Capturing and Preserving the Best Nature Has to Offer
Posted by The Natural Crafting Experts in Uncategorized
Potpourri
Of all the natural things we do in life, crafting with nature’s gifts is probably the most exciting and satisfying thing we can do. The thought that you and I can preserve nature in some artful way to enjoy over and over just feels good. Yep, I’m really a feel good person who never tires of trying to capture the beauty of nature in some creative way. And I like hanging out in little shops that feature all sorts of gorgeous stuff that could never be mistaken for plastic. I touch. I smell. I admire. Sometimes I make it myself. Sometimes I use my head and buy it.
The sky’s the limit when we’re talking natural crafts. You can preserve herbs and flowers from your garden that ultimately become either decorator or edible vinegars and oils. Potpourri comes to mind here. You can even buy everything to put it together yourself, or gather your own pods and cones. You can take a walk and find everything from Chinese Elm leaves to press, to acorns to throw in that potpourri. Look closely at the grasses. You can put your food dehydrator to work drying “sun-dried” tomatoes to store in olive oil. How good would they look in your kitchen?
Don’t have a dehydrator? Get one today! Mine is the biggest one that Excaliber makes with an automatic shut-off. I highly recommend you own your own Excaliber dehydrator. You can buy yours from www.Amazon.com. And, don’t forget to thank me every time you create goodies for your crafts and your dinner as well.
Now, here’s something I call art. It’s what I have decided to do a whole lot more of. I simply press leaves and flowers of all kinds, but I’m especially partial to herbs. Rosemary is my favorite. Then I frame them, using a little Elmer’s glue to hold them in place. I keep my eyes open for interersting frames and have quite a collection to choose from now. Pressing is easy. You know, all those beautiful and big coffee table books? They are the perfect pressing tool. Pressed and framed herbs make such beautiful and unusual gifts. I should SELL them!
Once I tried to make and sell hand made potpourri. My primary mix was what I called Christmas Essence. I mixed it in the wheel barrow in my little shop, and breathed deeply. AAAH!! No doubt, this creation was a BIG WINNNER! Then learned that at least where I live, the retail public were more apt to go to Walmart and buy a bag of sharply colored and fake scented wood chips cheaper. Lessons in marketing….. Some people don’t care about natural and hand crafted. I will be happy to share the “recipe” with you very soon…….actually in time for the Christmas Holidays.
Actually, I think I’ll make it again, but I think I’ll just give it away. This time I’ll skip the commercial looking bags and put the potpourri in some really neat containers. That takes care of some holiday gifts for sure. Speaking of the holidays, I think you’ll find some great gift ideas in upcoming posts.
So, today I just wanted to introduce you to Natural Crafting Guide and invite you to visit often. I think you’ll like what you see and get some great ideas in the same package. And, since you’re ideas may well be of value to someone else, I welcome your input. Feel free to send along your comments and suggestions.
Welcome to Natural Crafting Guide, and visit often.
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