Lavender Bundles

The crispness in the air this time of year conjures thoughts of all the cozy times around the fireside that will be coming soon. Why not cut some lavender branches to tie into small bundles? These bundles can be dried and kept to toss onto winter fires to infuse the room with the scent of lavender.

Lavender Sachets

Lavender sachets are easy to make and give your closet or clothes drawers a clean scent that also reputed to keep the moths away. I used dried lavender from my garden, but you can buy it if you don't grow your own.

What You'll Need:
Fabric
Dried lavender buds
Quilt batting
Ribbon


Instructions
1. Cut a fabric square, around 6 inches. Handkerchiefs make ideal squares.

2. Cut a rectangle of quilting, approximately 3 by 6 inches.

3. With the fabric square design side down, sprinkle a few tablespoons of dried lavender into the middle of the square.

4. Fold batting in half and place on top of lavender in middle of fabric square.


5. Ball batting and bring up the sides of the fabric to encase the lavender and batting.

6. Cut a length of ribbon. If you wish, tie a loop in the middle of the ribbon to use to hang a sachet over a coat hanger.


7. Hold the bunched quilting and lavender and gather up the ends of the square.

8. Tie around with a length of ribbon and fashion a bow.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be thankful for, including the vivid beauty of these sunflowers and the saturated colour of their petals.

Thanksgiving Centrepiece

Here, just in time for Thanksgiving, is a quick and easy flower centerpiece that doesn't take up much room.

What You'll Need:
1. A small pumpkin. Mini or pie pumpkins are ideal.

2. A glass, small enough to fit inside the pumpkin. Shot glasses work well for very small pumpkins.

3. A selection of autumn flowers.


Directions
1. Cut the lid from the pumpkin.


2. Scoop out the seeds.

3. Arrange flowers in a water-filled glass.

4. Place the glass and flowers into the pumpkin.

5. Re-arrange the flowers as necessary.

A grouping of three small arrangements looks great, or use very small pumpkins so that each person can have their own arrangement.

Friends that Rock

There are some who might wonder about a gift like this. But anyone who knows me understands how chuffed I was when M. brought me this present. Rocks for my garden are always welcome and I love that friend M. wrapped them in bright pink tissue and green-coloured jute. It's fun and whimsical, and totally charming. My friends rock!

Leaving Space

When too many cares and concerns come to the fore, they can take up a lot of space in your head... leaving little room for creativity, inspiration and being present in the moment. I am trying to remind myself to leave space for life to happen; to not allow thoughts of "what ifs" to crowd out all of the incidental moments in my day that make life rich and joyous.

Welcome Autumn

The English gardener who created this bonneted charmer with golden curls, not only displayed their creativity but a sense of humour as well when they left this transformed sunflower growing in the garden to greet passers-by.

The colder weather that arrived with October confirms that autumn is indeed here. The season heralds the start of all that October brings - gourds and pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and textures; harvest fairs in the countryside; and the sensory overload that is to come, first hinted at with the turning of foliage. The smell of fires crackling in the fireplace and dried leaves underfoot, the sight and sounds of honking geese flying in formation overhead, the taste and scent of ginger and cinnamon that seems to find its way into autumn recipes. All these and more add up to this wonderfully evocative season we call autumn.