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DRIEDFLOWERS
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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. |
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It is the best to cut flowers
used for drying just before they reach full bloom, because they continue
to open as they dry. |
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Pick the flowers on a dry day, after the morning dew
has dried. Choose healthy pieces and discard bruised or damaged materials. |
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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.
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Remove
the lowest leaves from a stems, cut the stems to even lengths and using
a rubber band, bind the bottom ends together. |
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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. |
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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. |
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To
avoid crushing, do not put to much herbs or flowers in a bunch. |
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Avoid
direct sunlight which will cause the flowers to fade. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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To
dry flower heads just spread them on sheets of newspaper and leave them
in a warm airy place to dry completely. |
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Use
clothes-drying racks to dry short-stemmed herbs, bundle them and hang them
on racks. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Electric
dehydrators are especially handy for drying slices of fruits such as oranges,
lemons and apples. |
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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. |
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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. |
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RECOMMENDED BOOKS: |
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The
Scented Room : Cherchez's Book of Dried Flowers, Fragrance, and Potpourri
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by Barbara Milo Ohrbach, Joe Standart, Anne Marie Cloutier |
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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. |
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Harvesting,
Preserving & Arranging Dried Flowers
-by Cathy Miller, Rob Gray (Photographer)
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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. |
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Flower
Drying Handbook : Includes Complete Microwave Drying Instructions
-by Dolly Lutz Morris, Alice Ensley, Crystal Coates Allen
(Illustrator)
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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. |
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Decorating
With Dried Flowers : A Step by Step Guide to Cultivating, Drying, and Arranging
Dried Flowers and Plants
-by Malcolm Hillier, Andreas Einsiedel (Photographer)
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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. |
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The
Complete Book of Dried Flower Topiaries : A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating
25 Stunning Arrangements
- by Carol Endler Sterbenz, Richard Felber (Photographer)
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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. |
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Bountiful
Blooms : Preserving Flowers With Colour (Milner Craft Series)
by Margaret Burch
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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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