Scented Gift Lavender lady

This little ‘granny’ doll is bound to be a great favourite with small girls. She is easily made out of scraps of fabric and is filled with lavender. Read the rest of this entry »

Cream Skincare Olive and Lavender Soap

* 175 g/6 oz olive oil soap

* 30 ml/2 tbsp ground almonds

* Grater

* 25 m1/1¹/2 tbsp almond oil

* 10 drops lavender essential oil

* double boiler

* 25 m1/1¹/2 tbsp coconut oil

* Spoon

* heart-shaped moulds, oiled

1 Grate the soap. Place the grated soap in a double boiler and leave to soften over heat. Add all the other ingredients.

2 Stir until all the ingredients are evenly mix and begin to hold together.

3 Press the mixture into the oiled moulds at leave to set overnight. Unmould the soaps ready for use.

Generous Painted Enamelware, Luxury Colour

The men and women sailed narrow boats along the waterways of England created a unique style of painted enamelware, said to be the oldest folk-art in the country. Today only a handful of narrow-boat painters are still at work, yet a novice can apply a simplified version of the classic narrow-boat designs to dull household items, and transform them with the colours and vitality of the original ware. Canal traditions are also popular in France as well as Holland where distinctive styles of decoration have evolved over the centuries. Read the rest of this entry »

Planting Bulbs, Seasonal and Festival Colour Gifts

Establishing the Blooms

To make bulbs sprout quickly, place them in a cool, dark room, away from frost or excessive heat. As the pale, yellowish shoots appear and become established, remove to a lighter and warmer location. Watering may be required more frequently at this stage of growth.

Miniature Bulbs

Miniature varieties of bulbs produce delicate and effective displays when planted up in containers. Suitable dwarf types of bulbs to use for indoor colour include:

Miniature iris (Iris reticulata) in both blue and yellow grows to a height of about 15cm (6in). Read the rest of this entry »

Wedding and Romantic Gifts: Herbal and Spice Cushion

Cushions make both decorative and practical gifts. Indeed, in some cultures such as that of the nomadic Bedouin Arabs, cushions are an important piece of furniture. The word cushion comes from the middle English word cuisshen, which in turn owes its origin to the Old French coissin, meaning a hip rest.

In the past ornamental cushions were a symbol of wealth and status, as only people who had the time and money to lounge around had need of them. Kings and emperors were frequently surrounded by piles of brilliantly coloured and intricately stitched examples. Read the rest of this entry »

Tips on Selecting Gift Wrapping Printing Papers

It possible to buy wrapping paper by the roll, the paper used to wrap a gift could take as much time and effort to make as the gift itself. Hand-printed papers were, in the past, used in many ways; some old books had decorative end papers, made from individually marbled or patterned sheets, and even wallpaper was hand-printed. Read the rest of this entry »

Traditional Gift Tags and Labels

Gift Ribbons and Bows

Expensive satin ribbons and pieces of lace may add a hint of luxury to a gift but even cheap domestic trimmings can be made to look special. The textures of upholstery tape, webbing and string take on interesting effects when dyed. Read the rest of this entry »