Grow your own/Make your own: A Garlic Wreath with panache!

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Mominthegarden

Leaning on our garden bench

Our organic Vallelado garlic was a huge success this year. We harvested it more than a few weeks ago and I have been airing it as much as possible. Our weather hasn’t been perfect. The norm for Ireland is to have some sun, some rain, some wind, and back to sun again… every day! So it was precarious setting out the garlic and making sure it didn’t get rained on, etc.

loads of organic garlic

Today I decided I wanted to hang some of the garlic in the kitchen. There are quite a few things I need to get organized this week, and for me the garlic was at the top of the list. (truth be told, I love creating, but I am not really looking forward to the other organizing items on the list…)

What to add to the wreath…

Hang it in the kitchen… I had one wreath left so I didn’t have any choices to make there. I also want to be able to use the garlic, so it is attached with raffia and green florist wire, instead of with a glue-gun which might have been a bit easier and faster!

Adding the artichokes

You might remember this picture from a couple of weeks ago

For those who know me, you know that I am all about reusing and recycling. I also like to grow things in the garden that I can use in arrangements or/and dry. The artichokes are still in the drying process, but their purple plume seems to be holding. They have been in the kitchen for the past couple of weeks (not in water) and have looked really well. I’ll miss them in the vase, but I like them on the wall, too!

tied garlic

Artichokes up close

It all came together fairly quickly, and easily. This was “play time” for me, so I really had to get it done quickly!

Garlic with dried roses and artichokes from the garden

I’ve been hanging roses every now and then this summer. I have a clip-on drying rack (schools use them to hang art work to dry, I usually use mine to hang socks to dry). I’ve been clipping the roses upside down and then totally forgetting about them. The roses are quite fragrant, so the room smells lovely now too.

Artichoke and garlic up close

I’m still not sure what the greens are. They are not dry. I just cut them this morning. But I used them because I know they will dry easily on the wreath. The plant seems to be quite happy with me for “pruning” it! It is now full of purple flowers.

Garlic Wreath with artichokes and roses

I tried hanging the wreath where I normally take my wreath pictures. But it was too big! So I have it resting on a table. The lighting inside just doesn’t do it justice. I like this time of year when the fields are full of bales, especially when it is sunny out!

Harvest time

Harvest time view from my back door

Such an easy thing to do, making a garlic wreath. What will you make today?
Now, to get the rest of my things organized!

Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Dana

P.S. If you’d like to read more about growing garlic, please click here: https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/organic-garlic-sitting-pretty-in-a-hand-carved-wooden-bowl/

Yarn bombing in the back yard (goodbye to sewer pipe ugliness!)

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Mominthegarden

August 17th view of my garden with sewer pipe in full view

Hi there folks! Here is a different topic that I haven’t written about before (brace yourself). Our sewer system is such that the pipes come above ground. I’m not sure who came up with this brilliant idea, but it certainly wasn’t someone who cared about how the garden looked. Life is too short for me to be bothered by this ugliness. I mean, I take a LOT of photographs standing in this exact spot. So this summer I decided to do something about it. (drum roll please…)

Yarn bombing the sewer pipe!

Ta Da! Doesn’t that look a thousand times better?

Same day, from the other side.

I love it. It is fun, bright, and has flowers!

Yarn bombing the sewer pipe with sun flowers

My family thinks I am crazy. You’d think they would know that by now, wouldn’t you? I just wanted to cover that ugly pipe. That is exactly what I have done. The idea was 100% mine. I made up a pattern for the green cover. I used the internet to find a sun flower pattern, and the leaf pattern. I only covered one side in sun flowers. I am tempted to crochet bright pink flowers for the other side… Undecided still (and a million other projects to finish).

The ugly pipe bothered me. I found a solution. I’m now much, much happier about it. 🙂 Like I said, life is too short. Go on, do something to make yourself smile. It just might catch on!

Dana
P.S. I’m going to go through my pattern below for those that are interested.

pipe cover

This isn’t proper enough to be a pattern, but I think you could use it as a guide. How to start? A simple 42 stitch chain. It was trial and error and this seemed to be the right fit that I wanted. I love the double crochet and all I did was alternate pulling the stitch in front and in back. It gives a great weaving pattern. To break things up, after ten rows I did two rows of plain double crochet, two rows of single crochet, another two rows of double crochet, and then back to my front/back alternating. The top is a simple single, double, single crochet in one stitch followed by slip stitches on either side.

