DRIEDFLOWERS Making herbal craft projects is a challenge and a joy. There are many ways to arrange dried herbs and flowers which are easy to do. It is also a good idea to drying flowers. Nothing seems to enhance a home more than the colours and fragrance of flowers and herbs. Here you will find a wealth of ideas for drying flowers.
	It is the best to cut flowers used for drying just before they reach full bloom, because they continue to open as they dry.
	Pick the flowers on a dry day, after the morning dew has dried. Choose healthy pieces and discard bruised or damaged materials.
	Flowers that are personally selected and arranged are so much more beautiful, original and with a personal and emotional value that could  not be bought with money.
	Remove the lowest leaves from a stems, cut the stems to even lengths and using a rubber band, bind the bottom ends together. Whole rosebuds can be hang upside down in bunches of five to six roses with leaves intact in a warm airy place to dry. Strips the lowest leaves from the stalks before tie them in bunches.  Stretch a chain across a room just below the ceiling.(Plant materials hooked through a chain link won't slip as they might on a slick wire). Hang the flowers and herbs upside down in an airy, dry, warm and dark place such as well-ventilated attics or large closets.  To avoid crushing, do not put to much herbs or flowers in a bunch. Avoid direct sunlight which will cause the flowers to fade. It takes between one to three weeks for flowers to dry. The length of the drying period will vary, depending on the temperature and humidity. Herbs need between one to two weeks to dry. Check the plants every few days, because if they remain in drying area to long, they my become to dry for use. Dried materials should feel papery and firm, not limp or damp. Many garden herbs and flowers dry extremely well.  Store your dried materials in covered boxes, airtight containers or in brown paper bags. Keep flower and herb groups separate and be sure to label these containers. Transfer prepared materials to a cooler location that remains dry and dark.  To dry plants and flowers of which are heavier than their stems (for example straw flowers, chrysanthemums etc.) use the plastic plant trays found at hardware stores or greenhouses. Position the trays so their bottom surfaces are several inches above the floor and drop the flower stems into the holes. The flower heads, which won't fit through the holes, will dry in an open position.  To dry flower heads just spread them on sheets of newspaper and leave them in a warm airy place to dry completely.  Use clothes-drying racks to dry short-stemmed herbs, bundle them and hang them on racks.  The dried material will have a natural fragrance but this will soon fade if you do not use a fixative. Orris root is one of the best for pot pourri, but you can also use other spices such as cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg, cloves, orange peel, lemon peel or sea salt.  Essential oils are another vital fixative which will add depth and intensity of fragrance to your dried material. Avoid contact with hands because oil has a very strong perfume. Store the oils in the glass bottles, never in plastic bottles. Use one drop at a time because if you use to much it will upset the real fragrance.  Electric dehydrators are especially handy for drying slices of fruits such as oranges, lemons and apples.  If you need some dry material instantly you can use your microwave oven for making what you need. To dry herbs or flowers in the microwave oven you will need SILICA GEL. Silica gel is a substance used to dry delicate flowers too, such as roses or calendula, as it preserves their forms and colors well. Silica gel can usually be found in craft stores. It is very simple to dry flowers with a silica crystals, just use one microwave safe container with a 1" (2,5 cm) thick layer of the silica crystals and place your flowers on the top allowing about 1- inch of space around the sides and between each flowers. Put another an inch layer on the top of flowers and then microwave on cca 50 % power for approximately 2-3 minutes, depending on the type of your microwave and flowers. It is better to check the material progress an add some more times if needed. Flowers and leaves often have different drying times, microwave them separately for better result. Never use silica gel containers for preparing food after you use them for drying flowers, because they often absorbs pesticides from plants as they dry.
	Any suitable container or basket make beautiful display for dried flowers and will produce an  attractive natural looking arrangement. Containers can be  decorated with wallpaper or painted before starting.
	RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
	The Scented Room : Cherchez's Book of Dried Flowers, Fragrance, and Potpourri - by Barbara Milo Ohrbach, Joe Standart, Anne Marie Cloutier
	Although published over a decade ago, The Scented Room remains a classic guide on potpourri, sachets, pomanders, flower arrangements, and floral room decor.  The owner of Cherchez, an elegant and trend-setting home furnishings store in New York City, offers a treasure trove of ideas for scenting and decorating the home with dried flowers and herbs.  A special section reveals Ohrbach's favorite places for buying essential oils, dried botanicals, rare roses, and more. Over 100 full-color photos.
	Harvesting, Preserving & Arranging Dried Flowers -by Cathy Miller, Rob Gray (Photographer)
	Featuring more than 50 floral "recipes, " all illustrated with over 100 brilliant full-color photographs, Harvesting, Preserving, and Arranging Dried Flowers is the most comprehensive, contemporary, and practical book on the subject. Drawing from her 20 years of experience, Cathy Miller shows readers how to create fabulous arrangements that last for years.
	Flower Drying Handbook : Includes Complete Microwave Drying Instructions -by Dolly Lutz Morris, Alice Ensley, Crystal Coates Allen (Illustrator)
	For beginners, there is a complete how-to drying section with a range of techniques from traditional air-drying to the modern microwave method, to get you started right away.  For those already versed in flower drying, the reference section is broken down alphabetically by flower name. Each profile gives a description of appearance, along with advice on growing and landscaping, harvesting and drying, and crafting. Learn ahead of time which drying method will work best with each bloom, and which blossoms to use for the effect you want. An absolute delight, you'll find this amazing sourcebook a valuable reference for years of creative crafting.
	Decorating With Dried Flowers : A Step by Step Guide to Cultivating, Drying, and Arranging Dried Flowers and Plants -by Malcolm Hillier, Andreas Einsiedel (Photographer)
	From selecting the flowers, wiring the stems, and preparing containers to creating elaborate displays, Malcolm Hillier explains all the principles of decorating with dried flowers. Full-color illustrations.
	The Complete Book of Dried Flower Topiaries : A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating 25 Stunning Arrangements - by Carol Endler Sterbenz, Richard Felber (Photographer)
	A beautifully designed course on creating simple, elegant topiary arrangements for the home, discussing the basic principles of the craft, tools, materials, techniques, different types of topiary, and professional tips.
	Bountiful Blooms : Preserving Flowers With Colour (Milner Craft Series) by Margaret Burch
	Burch gives detailed and clear explanations of the four main methods of drying flowers and foliage -- air drying, silica gel drying, glycerine preserving, and pressing -- and indicates the appropriate method to use for different types of plants. Photos and illustrations.
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