I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Monday, April 13, 2015

Lavender, Lemon Verbena and Bergamot



Hi guys! Another Monday, huh. Yesterday the flea market was a bit of flop. I got there EARLY! But I had no money, or just a little. There were many dealers, 200?---but their wares were junk. At the very first booth I found a little old box of treasures---thimbles, tiny tin boxes, a carved bone handle, a brass filigree cuff bracelet, cut-steel beaded purses with no frames, miscellaneous old buttons, tarnished tattered junk. But you know...first booth! I didn't want to carry it around all day. And can you imagine, someone bought it before I went back. Who but me wants an old grubby box of junk? How odd. I also missed out on a polychrome transferware tea bowl / slop bowl, unusual because it was French not English [same dealer] and a teeny tiny hand smocked silk infant dress, palest eggshell peach color. The dress was snatched out right from under my eyes. A woman just wanted it so bad and I really didn't need it, so, okay. Fine. (Old silk is so hard to wash, I thought, as she scurried away with my find.)

Mo had an all day playdate, so I used the quiet afternoon time to work on my spring selection of lavender hearts for my etsy shop.


The box of new lavender came last week. You may notice I use two types of lavender. One is floral, one is almost pine-y or crisp. Both are French lavender, from Cape Cod.


I use my giant white bread bowl. It's English ironstone, not American yellow ware.


I add essential oils. This time I used bergamot and lemon verbena as well was lavender oil.






Mix it good with my new big silver spoon,




then cover it for a day or so with its wooden cover [beachcombed find, isn't it great?]





I also ordered two kinds of sea salt, or rock salt, and made bath salts for myself. I mix the sea salt with epsom salts and again I add a drop or two of essential oils. I don't use lavender for bath salts, it's too floral for everyday use; I prefer the more citrus-y verbena and the bergamot.


Bergamot smells like Earl Grey tea, so you can imagine the scent.] Very calming and subtle.


Meanwhile I sort through my collection of tattered but beautiful linens and lace, some quilt fragments too, and the hearts and squares and tubes are sewed and turned.










I like to stuff the sachets and pillows outside so it doesn't make a mess or smell too strong.


 I love when the completed hearts are all gathered in a big bowl or tray


Something pretty for spring-cleaned closets or to tuck in stacks of line-dryed sheets and bath towels. Or---for Mothers Day? I am always so hopeful that they please..















love 

lizzy

gone to the beach










9 comments:

  1. I can almost smell all the lovely scents.

    And the hearts. As always, so beautiful.

    Off to fix dinner and then paint some birds. LOL.

    Hugs,
    Hunter

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  2. Sometimes I find it a relief to leave the flea market or thrift store empty handed :) I always figure it wasn't meant to be.

    I LOVE your hearts.(surprise!) They smell sooo wonderful and are always so cute. The batch I gave as gifts at Easter were a hit. I need to build you into my budget. It's entirely possible I'm addicted. The first time I bought some from you was for my Mom for Mother's Day. I think I've told you before that I pilfered one of them from her while visiting. She's gone now, but I still have that heart.

    Happy to see your BIG spoon earning it's keep already.

    Great post, thanks!

    Kel
    P.S. Thanks for the tip on flower bulbs. I'll try giving them some food next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kel! I m always happy to put things aside for you. "Layaway", lol. Tho I know you enjoy shopping last minute. Whatever works for you.

      PS Put the bulb food on the bulbs in the Fall, not next spring. I think you have to water the fertilizer into the soil, so use a waering can if you can t water bec of the drought?

      Delete
  3. Lovely linens and sachets! Why do you cover the bowl before using the lavender with oils?

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  4. cover helps contain the scents as the oils' and buds' fragrance melds, also keeps the filling from drying out. If I have extra prepped I store it in one of my big Mason jars with a tight lid.

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  5. The sachets are all so pretty! I especially like the squares with the nosegay of violets, so pretty!

    I'm sad you missed your little box of treasures, but maybe at the next flea you'll find something even better...

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    Replies
    1. Hi! The square sachets w violets are vintage french ticking fabric, or curtain fabric. I only made 2 bec I hated to cut it up.



      Maybe the box will reappear! Sometimes dealers start packing up early....?

      Delete
  6. Love your use of lavendar! I never seem to know what to do with it.

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  7. Love your use of lavendar! I never seem to know what to do with it.

    ReplyDelete

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