i’ve been big into cloches lately — sometimes called bell jars. i love the unexpected little collections you can keep underneath them – like specimens to be inspected of our most beloved treasures. those sometimes strange little things we pick up in our travels and aren’t quite sure what to do with. i found this little vintage flip calendar at the perish trust and thought it might look sweet under a cloche — an interesting way for me to keep track of what day it is. same with the london stamp — a gentle reminder to myself that i need to get back there, and soon. a weird architectural finial? sure, why not. a few tiny broken branches, yep, i’ll keep them under a cloche, too. what would you keep under yours? here’s a few more ideas to inspire. you.

you can find vintage ones in all shapes in sizes at flea markets, etsy and ebay, or new ones at places like z gallerie, this cool sanctus cloche with a rope handle from anthropologie, or cost plus world market.

a crocodile? okay, via pelle bergstrom; a brass skull via equipment; a bunny, check! via lily; keeping those cacti under cover seems safe, too, via emmas design blogg.

i received a lovely email from designer Jose ‘Jojo’ Agatep recently and was so delighted when i checked out their shop, the slug and the squirrel! the terrariums they create are magical — “In a laboratory of living design, we conjure art and science to create unusual living objects of wilderness – inspired by far-away landscapes both discovered and imagined.” indeed, they do!

the slug and the squirrel makes terrariums in found bottles and vintage glassware of all kinds, making them that much more unique. all built by hand, and created with homegrown plants and wild moss grown locally, using sustainable and responsible practices, each terrarium is more beautiful than the next. i had a difficult time narrowing down just a few to share with you. for a peek at the entire slug and the squirrel gallery, pop on over, and be sure and check out their blog, too. the slug and the squirrel terrariums can be found at these fine retailers.

hello everyone! it’s meighan from ml4u. this week i got a bit of a terrarium bug! they’ve been the rage for awhile, and i’ll admit i have totally bought into the little microcosm eco-world. i have always wanted to make one, but never found the time. so over the weekend my good friend, rae and i took a terrarium workshop class at workshop. it was all rae’s idea, and i am so glad she signed me up. it was so much fun and surprisingly calming and easy! i am fully addicted to making terrariums now, full stop. if you aren’t in the bay area and can’t make it to workshop. here are a bunch of images and links to help you with your terrarium needs. along with my final product. also, if you know of other faves, feel free to comment!

the botany factory offers terrariums at a few stores in san francisco or you can commission and pick it up yourself. katie goldman macdonald takes such special care in making her terrariums they look like little worlds unto themselves.

i like the idea of a family of terrariums. they come in so many different sizes. the slug & the squirrel has an amazing array of all types of terrariums. you could probably find one for everyone you know. the glass they choose to work with is really lovely and has such character, from vintage to modern. each one has such a great look.

the ladies who run twig terrariums have such a sense of humor and mischief with their work. i hope to get to see them next time i am in brooklyn, if not i may have to mail order a kit. too fun and a great gift to boot!

wendilands minimalist terrarium kits are both beautiful and pretty funny. perfect for your black thumb and ‘serenity now’ moments.

paula hayes living art pieces are so amazing to me. i really love that she has brought the terrarium into the galley space. her pieces are truly living beauties. be sure to explore her whole site — she brings plants to a whole new level.

and lastly, i want to share my little guy. mattie and megan of far out flora, who taught the class at workshop definitely ignited a new passion for me. so excited to explore more terrarium building endeavors in the future!

i hope you all have a lovely holiday season. until the new year you can find me over on tumblr, twitter and facebook. also i’ll be posting back on ML4U starting january 3rd. see you there or here and until then, be well!

best.
meighan

my love for you is a stampede of horses.
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beautiful chemistry, via ethanollie.

i’ve been looking for some new, but vintage, accessories for the house, and i remembered a lot of wonderful industrial-like glassworks i’ve been seeing in the vintage etsy shops and around the design blogs these days. i love the contrast of the somewhat sterile, industrial looking glass partnered with some pretty flowers, single branches, and even terrariums. here’s a few of their wonderful glass finds i’m loving right now.

via emmas design blog.

Vintage Laboratory Centrifuge Tubes, via ethanollie.

fairy garden terrarium, via doodle birdie.

antique oil jug, via lucky little dot.

a lovely example of arranging via design*sponge.

vintage pyrex beakers, via cottage farm.

terrariums made by kat geiger at design spunk.

a boiling flask never looked so pretty, via trampoline.

terrarium diy project, via poppytalk.