Jewelry That Grows On You. The Incredible Landscape Jewelry of Sarah Hood.

Artist and silversmith Sarah Hood combines miniature scale railroad materials like plastic trees, grasses, bushes and pebbles with sterling silver to culminate is one of a kind pieces that are nothing short of wearable art.







Her expert metal work and unique whimsical style is why several of the pieces from her Landscape Series reside in the Tacoma Art Museum's permanent collection.



Below are examples of one-of-a-kind sterling silver rings, necklaces and bracelets made with miniature plastic trees - some spray painted black-, tiny phony bushes, greenery and in some cases, gemstones. Beautiful detailing in the cast silver twigs and touches like bird toggles accentuate the craftsmanship in these unique pieces.



Many of the following fabulous pieces are available for purchase.











detail of above bracelet:







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detail of above necklace:









detail of above necklace:











Her 2001 Living Rings actually used live plants and succulents in tiny terracotta pots upon silver ring shanks:





She also crafts beautiful cherry wood bases to display her rings:







Silversmith and artist Sarah Hood at work:



Sarah's studio and furry friend:



all images ©Sarah Hood Jewelry



In the artist's own words:

"For years I’ve been working within the intersection of archetypal form and the natural world, creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces from organic materials. In Landscape, I’ve taken a break from the real natural materials--leaves, pods, seeds--which have compelled my work for many years to create miniature, artificial worlds within the context of jewelry. Working with model railroad landscape materials lets me create tiny snapshots of the natural world, scenes that can trick the eyes into believing they are seeing something much larger. In several pieces, this deceit is challenged by the combination of these small constructed natural forms with full scale, cast sterling branches, buds and leaves which, in material, are equally unreal and illusionary." -- Sarah Hood, Jewelry Artist

In addition to her inventive landscape jewelry/art, she creates what one might consider 'more wearable' pieces in gold, silver and enamel. Earrings, bracelets and necklaces are available in her etsy store.

A New Perspective on Hanging Plants. Introducing Boskke Sky Planters.

Boskke has evolved indoor gardening with the advent of their Sky Planter. Their unique upside down stoneware and plastic planters allow you to sprinkle greenery in any room without sacrificing floor or table space.









above: with Sky Planters, herbs are within cooking reach.



The Ceramic Stoneware Sky Planter:

The Boskke planter, initially created in ceramic stoneware and available in three sizes, was designed by Patrick Morris and received a coveted 2011 RedDot Design award.









above: the ceramic stoneware series of Sky planters comes in three sizes.



New Recycled Sky Planter:

Now, in addition to the original ceramic designs, they have launched a line of large and small recycled planters made from 100% recycled polypropylene plastic and packaged in recycled cardboard.









A wide variety of common house plants, herbs and vegetables grow nicely in the unorthodox planters and a locking disc and mesh holds the upside down plant and soil in place. Its internal reservoir system feeds water gradually to the plant roots. This conserves water and saves time.









The Sky Planter is easy to assemble, as shown in the short video below. Ready-grown plants are simply removed from their container and inserted into your new Sky Planter. Once locked in place, turn the pot upside down and suspend from a securely fastened ceiling hook. Extension wires and wall mounts are also available for high ceilings or wall-hung planters.









Buy the Boskke Sky Planters (original and recycled) here.

GE Recreates Van Gogh Painting with Plants for London's National Gallery

above digital composite by Laura Sweet

GE (General Electric) and London’s National Gallery just unveiled an ecomaginative collaboration – an installation of Van Gogh’s famous A Wheatfield with Cypresses, made from over 8,000 living plants and on display on the western side of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.


above: 'A Wheatfield, with Cypresses' was painted in September 1889, while Van Gogh was a patient at the St-Rémy mental asylum.

above: More than 25 varieties of plant have been used to mimic the strong bands of color in the original picture.

The living painting has been constructed by specialist horticulture and design company ANS using over 8,000 plants of more than 26 different varieties. To create the artwork, each plant was selected for its unique colour to match the tones of the original painting.


image courtesy of GE

image courtesy of GE

image courtesy of GE

image courtesy of GE

image courtesy of GE

image courtesy of GE

image courtesy of GE

The living painting is a creative manifestation of GE’s commitment to the environment through its ‘ecomagination’ business strategy, which is concerned with meeting customers’ demands for more energy-efficient products.

The green doesn’t stop there: GE also contributed environmentally-friendly Jenbacher cogeneration heat and power engines that will help reduce the Gallery’s carbon footprint.

People can see the living wall in Trafalgar Square until the end of October.

Thanks to GE Reports and London's National Gallery for the info