Envelope style Sachet Tutorial

First choose a piece of material  and cut it to 30cm x 12.5cm (11.3/4" x 5") I have used a cotton linen mixture for this one, then  over lock all sides to prevent fraying. If you don't have an overlocker pinking shears are just as good. Fold over 1.5cm (1/4") on both short ends and press. Add a piece of piping to one of the short edges on  the wrong  side of the material  and stitch close to edge on the front side. Also looks good if you use a contrast piping.

Find the centre point  and mark or pin top and bottom and taking  the piped edge, right sides together place 4.5cm (1.1/2") over the centre line and pin. Bring the remaining side over leaving 2cm (1/2") beyond the piped edge.

Now stitch down each side approx 1cm (1/4") in from each side.

Turn the unpiped side  right side out which will give you a pocket, gently push out the corners, then fill with filling of your choice (I used lavender for this one) pushing it down so you get as much as you can in there.

Then turn the other side out and distribute the lavender ( you can always add a little more at this stage and then give it a good shake). This will give you in effect a double pocket so whatever you add to your sachet won't spill out.  If you prefer the closure to be central, put the piped edge onto the centre mark.

Finish off with whatever you fancy, I added a bit of raffia but you can add anything you like, buttons, ribbon or lace also works really well.

Hope this was useful and you try some  for yourself.

Good choices for sachets: lavender, lemon balm, lilac, mint, rosemary, roses, scented geraniums and thyme

Tussie Mussie

A wonderful Victorian tradition that is full of the lore of herbs and the beautiful language of Flowers.

These were known as talking bouquets, or Tussie Mussie , and lovers exchanged these nosegays of herbs and flowers to express their feelings to each other.


Several dictionaries were published to help decipher the coded messages which were often very complex.

When individual plants were held together in one nosegay, all the meanings came together to form one complex thought. They became the messengers for discreet and sometimes quite daring but proper suitor, the inarticulate but sympathetic friend, or for the polite guest. How clever …and very romantic those Victorians were!

There are lovely holders made of heavy white paper that look like cones with the tapered end cut off, and that are edged with inches of doily-like lace you can use to put them together.

I have seen antique sterling silver cones as well as reproduction silver cones and they are adorable. If you have the inclination, you, too, can put one together whenever there is an event happening for that someone special. Make sure to include a note about what the plants mean in your gift, as this is a lost art.

The three examples shown here  were found on Etsy and were made by ladonacarmen, emilywootton and FrenchFolly all very beautiful and each one different.

 Glossary of Definitions

mint = warmth, sweet marjoram = joy & happiness, garden sage = domestic virtue, St. John’s wort = protection, lavender = devotion, purple sage = gratitude, parsley = festivity, thyme = courage, strawberry = goodness, lemon balm = sympathy & understanding, basil = best wishes, dill = irresistibility, lemon verbena = responsibility, rosemary = remembrance, pineapple sage = hospitality, scented geraniums = comfort,

Hair Stick Tutorial

My daughter arrived yesterday for 5 days and so we thought we would do a few things together just for fun and here's one of them.

She has very thick curly below shoulder length hair, and she wears her hair up a lot, and therefore always on the lookout for new things to do with her hair, so I decided to make her some hair sticks.

So using a 6mm piece of doweling I cut a 15cm length and then shaped the end using a pencil sharpener and then sanded it smooth. The other end sand until it takes on a roundish look! then use a 3mm drill bit and drill through the centre of the stick 5mm from the end .

I sent her off to gather together a few beads, buttons and whatever else took her fancy that she thought might look good dangling and off we went.

I used a piece of chain 8mm in length and added shell buttons in two sizes using the jump rings to attach and that's it, hair stick done ready to go. My daughter wore this last night and have to say it looked great and she loves it so we are going to make a few more later.

Hope you like it and try it out for yourself.

Loving May

I love irises and have quite a few in my garden and at this time of year they add such a fabulous dash of colour. I remember the first year they flowered I immediately cut  a dozen and proudly placed them into a large vase and although they looked great within 40 minutes my room smelt like it had been used as a toilet by every cat in the neighbourhood. I now admire them in the garden and that's where they will stay from now on!

Come on Give us a Break

Do yourself a favour !!!!!

HOW SOON IS TOO SOON?

Not soon enough, laboratory tests over the last few years has proven that babies who start drinking soda during the early formative period have a much higher chance of gaining acceptance and "fitting in" during those awkward pre-teen years. So, do yourself a favour. Do your child a favour. Start them on a strict regimen of soda and other sugary carbonated beverages right now, for a lifetime of guaranteed happiness!

Before the Rosa Banksia

After the pergola went up of course you then need to find something to cover it with. I was given a small cutting of a thornless rose called Rosa Banksia and 2 years down the line I think it did the job.

Rainbow in the Tarn

Despite all the rain and wind  we are still rewarded by nature's beauty

How Times Have Changed Or

I found this old ad and just had to show you, gonna cry me a river. Did this ever really work!!! and such romantic choices for us women. Oh darling sob, sob, may I have a new toaster. If I were a lemon I would kill myself!!