(Himalayan) Zen Garden DIY — Jewelry Box Conversion

Much like the ocean water’s rush, the crash of Summer into Autumn has been nothing short of untamed. Between last minute beach days, back to “school” picnics, back to school shopping, semi-annual social media sound offs (if you know, you know), keeping up with current events, and simply (or not so simply) riding the waves of life, it’s been A LOT (to say the least). However, these last few weeks have been very eye opening for me in terms of what kind of energy I desire to bring into my life going forward. This includes (but isn’t limited to) people, places, internet outlets, and ways of expression.

In conjunction with all the above, I’m currently trying to find the balance between speaking my mind and protecting my peace. I just have to say it though… I think jewellery boxes are overrated. So much that I recently converted mine into a Himalayan Zen Garden and have zero regrets in doing so. Who says salt is limited to the plate?

Anyway, though this little project might seem insignificant to some, I honestly couldn’t recommend it more, especially if you find yourself getting caught up in the chaos of life (and/or tangled necklaces). Plus, it’s a great way to make use of a jewellery box that you aren’t ready to part with. I received mine as an anniversary gift from my husband, so I’ll obviously never get rid of it, nor do I want to. As for the jewellery it once held, that’s a different story, but ultimately, I just wanted to make better use of the space within the jewellery box, and use my space on here to share the process with you all.

If this project is of any interested to you, here’s a little breakdown on how to get started…

Things you will need:

. (old) jewellery box

. (Himalayan) sea-salt

. (beach) sand

. rocks, crystals, etc.

. mini rake (optional)

Things you will do:

(although no one is forcing you)

Turn off the tv and go outside. While this is optional, it’s highly recommended to get yourself in full on “zen” mode. While you’re outside, feel free to collect any rocks, shells, sand, etc. to feature in your Zen Garden. I collected some beach sand during my last trip to the ocean.

Empty the contents of your jewellery box and clean (if needed).

Before creating your Zen Garden, I recommend finding a “home” for your jewellery, whether it be an alternative organization method or an actual home belonging someone else. As you can see (below), my jewellery box, though I love it dearly, wasn’t doing my necklaces any favours. Therefore, I opted for a more minimalist approach — getting rid of most and relocating the rest to my jewellery stand (not shown here). Not only does this make everything more tidy, it looks SO much nicer. I’ll be sure to showcase this in a future post.

Mix and/or layer your salt and/or sand and pour into your jewellery box. I went in with a little more salt than sand for mine, but you can obviously mix however much of each you want or even use just one or the other.

If desired you can also add some essential oil(s) to the mixture before pouring. I actually keep my EO’s in the little drawer underneath the main part of my jewellery box, but have yet to add any to the Zen Garden, itself.

Also, if you have a mini rake, I recommend raking your salt and/or sand mixture prior to assembling the rest of your Zen Garden, as it will make for a much “cleaner” look. However, I don’t currently have one, so I didn’t do that this time around. Instead, I just “shimmied” my box around to allow the mixture to cover the surface evenly. You can also do this rather than (or in addition to) raking.

Once your salt and/or sand mixture is set, pick a focal point for your Zen Garden (optional). I drew mine into the center of the box with a piece of stained glass from my mom’s old jewellery box that I thought looked cool. The opportunities are nearly endless here though.

Arrange the rest of your treasures to your desired look. I went in with some of my most cherished rocks and crystals from a collection I started many years ago.

Note, if you don’t have any rocks or crystals to start with or are looking to add more, The Crystal Ark on Granville Island in Vancouver carries a wonderful selection of authentic gems likes these.

Now you can sit down (or stand) I’m not judging, and admire your Zen Garden in all its low maintenance serenity.

Also, if you have any left over salt and/or sand, feel free to make a little tea-light candle to really set the ambiance. I used a small jar to fill mine, then topped it with a beeswax candle, which took all of two seconds. I knew there was a reason I stayed standing.

And, there you have it — a nice space to welcome the calm before whatever (and whenever) the next storm is.

For more visual details, check out the latest reel on my IG @haveyour.c.a.k.e

Xoxo