Center of sun flower

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2013/09/18/crochet-sunflower/

The sun flower pattern came from Skip to my lou. This seems to be a lovely blog. The problem was that her pattern for the center wasn’t exactly clear. But I really liked the bobble look, so I really played around with it and managed to make it work. The petal portion of the pattern was perfect and I love the petals!

perfect petals

http://www.cre8tioncrochet.com/2013/01/free-crochet-sprin-pattern-leaves-101/

The leaves were much easier! “medium fat bottom leaves” from the site Cre8tion Crochet. I love finding the perfect patterns!

Medium fat bottom leaf 🙂

all together

Sun flowers to brighten up the garden

That was fun! And easy!

Dana

My “flowers from the garden” Wreath

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Mominthegarden

Flowers from the garden Wreath

It has become rather popular on Thursdays to post pictures from the past on facebook and refer to “Throw back Thursday” on the post. Sure, when isn’t it fun to look through old photos? I found myself doing that today, and decided to join the Throw back Thursday movement and post about a wreath I made last summer.

My lavender

I have to say that I am a rather practical gal most of the time. If it is possible to recycle or reuse something I will try to do so. That includes what I grow in the garden! I like growing flowers which can be dried. I love my lavender for this reason! I’ve learned how to make lavender wands, and last year I made a lavender wreath for the first time. (of course I posted about it! https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/lavender-wands-my-first-lavender-wreath/ ).

Roses & hydrangea

Roses and Lavender from the garden

I have some lovely old fashioned roses that are beautifully scented. I dry them in my clothes closet and it smells so lovely every time I open the door!

Roses from my garden

lavender, roses, and hydrangea

The wreath is easy to make. I use Spanish Moss as filler between the smaller flowers. The hydrangea comes from my friend Susan’s garden. I have planted some hydrangea plants though, so I am hoping I’ll be able to use them (eventually)!

Susan’s blue hydrangea

Look at that blue! I know in my yard they grow pink, and I’m happy enough with that. I just might visit Susan around July though, and see how her blooms are doing! 🙂

My pink hydrangea

Annabelle hydrangea

The Annabelle hydrangea is the next plant I’m going to try growing. It is simply majestic!

Flowers from the garden Wreath

At the top-right of the wreath is some dried allium. I’ve used allium before, but only after spray painting it silver for a Christmas arrangement. So using it plain was something new for me. I like the different texture it gives the wreath.

Allium from my garden

I’ve had the wreath hanging in my kitchen throughout most of the year. It is getting time to replace some of the flowers, though, as they’ve lost their vibrant colors. That is O.K. as I like to keep things looking fresh!

Throw back Thursdays – I think I like that theme!

Happy Thursday!
Dana

A grand arrangement with eucalyptus, hydrangea & artichokes

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Mominthegarden

Kitty playing with eucalyptus leaves and hydrangea leaves

I have had four great big branches of eucalyptus hanging in my utility room (laundry room/bathroom/cat room/where coats, boots, shoes live room) for the past month. I know, that is really shameful. Truthfully, there wasn’t even enough room for it there. My husband is quite the patient man when it comes to some of my projects! I think the kids were starting to get annoyed with the branches and having to maneuver around them. Kitty, on the other hand, rather enjoyed them. It was great fun to jump on them and see how many leaves could fall to the floor during the night! I knew that I wanted to use those lovely smelling leaves, I just wasn’t sure exactly what to do with them.

Finally, inspiration struck. I stepped away from my inclination to make a wreath, and I went for using quite a large vase to create an arrangement.

Starting out

Hmm, I wonder if I should comment on the state of my kitchen? 🙂 Nah. It was a busy day… I started out with red tissue paper because Valentine’s Day is coming up. My friend Louise mentioned that it was also a good color to help celebrate Chinese New Year! Perfect timing! After filling the bottom with the tissue paper, I then cut the branches to fit the vase and fill it out. It should be noted that I’m one to save just about everything. So I still had some dried Annabelle hydrangea, and three dried artichoke plants left from this past summer, as well as two branches of contorted hazel. I was going to find a way to put it all in!

Close up of artichoke plant inside the vase

close up of two artichokes with their purple color

close up of artichoke

close up of two artichokes with their purple color

I didn’t want just eucalyptus. I wanted another element to the arrangement, that is why I put the flowers down inside the vase. The poor Annabelles didn’t fare well while being squished and squashed into the vase… after the eucalyptus was in of course! But I think it wasn’t too detrimental to their beauty.

