Artist Handcrafts Whimsical Plant-Inspired Pieces

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — When Erica Regelin's friends saw her handmade plant-inspired pieces ranging from ring dishes and glass vases, they asked her to make them some custom pieces, too.

Their love for her handcrafted items compelled Regelin to set up an Etsy storefront called Button and Fern in 2021, and share her talent with others. The response to her items has been heartwarming for the Ellicott City artist.

"I started Button and Fern after falling completely in love with plants during the pandemic - about 50 houseplants later, here we are. What began as making accessories for my own growing collection turned into a real business — 4.9 stars on Etsy, 300+ sales across Etsy, in-person events and wholesale, and I still make every single piece myself," Regelin told Patch.

"After creating the collection of plant accessories, I started selling on Etsy and my own site, www.buttonandfern.com. That led to a pop-up retail store in Historic Ellicott City in the summer 2024, which led to a holiday pop-up shop in White Marsh, and then being selected for the artist/vendor market at the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show. Now Button and Fern plant accessories are sold wholesale through Faire.com, can be found locally in Ellicott City at the Market at Caplan’s and in stores and nursery shops even as far as Vancouver, B.C.," Regelin continued.

The Howard County artist creates original artwork that's printed from her laser-engraved flower presses to decorate pieces such as ring dishes and glass vases. She hand-paints plant stands and there are whimsical plant-inspired pieces in her collection she's designed and made in her home studio, too.

"Like a lot of people, I got really into plants during the pandemic. I went from zero to about 50 houseplants in a few years (no regrets). I started making little accessories for them — first a plant stand, then art plant stakes, then flower presses, then it just kept going," Regelin said.

I'm an artist and maker at heart, and already run two small businesses creating framed papercut art and another of equestrian accessories, from my small art studio. Once I started designing cute plant accessories that my friends and I lost our minds over, I couldn't stop. Since I have my studio tools (hello laser cutter!) I could really try anything! Friends and family kept loving the items, and eventually I thought okay, this is actually a thing. I opened my Etsy shop and here we are," Regelin told Patch.

Some of her hand-painted plant stands include fruit-shaped one such as lemons and strawberries, as well as whimsical pieces like sprinkle donuts. She makes plant stakes sporting fun sayings, a set of classical David and friends statue stakes, and faux leather bookmarks in leaf designs.

"Everything starts as my original art and is made entirely by me in my studio," Regelin told Patch. "My yellow flower vase - it's this original folk floral I designed in yellow and blue UV ink on glass - is consistently my bestseller. People love it and it makes grocery flowers look upscale. I make this vase, it’s gone. My David statue plant stake is a fan favorite, too, because honestly who doesn't want a tiny naked Renaissance sculpture in their monstera? And my Last Watered plant stakes are really popular with the practical plant parents because they're cute and useful, which is kind of my whole thing."

Customers naturally include plant lovers and people shopping for gift for people who love plants.

"I get a lot of 'I saw this and immediately thought of my friend' energy, which is the best compliment. Bridal showers and housewarmings are big ones, too, as well as gifts for mothers and best friends who love to garden. My customers are people who love a little bit of whimsy in their space — they like things that are handmade, colorful and have personality," Regelin said.

She stays busy selling her handmade items wholesale at retail locations such as museum giftshops and garden center shops, as well as in person at craft markets around the state.

The story behind the business name Button and Fern happens to be as colorful as her products.

"I wish I had a really poetic story for this one, but the truth is I was playing around with one of those random business name generators, just clicking through combinations until something felt right. 'Button' and 'Fern' popped up together and I immediately loved it. It felt small and whimsical and a little bit cozy, which is exactly the energy I wanted. Sometimes the best things happen by accident," Regelin told Patch.

Although her vision happens to be spot on for customers, Regelin said she also creates custom pieces for clients.

"If someone has a specific plant or flower that's meaningful to them, I can incorporate it into a flower press, a vase or a ring dish. Someone recently custom ordered a pomegranate on a plant stand that we designed and painted for her - it’s beautiful. People can reach out through my website or Etsy shop to chat about custom orders," Regelin noted.

Photo courtesy of Erica Regelin