How to Easily Dry Herbs

There are several ways to dry herbs but the easiest and most economical is to air dry them.  This method when done correctly is almost fail proof and works for all types of plants (although I wouldn't try mushrooms).

Buy your herb plants fresh from the farmers market or grocery store.  If you can get them with the root ball attached this will keep them fresher longer.  It's important for the herbs to be as fresh and healthy as possible.  Old and diseased plants will not dry well and will deteriorate during the process.

As well as fresh healthy plants you need to select plants with the longest stems possible tie the herbs with string at the stems to create little bouquets and then hang them upside down in a cool, dark, dry place.  A storage cupboard can be an ideal place and a coat hanger can make a good hanging frame.

Small delicate plants such as rosemary, mint and thyme will dry in about two to three weeks.  Larger items such as chili peppers will need longer depending on their size.  Dried herbs can keep their potency for up to twelve months after drying.

Free Holiday Styled Stock Photos - Limited Time

Do you still need to get your blog into the festive mood?  Or just want to change up the look?  These beautiful holiday styled stock photos are free for a limited time from creativemarket.com...

Book Review: The Victorian Flower Oracle by Patricia Telesco

This book has 221 pages, black and white illustrations and no color photos. This is not a glamorous coffee table book yet it is probably one of the most magical books I own.  You will find folklore, meanings and history or over seventy flowers along with space to add your own personal notes.

One of the things that makes this books so magical is, for example, on page fifty-four tucked away under 'geranium' is a recipe for geranium punch that is idea for summer rituals and romantic rites, on page forty-four you will find instructions for clover honey, on page one hundred and fifty is a recipe for a healing cream and on and on you will find little snippets of information to create a variety of magical plant related lotions, potions and beverages.

However, the main magic of this book is that Patricia Telesco encourages you to build upon the knowledge on these pages and create your own personal flower oracle that you can look to for guidance over the years to come.  The process to create oracle and tarot decks is often a close guarded secret.  Creators work hard at their decks and understandable don't want to part their hard earned information, but more often it's because oracle decks come into being as if by magic and take on a life of their very own that is hard to explain within the pages of a book.

I love how unpretentious this book is.  The recipes nestle in the paragraphs of words like little shining jewels waiting to be discovered.  There is no pomp and circumstance, no long winded build-up or trumpet-blowing, self-promotion.  The author presents the facts in simple plain English for us all to enjoy.

First published in October 1995, I believe this book is now out of print but you can follow my affiliate link by clicking on the picture below to find offers from third party sellers on Amazon.

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What is Argan Oil?

Argan oil seems to be the beauty buzz word at the moment with mentions from Elle, Marie Claire, Goop and a whole heap of other beauty bloggers and suppliers, but what exactly is argan oil?

Argan oil comes from the nut of the argan tree.  This tree is native of Morocco which is why the oil is often called Moroccan oil.  It is also called liquid gold due to its many beneficial health properties. Morrocan women have been using this oil for centuries for both cooking and as a topical application.

After flowering the fruit of the argan tree takes over a year to grow and mature into the oil rich nut.  The contents of the nut is then processed by hand to produce the oil.  The time taken for the nut to ripen and the hand processing of the oil is the reason for the high cost of the oil.  However, a small amount can go a long way and has numerous uses which makes it ideal for anyone looking to streamline a beauty routine.

Good quality oil contains high levels of tocopherols (vitamin E) and fatty acids which are beneficial to soft, supple skin, it also heals sun and age damage, and improves the skin's water content.  Argan oil is always easily absorbed into the skin, it leaves a soft sheen to the skin without leaving a thick oily slick.  If your oil is laying on top of the skin take a look at the label, it is most likely mixed with another type of oil, you want to make sure it is 100% argan oil.  If your bottle does turn out to be a blend of two or more oils it doesn't necessarily mean it is bad and you should throw it away, it just means it is probably made with a particular purpose in mind such as a hand or eye product rather than one product that can perform a multiple of tasks.

Pure argan oil can be used as a moisturizer all over the body including the face.  Because the oil is light and easily absorbed means it can even be worn under makeup.

At the end of the day it can be used with cotton wool to remove makeup including around the eye area. For this reason avoid using as an eye cream if you are going to be wearing mascara and/or eyeliner as you will look like a panda within a few minutes.  I know this first hand.

A small amount rubbed between the palms and then applied to freshly washed hair can work as a leave in hair conditioner and natural hair tamer.

Apply throughout the day to hardworking hands and cuticles will benefit too.

Before going to bed apply to heels and toes and then slip on a pair of socks for smooth feet.

