Lavender Wands

Gosh!!!

Just couldn't stand my "Merry Christmas" wish anymore, so I just went ahead and skipped about six MONTHS(!!!) forward to some lovely LAVENDER.

My friend Cara invited me over to show me how to make lavender wands.
You cut enough for a small bouquet, we used 13 flowers.

An uneven number is key for weaving the band through the stems.

Also, pick them while buds are still unopened, and about 20" should be enough.

Cut about a yard of thin ribbon, line up the bottom buds, and tie a double knot just below.

(Remove any little stray buds or leaves on the stems before you start.)

Turn bouquet upside-down and start folding down the stems just at the ribbon point.


Pull out the ribbon and start weaving through the stems.

It doesn't matter if you weave clockwise or counter clockwise.

Experienced Cara weaved looser than me which created a bit more of a bulbous wand.

Weave,

and weave,

and weave until you reach the last lavender buds trapped inside.

Bring the ribbon around and up under,

then wrap around to desired length.

Finish off with a bow tie and trim the stems.

There!!!

A lavender wand to put in your unmentionables drawer, in the napkin ring at the dinner table (NOT interchangeably!!!), or just about anywhere you want something pretty and home made that smells fantastic.

Thank you Cara for showing me how to do these!

Indian Corn and Chrysanthemum

Did you decorate for fall yet?

Or, are you discouraged by previously failed craft attempts?

(I often am.)

Why not try one of these Indian corn decorating ideas?

Believe me, it doesn't get easier than this.

I don't remember where I saw this idea for a corn banner.

But all you need to do is:

tear the husks off,

screw an eye hook in to the corn,

and hot glue some husks around a piece of rope and hang the corn on it.

I did it in less than an hour.

Picture and idea from Better Homes and Gardens

I love this fork!

I'm gonna keep my eye out for a vintage farmer's fork next year

so that I can make this one next fall.

You just take some corn and use wire to attach it to the prongs.

Quick and easy but it has an extremely high nice factor.

Picture and idea from Better Homes and Gardens

I've come across several pictures of corn tied around candles.

The link above has directions on how to make your own.

A friend told me about a farm down the road (Applefield Farm) that sells dried corn that you pop on the cob in the micro wave. I thought that would be something fun to do with the kids.

Unfortunately, after buying, I realized that I have to let it dry for another month before it's ready to pop. I've become very Americanized in the 15 years that I've lived here and now prefer instant gratification.

Hmpf! I now have to wait, and then wait some more, before I can show and tell you about this popping.

At the speed I've been cranking out blog posts lately, it'll probably be just about Thanksgiving then.

Stay tuned, but don't hold your breath on that one.

I'll end with a few pictures of my Chrysanthe-mummified garden.

Mums, mums, and more mums...

Thank you for stopping by!

I appreciate each and everyone of you.

Have a great fall weekend!