Tutorial found HERE
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Beaded Tutorial Dogs
Many Beaded Tutorials found HERE
Click on your dog of choice ,then click learn how to make this under the picture of the dog.
It will then give you instructions on how to make it.
Love her patterns and have been using them for amny years.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Lavendar Fresh
Growing Requirements :
As with most plants, your success in growing this coveted plant will depend both on what kind of growing conditions you can provide and which varieties you select to grow. Lavender plants will tolerate many growing conditions, but it thrives in warm, well-drained soil and full sun. Like many plants grown for their essential oils, a lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils. An alkaline and especially chalky soil will enhance lavenders fragrance. While you can grow lavender in Zone 5, it is unlikely you will ever have a lavender hedge. More realistically you can expect to have plants that will do well when the weather cooperates and to experience the occasional loss of a plant or two after a severe winter or a wet, humid summer.
Lavender is a tough plant and is extremely drought resistant, once established. However, when first starting you lavender plants, don't be afraid to give them a handful of compost in the planting hole and to keep them regularly watered during their first growing season.
Special Considerations
It is dampness, more than cold, that is responsible for killing lavender plants. Dampness can come in the form of wet roots during the winter months or high humidity in the summer. If humidity is a problem, make sure you have plenty of space between your plants for air flow and always plant in a sunny location. Areas where the ground routinely freezes and thaws throughout the winter will benefit from a layer of mulch applied after the ground initially freezes. Also protect your lavender plants from harsh winter winds. Planting next to a stone or brick wall will provide additional heat and protection.
Pruning
Although lavender plants get regularly pruned simply by harvesting the flowers, to keep them well shaped and to encourage new growth, a bit of spring pruning is in order. The taller varieties can be cut back by approximately one-third their height. Lower growing varieties can either be pruned back by a couple of inches or cut down to new growth. If you live in an area where lavender suffers some winter die-back, don't even think about pruning your plants until you see some new green growth at the base of the plant. If you disturb the plants too soon in the season, they give up trying.
Containers
You can always grow your lavender in pots and move it to follow the sun or even bring it indoors for the winter. Keep in mind that although lavender has a large, spreading root system, it prefers growing in a tight spot. A pot that can accommodate the rootball with a couple of inches to spare would be a good choice. Too large a pot will only encourage excessive dampness.
Insure that the pot has plenty of drainage. To prevent water pooling in the pot, place about an inch of loose gravel at the bottom. Rot root is one of the few problems experienced by lavender plants. Use a loose, soilless mix for planting and remember that container grown lavender will require more water than garden grown plants. How much more depends on the environment and the type of pot. Water when the soil, not the plant, appears dry and water at the base of the plant to limit dampness on the foliage. Compact varieties make the best choices for containers. Some to try are L. angustifolia ‘Nana Alba’ and Spanish lavender (L. stoechas subsp. pedunculata)
Planting Lanvedar
Growing in Containers
How to Make Eye Pillow
This is what I used.
Silk scarf or piece of silk 5 inches by 20 inches or 10 by 10 inches.
1 cup of flaxseed
1/2 cup of lavender buds.
To make
Fold silk with right sides together so it is about 5 by 10 inches
Stitch the silk together leaving a small opening at the end.
Turn silk right side out.
Mix flaxseed and lavender buds.
Fill the silk with the lavender flaxseed mixture.
Sew closed.
Option
Make a slighter larger sleeve of silk for a cover for your pillow. This can be left open on one end so it is easy to remove the sleeve for washing. Add a few drops of lavender to refresh scent as needed. Squeezing the pillow will also help release the wonderful scent.
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Potpourri # 1 This is a light sweet fresh scent.
Mix and set aside
1 1/2 tablespoons orris root
2 drops of peppermint essential oil
6 drops of lavender essential oil
2 cups lavender leaves
1/2 cup peppermint leaves
2 cups lavender buds
2 cups rose buds and rose petals
Mix all ingredients or layer as desired in a dish or glass bowl. Sprinkle a few rose buds on top if desired. Cover and let oils infiltrate the flowers for about 2 to 4 weeks.
Potpourri # 2 This is nice and spicy, it reminds me of Christmas.
1 cup lavender leaves
1/2 cup peppermint leaves
2 cups dried flowers, (any kind)
1 cup lavender buds
Mix together
10 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon of orris root
5 drops of lavender essential oil
4 drops of sweet orange essential oil
4 drops of cinnamon essential oil
2 drops of clove essential oil
Add all ingredients and store in a closed container for a couple of weeks to absorb the scent.
Potpourri # 3 This is a simple lavender recipe.
2 1/2 cups of lavender buds
1 cup of rose buds or rose petals
4 drops of lavender essential oil
Potpourri isn't a science. Put in what ever kinds of plant material you have on hand. Orange peels, cedar chips, pine cones, and spices. Play with it and add any spices you like or any combination of oils that are pleasing to you. Just have fun!