Below is a small selection of argan oil that can be found around the web.  I have added my affiliate links to some (not all) the photos which means if you click on the links below and make a purchase I may receive a small payment at no cost to you.  I hope you enjoy the links.  Thank you for your support!

This is the oil I am currently using.  It's by Aura Cacia and available on Amazon.  I've been using it several times a day every day for the at least the last three weeks and still have over half a bottle left.  I love how soft and supple my skin feels, although learned the hard way not to try and spray it directly onto my face as there is no guarantee the oil will go on the face and not splutter over clothing and of course the oil leaves an oily mark that needs to be washed out.  Otherwise, I have no negative remarks to make other than I wish I had started using this product on my skin years ago.

How to Make Flower Perservative

Flower preservative is that little sachet of white powder that comes attached to many store brought bouquets, but what should you do if your flowers don't come with any preservative or your florist forgets to give you some? Try this simple recipe to keep your blooms lasting longer?

Homemade Flower Preservative
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of household bleach
2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Dissolve all the ingredients in one quart of warm water.  If your arrangement needs more water then double the ingredient quantities and the the amount of water.

How does this work?  Each ingredient has a specific job to keep the flowers lasting longer.  Sugar provides the nutrition the flowers would normally get from the soil via the roots, bleach ensures the water remains clean and the lemon juice keeps the solution acidic which helps with the uptake of water. 

Don't forget to change the water every few days and mist occasionally.

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other tips for extending the life of your cut flowers. 

Library of Flowers by Margot Elena

I love discovering new-to-me products and brands.  Library of Flowers makes my heart skip a beat.  Everything from the name, to the floral scent and the whimsical hand drawn packaging is perfect for the flower lover.

What is Matcha Tea?

What exactly is matcha tea? I have tried many teas but must admit I have never had matcha.  I found some interesting information about the antioxidant properties of this tea over at matchasource.com.

So why and how is matcha so much better for you than other teas?  

Firstly the whole leaf of the tea plant is used with matcha.  The entire leaf is ground to a bright green powder and the whole thing is ingested.  Matcha literally means 'powdered tea'.  And by the way, the brighter green the powder, the better the quality of tea.

Secondly, although matcha comes from the same plant as all other teas it is grown slightly differently.  The final few weeks before harvesting the plants are covered with opaque sheeting to prevent light getting to the leaves.  This encourages the plant to start pumping out huge amounts of chlorophyll and amino acids.  These are the chemical compounds that prevent aging and chronic diseases.

You would need to drink at least ten cups of regular green tea to consume the same amount of antioxidants as one cup of matcha as illustrated in the graphics below.

 I have now added matcha to my daily routine by adding it to my morning jasmine tea.  

Are you a matcha drinker?  How do you take yours?  Before you go, leave a comment below... 

The banner below contains my affiliate link and will take you to matchasource.com and provide you with more information regarding matcha tea.  If you buy from this site I may (or may not) get paid at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for your support! 

The Florette: A Mobile Flower Shop

I love this business idea!  This is The Florette a mobile flower shop using only American grown flowers.   

 
The Florette is  the creation of Jenna Martin in Phoenix Arizona that I discovered via Field to Vase run by Christina Stembel of FarmGirl Flowers.

Both sites are full of floral inspiration and information on domestically grown flowers.

Happy Browsing!

Which Color Will Win?

Back in September Pantone released their fashion color predictions for 2017.

One of the things that we saw this year, was a renewed sense of imagination in which color was appearing in context that was different than the traditional," said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. "Reminiscent of the hues that surround us in nature, our Spring 2017 Fashion Color Report evokes a spectrum of emotion and feeling. From the warmth of sunny days with PANTONE 13-0755 Primrose Yellow to the invigorating feeling of breathing fresh mountain air with PANTONE 18-0107 Kale and the desire to escape to pristine waters with PANTONE 14-4620 Island Paradise, designers applied color in playful, yet thoughtful and precise combinations to fully capture the promises, hope and transformation that we yearn for each Spring.

As we creep closer to December bloggers are all anticipating which one (if any) will be the color for 2017.  Vogue have their money on kale, but I have everything crossed that it's going to be primrose yellow and greenery.

What do you think of the Pantone color selection?  Do you have any favorites or strong dislikes?  Let me know in the comments below.

Botanic Art Inspiration

I love browsing Etsy for botanical inspiration.  There are so many talented artists out there.

Here is a small selection of the amazing artwork I found.  I hope some of these will be new artists to you, I know they are new to me.  I think these prints would add elegance to any room.

