I’m just in love with terrariums. I love the idea of a teeeeny-tiny little private world, I love the fact that you can create an ecosystem that can survive completely on its own, and I love that they allow you to display cute miniature figurines in a way that doesn’t make your house look like a knick-knack collecting old lady lives there.
So when my Design Sponge editor challenged me to think of a Sewing 101 project that combined sewing and planting, somehow the idea of a sewing a terrarium popped into my head. Could it be done?
Turns out, the answer is yes, and it’s very easy to boot! All it takes is some clear vinyl (available by the yard at the fabric store) and your sewing machine.
I came up with designs for three different shapes – a rectangle, a vertical container with inward-slanting sides, and an abstract circular fluted shape. They’re all really quick to sew, and simple, and fun.
Sewing the vinyl is just a teeny bit tricky, as it won’t feed through your sewing machine normally since it’s so sticky. But fear not! My post will show you an easy work-around for this, which involves simple tissue paper and paperclips.
In the post I also give some simple tips for planting a terrarium. I know lots of people think terrariums are hard to keep alive, and I’ve had that experience too. The biggest problem for me is that when you use several different plants, some of them die while others get all scraggly. But I’ve found that planting simple moss is the best way to go. It looks really lush and gorgeous, it’s easy to maintain – and honestly, I think it looks just as good (if not better) than using lots of different plants. I have a couple of glass terrariums at home with lids, and I never, ever even have to open them – they live completely on their own, with the lids closed. It fascinates me. With a container like these ones though, with open tops, you would have to mist the plants every so often – but that’s it. Easy, I promise!
So hop on over to my post on Design Sponge to learn how to sew your own terrarium!
PS fun fact: this ladybug figurine is from my childhood, I’ve had it probably since I was five years old, or even younger. As I kid I was obsessed with ladybugs and I had a little collection of ladybug goodies. When I was home about a year ago, I noticed this little lady in my old bedroom, and snagged her for terrarium use. She really makes me happy and I love having a way to incorporate a childhood memory into my adult home!
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I LOVE it. Since I am gardening challenged, I wonder if even I could nurture a sewn terrarium!