Kitty. Posing.

You would seriously think my cat loves the camera. He doesn’t. He just really wanted to play with all of the “stuff” I was working with! He is a lovely cat, though.

A lovely blue-ish color!

I tried the vase in a couple of different places. My hallways are bright and airy and I just wanted to fill that space.

Kitty not leaving the arrangement alone…

I’ve finally decided on where to leave it, and the hallway really does smell lovely now.

I think I just might work best under pressure: I made this in 20 minutes. Because that is how much time I had before I had to go and collect my daughter from school. Done. Finished. Everything cleaned up and put away.

Boy is there a lot of extra room in our utility room now! Time to set up my seeds 🙂

This arrangement was brought to you by the generosity of my neighbors Margaret & James who gave me all of the lovely eucalyptus and contorted hazel, and by my friend Susan who’s hydrangea gave the finishing touches. Thank you my friends!

Happy Chinese New Year!
Dana

Making a snowman cake topper on Christmas eve

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Mominthegarden

Nativity in the snow

It is Christmas eve and there is an excitement in the air! Our kids were especially delighted that it actually snowed today, a rather uncommon occurrence where we live in Ireland. It was so pretty to see.

A church in Corduff, Carrickmacross being dusted with snow

My three kids and I were out and about in the snow

They were completely giddy today! There was such a relaxed feeling among them which was so nice to see. We just had a few things to get done, and then my husband and I could join them in their giddiness! First on the list was icing my Christmas cake.

Marzipan covered fruit cake

My daughter and husband made the marzipan icing and covered the fruit cake with it the other day. Now all that was left was the white icing. Last year I used a smooth fondant style. But this year I felt like making (an easier) snow icing. It is made of egg whites, icing sugar, and glycerine. Mix it all up, and throw it on the cake!

Snow icing covered fruit cake

That is so much more my personality than a neat smooth fondant icing! I really like the look. I made a snowman to go on top of the cake, except my snowman is too big to fit in the cake container, and to be honest he is probably a bit big for the cake too!

Snowman cake topper and a wee Christmas tree

I absolutely do not have the patience to make perfect little cute faces with icing. So when I finished this snowman I let out a whoop of relief! (can I say that?) I was very happy with his face, while completely annoyed with the candycane. But enough was enough, and I surrendered to a less than perfect candycane in order to keep my sanity, and make room in the kitchen for my husband to cook us dinner.

Snowman (unfinished)

Snowman with some cookies

My daughter made some cookies today, too. She set up one of the trees with Mr. Snowman. 🙂

A bit of visiting, a bit of baking, a bit of shopping, all done in preparation for tomorrow! It can be so easy for us to forget the meaning behind Christmas. Hopefully, though, the kids will know in their hearts what Christmas is really all about.

The reason for the season.

Merry Christmas to all of my family and friends, including (and especially!) my blogging friends and followers!

In peace,
Dana

Making a simple Christmas wreath

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Mominthegarden

Christmas wreath 2013

We finally hung our Christmas wreath outside! The weather has continued to be rather mild in temperature, although there has been quite a lot of rain. Thankfully, the sun has also come to visit us even if for short visits.

Christmas wreath 2013

I had one more straw wreath frame, and greens left over from my large outdoor wreath, so I decided to make another wreath to give away. I really enjoy making them, especially when working with eucalyptus, pittosporum (Tom Thumb) and lovely evergreens.

Straw wreath form

It does take some time to cut the greens into a small(ish) size, and then pin them into the wreath form. But it isn’t difficult to do, especially when using floral pins.

Floral pins and garden sheers

Piece by piece you pin the greens on!

Filling in the greens to cover the straw.

The evergreens are just my base. I wanted the color and different textures from the Tom Thumb Pittosporum and eucalyptus to be the main focus of the wreath.

Adding Tom Thumb Pittosporum for texture and color

Filling in with pittosporum

The family were watching A Christmas Carol while I was finishing up the wreath. I could watch too, from where I was working. It was an animated version, but still quite scary! We are finally on a break from all of our activities and able to relax together as a family. I’m so glad we have taken the time to watch those Christmas movies (even if for the 100th time!).

Eucalyptus added with the pittosporum

Now I had to decide how to embellish it! I decided to go with a very simple look.

