Welcome, welcome, wonderful September! Your cool winds bring our imaginations inside and creative container gardening begins to take shape. Perhaps your indoor gardening style is the modern masterpiece of an air plant array, the magical mini-world of a terrarium scape, or that timeless classic, the windswept bonsai garden. All types find a home in the sunny window sills of early autumn.
Who are you?
Valerie Tyler, jeweler and school teacher.
What are you collecting?
Bonsai pots for a slowly growing Japanese garden.
When did you start?
My husband and I started collecting bonsai around 2006. We were inspired by my mother-in-law, who I believe has over 50 gorgeous bonsai trees in a stunning collection of pots and containers.
How many do you have?
If you count the ones that are strictly bonsai pots with low profiles, I have 10. If I count the myriad of other pots we’re using until we collect more, I have almost 25.
Where do you find them?
I love to scour garage sales, yard sales, and thrift stores. I’m thrilled when I make a discovery, as they’re not always easy to find. I always look for handmade pots, as that makes them extra-special.
Where do you keep them?
In winter they’re all kept in a two tier window garden. Come spring, they’re taken outside to the Japanese garden we are slowly creating.
What’s a crazy/interesting story behind one?
During a relatively successful art show, I snuck away from my table to visit the studio of Matt Richards, a.k.a. Ryu No Sakebi. Since I had cash burning a hole in my pocket, I quickly purchased two of his pots. They’re pretty interesting works and they each have his handprint glazed on them, which I thought was quite a signature!
What piece would you like to add?
I’d like to commission my friend Gina DeSantis to make me a pot. She makes gorgeous, Japanese-inspired pottery.
Why do you love them?
My husband and I both share a love of Japanese-inspired art. Bonsai pots showcase simplicity in design — they have beautiful, clean lines and usually come in gorgeous earthy tones and watery blues. Best of all, they provide a harmonious partner in shape and form with the trees they hold.
What else do you collect?
Along the same design lines, I collect other forms of pottery and Asian and nature-inspired art. Basically, art work that has a relaxing quality.
Beautiful! Thanks so much, Valerie.
Valerie explores her appreciation of living things with her modern, nature-inspired metalsmith jewelry. Reflective of her beautiful bonsai collection, I adore her use of clean lines, her apt mix of metals and colors, and gorgeous sense of space and shape in each piece she creates. I hope you’ll visit her wonderful Etsy shop, Valerie Tyler Designs, and her blog, Art Addict.
What do you collect? Please tell us in the comments below. We’d love to hear!
The Collectors Series | Bonsai on Etsy
Hi nicies! I’m Kristal Davis (a.k.a. rikrak) and I just love seeing what folks are collecting. I guess I feel it tells us a little bit about what inspires them. The Collectors series, first published on my own little blog, the rikrak studio, is a series of quick questions with a wonderful artist on what they're collecting (apart from their art supplies!)
56 comments
Sign in to add your ownTwinkleStarCrafts says:
Wonderful collection. Bonsai is a great way to bring the outdoors inside in a beautifully decorated way.
1 year ago
satellitedaisy says:
I became fascinated with bonsai after a trip to the Huntington Library Botanical Gardens. Wonderful post. Thanks!
1 year ago
minouette says:
That's really nifty.
1 year ago
AukinasGoddess says:
you inspired me to get a new pot for my bonsai. :) thank you for writing. and- beautiful work [valerietyler].
1 year ago
ShoeClipsOnly says:
Love the bonsai trees! thanks for sharing!!
1 year ago
prillarguri1976 says:
I love these little trees.
1 year ago
TheIDconnection says:
This is wonderful! I love Bonsai trees Monica TheIDConnection
1 year ago
jammerjewelry says:
Wonderful article, thanks!
1 year ago
fbstudiovt says:
Beautiful! If you haven't checked out the bonsai collection at the Botanical Gardens in Montreal, I highly recommend them. They're stunning!!
1 year ago
RedorGrayArt says:
i breathlessly thank for this post ..you reminded me of my mom today .. a bonsai gardener from way back ..now all I have are the lovely memories..such stunning series here today
1 year ago
myvintagecrush says:
I love my bansai! Great interview
1 year ago
amysfunkyfibers says:
So beautiful, I just love the form and shape of the bonsai.
1 year ago
tarikyousef says:
I love bonsai trees, this is amazing work! I used to build cedar bonsai planters for my own garden, they were very fun to create and the Bonsai trees were so fun to grow and maintain.
1 year ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
Beautiful pots, I'm not sure what I love more the variety of pots on display or the plants themselves!
1 year ago
BanglewoodSupplies says:
I love this!!!
1 year ago
Mclovebuddy says:
those are fun to collect. i really love frogs and ikebana containers, too - kind of similar.
1 year ago
thebeadgirl says:
so cool! makes me want to try a bonsai...i've always been scared!
1 year ago
vitamini says:
My grandparents were world travelers and bonsai gardeners. I have such fond memories of going out to the bonsai garden with my grandma to help her water the trees. My favorite was a ginkgo that had been rooted over a lava rock. I inherited many of their beautiful pots, trays and containers. Some have chips from being moved around over the years, but I love them the same.
1 year ago
Iammie says:
Love it!
