Several years ago when I was shopping for this “Thrift the Look: Beach Cottage” post, I came across this wonderful large platter. In the end, I didn’t end up needing it for that particular blog post, but I held onto the platter for future use. Turns out, that future use would be for stress relief, in the form of a mini Zen garden.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
And for anyone who may be curious, the shell bowl/platter was made by Catalina Pottery. Though I have no idea how old/not old it is.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Why a mini Zen garden? Well, I love the idea of creating something soothing, something that lowers my blood pressure these days. Between the absolute chaos of the world right now and recent events in my life (losing my mom), a calming project seemed like a good idea.
And with a large shell bowl like the one I thrifted, I knew I could pair it up with some of my shells. And while I have plenty of them from my college internship days, shells are something you can easily thrift, too.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
So, let’s get started on a simple, but quiet and stress-relieving project.
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Creating a Mini Zen Garden
First things first, I removed all the thrift store stickers from my platter and cleaned/dried it thoroughly.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
And I was reminded of just how pretty it is, in general- see why I kept it all this time? Definitely coffee table-worthy on its own.
Anyway, the next thing I needed to do was add plenty of sand. Now, I originally planned on using the sugar sand I have from Fort Myers Beach (used in this project). But, I decided I didn’t like all the beach “schmutz” in that sand- for this project, at least.
So, I purchased some decorative sand instead.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Here’s a non-Amazon link for clean beach sand, too. You honestly can’t beat beach sand from Florida’s Gulf Coast for this project- I just need a finer sieve to filter out all the natural bits from my sand supply.
Ultimately, any super fine sand will do. You want to use powdery sand because you want it to hold any shapes you make in it with your Zen garden tools.
After I filled up my platter (leaving roughly an inch of space at the top of my platter), I added a few shells.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Most mini Zen gardens include smooth stones and rocks, so you could use those instead.
I also added a faux air plant for a little bit of color and visual interest.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Last but not least, I added a small wooden rake. Perfect for making shapes and designs in the sand of my mini Zen garden.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
And that was it- talk about an easy “upcycle”, eh?
Mini Zen Garden with a Thrifted Platter
And now, whenever I need to zone out for a little bit or unplug from the 24/7 news cycle, I have a mini Zen garden to play with.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
As silly as it may sound, playing with the sand- dragging the rake or even using a shell- is quite relaxing. I definitely understand the appeal of these things, especially for anxiety and stress relief.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
While you may not find the same kind of shell bowl as I did, I really do recommend incorporating a few interesting shells. Smooth shells like my fighting conch, alphabet cone, and lettered olive are pleasing to the touch, like a smooth stone.
But even more so, they leave REALLY interesting patterns and impressions in the sand. I should have taken a few photos for you. But the top of the cones press into the sand beautifully- and the coral piece left a perfect imprint when I picked it up.
What do you think? Will you be thrifting yourself a platter to create your own mini Zen garden? It’s a surprisingly effective way to disconnect from current events- thrifting, making, and playing are three great ways to unplug, let me tell you.
Interested in a few more DIY stress relief/self-care ideas? Check out this collection for a little more inspiration.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
And since I used shells from my personal collection, here are some other ways to craft with your beachcombing finds.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Craft on!
S
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Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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