Posted: Wed Jun 29, 05 8:44 am Post subject: Lavender wands
Two or three of our lavender plants flower much earlier than the rest EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ALL BOUGHT AS THE SAME PLANT FROM A WHICH? TRIAL WINNING NATIVE PLANTS NURSERY.
Ahem. So before they actually burst in to flower and as they are quite long stemmed it is a perfect time to make lavender wands which are a nice way to spend a sunny afternoon with a large jug/glass of Pimms. If you do them neatly they would be nice to add to your Christmas gift parcels.
There are instructions here - https://www.divatribe.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=302&Itemid=45 - but I will try to do some this weekend (or even sooner if I have time) and put up some "in between" pictures as I found that quite difficult to begin with. They are very forgiving though and I still have my first effort from two or three years ago, living in the wardrobe.
Actually looking again at that site they have you use 1/2 inch wide ribbon, which is just crazy, dangerous talk. Use 1/2 centimetre wide ribbon, it might take a bit longer but it will look much much nicer.
must have a try at that as some of our lavender has started to flower and the Alba version won't be far behind.
My aunt use to make gorgeous little lavender bags by getting a really pretty old fashioned ladies hanky, putting a good handful of lavender buds in the centre and then just gathering it up in her hand and tying with pretty ribbon, like a mini Xmas pud I suppose - brill cos theres no sewing involved!
mochyn
Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 24585 Location: mid-Wales
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 05 11:55 am Post subject:
I suspect that the plants flower at slightly different times because they are from seed, not cuttings. As lavender does not come exactly true from seed, most seedlings are slightly different to theire parents and each other.
Back to the real subject: these are what I've always called lavender bottles. I think my original instructions came from Arthur Mee's wonderful Children's Encylopaedia, 1933 edition! I must make some this year: my dwarf lavenders are all flowering like mad. I use pretty yarn or thread to weave into them, and a ribbon bow to finish.
Gertie
Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638 Location: Yorkshire
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 05 3:17 pm Post subject:
This IS spooky! I was looking at our lavender yesterday thinking that it's really come to life this year - I thought about the lavendere I had seen on stalls for sale and lo and behold I come onto downsizer and there they are!! Bugs, you're a star!
Now I know how to make them we will see if mine turn out anything like they should!
Luckily, I've got some odds and ends of ribbons, so I'll have a dummy run first to see how they look
DivaTribe Guest
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 9:31 pm Post subject: ribbon
That's my how-to that's linked above, and in reply to the 1/2" ribbon comment - they really do look quite nice. I have two in my linen closet.
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 05 7:18 am Post subject: Re: ribbon
DivaTribe wrote:
That's my how-to that's linked above, and in reply to the 1/2" ribbon comment - they really do look quite nice. I have two in my linen closet.
Hello Divatribe, welcome to the site. Are the 1/2" ones bigger in themselves and does the ribbon ruche up at all? The reason I don't fancy it is that I started with a 1/2 cm ribbon and although it was pretty I then made a few for gifts with a narrower still ribbon and they looked much neater, so that I thought the 1/2 inch would be a bit untidy - although much quicker to make I imagine?
Do you have a picture of a completed one with 1/2", I would love to see if there is less difference than I imagine?
wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 05 12:18 pm Post subject:
Can we have some picutres - I'm to dim to try witout seeing what I'm aiming at, and the link is too small!
really nice addition to your hand made Christmas presents, maybe a bit time consuming, but pleasant to make especially if you have someone to talk to while you do it (or just sit in the garden).
I meant to make some this weekend but you know how it is...
Well, here's a rather scruffy one some daft bint knocked up recently, which has also been photographasised along the way and to which a guide for the over-generously thumbed will follow.
Last edited by Bugs on Fri Jul 08, 05 4:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 05 9:53 am Post subject:
Aha, I see. Wonder if I can scrape together enough lavender for a cople (for me thouugh - not giving the lavender away - for some reason, I just can't grow the stuff!)
Ay wallah, guide is done (it's really so simple you could work it out from the finished product, but it took me a while the first time so I hope the "between" pics will help:
Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 1539 Location: West Yorkshire
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 05 10:48 am Post subject:
Those pictures and instructions are perfect. I've been trying to do one but it wasn't working, now I can see how to do it, i'm off to the shop to get loads of ribbon. Thanks Bugs
Treacodactyl Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 25795 Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 05 11:03 am Post subject:
Oooh, what fine hands you have Bugs.
WW, Lavender likes light soil so we can send you a few bags of chalk rubble.
Hello Divatribe, welcome to the site. Are the 1/2" ones bigger in themselves and does the ribbon ruche up at all? The reason I don't fancy it is that I started with a 1/2 cm ribbon and although it was pretty I then made a few for gifts with a narrower still ribbon and they looked much neater, so that I thought the 1/2 inch would be a bit untidy - although much quicker to make I imagine?
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