The Violet Hours

Time for Reusing Plastic

When I saw this photo of Shanghai built from cheap plastic containers (made by artist Bang-Yao Liu), it got me thinking about the plethora of ways to craft with ho-hum plastic containers and everyday items. (Found via Design Boom.)

Honestly, these are two of the cutest executions of plastic flowers I have ever seen. Yes, those tulips are made from plastic spoons! And the others from plates and cups! Brilliant. (I wish I could give credit where credit is due, but I found this image via Google Images and when I clicked on it, it took me to a site with no sign of this image. Hmmm.)

I seriously thought I'd seen it all in the way of trash crafting, but this is amazing! I would so live with this on my wall. Found via Snike Larten.

Time for a Postcard Garden

These take tabletop gardening to a whole new level! Introducing Postcarden...

Combining gift and greeting card, PostCarden is a fun and simple pop-out card that transforms into a mini living garden. Choose from a cityscape park, a botanical garden, a little backyard garden, or a football field.

Found via Ohdeedoh.

Time for Things to Do With Wooden Crates

The wooden crate is a flea market staple. Next time you see a tower of them, you may be more inspired.

At my wedding, we used a vintage wooden crate as a "flip book" of old photos of me and Michael. It had a playful flea market feel.

Put some casters on the bottom and turn them into rolling toy storage. Found via Minor Details.

Crates work so well as shelves. If only they were all styled this beautifully. Found via Emmas Design Blogg.

Isn't a wooden crate full of colorful old wallpaper charming? Found via Decor8.

Dog bowl holder—so clever. Found via Apartment Therapy.

With imperfect slats on the bottom, wooden crates make great planters, as seen here on Diggin Food.

Time for Inventive Gardens

Aren't these the coolest the planters ever? Beyond...

 

How cool are Flora Grubb's Vertical Gardens? You can build your own for the bargain price of $100. It's looks like a living painting. Found via Oh Happy Day!

These gumball-sized seed-and-soil pods are sold specific to the United States region of your choice. So you can buy the West coast, East coast, or Midwest variety. Just toss them into your garden, no digging required. $6 at Anthropologie.

A true mobile garden. This light-weight portable bag enables you to go from terrace to rooftop, from one address to another, rotating crops year-round. It may seem silly, but how lovely would it be to safely transplant your veggie garden to your new home! From A + R Store. 

Sip a glass of rosé on your porch next to your chilled out human-shaped planter by Eternit. Found on Trendir.

Time for Repurposed Silverware

Think beyond the spoon windchimes...

I love this simple little vase. By Beach House Living, found via From Me to You. 

Aren't these fork hooks just beautiful? By Forkometry. 

Label your kitchen garden with these hammered spoons. By Hammerman.

If I saw this from a distance, I would never think "dinnertime". Found via Inhabitat.

Time for Lovely Nature Crafts

I always say that a backyard is the best craft store—your finds are unpredictable and free!

So simple! By Aesthetic Outburst; found via Ohdeedoh.

Again, these could not be simpler or more elegant. By Daily Danny. 

What a lovely outdoor chandelier! A new twist on a floral centerpiece. By Sweet Paul.

Time for More Indoor Swings

It's not like me to repeat a topic, but this first swing sent me into a tizzy. It's amazing. Nothing else to say. And a few more great swings to follow...

Designed by Johanna Richter as a piece of jew­elry for your home, the Swing Neck­lace is made from 10 feet of felt balls. Hand­made in Ger­many, avail­able at Sleek Iden­tity. Found via Handmade Charlotte.  

The ME & U swing from Softline is a perfect indoor swing for the entire family. The removable upholstered covers are great for cleaning and comes in great colors! Found via Minor Details. 

With some potting soil, seeds and a bit of water, Marcel Wanders' Swing with the Plants truly comes alive! The seat is cleverly designed to double as a planter, allowing the vines to grow directly up the ropes. Suspend outdoors to turn your garden into an enchanting, pastoral getaway ... or install indoors and add a bit of nature to your interior! Available for sale at Generate.

Time for Boutonnieres

It's one of my favorite words, ever since I learned it heard it from my sister before her 11th grade prom. And I happen to love a teeny creative lapel bouquets (floral or not). If you want to think beyond the carnation and baby's breath for your wedding (or prom!), take a look...

How much do you love these Coney Island inspired bouts by Drinking Stars? Found via Ruffled.

 

 

Congrats to Design Mom who had her sweet baby June on Mother's Day! These adorable fabric boutonnieres were made for her baby shower.

I also love the word bespoke, and I heart Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonnieres found via Ruby Press.  

 

I adore this totally simple stick, leaf, and lace one made by Maya Made. 

My handsome husband putting on his bundle of nature boutonniere by Saipua. Photo by Heather Weston.

 

100 Layer Cake featured these two amazing designers: Dried flowers by Twigs and Honey, and felt poof flowers by Emerson Made. (Handsome dude not included.)

Time for Knitted Nature

This is possibly the most random post subject ever, but once I saw the images from Jan Messent's Knitted Gardens (found on Vintage for Kids) I went on a search for more knitted flora and fauna.

It's like a little garden for a dollhouse. So beyond amazing!

I may need to get my mom (she's a knitter) started on this project stat! From Wary Meyers, from the 1978 book, the Needleworker's Constant Companion.

 

These knitted flower sculptures by Tatyana Yanishevsky remind me of the Venus Fly Trap from Little Shop of Horrors. 

My mom needlepointed (not knitted) this flower for the ring pillow at my wedding. She had a pillow made from fake moss and the rings tied on with the ribbon.

Time for Unglazed Porcelain

When you hear porcelain, you may imagine a high-gloss statuette of a girl walking a dog, glazed in pastels and perched on a pedestal with a tiny brass placard. And it would obviously be living in your grandmother's curio cabinet. An new porcelain craze has been born...

 

Berry baskets found via Oh Joy!

I see these porcelain nuts at the Brooklyn Flea every weekend. By KG + AB.

There is something sort of ironic about a delicate key. From The Curiosity Shoppe. 

Unglazed porcelain pendant lamps. Gorgeous! Via Apartment Therapy. 

Delicate + delicate = porcelain feathers. Available at Fawbush & Shulz. 

Sea urchins by Lisa Stevens. Found via Elaine Bradley. 

 

I want one of everything made by Pigeon Toe Ceramics.