A few gold balls

A gold French horn

A gold bow

Watching that video on how to make a bow on Youtube has come in handy this season!

A simple Christmas wreath

I was really happy with the finished wreath. Yeah, I was having second thoughts about giving it away! 🙂 But it was for some special people (my in-laws!) so I stuck to my original plan and gave it to them.

Photo with no flash

Christmas is almost here. I have enjoyed getting ready by visiting with neighbors, friends and family and sharing our baked goods. Mostly, I’ve enjoyed our time together as a family. I hope you are able to enjoy time with your friends and family, too.

Merry Christmas!
Dana

My friend Susan made this star for me! Isn’t it fabulous?

Two more sleeps!

Orange & Clove Pomander Wreath

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Mominthegarden

How it all begins…

Last week I went to a fabulous craft fair. There were hundreds of very talented crafts people there. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I can’t wait to go again next year! So many wonderful ideas. One item that I loved was a wreath made from dried limes, oranges and cinnamon sticks. I tried drying fruit once before, unsuccessfully I might add. So I wasn’t interested in doing that, but I was interested in working with cinnamon. Cinnamon, cloves, oranges; I was on a mission. It has been years since I last made a pomander (something aromatic that used to be for scenting linens/clothes). They are quite easy to make. A simple cooking thermometer can be used to poke small holes into an orange. This is where you can be creative with different designs! I did a fancy “S” on two sides, and then rows of three on the other sides.

Cooking thermometer used to make holes in an orange.

The cloves go in easily when using a cooking thermometer to make holes in an orange.

Rows of three on two sides, and a fancy “S” on the other sides.

I used a ribbon just to break up the space, and I pinned it on the top and bottom to keep it in place. Easy enough! Now, what to do with the pomander? I decided on making a table wreath arrangement. I used a straw framed circle wreath, floral pins (or “u” pins), greens and my garden shears.

Straw frame circle wreath

Garden shears, eucalyptus, holly, and evergreens

I really enjoy working with my hands and getting a little creative time. To me, this is the fun part of getting ready for Christmas! Being given eucalyptus from my neighbor the other day really made me smile. I’ve added eucalyptus to my “need to buy for the garden” list! How awesome to have such different textures and colors right there in the back/front yard! It smells lovely, too!

table wreath in process. (You can see the plastic plate in the center)

clove & orange pomander with cinnamon sticks

I used a small rubber band to keep three cinnamon sticks in place, and then tied them with a ribbon. I used three oranges, and paired them with three cinnamon sticks. I had a large pretty white candle that fit in the center of the wreath nicely. I was delighted that it all just came together. The arrangement is sitting on a clear plastic plate.

aerial view – groups of threes!

We didn’t have any red berries last year, yet this year there are so many! I just had to use them. 🙂

Clove & Orange Pomander Wreath

You can see the lights to our Christmas tree in the background.

Finished candle table arrangement made of clove & orange pomander with cinnamon.

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well and that you are able to enjoy the process! Slowing down is the hardest part for me. I just need to speed things up for a couple more days and THEN, hopefully, I can slow the pace down!

Merry Christmas!
Dana

The Cake is baked and a Traditional Christmas Wreath is made.

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Mominthegarden

Handmade (not by me) Santa

It is December 16th and I am feeling a wee bit behind with my Christmas preparations. The kids have been doing really well with their swimming and Irish dancing, which has kept me busy. Yes, indeed, I am trying to make excuses/figure out why I am so behind this year! I had been hoping for an extra week to somehow work its way into my schedule, but alas that has not happened. So it is time to really get going! Maybe it isn’t as bad as I think it is. Sure, I have the Christmas cake baked!

baked Christmas cake (traditional fruit cake)

The batter tasted delicious!

Beer soaked fruit

Wrap that baking pan! 2 layers parchment on the bottom and insides, along with w layers of brown paper on the bottom and outside!

Wrap that baking pan! 2 layers parchment on the bottom and insides, along with 2 layers of brown paper on the bottom and outside!

I actually tried to get out of making the Christmas cake this year. I asked the family if we could just skip it. All but the littlest one said “no way!”. I do like it when they enjoy what I make, so it was a nice affirmation that my time is not wasted. But given that it takes 4 & 1/2 hours to bake, you kinda need time!

