Not long ago I had a mini baby shower for a friend and made up these little favours for the gals to take home. You can find the recipe for Lavender Oatmeal Tub Tea over at the My Own Ideas Blog.
Search Results for: lavender
Easy Infused Sugar Recipes
April 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Infused sugar smells divine, tastes decadent, and makes a beautiful gift. I made up three recipes to share over at the My Own Ideas blog:
Vanilla Spice,
Fascinating Foraging and Wild Herb Ravioli Recipe
February 27, 2013 by 4 Comments
Gardening in a small space sometimes leaves me feeling envy for the the expansive veggie gardens and fruit orchards that I seem to see on endless magazine pages and websites. My new home doesn’t have much room for a backyard garden and not a lick of room for one in the front. I have to pick and choose what I want to grow very carefully, be it things I love but are hard to find at the market, or veggies that just taste a whole lot better when picked fresh. I was just thinking about this today as I get ready to start my vegetable seeds and then I read an article in Martha Stewart Living’s March 2013 issue about professional forager, Tama Matsuoka Wong. Fascinating!
Photo: colinclarkphoto.com
I’ve often been interested in foraging, and have certainly gone on my fair share of mushroom hunts, but this is a great way to augment my limited garden production. I love that Tama not only collects a variety of wild edibles for restaurants but also teaches school children this skill. Tama has a new book out, Foraged Flavor: Finding Fabulous Ingredients in Your Backyard or Farmer’s Market (Clarkson Potter, 2012), that I’ll be rushing to pick up. Particularly when I can see the range of edibles she describes.
Photo: colinclarkphoto.com
Tub Tea Time!
January 25, 2013 by 6 Comments
Brrrr. It’s still winter and in many cases still c-c-cold out there. Even if you live in a warmer climate, there is nothing like a warm bath to soothe away all that ails you. I love to add a little Lavender Bath Salt or a Fizzy Bath Bomb into the mix, to soften skin and ease muscle pain, but I don’t always love the clean up that comes after. Herbs are wonderful in the bath but they can leave bits and bobs to chase after the water has drained.
The solution? Tub tea! Pack herbs, salts, and other bath time joys into a fillable tea bag and you’ve got yourself a mess-free bath.
Here is a list of some of the possible options to fill your tea bags with: [Read more...]
All Natural Vick’s Vapo Rub Recipe
January 18, 2013 by 23 Comments
Ugh, it’s cold a flu season. And a rotten cold is why I haven’t been around as much. I suppose it’s not a terrible time of year to snuggle in a watch about 20 movies (give or take) but when you are hit hard and need a little relief from chest pain and cough there is nothing like camphor and menthol, otherwise known as the active ingredients in Vick’s Vapo Rub.
Always one to make the most natural of just about anything (check out the Natural Skincare Series for more natural recipes), I thought that making my own might be just what the doctor ordered. If you would like to make a nice natural version of the stuff, here is the recipe. This makes 3 x 4 oz tins. [Read more...]
Last Minute Holiday Gifts Countdown Day 5: Lavender Eye Pillows
December 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
It’s Day 5 of the Last Minute Holiday Gifts Countdown where I’ve promised to post a handmade holiday gift idea that you can whip up just before the big day. Today’s project is these adorable Serenity Now! lavender eye pillows. A set of two (with an Insanity Later as it’s match) makes for a great couples gift. Particularly for those who to much hectic in their lives.
A Very Merry Holly Wreath
November 30, 2012 by 11 Comments
When you think of holly you undoubtedly will associate it with Christmas. If you have one on your property you may also think Ouch! and Ugh! The two sentiments I utter when a) getting stabbed by the leaves and b) when I have to clean up the leaves that just won’t compost and pluck out all the volunteers around the garden.
But it’s at this time of year, when the holly tree is just packed with glowing red berries, that it’s hard not to appreciate her beauty.
Lavender Dryer Bags
November 14, 2012 by 6 Comments
Lavender dryer bags are a natural way to freshen laundry. They are made simply from lavender scooped into small drawstring muslin bags like these. These bags are typically sold as bouquet garni bags, for adding herbs to soups, stocks, or stews.
When you have filled the bag with lavender, tie it tightly in a few knots and then wrap the string around the top and tie again. This will ensure that it will not come apart in the dryer. Toss a bag in with the laundry to add a light fragrance. Each dryer bag will last for ten loads in the dryer.
Lavender dryer bags will also make a great Handmade Holiday Gift! Present a set of 6 bags in a vintage jar wrapped with ribbon. The sealed jar will help keep the bags fresh.
Healing Cuticle Balm Recipe
November 10, 2012 by 13 Comments
Home chefs, gardeners, and just about anyone in cold climates during the winter can regularly have problems with dry, cracked cuticles. This soothing balm is packed with a herbal blend that will mend those cracks and make hands soft again.
Preserving the Ornamental Garden: How to Dry Flowers, Leaves, Stems, and Pods for Crafting
September 13, 2012 by 4 Comments
Collecting flowers, leaves, stems, and pods from the garden now, will give you a treasure trove of beautiful dried plants to craft with all year long.
Please welcome Guest Blogger, Ann Clements, from the Sunshine Coast of BC, a dancer, naturalist, and avid plant preserver. If you are looking for expert tips in saving the most decorative parts of the garden, there is no one better to share her wisdom. Now over to Ann… [Read more...]
