Drying Your Own Lavender

The lavender looked so pretty this year.  It is one of my favorite things to grow. 

Although I’ve had a few plants that didn’t make it, the ones I have now bloom well every year.  I usually harvest it in early to mid-July.

 

It certainly attracts the bumblebees!

It is so fragrant when you walk by. There is something about lavender that makes it sooo romantic. I guess because of it’s French associations! Ooh la la!

SOME of the bundles that I gathered to prepare  for drying. 

  I  grab a bunch of lavender with my left hand and cut them to the desired length using herb shears with my right hand.   I’ve found this way is easier to make bundles than cutting it all off a bush at once and having to pick it up.   Now tie them with string, and hang them somewhere warm and dry.

My potting bench is coming in handy already!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it’s time to capture the fragrant buds to use in sachets.

 

 

When they are somewhat brittle, you can remove the purple buds easily.  Be careful…lavender can be messy and readily falls apart.  After spending a lot of time at this task, the best way I have found to remove the fragrant pods from the stems is to place a bunch of lavender between the palms of your hands and rub your hands together as though you are trying to keep warm. 

 

This can be very time consuming depending on how much lavender you have.  I compare it to shucking corn or stringing & breaking beans!

 

The dried buds will fall right off.  Be sure and have a container below to catch the fruits of your labor.

I  ended up with a decent amount of lavender harvested by “moi”.  Not quite enough to fill my large French tian, but it will do.

Do you know how much cut lavender it takes to get the small amount you see in the bowl?  I now have a new appreciate for lavender farms.

Can you smell it?

Au Revoir,

Kim

Napkin Folding 101

Happy Tuesday everyone.  Thank you for all your sweet comments about the wheat grass. I certainly hope a lot of you will try it.  I was finishing the Easter table today and wondered how many of you know how to make the “boat” or “hat” shaped folded napkins?

This is my favorite way of presenting napkins on a “set” tablescape.

I have 3 other ways that I go-to on occasion:

Folded over the back of a chair

Fanned in a glass

Gathered up in a smart napkin ring

I honestly don’t remember how I learned to fold them this way, but I’ve used it for many years.

I used the toile napkins that match the tablecloth.

First, lay the napkin out flat (it must be a square napkin).  Iron if you need to. 

Then, flip it over to the back so you’re starting with it upside down if you have a patterned fabric.  (See the creases where mine has already been folded?)

Start with any corner and fold over to make a large triangle.

Don’t worry if it doesn’t match up perfectly.  This is where you see that it’s not perfectly square!!!  It will cover itself later just as long as you generally have a good triangle.

Next, fold the left side of the triangle up to meet the top of the triangle.  You could start with the right side, but I have always started with the left.  Old habits, I guess.

(I love this toile pattern!)

Fold the right side up to the center point of the triangle to  where it meets the left side.

And, now it should be a square again.  Keep in mind I am standing behind it and this is the view I have when I’m folding it.  I suppose it’s more of a diamond angle instead of thinking of it as square.

You are now going to grab it from the top and flip it over again towards you making it upside down.

Grab the bottom and fold over to meet the top point. You are forming another triangle.  Of course, each time the entire napkin profile is getting smaller.

Again, see how the fabric doesn’t line up perfectly?  Don’t worry about it!!!

Hang with me. I promise we are almost finished!

Fold the two ends inward towards themselves.

Start in the middle or either side.

Making the final triangle.

Turn up and over and you will begin to see the finished product.

Don’t let go!!!

Voilà!

And, like magic, it stands on its own!

Back view.

A little creasing and fluffing and there you have it!

I promise it gets easier when you’ve done it several times.  It literally only takes me a few seconds to fold each one.  I sometimes fold sets of napkins this way and keep them folded in storage because they are so compact and will be ready at a moments notice if I need them.

Well, I’ve got to get back to working on the dining table.  I’m putting the finishing touches on it and will share it with you in a couple days.

Happy Easter Decorating,

Kim

Linking up to these great parties:

Bunny Blog Hop at French Country Cottage

WOW! Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants