Cloches

Glass cloches were originally invented by the French. The purpose was to protect young plants from the harsher outside elements (i.e. weather, insects, etal). They acted almost like a miniature greenhouse. 

But lately, glass cloches can be used for home decor. People put any treasured or interesting item under them. Some of my favorites include the following:

(via Twig Terrariums)

If I had to put a plant in a cloche, I would choose a terrarium (the cloche would protect the terrarium from not just the weather elements, but from me - because I would probably kill it in a New York minute). 

(via Enchanted Doll)

How awesome is this porcelain doll! with her sterling silver head dress with fresh water pearls and Mohair wig, you can see why she needs to be displayed and protected under her glass cloche. 

(via designlovefest)

How about putting miniature furniture under your cloche? I had a thing for miniature chairs at one point in my tchotchke-infused life and now feel I need to bring that obsession back just to put it under it's own glass dome. 

(via Pinterest via Rockett St George)

I like the idea of shoving a bunch of your kids toys inside of the cloche. Probably a good storage method too for all my son's loose lego figures - home decor and toy storage...Score!

(via sfgirlbybay)

This idea is my favorite: something as simple as a paper figure or origami placed inside the cloche. It's easy to change out once in awhile. 

Have something you love to display? Well cloche it. 

I'm Nesting

(photo by Fanghong)

I have a couple of Matryoshka dolls or more commonly known as Russian nesting dolls. The whole idea of opening up something and finding something even smaller in it was always interesting to me. The typical Matryoshka dolls had the outside figure as a Russian peasant woman, which when opened repeatedly eventually revealed a baby inside. 

Lately, it's the more modern renderings of Nesting dolls that have got me thinking of buying outside the typical Matryoshka versions. They are all clever and some have a sense of humor about them. 

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Creepy and Cute

I have a thing for creepy and cute things.

It began when I started collecting Day of the Dead figures. These figures are the skeletons depicted in activities they enjoyed doing when they were alive. The figures are classic in Mexican Folk Art. Skeletons in general are kind of creepy, but when they are playing instruments in a mariachi band then not so much. 

It didn't take long before my next obsession was with Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas." I started collecting the characters: Jack Skellington, Sally, Oogie Boogie, The Mayor, Lock, Stock and Barrel. Again, skeletons kind of creepy, but when it's a skeleton dressed as Santa Claus then not so much. 

Lately, I've been into the creepy meets cute meets romantic (in an off way).  One of my favorite vinyl figures is my Stick Boy and Match Girl in Love. These characters came from another Tim Burton creation - his book "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy." I'm not sure if this book was meant for children, because a lot of his characters meet untimely ends, but it was just the right amount of twisted for me.  Let's just say a Stick and Match can only love each other from afar because once they touch each other...well, can we say "hunka-hunka burning love?"

My brother recently got me to watch "Indie Game - The Movie." I would definitely recommend this film (and while you are at it rent "The King of Kong: a Fistful of Quarters"). One of the games shown in this film was called "Super Meat Boy."  Meat Boy is a boy without skin who has to get passed perilous cutting machines to rescue his girlfriend, Bandage Girl. This boy without skin who would risk his life for the one person who can protect him (her bandages over his exposed body) is pure poetic...

(photo via Team Meat Blog)

...of course the plushies are what I want.