Fiberglass would certainly make it stronger, but unless you really plan to abuse the devil out of them, peat should be adequate, and then you won't get itchy. You could use coir instead of peat moss, which in addition to being ecoloigacly superior, would make for a more durable pot since it is more fibrous than peat. You'll need to use a mold or form of some sort. It doesn't quite have the consistency to be workable on its own. Personally, I made a simple box using some foam-core paperboard. I glued some decorative pebbles to the inside of the paperboard mold, which resulted in having them embedded on the outside of finished pot. I then filled the box with the hyperturfa mixture, and forced a plastic pot into the mixture to create the inside diameter of the pot. After a couple weeks, I tore off all the paper, and removed the plastic pot. It will fill pretty small spaces, so using something like a fancy bunch bowl with a lot of detail really could produce some excellent results. Just be sure to tamp and tap the mixture to get it to fill every last nook and cranny. The hyperturfa made a surprisingly strong bond with both the paper and the plastic. You may need to experiment with something to help release the hyperturfa from the mold if you don't want to damage the mold/form. You could use plastic wrap or even petroleum jelly. Finally, don't worry about a drainage hole until after the pot has cured. Then just use a 1/2" masonry bit to punch a quick hole or two in the bottom.

You might buy a new (unused) paint can, & put lots of small holes in the bottom. Fill it, and carry it around by the handle, or carry the hole in the other hand and water as you go.

I have never made a "ristra" before, but i have tied up and hung peppers. the way i did it was to simply tie a pepper on the end of string, then make a "double loop thingy" with the string, insert pepper stem, and pull it tight enough to SLIGHTLY cut into the stem. if you leave plenty of length of string and then tie on the first pepper with the very technical term.....double loop thingy.....then you can tie your "ristra up horizontal for drying if you like......maybe in Texas you will need to put a fan on while they dry....for me, by the time my peppers are done here in the pacific northwest, i am lighting the wood stove and so i just tie the string up horizontally up high in the room. i used to do it above a sliding glass door before we moved last year.....no peppers last year, deer invaded the garden and ate all plants and pods and by decorative, i sure hope you mean it will be a nice and asthetic way to store your dried peppers so when needed you can simply break off a pepper by breaking/cutting the stem and use it how you desire.-----good luck with it, looks like you will be ready soon ps:if you google they have the directions to make ristras, but my big fat fingers made it easier for me to improvise

I thought the texture of shagreen was on a smaller scale than this. But, like carolb, I suspect it is cow leather embossed to get the effect. While this isn't crocodile, mizsusan may be able to find a similar case piece that she likes by using crocodile or the other search terms. Unless it's the very specific texture of the panels in that piece that appeals. In terms of search terms, I'd also suggest "credenza" (technically, I think credenzas don't have legs, but I think most people use the term interchangeably with sideboard and buffet).