1 year ago
TheScarfTree says:
Beautiful - I love bonsai as well! Such a tranquil thing to have around!
1 year ago
lindaketelhut says:
Love these little plants! Like beautiful mini sculptural pieces. Thanks for sharing your inspired collection!
1 year ago
AdornmentsNYC says:
great post and lovely collection! Thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
MegansMenagerie says:
Love this! There is something so calming about those little trees :)
1 year ago
MootiDesigns says:
Love Bonsai trees, I can never keep them alive though. Great post!
1 year ago
Parachute425 says:
What a great, fun collection. Not only would I kill a bonsai tree I could probably kill the pot it came in. I have killed air plants. I'm not proud of it.
1 year ago
thevelvetheart says:
I've always wanted to try my hand at this! Bonsais are so cool!
1 year ago
TheVintaquarian says:
Bonsai pots, with their simple soothing lines are so appealing. My sister gave me one (complete with plant and a tiny little person) that I've been enjoying for about 10 years now. Still going strong! Always interesting to hear what other people like to collect, great post! And yes, I agree, Valerie's jewelry is reflective of the simplicity, clean lines and beauty of the bonsai, very lovely!!
1 year ago
withheartbyhand says:
Your collection is beautiful, I too love bonsai plants and pots and everything japanese-inspired. Check out my etsy page and see my japanese inspired work...it might interest you!
1 year ago
AvianInspirations says:
Beautiful! And I never really stopped to consider the pot before, I've always simply enjoyed the bonsai. Thanks for the new perspective!
1 year ago
paramountvintage says:
what a great collection. i bet there are some amazing handmade pots on etsy. i'm going to look now! :)
1 year ago
rejive says:
I love bonsai trees! Anything that can help slow down my overactive brain is GOOD!
1 year ago
grandpaspocket says:
so beautiful and so ethereal and so peaceful.....great article!
1 year ago
ValerieTyler says:
Thanks for letting me share. Of course I love the related items.
1 year ago
GwenDelicious says:
beautiful, my husband and I have many bonsai's in our garden...thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
Gookies says:
Great collection. Some of these trees are very well manicured!
1 year ago
zJayne says:
Wonderful sharing about Valerie's collecting. She is such a supporter and kind spirit on the Cleveland Handmade team. I have been luvin her blogging since day one!
1 year ago
stonz says:
Go Valerie!! Love Gina's work too~
1 year ago
2TrickPony says:
awesome collection! and a lovely necklace, too:)
1 year ago
GLORIACASTANEDA says:
i love it! for minute i thought the first photo was weed plant! O_O
1 year ago
SweetiePieCollars says:
Awesome! I am going to get one when I get back from vacay!!!
1 year ago
Justlena says:
Wonderful article,great collection!
1 year ago
Turnadaisy says:
Love Bonsai! Awesome article and already had Valerie's shop in my favorites...beautiful work. Thank you for including Turnadaisy with all of these wonderful artists!
1 year ago
HardlySimpleDesigns says:
Great article! That is so true, Asian and nature inspired art has such a relaxing quality. That is probably why my house is filled with both! :) Now I just need that Japanese garden. Thanks for the inspiration!
1 year ago
limegreenrhinestones says:
Nice article Valerie!
1 year ago
StyleGraphicDesign says:
Awesome!! I love them very much! Thank you:))
1 year ago
girliepains says:
Lovely
1 year ago
jewelkingthai says:
I love gardening, it gives pleasant feeling in mind ......
1 year ago
JewelsbyJasmin says:
Beautiful pots!
1 year ago
shiplett says:
Great job Valerie. Love your work.
1 year ago
oneperfectday says:
Now, that's a great collection to have! Pretty little trees! Awesome!
1 year ago
LazyTcrochet says:
Valerie's garden is beautiful. She hosted our first Etsy Craft Party for the ClevelandTeam and it was such fun!
1 year ago
SylviesDesigns says:
What a wonderful hobby. I've always been fascinated by Bonsai. At the moment I collect shells, from perfectly formed shells of about 2mm to huge ones that fill my hand. I find them on beaches that we visit around the world. I intend using the smaller ones on a Unique Wall hanging that I am quilting entirely by hand....about 300 hours in it so far. I've also hand dyed some of the fabric for it...but I also collect fabric. Not huge lots, but pieces from all over the world where I have traveled....these too are going into the wall hanging. The shells will be used along with beads and pearls to make some unique jewelry....about 70 hours work in that ...but not yet ready to be shown....so you all will have to wait a bit.....see ya :-D
1 year ago
JeffreyJamesModern says:
Beautiful Bonsai!! Lovely!!
1 year ago
AMSkrafts says:
Beautiful bonsai! I think they are so amazing; my grandfather (a gardener by profession) have perhaps 50+ bonsai in his backyard, and I think he continues to care and collect more, even though he's running out of space! I would love to attend a bonsai class to learn more of the art, perhaps start a bonsai garden of my own in the future. Thank you for sharing!
1 year ago
diamondgracejewelry says:
very cute plant. i would love to have one in my house :)
1 year ago
GinaDeSantis says:
Thanks for the mention Valerie! Can't wait to get started on this project. Just pick a color...I'm assuming black?!
1 year ago