Fun with Terrariums!

Recently, while searching for an Orchid specialist to try to revive a dying Phaelanopsis, I came across the greatest garden center I have ever found! BB Barns is really close to Asheville, near the airport, and was like walking into the Disney world of plant care. Not only do they have an entire Orchid department, AND an orchid specialist on staff (amazing) they also have a whole section for terrariums! There is something romantic about Victorian-style terrariums, and it makes me feel some sense of nostalgia for what I am not sure. So, with the help of the ridiculously helpful staff at BB Barns, I bought some very inexpensive materials and set out to try making one. Here's how to do it.

Gather your materials!

You will need:

1. A glass container. This can be almost anything, open or with a lid. Michaels had a big enclosed terrarium jar for $10! They also sell pretty apothecary jars for $14. Try looking at Goodwill and other thrift stores for funky old glass things that could be used for a terrarium. 

2. Pebbles or marbles. Pack of river rocks from Michaels was about $3.

3. Activated charcoal. BB Barns sold this in ziplock bags for $2. Or get it from an aquarium store.

4. Spaghnum moss (also called Orchid moss). This is optional but helpful. Buy it at any garden center, lowes, or Michaels even.

5. Potting soil. I didnt have any so I used last years compost and sterilized it in the oven by cooking it in an aluminum covered baking pan for 30 minutes at 180 degrees. This is a pain in the butt.

6. Watering device. Preferably a mister, but a spray bottle would work also.

7. Plants! Closed containers may require a little more research, but mostly, you can use anything. Slow growing, tropical plants are fun, or create a sandy cactus desert.

This live moss was a gift from a very lovely woman I met at BB Barns. Isn't it beautiful!?

I chose 3 different plants for my terrarium. Some Baby Tears, and 2 others that I don't know the name of. I know thats not helpful, but oh well. Buying all new materials, you should be able to create a terrarium for under $30. If you get stuff from a thrift store and get cuttings of plants you already have, you can do it for about $10!

Here is how you layer your terrarium. First, make sure you wash your container out well with hot, soapy water.

1st- 1-2" layer of rock (less if its a smaller container). 

2nd- thin layer of the charcoal. This keeps it from smelling funky.

3rd- thin layer of Sphagnum (if you have it)

4th- 2-3" of potting soil

5th- Plants and live moss, arranged however you want. 

Sorry this picture is so blurry. I made 1 closed terrarium and 2 open. In a couple weeks, I will let you know if they are still alive. Wish me luck!


In the meantime, here are some good websites for more info and pictures.
http://www.terrariums.com/
http://www.blackjungle.com/

Multiplying Bunnies

Dishonest bunny is only a few days old and is already multiplying! Yet another example of why you should spay or neuter your bunny asap. Here is her first offspring.

This little bunny has a cotton print face with white felt ring and hot pink fleece body. Safety eyes and double stitched of course. She was born only yesterday and is already looking forward to 2 new brothers and sisters (identical in color and cuteness) who will be complete and ready for the world tomorrow. How fast do bunnies reproduce exactly? Check out THIS website for one possible scenario. I looked around the internet out of curiosity and it seemed like the consensus was about 7 bunnies per litter, and 4-5 litters per year = average of 32 babies per year per bunny...
I have no comment about that. But here are some more pictures of this cute little girl.

Her tush!

And a picture of the process.

Want to help stop rampant rabbit reproduction? 

Here are your choices:

1. Eat them (look here for recipes)
2. Donate $ to a organization that neuters rabbits such as the Humane Society or Help-A-Pet
3. Never buy a rabbit from a pet store (think puppy mill except with rabbits)
4. Trap wild bunnies (click here) and show them Bush-era abstinence-only videos. (This usually results in more rabbits, but its worth a try anyways!)

Dishonest bunnies

Today is Baby Z's birthday. To celebrate, I wanted to make a cute little bunny that she could love. However, Z was in a very cranky/needy mood today which made me feel slightly irritable. On top of this, Z's daddy was also making me feel irritable, so my sweet little bunny design morphed into Deceptive Bunny.

You see, she is still cute and cuddly...BUT her ears are always crossed because sometimes she makes promises she knows she wont keep. Or tells secrets that aren't hers to share! So she is a deceptive little bunny, and you can uncross her ears for a minute or so, but once you let go they bounce right back into their crossed state, just in case she needs to say one thing but do another. Here is how I made her.

Gather your materials. For this bunny I used a checkered cotton print, white felt, and dark blue embroidery thread. plus 2 safety eyes.

Next, make your design! To make your bunny into a deceptive bunny, you have to keep a pretty tight "v" shape cut between the ears. This will force them to cross over once she is sewn. I tried doodling a couple different noses on my pattern for future reference. I used a regular piece of paper, drew out my general design, attached it to the fabric with some pins, and cut it with pinking shears to prevent fraying. To make the face, cut out a shape from the felt that is about 2" smaller than the body of the bunny.

Next, cut out your pieces. 2 identical pieces for the front and back, plus 1 felt piece for the face, plus 2 identical circles to make the tush. First, place the face piece on one side and sew around the edges. Next, sew the two circles together, leave a part open, and flip inside out. Stuff with fiberfill or whatever you have, and then hand sew the rest closed to make a little cloth ball (or disc). Attach this with strong thread to the other body piece. Finish off the face. I used safety eyes, another piece of white felt for some texture on the nose, and the embroidery floss for the mouth. You can really do anything you want. How about psychotic bunny? Or overly happy bunny that makes you uncomfortable?

Finally, put the right sides together so that the insides of the bunny are facing out. Stitch the sides together, leaving a small space open, and turn inside out. Stuff with stuffing, and sew shut the open part. Don't make any deals with this bunny, and don't believe her when she promises to help run the next PTA meeting.

Love Z Toys strikes again

Is it a rabbit? Is it a kitty? I cant decide, so I will leave it up to whoever falls in love with it! This is the second version of the Sleepy Doll that I have sewn, and oh how I love its cute little face and bow!

I made it last night and dropped it off at the Littlest Bird this afternoon, because I was afraid I was going to try to keep it for myself! I was very lucky with this doll. My sewing machine had a major malfunction as I was putting the face together, and I ended up with a less than perfect section of thread, but luckily it was in just the right place to put a bow. I thought about using a button, but that would limit the age range of who could play with it. So out came my green polka dot ribbon, tie a little bow, glue glue glue, sew sew sew, and problem solved. I like her even better now.

Although...the 'sleepy' side is looking more like a 'cranky kitty'. Take a look!