Moss Lampshades

So the other day I was at work, reorganizing a display for hanging baskets and the only way I could fit them all was to hang some upside down. I loved the shape and suddenly had a fantasy about stringing them with some bare light bulbs (preferably Edison, just to be a bit snooty) and using a collection of them as a chandelier. How cool would it be to sitting at dinner, outside, under the stars and these lamps?  So me, being a bit nerdy, thought it'd be kind of cool to do a mock up in Photoshop... and this is what was produced (for any potential employers, this is a rather crude example of my photoshop skills).

I really want to see this carried out, now I only need a place for installation. 

Another Container Planting

So with my friends wedding a little over two weeks away, I have been doing a little brainstorming for cool ideas of bouquets and center pieces. I am not actually doing the center pieces but I have been having fun with the doodles. This was my favorite idea and I am very tempted to actually construct it just for myself.

The idea would be to make a hurricane lamp and succulent arrangement in a low terra cotta (or glazed if you're feeling fancy) pot.

Construction:
1. Taking empty pot, place screen over drainage hole and cover with thin layer of rocks or pebbles.
2. Situate hurricane lamp glass cover in center.
3. Pour layer of potting soil in pot, not necessarily in glass but it is not the end of the world. If using non-succulents, fill pot with potting soil and skip step 4.
4. Pour final soil layer using a 'Cactus Mix' that will allow for good drainage (we don't want to drown our baby succulents do we?). I would also fill the glass with this to a desirable height for the candle. I had thought it would be cool to have it slightly below the rest of the soil line in the pot.
5. Plant around the glass and place candle inside the glass.
6. Light candle and voila!

I imagined this to be a good as a centerpiece or used in a series to illuminate a pathway. If someone tries this, I would love to see pictures. I will hopefully be trying this soon.

From two{A}musing: A Design Doodle

An idea for a Deer Resistant Pallet Fence. I came up with this idea for a (now defunct, boo!) Community Garden Project in Sausalito. Budget was a major issue so recycling and using cheap materials was mandatory. Using shipping pallets as the structure for a fence and alternating it in a zigzag manner with chicken wire, the fence could be constructed rather affordably.  My beloved cousin had a wonderful idea of using pallets as upright planter boxes (two{A}musing) so I adopted the idea to the fence, using a flax (Phormium sp.) for added height and color. At the ground level I thought it would be nice to add Euphorbia, mainly because I'm in love with it (and at some point there will be a report on it) and some succulents. The only thing I haven't quite figured out is deer are pretty good jumpers, so the pallets may actually need to be doubled in height to be effective. Until such time that I actually see this built, I will enjoy my doodles.