Plant Craft

October 15, 2016

Bring the garden into the home with this collection of projects. Photographer and first-time author Atkinson has grouped 30 designs by general concept (e.g., build, craft, mount, plant). Included is an introduction to recommended plants and their care. The projects are well organized, with clear, bold photos illustrating each step. Standout projects include a planter bench, a plant chandelier, and flagstone planting. Several variations on hanging plantings are less inspiring. VERDICT While some of the projects are well conceived, others are not new. Still, this book is recommended for the instruction and diversity of ideas. For fresh designs with succulents, see Tawni Daigle's DIY Succulents.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 5, 2016
Horticultural expertise and an eye for interior design inform Atkinson’s 30 crafting projects, which integrate elements from nature with the balance and style of interior living space. Using plants such as bromeliads and mosses with accoutrements such as a hollowed tree trunk or driftwood, the book outlines how to create a stunning variety of interior accent pieces such as shadowboxes, centerpieces, and a bench planter. Each project includes detailed instructions, including a supply list and photographs demonstrating each step of production. The book further includes listings of indoor plants with specific guidance about how to cultivate and maintain them, including proper lighting, watering, and soil maintenance. These projects center around living matter, which means the creator must accept its “independent nature” and also, in some cases, its impermanence. This happy blending of nature’s gifts and interior design offers the creative crafter and indoor gardener a universe of ways to highlight the beauty of nature indoors.