Transfer treasure: White enamelware bowl

Transfer station.

Sounds so much better than 'place with giant garbage bins for you to separate recyclables and trash on a Saturday morning.'  Transfer stations are also know to have swap sheds, or give-n-take racks -- all things that are music to my ears.  During an autumn visit to a transfer station I found a lovely little bowl gathering dust in a nearly empty swap shed.

Top view, dust included

Such a lovely piece of white enamelware, only a few dings around the top rim, but otherwise in great condition.

Side view

Coincidentally, the next day I was walking by a parking lot flea market in another city when I spotted this bowl for sale.  $12 for a vintage white enamelware bowl.  Not bad, but mine was free!

I'm not sure what I'll use my new bowl for, but given its wide flat bottom and vertical sides it has the look of a potential succulent planter....

Happy freestyling!

NQF: Silverplate soup tureen to succulent display

 Let me start by saying that this is probably my favorite succulents+silver project to date.  

I found this large silverplate vessel at the thrift store for $8.99, so much shiny for so little coin.  Was it  originally a soup tureen? Perhaps a punch bowl?  There was no lid, but there is a maker's mark / hallmark.

eye catching 

If you have any insight into the age or original use of this silverplate specimen, feel free to share.

English Silver Mfg. Corp.

I bought it for the shape, but also the small nice details like the decorated handles and feet.

For a planter that has no drainage holes you can either use an interior container, or be lucky enough to find some free aquarium gravel at le dump. Yes, I took it before I had the planter, but who isn't always thinking about their plants?

So how did I transform this thrift store find into a lovely succulent planter? Read on for the bare bones tutorial.

Step 1 - Assemble your supplies: planter, gravel, potting soil, plants, and straws.

Step 2 -Pour gravel into container, this will allow for drainage.

Step 3 - Don't forget your straws, these will poke down through the gravel to the bottom of the planter. The dirt will go around them. My idea with this is to bring air down to the bottom of the planter, and possibly help with evaporation or ventilation. I don't know if they actually help, but they don't seem to hurt.

breathe easy baby

 Step 4 - Identify plants for transplanting, such as this little beauty who was outgrowing its present home.

Roots coming out the bottom, maybe time for a new home.

Step 5 - Place your straw, add some dirt, add a plant.

Repeat until you have all of your succulents into their new home.

Step 6 - Enjoy! (and water occasionally)

Happy freestyling!

NQF: Silver bowl into succulent planter

Remember the succulents + silver combination?

It hasn't gone away!

In going through my photo archives I rediscovered this arrangement that combined what were possibly free succulents, or at least some free cuttings, with a tarnished silverplate bowl from the thrift store.

big plant and little plants

Here is a photo of the final project in its original planter-hood in Cambridge.

soakin' up some sun

Happy gardening, no matter what size you have to work with, and always happy freestyling!