Today I finished making our outdoor wreath. Never mind the fact that I usually have it hanging up the first or second week of December. Between my friends Margaret & Fred, I was given the most fabulous greens to use: eucalyptus, holly with loads of berries, and different evergreens. I love making our wreath, especially when it smells so fresh! Our kitty Hobbes had great fun attacking the greens which were obviously quite dangerous sitting in the black bag…

Hobbes helping with the greens.

the greens sitting atop the iron wreath frame

loads of berries!

This eucalyptus smells lovely!

I must get the name of this pretty plant.

These lovely dark leaves are from a Pittosporum called “Tom Thumb”.

Our finished wreath (waiting to be hung outside…)

I didn’t take pictures along the way. I really just wanted to get it finished. I first placed everything on my cast iron wreath frame (which was graciously made for us by Fred!). This way I was able to make sure everything was evenly distributed. Then I used floral wire to tie on the bunches of greens. I went with a simple red bow for garland. My sister-in-law gave me some fabulous outdoor ribbon and it really worked well on the wreath. (Thank you Gail!)

Making my Christmas wreath 2013

I did a quick search on the internet for a video on making bows. I thought the result wasn’t too bad! I think it is best to have wire rimmed ribbon for making bows.

Lots of different textures in this wreath.

I love working with different greens!

Finished Christmas wreath

What do you think of this new item I bought? It is a large red and white Christmas ball. I like it (that is why I bought it!), but the family isn’t so sure about it.

New addition this year. (Huge) Red Christmas ball.

Large Christmas ball.

But there is still so much more to do! I have to run! I hope all of your preparations are going well!

Merry Christmas 🙂
Dana

Crafty Corner: A fall harvest wreath & a crocheted pumpkin

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Mominthegarden

A fall harvest wreath with Chinese Lantern flowers, Annabelle Hydrangea, Indian corn & garlic!

It may be time to take down the Halloween decorations, but my Fall Harvest decorations will stay up until the American Thanksgiving which is the fourth Thursday of November. Orange is the color of choice, as I like how bright and cheery it can be!

Chinese Lantern Flower: Physalis Alkekengi with some Indian corn

A friend of mine gave me a huge bag of Chinese Lantern flowers the other day. What a treat! My intention is to plant the seeds and grow the plant myself. I’ll plant it in a container as I’ve been told that it can be invasive. But for now, I needed to do something with these pretty orange delicate flowers, other than just put them in a bowl. So I hot glued five of them to a stick (“of course!”, right?). They kind of looked like pin-wheels! or maybe a flower? I’ve had a wreath sitting in my back room for a few weeks. I knew I wanted to use a fall harvest theme, but I didn’t know what I’d use. What great timing to get the Chinese lantern flowers!

Chinese Lantern Flower

My garlic was hanging in the back room, and when I grabbed the wreath, I grabbed the garlic, too, thinking “why not?”. 🙂

Adding garlic and Annabelle Hydrangea to wreath

Fall harvest theme in the front hall.

Chinese lantern, garlic, and a scare-crow on a wreath.

What else have I been up to?

Crocheted Pumpkin

A bit of crocheting! This was a very simple pattern. Here is where I found it:

http://janenerenee.typepad.com/expressyourself/2007/09/crochet-pumpkin.html

In the beginning…

Every row adds up.

A bit of the stem.

Almost finished!

The little glass pumpkin was what I based this one on.

It was so easy! I probably pulled the string around the outside a bit too tight, which I won’t do with the next one I make. I think it would be pretty with some fancy wool, too. Something to look out for next year!

A country scare-crow

I’m going to keep saying “Happy Fall” until the very end of November! I hope it is still full of lots of pretty fall colors for you. Have you done any fun fall crafts?

Dana

Lavender Wands & my first Lavender Wreath.

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Mominthegarden

Lavender wreath with dried roses – all from the garden.

I love lavender! Better still, I love having lavender in the garden. Even just brushing past it produces the beautiful lavender scent. July is the month for lavender here in Ireland. I have lavender that can be quite showy, especially this month. I was delighted to see 5 established plants when we moved into our home three years ago. I don’t know their exact variety, but I think they are possibly Grosso Lavandin, or maybe Lavandula x intermedia. I will admit that I am really not sure!

My lavender – possibly Grosso Lavandin (or maybe Lavandula x intermedia!).

Lavender prefers well drained soil, and lots of sun. Honestly, I’m not sure why my plants do well. This year, sure, it has been sunny and dry, but this is certainly not the case every year. Last year was exceptionally wet, and I really thought the plants were lost to root rot. At the end of last year’s season I trimmed all of the stems off as I do every year (cutting off about 2/3 of the stem). But I didn’t expect them to survive. In fact, I ordered some more plants!

