Materials: Twine
Raffia
Scissors
Medium-gauge wire
8 bunches English or Spanish lavender
8 bunches basil, dried
8 bunches flowering oregano
8 bunches "belly buttons" (crispedia)
1 straw plait (braided raffia) at 24" long - Split each bunch of herbs (figure A) into 8 smaller bunches. Cut the stems 6" long and double-leg mount each bunch with medium-gauge wires.
- Attach a wired bunch of lavender to the bottom of the plait with the twine. Place a bunch of oregano to the left, slightly overlapping the lavender, and bind this on the plait with twine (figure B). Repeat this step with another bunch of oregano, this time to the right and slightly overlapping the lavender. Finish the sequence by positioning a bunch of lavender directly above the first lavender bunch, slightly overlapping, and bind them with the twine.
- Repeat this pattern 8 times to use all your wired bunches, binding each bunch onto the plait with the twine.
- When all the "sub-bunches" have been used and the top of the plait has been reached, tie off with twine and trim excess wires.
Tips: - Double-leg mount wiring is used to strengthen stems. Place a medium-gauge wire along the stem of the flower or vegetable so that 2/3 of the wire is above the base of the stem and 1/3 is below it. Bend the longer end of the wire down to form a hairpin. Now twist the longer end around the stem and the shorter piece of wire, leaving two sides of equal length.
- Use dried or fresh lavender (fresh lavender will dry beautifully on the swag).
Products: All products can be found at fabric stores and floral centers.
RESOURCES :
Nature Printing With Herbs, Fruits, and Flowers
Model: 088266929X
Author: Laura Donnelly Bethmann and Deborah Balmuth
(June, 1996)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Storey Books / Storey Communications Inc.
Website: www.storey.com
Herbs
Model: 0754806170
Author: Andi Clevely and Katherine Richmond
2000
Lorenz Books / Anness Publishing Inc.
Website: www.lorenzbooks.com
Herb Topiaries
Model: 0934026793
Author: Sally Gallo & Susan B. Strawn (Illustrator)
(December 1992)
Your Backyard Herb Garden
Model: 0875969941
Author: Miranda Smith
160 pages
February 1999
Rodale Press
Red Oak, IA 51591
Phone: 515-242-0282
Gifts for Herb Lovers: Over 50 Projects to Make and Give
Model: 0882669834
Author: Betty Oppenheimer
September, 1997
Storey Books / Storey Communications Inc.
Website: www.storey.com
Gifts from the Herb Garden
Model: 0517575620
Author: Emelie Tolley
November 1991
Clarkson Potter/The Crown Publishing Group/Random House
Website: www.randomhouse.com
GUESTS :
Dohki Mirmirani
13826 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Phone: 818-986-0333
Owner, Jasmine Blue
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