What's Where

Thursday 7 July 2011

Here we go !!

Ok so it's all very well pressing buttons, adding this & that & generally 'fiddling about' with the look of a page ... thus avoiding any actual writing ... but I think perhaps the purpose of a blog is to write & be read ! So no more tweeking for now & on with the show ... !!!

I guess my first post should be about my felty business, but no - I feel a gentle introduction to my general craftyness would be good. With this in mind I will TRY & post a little tutorial showing the beautiful 'lavender bottles' that my Grandma taught me to make - many moons ago!! Please bear with me as it's my first blog & first tutorial too - a lot of firsts today ... By the way if anyone can think of a better name for these sweet little things I'd be grateful!!

                                        "LAVENDER BOTTLES"

             You'll need an odd number of fresh lavender heads
cut with nice long stems - 11 is a good number! And one metre of pretty ribbon - I usually use quarter or three eighths inch wide.


Firstly strip away excess leaves & stray flower heads down the stems. Tie your ribbon fairly tightly around all the stems just below the bunch of flower heads- tying close to one end of the ribbon.

Now bend the lavender stems over the heads gently so as not to snap them - it sometimes helps to 'score' them with your fingernail a little before bending.Bend the stems all down around the flower heads to enclose them.

Now's the time to start weaving the ribbon! Under,over,under,over ... Keep the ribbon nice & tight as the lavender does shrink a little as it dries out.
When you have woven down to the end of the flower heads wrap the ribbon round neatly a few times & tie in a loop for hanging. Now you are ready to hang this one in your wardrobe or in the kitchen & start again!! I usually like mine to be a bit thicker & more rounded but for us in Derbyshire it's still early in the lavender season!!
 
 
I hope you've enjoyed my first post!
If you are in or around Derbyshire 16th July you can come & make these with me at the http://www.freedomflowers.co.uk/  Open Day & taste some lovely 'flowery' food too!! 


8 comments:

  1. Lovely blog Mary. Very impressive and i love your tutorial. Thats so pretty. I look forward to more felt and flowery tutorials.

    x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful tutorial! Lavender is the essence of an English garden but up until now I've only every thought about making lavender bags - these bottles are so much nicer (and the name is appropriate).
    Interesting post and a pleasure to read - you're a natural blogger!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's really interesting, it looks so pretty and I bet it smells wonderful! Hope you do some more blogs soon!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you all so much for your lovely comments ! It's nearly the end of the lavender season so time to post about something else!!
    Mary x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes have to agree with margaret - the tutorial is great and you should definitely stick at this!

    x Hilary
    @craftbloguk

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great tutorial, looks great.. not so sure my weaving could look that good though.

    just found your blog link on Folksy so thought I would say 'hi'

    Lynda x

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a fabulous tutorial, I always dry my own lavender to use and just love it, must say yours looks lovely and blue though, mine has a gorgeous fragrance but is much more pale mauve in colour. Look forward to following you, Di x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely blog post - fab photos too. Keep up the good work.

    Stephanie

    AllAboutBeads.Folksy.com

    ReplyDelete