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Lavender Bath Salt
This bath salt recipe is is a simple one.
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of salt
18 drops of lavender essential oil
mix and store in a jar or bottle,
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons to your bath water. Soak and enjoy this relaxing bath.
Lavender Orange bath salt
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of sea salt.
10 drops of lavender oil.
8 drops of bergamot or sweet orange oil.
Mix and bottle.
Use 1 or 2 tablespoons per bath.
This lavender bath salt recipe shouldn't be used in the summer or if you're using a tanning booth. This can cause photosensitivity for about 24 hours. I love this scent in the winter months. This recipe is very uplifting for the spirit.
Immunity booster bath salt
This is a good recipe for when you feel like you're coming down with something.
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of salt
8 drops lavender
8 drops tea tree oil
2 drops lemon myrtle
Mix and bottle.
Use 2 tablespoons per bath. Then go to bed and try to get some rest.
Baking and cooking with Lavendar
Joys of Lavendar
Everything Lavendar
Lanvedar Craft Recipes
Monday, March 15, 2010
German glass Egg Tutorial
The original post appears on Southern Ooaks Blog
These eggs would make a delightful craft for Easter or just home decorations.
1. Use room temp eggs...this makes the insides less stiff and much easier to remove. White eggs are good but brown eggs (yard eggs) are a bit stronger.
2. Make a hole with a needle/hat pin. You will need to make a hole on each end and try to line them up..makes it so much easier when blowing the insides out. Slowly twist it in a circular motion until the tiny hole appears. DO NOT rush in!
3. Once you have your holes in both ends take a long needle (I use a doll making needle) and pierce the yolk. Gently cover both ends where the holes are with your fingers and very gently shake the egg to loosen the insides.
4. Now it's time for the FUN part. Hold the egg in between both hands and with your mouth start blowing through the hole (one on top is usually the best one to use) Keep blowing until you feel confident that all the insides are outside. TIP: You can try using a 3cc syringe without the needle.
5. Once you feel that all the insides are outside then it's time to give this little egg a bath. Squirt or run COLD water into the egg. You need to do the "Bath" several times. Fill it up with cold water....place fingers over the holes and gently shake...then blow out the water the same way
you did in step #4.
6. Dry the egg off. This can be done one of two ways: . A) place egg in the microwave on several paper towels for 15-30 seconds or B) you can bake them in the oven at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes. I crumple reynolds wrap up around each egg so they don't roll around. Cooking in the oven I believe makes them much stronger.
7. Once the egg has cooled down to room temp I cover in SoBo glue or Decoupage and let dry overnight. This helps strengthen and seal up any small cracks that may be in the egg. Make sure you poke a needle through the top so you will have a place to put the ribbon for hanging. (if you want to make an ornamental one...you can also make or buy a pretty egg holder to place the decorated egg in if you don't want a hanging one but you will need to keep the top hole open until the end)
8. Once the egg has sat overnight you are ready to decorate. This can be done any many ways.
•Paper napkins. Ever been to a tea or party and the napkin was almost to pretty to use, well those work great. You cut out the designs on the napkin and you have a pretty piece to apply to your egg.
•Tissue paper is another great item. You can cut it or hand tear it to make your designs. Tissue paper
in a solid color works great too by crinkling it up and then placing on egg...kinda gives it that crackled effect.
•Another great source is this little tiny box you are sitting in front of and reading my blog on.....yes..your computer. There are some wonderful free vintage sites you can go to, find some really great images to print out and use. Just make sure that it's alright to do that....most of the free sites I have found do not mind as long as it is for your use and some don't mind what you do with them. Just ask if you have any doubts.
9. Now that you have your design all figured out it's time to decorate your egg. I LOVE to use decoupage,it's a great glue and sealer at the same time. I like to draw an egg on paper the size of my actual egg and place my design out on it.....if you are familiar with decoupage then you know it dries fairly quickly.
Take your image and cover the back in the decoupage or glue (just make sure it dries clear) and place on your egg.
Gently smooth with your finger to remove any air bubbles.
If using tissue paper I usually gently pat the paper down.
Do this step with each image you want on the egg. Let it sit and dry for about 30 minutes.
Once dry, cover the entire egg in the decoupage or glue and let dry overnight. (This might be one good reason to keep that one hole on top so you have means to hang egg so it can dry even)
Now for the really fun step but only if you want to add some "Bling" to your egg. You can do several different things.....you can
a) put glitter in just certain places...highlight an area and make it POP
b)cover the whole thing in glitter or German glass.
For both all you have to do is cover the area in the decoupage or glue, sprinkle the glitter and then let it sit overnight to dry. You may want to repeat the process to cover the egg completely.
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