You ever see something innocuous, minding its own business on the clearance shelf at Michael’s and before you know it, it takes over your life for a few weeks?

So it was with this desktop greenhouse.

I took it home and after taking an appropriate time to “season” my idea in my mind (read: a month or two) I set to make my vision of a mini botanical garden a reality.

I started by removing the heavy glass panels and building a raised floor above the latch. I wanted to use the base as a foundation on the building.

I wrapped the foundation in plastic stone textured flooring (meant for Christmas villages) and built a pond at one end of the same. I then gave it a more realistic paint job and designed a rough layout for my plants and displays.

I also knew I wanted to make the ironwork significantly more intricate, but I wasn’t sure how just yet…

Up next - PLANTS! I went wild making all kinds of plants. Some were specific species and some were more conceptual.

I made several trees with polymer clay and moss, cacti out of beads and flocking, cattails out of raffia, hot glue and coffee grounds, and giant monstera leaves out of paper and wire.

This part should have taken me a long time, but it really came together fast. I loved finding ways to replicate natural shapes and patterns using bits of this and that.

I did make adjustments to my plans as I went like eliminating benches in favor of a simpler overall design.

Then I needed to fill my pond with water. For this I used resin. Lily pads were added to the top layer, and I wired in simple LED fairy lights. The batteries are kept in the box under the foundation.

In a weekend frenzy I added more plants, metal (paper) steps, new (plexi)glass windows, a roof, wrought-iron vines (paper again), doors that open, and a hose reel disguising the latch. Suddenly, a project I thought would take months was finished…

I love my desktop botanical garden. Right now it sits on a simple lazy Susan in my office. But I’d love to get it a proper display box to protect from dust.

Thank you for coming on this little journey with me. This piece packs a lot of joy into a tiny space. I always love building miniatures, and I’ll be doing more in the future I’m sure.

My brother had lost the right to mock my deeply unwise vending machine purchase because he's spending his weekend driving to Iowa to buy a 1954 Cadillac limousine.

He doesn't have an explanation for this other than the fact that it's cool. And honestly, that's a pretty compelling argument

Oh good, he's named it.

He got her and she's gargantuan

THE BIG is home!!

Update: brother says: tell your internet people- I’ve been making the car shiny and it is COOL.

He's correct. This is excellent.

Brother has completed his custom rear seat champagne table and it looks SO good. This should have been a factory option!

The bracket for it is laser cut steel, and there's a threaded rod holding everything together. The visible parts of the leg are 3d printed with chrome trim, and the top is a walnut cutting board. I insisted he make himself some custom champagne clips and we agree that was the right call.

i can finally show off the Necromancer trench since theyre going into production now!

100% cotton twill outside, cotton printed lining inside, sizes s-3xl! the initial release will be limited but if they sell well theyll be back, with other designs too 🤍

okay (1) you guys are seriously making me go insane with all of the amazing things youre saying in the tags and

(2) i set up a listing on the shop site specifically so you can sign up for restock notifs! this way youll be emailed when the jacket is in :) ill be adding a proper size chart really soon too!