By the way, if you click on the image, my Etsy affiliate link will take you directly to the artist's Etsy store.

by Kate Knot

 

Blue Shed Studio

By Slav Art

Cone Flowers and Bumble Bee By Red Briar Studio

By Espero Art

My Giant Strawberry Art

Rose Bouquet Carry All Pouch at Society6

I love these new carry all pouches Society6 has added to the store.  I've updated my store - there are now lots of flowery carry all pouches available...

What is the Surprising Taste of this Peony Tea?

This post is a little different than the usual post.  I'm still painting flowers and I've been lucky enough to have the house full of peonies all summer long.  I love to have the real thing in the house for inspiration, and I admit I don't always throw out a bunch of flowers just because they begin to fade and drop their petals.  I love the soft colors of wilting blooms and often leave them until only the bare stems are left in the vase. All those petals just seem too pretty to throw away. So what to do with all the faded petals?

I remember making rose petal tea as a kid.  I loved making lotions and potions with things I found in the garden, but I had no idea if peonies were edible or not.  A quick Google search told me peony petals and leaves are safe to ingest and have been used for centuries in China in teas and salads.

I put about twelve dried petals into a cup and poured hot but not boiling water over the top and let them seep for a minute or so.  I can't say my cup of peony tea was too flavorful. but after reading about it's antioxidant properties I'm keen to try a store brought, professionally made, peony tea.

I noticed the teas contain both the leaves and the petals so I'm guessing it's the leaves that make the stronger taste and the petals that add the fragrance which would be why my cup of petals were rather bland.

Below are the top three peony teas that made my list.  Has anyone tried these brands?  If you have I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Drop me a comment in the section below and I will respond.

Oh and the surprising taste?  Davidson's suggest their white peony tea tastes of chocolate...

Davidson's: White Peony Tea

Davidson's white peony tea - Wonderfully light with "chocolate" undertones, picked at its peak for ultimate flavor.  Chocolate?  I must put this one on my shopping list.

Higher Tea: White Peony

White peony tea by Higher Tea is made with unopened tea buds to give a sweeter taste.

Steven Smith Teamaker: White Petal

This small batch tea is made from chamomile petals and Chinese Osman thus flowers.

"Hey, you should know that this post contains affiliate links which means that I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase using a link here."

Focus on Fall: Donna Downey's Abstract Florals

Summer is well and truly over and all the visitors for this year have gone.  Now I just need all the back to school activities to calm down so that I can find some painting time.
I signed up for Donna Downey's Abstract Florals class to help me get back into a painting rhythm.

Color Theory: How to Mix Pink with Acrylic Paint

I thought it was easy to mix pink - it's red and white, right?

But then I tried it.  I took Cadmium red and mixed it with Titanium white and got more of a peach than a pink.

So how do we mix a bright pink?

Will Kemp explains below how to mix a bright pink with acrylic paint.



Watching Will's mini color mixing lesson taught me not only how to create different pinks but also the importance of good color theory.

If you are like me and jumped straight into painting without any basic color theory and need to go back to basics I've found some color theory classes that have been very helpful.

The first is Will Kemp's Simple Color Mixing Course.  If you liked his pink explanation above you may want to sign up for his class.

The next class is for watercolor called Luminous Watercolor Mixing by Kateri Ewing, but I found it really easy to apply the information to acrylic paint and at the end of the lesson I had a really good color map of my split primary palette.

The third class is also by Craftsy called Acrylic Color Mixing Made Easy by Carol McIntyre.  I've still got to sit through this one but I have already got lots of useful tips from Carol's blog so I've got high hopes for it.

If you have some good color theory links let me know below.

Blog Resources: Creative Market Free Font

Have you signed up with Creative Market?  It's free AND they offer weekly freebies.

I've just downloaded this beautiful font...

If you want this font and other freebies head over to Creative Market to sign up.  This particular font is free for one week only.

Inspiration: Alisa Burke Flower Power

I love painting flowers and although I'm trying to concentrate on realism my eyes popped out of my head when I saw Alisa Burke's floral wall on InstaGram.

Beautiful, right?

I went and signed up for Alisa's online Flower Power class right away.  If you too are inspired you can take a look at her class here 'Alisa Burke - Flower Power'.

FUNDRAISING FOR SOUTH BAY HANDS ON ART

I was the vendor at our fifth workshop of the year to help raise funds for South Bay Hands on Art.  It was exciting to see my art displayed in one place.  Thank you to everyone who showed an interest.

BEACH PEBBLES

Calling this one done too...

SUCCULENT

I enjoyed painting this little succulent.  Now I think it's time to call it done and move on...

Acrylic on canvas 12x12"

PAINTING TULIPS

I haven't varnished this one yet.  I keep thinking I'll come back and work some more on it.  Most of my paintings are unvarnished for the same reason.  I need to work on breaking the habit.