DIY: Shipshape Planter

Shipshape Planter
by Kelly Wilkinson

There’s nothing like a few nautical flourishes to get you in a beachy, summertime mood. This projects feels like a update on the macramé planter projects of the 70s, but this version features the plant of the moment: tillandsia – better known to you and me as air plants. I love their insect-meets-plant look, and the fact that they gather what they need from the air, so they don’t need to be rooted.


All you need is…
1. Tin container (I used an old tea canister)
2. Air plants
3. Twine
4. Cork
5. Yarn needle

And any extra, decorative baubles you may have one hand that you want to add.

Cut a 3 foot length of twine (better too long than to short, you can snip away the excess at the end). Cut cork into thick coins, of varying thickness. Punch a hole in your tin can (I used a drill bit, but if you don’t want to do any light metalworking, just tie the twine nice and snug around the container). Wrap twine around can, knot at back, and pass through hole in container.



Thread needle with twine and push through as many cork coins as you desire, using a pair of pliers to pull the needle through if the coins are too thick to push through easily. You can add any other items to this vertical collage – I added a glass globe that reminded me of an antique buoy.

Tie anywhere for an easy, shipshape still life. Ahoy!

You can follow the steps in more detail right here.

> more Simple. Modern. DIY projects
> Visit Kelly at MAKE GROW GATHER

Photos: Kelly Wilkinson

About Kelly... I grew up in a renovated barn in Virginia, the middle of three sisters. Now I'm in San Francisco, trying to straddle the country-urban worlds. For now, this means access to the city out the front door, with veggies and bees in the back. All my life, I've loved making stuff: crafts, dinners, skirts, preserves...and grand designs for my life!