Lavender angustifolia in a raised bed.

Six new plants! Lavender angustifolia seemed to be a similar variety to my plants. I put them in a new raised bed. They seem quite happy!

My well established lavender plants.

Some of our lavender.

It really is a fantastic amount of lavender. Just this season I’ve made 24 lavender wands, and one very full wreath, and I still have a lot left to dry. Yay!

The first year we moved into the house my sister-in-law suggested that I really should do something with all of that lavender! She was right, and so I started with just drying the flowers. Then with suggestions from friends, I moved on to making lavender wands, and this year I added making a wreath.

Materials for making a lavender wreath: a wreath form, floral pins (some are in the center of the wreath), some floral wire, and a wire cutter.

Small bunches of lavender.

Floral pins to attach the bunches.

Easy peasy 🙂

Making a wreath is easy, once you have the right materials. I like using a straw-form wreath. While I was home in the States, I picked up this small 10 inch wreath for just $2.99 at Jo-Ann fabrics. I first tied the small bunches of lavender with some floral wire, and then I used floral pins to attach them to the wreath. That’s it! You just keep attaching small bunches and work your way around the wreath.

Work in progress.

I have so much more appreciation for lavender wreaths now! It does take some time to cut the lavender, wire it, and fill in the wreath. It is usually helpful to have some Spanish moss, or some kind of filler for the very outside of the wreath. I didn’t have any of that so my wreath is quite full with lavender!

Super full side view!

Some dried roses from the garden.

I’m still not sure about a ribbon. For now, I really like just having the three small dried roses. They are also fragrant!

Wreath with our Failte (Welcome) plaque in the front hall.

I knew that the wreath was going to use up a lot of my lavender, so before making it I made a bunch of wands. They are rather quirky and unusual and I love them! If you are wondering what to do with them, I have a few ideas. They make a nice hostess gift, can go in clothes drawers or closets, a few in a vase are fun, or simply laying on the bathroom windowsill. The lavender scent will last for years. I posted about making lavender wands last year. You can see that post here: https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/english-lavender-in-full-bloom-lavender-wands/

Lavender wands.

The trick is to work with the lavender before the stems become woody. Last week was the perfect time for mine. I like to have a couple of stems with some blooms open, but for the most part they are made with lavender that isn’t yet open.

Tie up a bunch of between 21 and 23 stems.

Tie up a bunch of stems. I use between 21 – 25 stems.

You weave the ribbon through the stems as you fold the stems over.

Weave the ribbon through the stems as the stems are folded over.

This year I discovered a new way to finish the wands. I have to give credit to Robb, of the “how’s Robb” blog. I came across it, and loved how he neatly knotted the ribbon on the handle of the wand so it doesn’t unravel. Here is the link to his blog on lavender wands: http://howsrobb.blogspot.ie/2013/05/how-to-make-lavender-wands.html

Knotting the ribbon.

Simple knot.

Then pull it tight, and go in opposite direction.

I just looked at his page, and with a few tries I figured out how he slipped the ribbon through a loop, and then turned it in the opposite direction to do the same again. Easy! And it keeps the ribbon nice and tight. I’m glad I came across his page!

Lavender wands.

I love all of the different colors. Did I mention how relaxing it is to work with lavender? 🙂 Between the weaving, and the scent of lavender, I enjoy my time working with lavender. I discovered last year that I could sell the wands, too. So I’m doing that again this year. Right now I’m just selling locally, €5 per wand. But who knows, maybe sometime in the near future I’ll be selling globally!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little lessons on working with lavender!

Dana

Some other flowers among the lavender.

Mom in the Garden

Enjoying life. In Ireland. With my family.

Category Archives: Crafts

Grow your own/Make your own: A Garlic Wreath with panache!

Yarn bombing in the back yard (goodbye to sewer pipe ugliness!)

My “flowers from the garden” Wreath

A grand arrangement with eucalyptus, hydrangea & artichokes

Making a snowman cake topper on Christmas eve

Making a simple Christmas wreath

Orange & Clove Pomander Wreath

The Cake is baked and a Traditional Christmas Wreath is made.

Crafty Corner: A fall harvest wreath & a crocheted pumpkin

Lavender Wands & my first Lavender Wreath.