Skip to main content

Lavender Wand How To

Lavender wands are pretty way to preserve your lavender flowers. They make thoughtful little gifts and it is a most pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon! This is an easy project that is fun to do with children.
Start with an odd number of stems of lavender. I usually use 11 or 13 to make a nice full wand. Pick the lavender on a dry day when the buds are nice and fat but haven't begun to open yet. The only other material is a piece of ribbon about 30 inches long.
Begin by bunching the lavender together so that the base of each flower head is more or less even with the others. Tie the end of your ribbon at the bottom of the bunch and knot.
Hold the lavender upside down and gently bend the stems over the ribbon to cover the lavender flowers.
Weave the ribbon through the stems by going over and under alternating stems. Adjust the stems as you go to create full coverage of the flower heads. Pull the ribbon firmly but gently as you work your way down the stems.
Continue to weave the ribbon, alternating stems as you go, until you reach the bottom of the flower heads. Keep each row of ribbon close to the previous one.

Finish your wand with a pretty bow and hang upside down to dry for a week or so. Check your wand every couple of days to see if the ribbon needs to be tightened. Do this by untying the bow and gently pulling the ribbon tighter working from top to bottom. When your wand is completely dry, you can decorate it with tiny dried flowers or a bit of lace or ribbon if desired.
Share your creations with friends and family or any faeries that happen to live in your garden!

Comments

  1. wow! I can't believe how beautiful this turned out! I wish I could make some. I wonder if I would be able to order fresh lavender sticks online? Probably not. *giggles*
    Absolutely luv your theme too. I need something tranquil & simple like this. My widgets often don't fit into the sidebar...
    Bright Blessings Jules

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Jules!You pretty much have to pick the lavender right before you make the wand so it's nice and supple.
    I got this theme from Backgroundfairy.com. ~Gail

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Make Spice Filled Mug Mats

Spice filled mug mats and trivets make a thoughtful, fragrant gift. While they are not hard to make it does take a little time if you age your mix properly. The secret to long lasting fragrance in any potpourri type mix is sufficient aging. You can vary the spices and oils in this recipe to suit your own nose. Mug Mat Mix 1 cup of allspice 1 cup of cinnamon chips 1/2 cup of cloves 1 cup of dried orange peel 1/4 cup of star anise 1/4 cup of dried rosemary 1 cup of oak moss or cellulose fiber chips 1/2 teaspoon of orange essential oil 1/4 teaspoon each of clove and cinnamon essential oils Mix the first 6 ingredients and put into a jar with a tight fitting lid. Make sure it is large enough to allow for future mixing by shaking. Place your oak moss or cellulose fixative in a small jar with a lid and add your oils. Shake well and let sit for several days until the oils are fully absorbed. Add to your spice mix, put the cover back on and shake gently to mix. Let age for at least 4 weeks, s

Myrrh and Patchouli

Before I get into the uses for these wonderful essential oils I would like to share the importance of doing a patch test before using a new botanical in any of your preparations. It's simple and only takes 15-20 minutes to find out if you or someone else is sensitive to an oil or botanical. Put a drop of the essential oil in question on a cotton ball and dab the inside of your arm right below the elbow. If any redness, itching or irritation occurs within the next 15-20 minutes avoid using that substance in any of your creations. MYRRH ~Myrrh has a warm, resinous scent that is soothing in states of stress, panic, fear, confusion and apathy. To use for this purpose, place a drop or two of the essential oil in a diffuser or bowl o f hot water to help disperse the scent throughout the room. A more portable solution is to take a whiff or two straight from the bottle. ~Myrrh is anti-inflammatory, anti fungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic making it a good addition to topical preparations

Purple Coneflower- Echinacea purpurea

The echinacea is in full bloom here in the northeast. It is a beautiful plant that is very easy to grow. Purple coneflower, as it is commonly known, grows to 2-4 feet in height and prefers a well drained site in full sun. It doesn't mind poor soil. In fact, if the soil is too rich, you may have to stake your plants. The Native Americans used echinacea for a wide range of ailments from colds to snake bites and external wounds. They also threw on the coals in the sweat lodge for purification. It is now known that echinacea is an immuno stimulant that increases the production and activity of white blood cells, lymphocytes a nd macrophages. It also increases interferon production which is used by the body to fight viral infections like the cold and flu. Echinacea should not be used continuously because that will decrease its effectiveness. Also, those with auto immune or progressive conditions like lupus and multiple sclerosis, should consult their doctors before using. If you have an