using the diamond cutter tip of your dremel tool, slice all acrylic lids in halves (you can also try different shapes or drill holes). lightly sand the edges using a sander tip of your dremel tool.

place acrylic tops back in the metal frame of the caps and glue both pieces. we also recommend dabbing the edges of the tins with a q-tip with glue to seal the lids to prevent the weight from the gravel popping out of the containers. it took one wall terrarium to splash gravel all over the floor for us to figure that out :)

once your tins are dry from spray paint, remove tape and wash tins with water and soap. close all tins, now with open front lids. add gravel, misty moss and air plants. if you prefer building a closed terrarium and skipping cutting the lids, you will need activated charcoal, which can be found in the aquarium section at any pet store. air plants won’t work as well in (tightly) closed containers, so you may want to switch to ferns and small leafy plants.

article taken from ruffled® - http://ruffledblog.com
URL to article: http://ruffledblog.com/diy-wall-terrarium-weddingfavors/