long grass moving

 Some random photos of reeds and grasses that I took recently.

And further to last week's post, here are a couple of truly amazing things to do with pressed flowers -
sculptures by Canales Aracil and skeletons by Tada Asuka.
 
Reading: Jeeves and the wedding bells by Sebastian Faulks + Watching: Sopranos, season 2

flower power

I quite like the idea of drying flowers. I've still got some four-leafed clovers that I pressed in an old dictionary from years ago. And I found a buttercup in a library book once. I suppose lots of people press the occasional flower or leaf. But what do you do with them after that?

The answer might be in this book I found in the library - The complete guide to drying and preserving flowers by Lesley Gordon and Jean Lorimer, first published in 1982. It's full of dried flower collages. Unfortunately most of the images are black and white. These are some of the few in colour. Some of the collages are really interesting. I especially like the face, above - perhaps inspired by Giuseppe Arcimboldo?

I also found some more recent - and beautiful - collages by Amanda Lee. I really like her dried flower/foliage text. Also a nice, more traditional sampler, here at Glitter Paradise. 

Imagine drying every bunch of flowers you ever received. I bet someone's done that already.

indoor gardening

Some new pots that I painted for my cactuses. And a new home-in-a-cup for some baby succulents.

I've added another blog to my likes list - jo waterhouse. I'm really enjoying her side-to-side videos.

the reef

These are a few photos taken yesterday while out on Meola Reef. The reef is popular with dogs and their owners and the last time I was there I had Louie with me. So it was a bit of a sad walk on a cloudy, windy day.

On a happier note, I've added a couple of  blogs to the Blogs I like list that I'd like to share with you: la casita and everyday beauty.

Have a happy week :)

Reading The collector by John Fowles

the farm

I had a lovely day yesterday with friends on their small permaculture farm, where everything has a purpose.

Until next week ...

spots

The cookies are Lemon and Rosemary - same as I made last year using the martha goes green recipe published in extra curricular magazine. If you can't get hold of extra curricular issue 11, I see that martha goes green has published a book of their recipes. Hopefully, the cookies are in there so that you can enjoy them too. They are irresistibly good.

And I've been sewing spotty napkins - with mitred corners! And admiring spotty shrubs (Oleander) at Omaha.

tea lights

I've been decorating tea light candles using double-sided tape and fabric. No one in my house has noticed. Or at least, no one has said anything. It's like it's my own little secret.

Here's what to do:
You need tea lights (the ones that come in a little metal dish), fabric scraps, double-sided tape to fit the height of the candle, scissors
Cut a length of tape the circumference of the candle plus a bit for overlap
Press the sticky side of the tape firmly onto the wrong side of the fabric.
Cut the fabric close to the tape along both edges and ends.
Peeling the backing off the tape as you go, stick the tape around the metal dish.

See how long you can keep it a secret.

Reading Shut up, you're welcome: thoughts on life, death, and other inconveniences by Annie Choi