Thanks for all of the replies! Yes, there are lots of blacksmiths around, many hobbyists and some professionals. There are photos of my work on my website/blog and I'm knitsteel on flickr.
So I got a book from the library on terrariums, from the 70s. It had the exact same cookie jars pictured in it that I'm using right now! It also had some other good ideas and laid out the most basic principles for me.
I also found some used aquariums that I'm going to pick up today or tomorrow. Now, I don't have enough mini orchids to go in them all.... or rocks, or mosses, or lids.....